Becca's Petites - Chocolat Noir Bouchees (Snack Mix) - Sept. 8, 2023

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Becca's Petites
Chocolate Noir Bouchees (Snack Mix)
Good ++
Weight: 3.5 oz. (99 g.) in total package
Calories: 460 calories in 1 package
Cost: $7.75 USD for 1 package 
Purchased from: Napa Farms Market, SFO Airport, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Dark Chocolate Theme Week. 

Today's Becca's Petites "Chocolate Noir Bouchees" Snack Mix was manufactured by Gourmecca Kitchen LLC (Marin, CA). 

Note: This is the second of two dark chocolate items featured today. (See previous post for information on Equal Exchange's Organic 92% Cacao Total Eclipse Transcendently dark bar.)

The crunchy texture of these (gluten free, dairy free and vegan) small, granola-like, snack pieces--or bouchees ("mouthfuls")--was interspersed with upticks in creamy dark chocolate and slightly softer, rich nut bits.

This rich, almost crispy-crunchy mix had authentic, chocolate and very light coconut and nut flavors. It was satisfying, and slightly addictive--while only mildly triggering the "more-ish" sugar/salt snack threshold. (It was sweetened with coconut and apple juice; and very lightly seasoned with sea salt.)

Ingredients: Almonds, walnuts, dark chocolate (cane sugar, cacao beans*, cocoa butter*, sunflower lecithin, vanilla), almond butter, coconut chips, apple puree, apple juice concentrate, coconut nectar, cinnamon, pure vanilla extract, sea salt. ("No GMOs.") (* Fair Trade)

"Allergen Warning: Almond, Walnut, Coconut. Made in a facility that handles milk chocolate."

Ben and Jerry's - Chunky Monkey Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert - Sept. 24, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ben and Jerry's
Chunky Monkey Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert
Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (102 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 270 calories in 1 (1/2 cup) serving
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

Happy first day of autumn chocolate-loving friends! The shorter days are not enough to keep us away from chilly, frozen chocolate desserts. Today temperatures were in the mid-90s (F) in Northern California.

Today's Chunky Monkey Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert was from Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream (South Burlington, Vermont).*

This non-dairy (almond milk) version of the company's original Chunky Monkey, a long-time Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor, was better than expected. Mid-afternoon heat sizzled, and we found ourselves enjoying a second helping to cool down. This smooth, cold, rich and relatively creamy frozen dessert had authentic banana, fudge chunk and fresh banana flavors.

*Ben and Jerry's, now known as Ben and Jerry's Homemade Holdings Inc., began selling ice creams in 1978 in Burlington, VT. In 2000, the company was sold to British-Dutch conglomerate Unilever, and presently operates as a fully owned subsidiary of Unilever.

Bart's Bakery - Chocolate Chip GF Cookies with Pecans, Walnuts - July 26, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Bart and Judy's Bakery, Inc.

Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecans and Walnuts

Good +

Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total box

Calories: 132 calories in 8 cookies

Cost: $4.99 (estimate) for 1 box of approx. 45 cookies

Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Today's Extra Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecans and Walnuts were from Bart and Judy's Bakery, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA).

Bart and Judy Greenhut created these bite-sized, gluten-free cookies that were relatively light and crispy-crunchy—and made richer with Belgian chocolate chips and bits of roasted nuts. The cookie base was made with butter, fresh eggs and "Bart and Judy's Proprietary Gluten Free Flour Blend."

The box contained two individually-sealed packets, permitting smaller servings while prolonging freshness.

Soul Sprout - Wow Cacao Nib Sprouted Nut Bar - March 5, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Soul Sprout 

Wow Cacao Nib - Nut Bar - Sprouted

Good ++

Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in total bar

Calories: 220 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $0.99 (estimate) for 1 bar

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week.

Today's Soul Sprout Wow Cacao Nib Nut Bar was created by Two Moms in the Raw, Inc. (Longmont, CO).  The company produces a variety of nut and granola bars, 

The base of this snack bar consisted of sprouted* raw nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts). Cacao nibs are what chocolate is made of; and a generous helping of cacao nibs—along with cacao butter and cocoa powder—in this bar supplied the chocolate flavor.

Coconut syrup helped to sweeten and hold this pressed bar together. Other ingredients included pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and buckwheat groats, sea salt and sunflower lecithin.

