ChocolateBet: April 24, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

5 servings
Bedre Fine Chocolate
Clusters - Roasted Peanuts in Milk Chocolate
Very Good
Weight: 5 oz. (142 grams) in one can
Calories: 765 calories
Cost: $6.75 (plus shipping for online order)
Purchased from: Bedre Fine Chocolate, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Bedre Fine Chocolates is owned by the Chickasaw Nation. While I was unable to travel to Oklahoma to try these, ordering chocolates online is a great way to sample chocolate from far-away places. One only has to take care when ordering chocolate during the warmer/summer months.

Fortunately, I put this order in before the spell of hot weather around here. Although the box I received was packed with plenty of styrofoam packing to help ensure against possible meltage along the way.

ChocolateBet: April 23, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Colombo (frozen yogurt)
Chocolate (nonfat) and Simply Vanilla (lowfat) swirled together in a cup
Good +
Weight: ~ 8 oz. total
Calories: ~ 250
Cost: $3.39
Purchased from: RLW, Inc. Snack Bar in Mc Carran International Airport, Las Vegas, NV

ChocolateBet: April 22, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

6 pieces
SunSpire (The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.)
Earth Balls (Fair Trade) Milk Chocolate
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~1.41 oz. (40 g.)/5 oz. (141 g.) ttl pkg
Calories: 210 calories in 6 pieces
Cost: $4.99 total pkg.
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods in Palo Alto, CA

Happy Earth Day, April 22, to all in the U.S. These Earth Ball chocolates seemed like the right choice to celebrate this occasion.

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Today, I also enjoyed an assortment of milk and dark chocolates from The Chocolate Tree, in Beaufort, South Carolina. This box included milk and dark chocolate-covered brazil nuts; milk chocolate coconut; milk and dark chocolate-covered peanut clusters; milk chocolate peanut butter; and a milk chocolate toffee crunch. Also included in this half-pound assortment box were milk and dark chocolate sand dollars, chocolates with raisins, and a few others. I ate about 4 oz. (of the 8 oz. box), about 610 calories worth. We had a hot spell this week - so it was necessary to eat some of these chocolates before they melted. (Yep, that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.)

I was able to order this assortment box over the phone. Thanks to the Chocolate Tree for putting this order together. It's great to have tried some chocolates from South Carolina.

ChocolateBet: April 21, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

8 small squares
Gnosis Chocolate
SuperChoc
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1.77 oz. (49.77 g.)/2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar/box
Calories: ~267 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (sample)
Purchased from: N/A - received sample during visit Gnosis made to San Francisco

I have to admit some earlier raw chocolate items I've tasted were just so-so. So, I was very pleasantly surprised with SuperChoc's great taste and consistency, as well as the healthy back-story associated with this bar. I'm looking forward to trying the other flavors from Gnosis this year.

Gnosis Chocolate was founded by Vanessa Barg, who brings with her a substantial health counseling background. She and her team are engaged in making each batch by hand - without the help of large machinery normally associated with bulk manufacturers. She explained that there is no milk (that can bind to antioxidants - which might normally bind with free radicals, neutralizing some of the chocolate's beneficial properties). And, instead of sugar, she uses agave syrup, a boon to diabetics and those watching their blood sugar levels. This chocolate is also gluten-free. Thank you to Sarah for tipping me off about Gnosis.

ChocolateBet: April 20, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
4 pieces (truffle eggs)
Ethel's Chocolate/Mars
Truffle Egg Collection (8 pc. - 4 different flavors) in Egg-Shaped Box
Very Good - Very Good +
1.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Lemon Ganache - Very Good +
2.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Mango Passion Ganache - Very Good +
3.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Key Lime Ganache - Very Good - VG+
4.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Raspberry Ganache - Very Good
Weight: 2.61 oz. (74 grams)/5.22 oz. (148 grams) total box
Calories: ~ 395 calories in 4 eggs
Cost: $14.00 (sale price for 8-piece box)
Purchased from: Ethel's Chocolate Lounge in the Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

These eggs are made from high-quality milk chocolate, and are paired with very nice fruit-flavored centers. The lemon was my favorite; the filling was a perfect blend of lemon curd + lemon meringue. All four flavors are worth trying - if you can find them. These seasonal treats were already on sale when I bought them yesterday.

ChocolateBet: April 19, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Cerreta's Fine Chocolates
Very Good
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28 g.)/4.5 oz. (126 g.) in total package
Calories: ~ 130 calories for 2 pieces (cowboy boots)
Cost: $3.99 + shipping (online order)
Purchased from: Cerreta's Fine Chocolates, in Glendale Arizona (online order)

These were very tasty boots. I look forward to trying more chocolate boots and shoes in the near future. I'm researching a shop in L.A. area that sells chocolate high heels.

It is great to try some chocolate from Arizona. I also have some cactus candy from Cactus Candy Co. (Phoenix, Arizona). Perhaps I will try dunking this cactus candy in some melted chocolate.

ChocolateBet: April 18, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 cakes
Quaker (The Quaker Oats Company)
Good +
Weight: ~1.59 oz. (45 g.)/7.23 oz. (205 g.) total package
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) for 3 cakes
Cost: $ (don't have this info)
Purchased from: (Safeway?)