ChocolateBet: November 25, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 cup
Palo Alto Cafe Coffee House
Hot Chocolate with whipped cream and a shot of almond syrup
Very Good
Weight: ~ 12 fluid oz.
Calories: 400 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.75
Purchased from: Palo Alto Cafe Coffee House, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was the last day (technically day #8) of hot chocolate week. Today we enjoyed some home-made hot chocolate from one of the few independent (non-chain) coffee houses left in midtown/South Palo Alto, the Palo Alto Cafe coffee house.

ChocolateBet: November 24, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
Ibarra Chocolate (from Mexico)
"Table Chocolate", wedges for hot chocolate
Very Good
Weight: ~ 23 grams for two wedges (~ 5 fluid oz. hot chocolate)/ total pkg = 19 oz. (1 lb. 3 oz.) or 540 g.
Calories: 110 calories for wedges + milk (~40 cals.) = 150 calories total
Cost: $3.99 for total package (~ 24 servings) makes this a great deal
Purchased from: La Costena (market and take-out food, burritos) in Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of hot chocolate week.

It's only right to try some hot chocolate from Mexico/Central America - where drinking chocolate originated, before it spread far and wide throughout the world.

Today's Ibarra Genuine Mexican Chocolate, contained a short list of the right ingredients, and made a rich, authentic tasting hot chocolate.

ChocolateBet: November 23, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 small size serving/cup
Peet's Coffee & Tea
Peppermint Hot Cocoa w/ just a little whipped cream on top
Very Good - just the right amount of mint (not too much)
Wt.: ~ 12 oz. serving/cup
Calories: ~ 400 (estim.)
Cost: $2.75 (need to verify amt.)
Purchased from: Peet's Coffee & Tea, in Menlo Park, CA

Day #6 of hot chocolate week. The weather has cooled down, so hot chocolate seems like a good choice for a theme week. Although it never really gets much below freezing here, something hot to drink is nice during these short days and early evenings.

ChocolateBet: November 22, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 tall size serving
Starbucks Coffee Company
Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
Good + - Very Good; a bit sweet, but nice all the same
Wt.: ~ 12 fluid ounces (tall size) cup
Calories: ~ 420 calories in tall size
Cost: $3.25
Purchased from: Starbucks Coffee in Mountain View, CA

As part of Day #5 of hot chocolate week, I tried one of Starbucks three Signature hot chocolate flavors they are offering this fall. My favorite is their salted caramel flavor (covered in yesterday's post).

ChocolateBet: November 21, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 tall size serving
Starbucks Coffee Company
Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
Very Good +; nice flavors
Wt.: ~ 12 fluid oz. in tall size cup
Calories: ~ 420 calories (acc. to Starbucks web site)
Cost: $3.25
Purchased from: Starbucks Coffee in San Jose, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of hot chocolate week. Fortunately, Starbucks has three new Signature hot chocolate flavors this fall; these are apparently made with a mixture of four cocoas. This salted caramel flavor was quite good.

ChocolateBet: November 20, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
2 packets
Flavia
"Choco" hot chocolate
Good - Good +
Wt.: ~ 8 oz.
Calories: 200 (estim)?
Cost: $0
Purchased from: N/A - AMD/company break room

Day #3 of hot chocolate week. The weather is getting cooler. Tried cocoa from a relatively new dispenser system in break room.

ChocolateBet: November 19, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

~ 1 serving
Chuao Chocolatier
Hot Chocolate - Spicy Maya (hot chocolate mix)
Very Good; tastes chocolate-y with a slight spicy/peppery aftertaste
Weight: ~ 5 oz. serving/12 oz. (340 g) in total container/tin
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 5 oz. serving I had
Cost: $18.50 for entire tin/container
Purchased from: Coupa Cafe, in downtown Palo Alto, CA

Day #2 of hot chocolate week on the blog. There are lots of hot chocolate options out there these days. It may take me more than a week, or 7 days, to sample them all.

I paid more attention to proportions of water and chocolate mix today, with (no surprise) better results. Yesterday's flavor was probably less sweet than it should have been due to slightly more hot water than the directions called for. When it comes to food preparation/cooking, I am the first to admit that I have a hard time following directions. I'm always thinking of a possible improvisation. So, lo siento mucho abuelita de ayer.