ChocolateBet: April 6, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Marini's at the Beach/Marini's Candies
Chocolate Dipped Apricot (dark choc.)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~ 1.1 oz. (~30 grams)
Calories: ~ 160 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (check receipt)
Purchased from: Marini's at the Beach/Marini's Candies

Nice big sweet apricot dipped in chocolate.

ChocolateBet: April 5, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Marini's at the Beach/Marini's Candies
Chocolate Covered Bacon (milk choc.)
Very Good
Weight: ~1.1 oz. (~30 g.)
Calories: ~ 200 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (check receipt)
Purchased from: Marini's at the Beach/Marini's Candies, in Santa Cruz, CA (downtown location)

Marini's has been in Santa Cruz since 1915, and there are three locations in the city: the downtown location, the Beach Boardwalk, and the Municipal Wharf. Fun assortment of chocolates here. I had this strip of chocolate-covered bacon for breakfast, along with some fruit. I also saw, but did not purchase, some breakfast bark (white chocolate w/ various sugar-sweetened breakfast cereal pieces embedded in it).

ChocolateBet: April 4, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 serving

Chocolate (cafe/restaurant)

Belga (hot chocolate w/ hazelnut flavor)

Very Good

Weight: ~ 3.5 oz.

Calories: ~200 calories

Cost: $4.25 

Purchased from: Chocolate, in downtown Santa Cruz, CA

This cafe has great lemon vinaigrette salad dressing and chicken soup and gelato. The meat dishes with chocolate and spices include chicken mole and pork w/ barbeque sauce with chocolate). And they have several nice flavors of hot chocolate, including the one I tried this evening. 

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