The Wow Cacao Nib bar was Certified gluten free, organic, and Non GMO Project Verified.

*Sprouting nuts, grains and legumes can produce enzymes that can aid in the digestion of raw foods, in part because the sprouting process helps break down compounds found in plants like phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors.

Larabar - Chocolate Coconut Chew bar - Feb.10, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Small Planet Foods, Inc.
Larabar - Chocolate Coconut Chew bar
Good
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $0.79 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week.

Today's Larabar Chocolate Coconut Chew bar was distributed by Small Planet Foods, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN). The bar was part of a line of Larabar fruit and nut bars.

This 5-ingredient, compressed bar was quite sweet. The first ingredient listed was "dates;" and dates do have a certain concentrated fruity intensity to them. But, those that like dates, or prefer fruit and fiber over sugar,  may applaud this choice.

The remaining four ingredients were: almonds, walnuts, unsweetened cocoa powder, and unsweetened coconut.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch...Old Dog Ranch, Torn Ranch chocolate items - Aug. 28, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Old Dog Ranch
Chocolate Walnuts
Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (84.9 g.) / 6 oz. (169.8 g.) in total package
Calories: 495 calories (estimate) in 1/2 package
Cost: $9.00 for 1 package
Purchased from: Cavallo Point Mercantile, Ft. Baker, Sausalito, CA


Torn Ranch
Dark Chocolate - The Original Chocolate Caviar
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) in total tin
Calories: 142 calories in 1 oz. (28.3 g.)
Cost: $N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Wild West Theme Week.

Ranches were part of the wild west. My siblings and I grew up in a single-story ranch house in the Western suburbs. Many families felt they had a piece of their own ranch, even though most of these houses were part of early tract home developments in the 1900s. We played in tall walnut trees and ate apricots from trees that were remnants of farms and ranches from a previous era.

Today's two chocolates hail from two different ranches in parts of California with some open space left. While these two ranches may not employ the cowboys of yesteryear, they do produce great edibles.

Old Dog Ranch - Chocolate Walnuts
The Old Dog Ranch (Linden, CA) is the closest to a real ranch. This Northern California operation has been a family farm since 1912; and the company produces sustainably grown, organic Chandler* Walnuts, used to make today's chocolate offering.

And boy, do high-quality ingredients matter. These walnuts had delicious, mild (but complex) 3D nut flavor—with a subtle, very pleasing freshly cut wood note, and without any bitterness that some associate with walnuts. The dusting of chocolate (organic sugar, cocoa powder, salt) served as a subtle accent flavor here adding just a touch of sweetness but not too much.

Torn Ranch - Dark Chocolate Caviar
The Dark Chocolate Caviar with a very subtle hint of vanilla hailed from Torn Ranch (Petaluma, CA) provided a complementary counterpoint to today's Old Dog Ranch walnuts. (Torn Ranch also sells fruits, nuts, baked goods and other chocolates.)

Billed as the "original chocolate caviar" these glossy, dark peals or mild, dark chocolate goodness were enjoyable as an a la carte snack; and could be paired with good food, tea, coffee or adult beverages (brandy, whiskey, wine, etc.) as well.

Thank you GreenTown Los Altos (and Present gift shop, Los Altos) for this Torn Ranch tin (part of a gift basket received earlier).

*California, a large exporter of walnuts, has their own native California Black Walnut tree, which is occasionally used as root stock for other walnuts. However, most of the roughly 500,000 tons of walnuts commercially grown in the state each year are cultivars of Persian (English) walnuts. This includes the popular Chandler walnut, which was introduced by (and named after W.H. Chandler, a Professor at) the University of California, Davis, CA in 1979. 

Timothy Adams - Rose, Violet and dark chocolate nut pieces - Aug. 16, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Timothy Adams Chocolates
6-piece assortment box included the following bonbons:

• Rose - Good +
• Violet - Good +
• Pistachio Praline - Good 

Weight: 2.5 oz. (70.7 g.) (estimate) in 5 pieces

Calories: 375 calories (estimate) for 5 chocolates

Cost: $16.50 (estimate) for 6 chocolates (box was extra)

Purchased from: Timothy Adams (shop), Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

I don't count white chocolate as a "Chocolate of the Day" on this site. Chocolate items need to contain cocoa solids, in part because many "white chocolates" don't contain much cacao (solids or butter).

