Chocolate of the Day:
2 pcs.
See's
California Brittle - Dark Chocolate
Very Good - Yum; I really like these. They are like a very robust Heath bar - with bigger hunks of toasted almonds inside the middle brittle center.
~ 1.75 oz. for 2 pieces
~ 260 calories
~$1.50 for 2 pcs
Purchased from: See's, Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA
Friday, December 28, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
ChocolateBet: December 25, 2007
Chocolate of the Day:
1 small serving of shavings
Godiva
Dark Chocolate Santa (foil-wrapped)
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.5 oz./71 g. total
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. of shavings
Cost: $6.50
Purchased from: Macy's at Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA
This was Very Good; especially given that most little figures or sculpted/molded chocolate figures over a certain size taste a bit waxy or dull (probably due to ingredients used to help them keep their shape I'm guessing, or to cut down on costs/weight perhaps).
OK, I admit it; I have an odd sense of humor. Because Christmas can be a time when expectations can run high, and family time and commercial overload can be overwhelming, I think there is a place for a bit of comic relief. This fine Godiva chocolate Santa was transmogrified* (see Calvin and Hobbes comics) into chocolate shavings and included in a hot milk, brandy, cinnamon and spices drink for a nice cold winter evening. Poor Santa got shaved by a vegetable peeler.
1 small serving of shavings
Godiva
Dark Chocolate Santa (foil-wrapped)
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.5 oz./71 g. total
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. of shavings
Cost: $6.50
Purchased from: Macy's at Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA
This was Very Good; especially given that most little figures or sculpted/molded chocolate figures over a certain size taste a bit waxy or dull (probably due to ingredients used to help them keep their shape I'm guessing, or to cut down on costs/weight perhaps).
OK, I admit it; I have an odd sense of humor. Because Christmas can be a time when expectations can run high, and family time and commercial overload can be overwhelming, I think there is a place for a bit of comic relief. This fine Godiva chocolate Santa was transmogrified* (see Calvin and Hobbes comics) into chocolate shavings and included in a hot milk, brandy, cinnamon and spices drink for a nice cold winter evening. Poor Santa got shaved by a vegetable peeler.
ChocolateBet: December 24, 2007
Chocolate of the Day:2 pieces
Frango
Candy Cane (mint chocolates) - Limited Edition
Very Good+Weight: 16 oz. (453 g.) for 1 box
Calories: 80 calories (estimate) for 2 small pieces
Cost: $15.40 total (30% off sale) originally $22.00
Purchased from: Macy's, at Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA
I shared this box of crunchy Candy Cane and chocolate sweets with family at a holiday dinner get-together.
My sister, who lived in Seattle, WA, for many years assured me that Frango mints originated in Seattle -- and that a smaller department store that originated these chocolates/mint line was bought up by Marshall-Fields department store. Eventually Macy's bought out Marshall-Fields, or Macy's became the Frango distributor. Glad to hear that a favorite sweets brand survived all these transitions. (Frango is also listed in wikipedia for more info.)
I believe the limited edition chocolates can only be found at specific times of the year, and that these Candy Cane chocolate mints fit under this category.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
ChocolateBet: December 23, 2007
Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Anette's Chocolates
Traditional Cherry Cordial
Good - Very Good
~ .5 oz.?
~ 75 calories?
$0 (gift box)
From: Anette's Chocolates, Napa, CA
This cherry cordial was the last chocolate in a fairly large assortment box. While cherry cordials aren't my favorites, this was good.
As noted previously the good news with assortment boxes is that I can share chocolates with friends and family -- carefully guarding the ones I want to keep for myself for recording in this blog! -- and also I can skip my furtive hunting around for new chocolates for several days. The bad news is that it limits your sense of variety and new adventures, and you may also be tempted to eat more than you originally planned. This is the old security-and-comfort vs. the thrill-of-a-new-adventure trade-off. As with life, there is a balance point that lies somewhere between boredom and terror. The 2- or 3-piece assortment box seems to be that balance point for me.
1 piece
Anette's Chocolates
Traditional Cherry Cordial
Good - Very Good
~ .5 oz.?
~ 75 calories?
$0 (gift box)
From: Anette's Chocolates, Napa, CA
This cherry cordial was the last chocolate in a fairly large assortment box. While cherry cordials aren't my favorites, this was good.
As noted previously the good news with assortment boxes is that I can share chocolates with friends and family -- carefully guarding the ones I want to keep for myself for recording in this blog! -- and also I can skip my furtive hunting around for new chocolates for several days. The bad news is that it limits your sense of variety and new adventures, and you may also be tempted to eat more than you originally planned. This is the old security-and-comfort vs. the thrill-of-a-new-adventure trade-off. As with life, there is a balance point that lies somewhere between boredom and terror. The 2- or 3-piece assortment box seems to be that balance point for me.
ChocolateBet: December 22, 2007
Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Anette's Chocolates
(Milk Choc.) Almond Flip (like a choc caramel turtle)
Very Good
~ 1.2 oz.+? (could be closer to 2+ oz?)
? calories
$ 0 (gift box)
From: Anette's Chocolates, Napa, CA
1 piece
Anette's Chocolates
(Milk Choc.) Almond Flip (like a choc caramel turtle)
Very Good
~ 1.2 oz.+? (could be closer to 2+ oz?)
? calories
$ 0 (gift box)
From: Anette's Chocolates, Napa, CA
Friday, December 21, 2007
ChocolateBet: December 21, 2007
Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 large piece
Anette's Chocolates
(Dark chocolate-covered) Rocky Road candy (with pink? marshmallows and walnuts inside)
Very Good
~.7 oz.
~ 100? calories
$ 0 - gift box
From: Anette's Chocolates, Napa, CA
1/2 large piece
Anette's Chocolates
(Dark chocolate-covered) Rocky Road candy (with pink? marshmallows and walnuts inside)
Very Good
~.7 oz.
~ 100? calories
$ 0 - gift box
From: Anette's Chocolates, Napa, CA
ChocolateBet: December 20, 2007
Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Godiva
French vanilla truffle
Very Good
Weight: .5 oz (14.1 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A - $ 0 - gift assortment box
Purchased from: N/A - Godiva online order sent to my office
It can be difficult to taste vanilla with chocolates; it's more of a background flavor in most. I was hoping to get a smidge more authentic vanilla flavor in this French vanilla truffle, but it was still very good.
Went to go see holiday lights and windows and trees and carolers in San Francisco; very nice. I passed by the Macy's Frango (famous mints) table; will return later to see if I can't pick up a new flavor I haven't tried. I still remember these mints from some time ago, and they were quite good. More chocolate memories.
1 piece
Godiva
French vanilla truffle
Very Good
Weight: .5 oz (14.1 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A - $ 0 - gift assortment box
Purchased from: N/A - Godiva online order sent to my office
It can be difficult to taste vanilla with chocolates; it's more of a background flavor in most. I was hoping to get a smidge more authentic vanilla flavor in this French vanilla truffle, but it was still very good.
Went to go see holiday lights and windows and trees and carolers in San Francisco; very nice. I passed by the Macy's Frango (famous mints) table; will return later to see if I can't pick up a new flavor I haven't tried. I still remember these mints from some time ago, and they were quite good. More chocolate memories.
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