ChocolateBet: May 11, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1/4 box (7 pieces)
Osmanium Candy Company
CrackHeads
(dark- and white-chocolate covered espresso beans)
Good + - Very Good
Wt: .325 oz. (9.2 grams)/1.3 oz. (37 g.) in total pkg/box
Calories: ~ 45 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.95
Purchased from: Upstart Crow, in San Diego, CA

I've had chocolate-covered espresso beans before, but I admit I'm a sucker for clever packaging and new ideas. (See above for scanned images from front and back of box - including graphs on caffeine molecule and content. Not seen - side/end flap marked "entrance.") So I had to try these. These dark and white chocolate covered beans definitely deliver a kicky dose of caffeine. I had to stop at 7 pieces (1/4 of the 28 pieces in one small box).

ChocolateBet: May 10, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 servings
Yosemite Country Foods
Milk Chocolate Trail Mix
Very Good
Weight: 3 oz.(84.9 g.)/ 12 oz. (339 g.) total pkg.
Calories: 570 calories (estimate) in 3 servings (3/4 cup)
Cost: $4.29 for total package
Purchased from: Pine Tree Market, near Chilnaulna Falls/Wawona, in Yosemite National Park, CA

I found this Yosemite Country trail mix at the Pine Tree Market, a little store, on a little road, a few days ago, on the way back from a hike up to Chilnualna Falls. It was a great time to visit , as the waterfalls in Yosemite were full and roaring down into the valley.

ChocolateBet: May 9, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 drink
Wawona Hotel (bar), Yosemite National Park
Truffletini (from Specialty Martini list) - Dark Creme de Cacao, Chambord, Bailey's, and Half and Half (with chocolate syrup and cherry syrup decoration swirls on inside of glass)
Very Good
Weight: ~ 7 oz. (198 grams)
Calories: ~ 400 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.75
Purchased from: Wawona Hotel (bar), in Yosemite National Park, CA

Note: This post was delayed due to a trip to Yosemite National Park, where I was out of Internet range for a few days.

I wish I had taken a photo of this drink. Yes, it was attractive; but I also will remember the setting. I very much enjoyed this Truffletini (which could have also counted as dessert), while sitting out on the porch at the old Wawona Hotel in Yosemite National Park. I was able to visit the base of four different waterfalls in the park this weekend, and earlier today enjoyed the view of the Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point. It was a great end-of-the-day treat to be sipping this chocolate martini with friends, as the sun was setting behind the pine trees in the distance.

ChocolateBet: May 8, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1/4 bar
Coco-luxe Confections
"Spumoni" (white chocolate with dried cherries, pistachios and cocoa nibs)
Good +
Weight: .625 oz. (17.69 g.) in 1/4 bar/2.5 oz. (70g.) in total bar
Calories: ~94 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $7.50 in 1 bar
Purchased from: Sugar Shack, in Menlo Park, CA

Note: This posting was delayed due to a trip to Yosemite National Park (out of Internet reception range).

I don't normally eat white chocolate (items made from just cocoa butter), but this bar contained cocoa nibs (from cacao pods, and the source of cocoa solids - which I do count as chocolate). And this Spumoni bar sounded like a fun combination of flavors.

ChocolateBet: May 7, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
13 pieces
Holl's Chocolates
(for images, see: http://www.holls.com/flavor_guide.asp)
1.) Mint Julep Truffles (3) - Very Good + - Yum
2.) Strawberry Truffles (2) - Very Good + - Yum
3.) Triple Sec Truffles (3) - Very Good - Very Good +
4.) Irish Cream Truffles (shamrock-shaped) (2) - Very Good
5.) Kahlua Caramel (1) - Very Good +
6.) Milk Chocolate Raspberry Truffles (heart-shaped) (2) - Very Good +
Weight: 6.5 oz. (184 g.)/8 oz. (226.4 g.) in total 16-piece box
Calories: ~ 975 calories in 13 pcs.
Cost: $15.00 for total 16-pc assortment box (+ shipping)
Purchased from: Holl's Chocolates, in Vienna, West Virginia

I do not recommend eating 13 pieces of chocolate at one sitting, in lieu of breakfast and lunch; however, these chocolates (from West Virginia) were very tasty. I enjoyed all six flavors in this custom-assortment box very much. I look forward to trying other Holl's chocolates in the future.

ChocolateBet: May 6, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
2 bars
zotter Schokoladen Manufaktur, GmbH (Austria)
Labooko series - 2 bars packaged together (Organic, Fair Trade)
1.) Goat's Milk (50% cacao) - Good + - Very Good
2.) Cheeky Goat (60% cacao) w/ mint - Very Good
Weight: 2.47 oz. ttl (35 g + 35 g = 70 g) ttl for 2 bars pkgd together
Calories: ~ 371 calories in both bars (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Rainbow Grocery Coop., in San Francisco, CA

I like the carefully crafted and clever packaging for this double-bar offering, and the imprinting on the bars themselves. A note to those who may have concerns about goat milk flavor...I could barely taste the goat milk used in the first bar (Goat's Milk). And I detected not a hint of goat in the second (Cheeky Goat) bar -- that was a bit darker with a touch of mint.

ChocolateBet: May 5, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 squares
Maramor Chocolates
Dark Chocolate Squares with Omega-3 (70% Cocoa)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .7 oz. (19 grams) in total package of 2 individually-wrapped squares
Calories: ~ 100 calories
Cost: $0.99
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Fish oils are good for you, and I can rest easy knowing I just ate some, without having to actually taste them. The dark chocolate in these squares concealed any hint of anchovies, sardines or tilapia that may have contributed to this healthy treat.