Because of this rule, I felt compelled to buy an attractively designed 6-piece box of chocolates from Timothy Adams Chocolates (Palo Alto, CA) to ensure some cocoa solids were consumed for the day.

This local shop had Rose ivory* and Violet ivory bonbons that were sweet, decadent and delicious; but both lacked cocoa solids.

So I bought three other dark chocolate covered confections to keep these two ivory floral pieces company, and "counted one of them, a Pistachio Praline chocolate as my daily chocolate.

The Pistachio Praline (dark chocolate covered with a sweet and light, almost a butterscotch ivory center) and topped with pistachio nuts and icing seemed to good match for the two ivory florals.

The two other dark chocolate covered bonbons (a Coconut Cream Caramel and a Nocino (green walnut liqueur) bonbon) were both sweet but quite nice. You may see them featured in the future.

*Some white chocolates may contain little cocoa butter (and/or may substitute other vegetable fats); whereas "ivory" (closer to the color of real cocoa butter) chocolate generally contains more cocoa butter and is considered to be of higher quality.

Safeway - Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream - Apr. 30, 2017

Chocolate of the Day:

Safeway Signature Select
Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream
Good
Weight: 1/4 cup (33 g.) / 1.5 Quarts (1.42 Liters) in total container
Calories: 95 calories in 1/4 cup serving // 465 cals. (estimate) for 1 small banana split
Cost: $3.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Banana Theme Week.

One can't have a banana theme week without at least one banana split with chocolate ice cream. Today's split featured: vanilla, walnut and Extreme Moose Tracks chocolate ice creams, walnut pieces, a cherry and, of course, a banana.

What is Moose Tracks? In the mid-1990s, Moose Tracks Fudge* became popular as part of an ice cream flavor of the same name.

The original Moose Tracks ice cream was made of vanilla ice cream, Moose Tracks Fudge and peanut butter cups. Today's Safeway's Signature Select Extreme Moose Tracks ice cream ups the chocolate ante and is made with a chocolate ice cream base with fudge cups and pieces of Moose Tracks Fudge.

*The folks at Denali Flavors, Inc. (Michigan) have expanded the Moose Tracks line to include ice creams, cheesecakes and milks.

Philip Marks - Milk Chocolate Walnut and White and Dark bars - Dec. 18, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Philip Marks Chocolates
Milk Chocolate with Whole Walnuts bar(s)
Good +
Weight: .2 oz. (5.6 g.) / 2.9 oz. (82 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 48 calories (estimate) for 1 bite of 1 bar
Cost: $7.49 for 1 package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA


Philip Marks Chocolates
White and Dark Marbleized Chocolate bar(s)
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 380 calories for 2 bars
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of this year's Chocolate and Walnut Series.


Today's Milk Chocolate (36 percent "Carmelito") with Whole Walnuts bar created by Philip Marks Chocolates (Burlingame, CA) came in an attractive package that contained two bars. adorned by carefully placed walnut halves.

I also sampled a Philip Marks White and Dark Marbleized Chocolate bar. This stylish bar was a blend of 36 percent "Edelweiss" and 88 percent "Maracaibo" dark chocolate. 

Trader Joe's - Dark Walnut Bar; Loard's Walnut Sundae - Dec. 17, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Dark Chocolate, Walnut, Peanut, Fig and Date Bar
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.99 (guess?) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Alameda? or Mountain View?, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Walnut Series. Today I celebrated with two chocolate items.

The first was a Dark Chocolate, Walnut, Peanut, Fig and Date Bar from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA). The bar was nutty, sweet, chocolatey and slightly chewy.

Loard's Ice Cream
Ice Cream Sundae
Black Walnut, Maple Walnut, chocolate sauce
(Walnut and Cherry Sundae)
Good +
Calories: unknown (750 calories is my guesstimate)
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Loard's Ice Cream, Alameda, CA

Loard's Ice Cream is a local (San Francisco Bay Area) chain of ice cream stores, that first opened in 1950. I left their Alameda location with a smile on my face.

After a hike and holiday shopping, I had a hankering for ice cream, and the counter staff at this 1900s style ice cream shop fixed me up with a three-scoop (Black Walnut, Maple Walnut and Cherry) ice cream sundae with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. It hit the spot