ChocolateBet: April 3, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces/bears

Marich Confectionery Co.

Chocolate Cinnamon Bears

Good +

Weight: 1.28 oz. (36.2 g.) for 3 pieces

Calories: ~ 165 cals. for 3 (assuming ~ 130 cals./oz.)

Cost: $0.80 for 3 ($9.99/lb. - these were .08 lb.)

Purchased from: Sugar Shack, in Menlo Park, CA

The cinnamon-flavored gummy bear filling taste is robust enough that you barely notice the chocolate coating. Fun bear shapes and flavor.

ChocolateBet: April 2, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 tiny bar
Maglio
Papuasia - 36% cacao
Good
Weight: ~.28 oz. (7.9 g.)
Calories: Good; ~42 cals. (estim.)
Cost: ~$1.00
Purchased from: Caffe del Doge, in Palo Alto, CA

Maglio does a nice job of packaging. This very small bar was even scored on top with 12 tiny squares - just like a larger bar would be.

ChocolateBet: April 1, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
De Brito Chocolate Factory
California Apricots in Chocolate (Dark)
Very Good
Weight: ~1.6 oz. (45.28g.)/4 oz. (~113.2 g.) ttl pkg.
Calories: 240 calories
Cost: $3.34 for total package
Purchased from: De Brito Chocolate Factory, in Hollister, CA

Apricots stand up well to dark chocolate; you can still taste the fruit underneath. And starting with great apricots makes these even better.

I grew up in California, on a street that used to be an apricot orchard; and there were still apricot trees in the neighborhood. So, I have fond memories of fresh, dried, and chocolate-covered apricots. For those that grew up in Santa Clara County (before it was largely paved over and renamed Silicon Valley), you may remember Bee Ritchie's chocolate-covered/dipped prunes and apricots, Mariani dried apricots, and a host of other local names like this.

ChocolateBet: March 31, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
De Brito Chocolate Factory
Butter Almond Toffee (Dark)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28.3 grams)/4 oz. (113.2 g.) in total pkg.
Calories: ~ 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $3.33 for total package
Purchased from: De Brito Chocolate Factory (store), in Hollister, CA

ChocolateBet: March 30, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2/3 bar
TCHO Chocolates
Dark Chocolate "Nutty" - Peru - 65% cacao
(fair trade beans)
Very Good
Weight: ~1.4 oz. (~40 g.)/2.12 oz. (60 g.) ttl bar
Calories: 220 calories (estimate) for 2/3 bar
Cost: $5.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Cowgirl Creamery at/in Tamales Bay Foods, in Point Reyes Station, CA

This dark chocolate bar had a nice smooth flavor throughout. TCHO has selected cacao from different areas of the world that highlight different aspects of natural chocolate flavors - much like you would see in certain wines.

This bar was "nutty" (the light brown segment in the TCHO wheel pictured above). TCHO also has produced chocolate with citrusy, earthy, floral and other flavor profiles.

ChocolateBet: March 29, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 scoop in a cup
Three Twins (Organic Ice Cream)
Mint Confetti ice cream
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: ~2.5 oz.
Calories: ~ 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $3.50 for 1 scoop/cup
Purchased from: Cowgirl Creamery in Tomales Bay Foods, in Point Reyes Station, CA

A friend and I enjoyed a drive up to Point Reyes, CA, and lunch at Cowgirl Creamery. (The green hills and wildflowers north of San Francisco, CA, will be "golden" brown in just a few weeks, but they looked great today in the March sunshine.) In between lunch and cheese tasting, we had some Three Twins organic ice cream, which was very nice.

ChocolateBet: March 28, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
De Brito's Chocolate Factory
"Earthquake" (dark chocolate, crisped rice, peanut butter)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~1.2 oz. (33.96 g.) for 2 pieces
Calories: ~ 180 calories (estimate)
Cost: $3.33 for total package of ~ 8 pieces
Purchased from: De Brito's Chocolate Factory, in Hollister, CA

Today, a friend and I visited De Brito's Chocolate Factory as part of a beautiful Spring Saturday drive-and-hike day. Green hills, wildflowers, and (of course) stops for chocolate...Hollister, CA, is in earthquake country, south of San Jose, CA, with a major fault closeby - thus (I'm guessing) the name for the "Earthquake" chocolates. Each piece was decorated with a jagged white "fault" line on top. In additions to chocolates, De Brito's offers more than 30 different flavors of caramel apples. Some of these apples probably weigh more than 2 pounds by the time they're rolled in a variety of ingredients. I'll have to come back at a later time to try one of these.