ChocolateBet: December 9, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces
C. J. Olson Cherries
Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Clusters
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: 1.1 oz./6 oz. total bag/pkg.
Calories: ~ 152 calories for 3 pieces
Cost: $ 8.65 for total bag/package
Purchased from: TC Temp books, Airport shop, at San Jose, CA (SJC) airport

ChocolateBet: December 8, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
Halloren/G. F. Handel's
Brandy Beans
Very Good
Weight: 33 g./7 oz. (200g) total box
Calories: 140 calories for 4 pieces
Cost: $ 7.99 for total box (24 pcs.)
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

I was in the Dallas, TX, area, traveling on business, and I decided to buy dinner from a supermarket in the area. I went to the Central Market, chain of stores in Texas. It was a large store - sort of a cross between a Whole Foods Market (another chain that originated in Texas) and a deluxe indoor farmers market.

These bittersweet chocolates (made in Germany) were shaped a little like "beans" and were filled with brandy flavoring. These beans made up 1/2 of my dinner back at the hotel. It was wonderfully relaxing.

ChocolateBet: December 7, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
2 items
Baskin Robbins
Individual "turkey" (frozen) - vanilla ice cream w/ chocolate cookies & frosting
Good - fun novelty item
Wt.: ~ 6 oz. ? (estim.)
Calories: ~ 360 cals. (estimated)
Cost: $ 3.19 for each "turkey"/$12.76 for an order of 4
Purchased from: Baskin Robbins (No. 137), in Palo Alto, CA

This year Baskin Robbins was featuring a large ice cream turkey, and smaller individual ones. I bought a tiny flock of 4 individual turkeys (2 chocolate, 2 vanilla) to try today. They're cute to look at. I couldn't eat the little chocolate cookie parts - which looked good, but these were fun to eat and to share, nonetheless.

ChocolateBet: December 6, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving - 3 pieces
Jelly Belly Candy Company
Sunkist Chocolate Raspberry Fruit Gems
("Naturally Flavored Soft Fruit Candy Coated with Dark Chocolate")
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: ~1.28 oz. (37 g.)/ 3.2 oz. (90g) total bag
Calories: "30" calories per serving (Note: This sounds too low for 3 pc. srvg. I'm calling them to double-check whether this is correct.)
Cost: $1.95 for total bag/package
Purchased from: Village Stationers, in Palo Alto, CA

Jelly Belly is perhaps most well-known for their jelly beans, but a few of their items also contain chocolate and/or cocoa powder.

The company opens their facility in the Fairfield, CA, area (a few hours away from where I live) to visitors; and one of these days I'll get up there for a tour.

ChocolateBet: December 5, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Snickers/Mars, Incorporated
Snickers Nut'n butter Crunch
("Milk Chocolate, Peanuts and Creamy Peanut Butter taste")
Very Good +
Weight: 1.71 oz. (48.5 grams) in 1 bar
Calories: 250 calories
Cost: $~.69?
Purchased from: ? (need to find receipt)

All variations of the original Snickers bar (part of Mars) have been good. That is, in part, due to the power of chocolate and peanuts and/or peanut butter in this case.

ChocolateBet: December 4, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

8 small squares
Alter Eco Fair Trade
Dark Chocolate Almond ("sun-dried and slow-roasted")
(El Ceibo Cooperative, Bolivia)
Good+
Wt.: 33.6 grams in 8 squares/3.5 oz. (100 grams) in total bar
Calories: ~168 calories in 8 small squares
Cost: $ ?
Purchased from: ?

I'd bought these dark chocolate almonds from Alter Eco some time ago. A nice story was included, printed on the packaging, about where the cacao had come from (a co-op in Bolivia). 

ChocolateBet: December 3, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1.5 servings (3/4 cup)
Hershey's (branded)/Houston Harvest, Inc.
Hershey's Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn
Good +
Wt.: 3/4 cup (43.5 grams)/6 oz. (170 g.) in total pkg.
Calories: ~ 180 calories for 3/4 cup
Cost: $4.99 for total package
Purchased from: OfficeMax, in Mountain View, CA

I found this chocolate while shopping for office supplies.