ChocolateBet: May 31, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 oz.
Govatos Chocolates
1.) Dark chocolate-covered brazil nuts - Very Good
2.) Dark chocolate-covered cashew nuts - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/1 lb-16 oz. (452 g.) in total box
Calories: ~ 150 calories
Cost: $18.80 for total 1-lb. box (+ shipping)
Purchased from: Govatos Chocolate, in Wilmington, DE

Chocolate countdown: 7 more days until I eat my 1,000th different chocolate

ChocolateBet: May 30, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 oz.
Victoria's Toffee, LLC
Victoria's Toffee - "handmade gourmet toffee"
Very Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (84 grams) serving/4 oz. (114 g.) total package
Calories: 450 calories (estimate) for 3 oz.
Cost: $6.99 for total 4 oz. package
Purchased from: Draegers, in Menlo Park, CA

I can tell it's good, when I eat 3/4 of a package of chocolate -- for breakfast.

Just when I thought I might have tried every chocolate born in the (San Francisco) Bay Area, I spoke to Rich and Amy at Draegers market. Thank you to Rich for helping me find the local brands in and amongst all the bars and boxes, in the store's impressively large chocolate display area.

Chocolate countdown: 8 more days until I eat my 1,000th different chocolate in as many days

ChocolateBet: May 29, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

~ 2 oz.
Govatos Chocolates
dark chocolate covered hazelnuts
Very Good
Weight: ~ 2 oz. (56 g.) worth/1 pound-16-oz. (452 g.) in total box
Calories: ~ 300 calories in 2 oz. (estimate)
Cost: $18.80 for total 1-lb. box
Purchased from: Nicky at Govatos Chocolates (via phone), in Wilmington, Delaware

These dark chocolate-covered hazelnut pieces were very nice. The fairly large box meant I could try these chocolates a few different ways -- plain, and then paired with various other food and drink items. For example, these went well with a little bit of homemade dried apricot pineapple jam. Thank you again to Nicky at Govatos, who helped ensure these chocolates made it out 3,000 miles to California. And yes, they did arrive in fine shape.

Chocolate countdown: 9 more days until I eat my 1,000th different chocolate.

ChocolateBet: May 28, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

Several pieces (~ 3 oz.)
Govatos Chocolates (Wilmington, DE)
Chocolate Nut Assortment Box
Very Good
1.) Chocolate (toasted) Almond Clusters - Very Good
2.) Chocolate Peanut Clusters - Very Good
Weight: 3 oz. (84 g.)/1 pound (452 g.) in total box
Calories: ~ 450 calories for 3 oz.
Cost: $18.80 for total 1-lb. box
Purchased from: Govatos Chocolates, in Wilmington, Delaware

I love dark chocolate and nuts, so a full 1-pound box of chocolate combined with different nuts is pretty much heaven. The large quantity gave me the opportunity to experiment a bit. After trying the chocolates by themselves, I combined dark chocolate and toasted almonds with fresh rosemary (from my yard). Dark chocolate and peanuts were nibbled on with a dab of homemade strawberry/banana jam (bought earlier from a roadside produce stand). I have to say I liked both of these combinations.

Chocolate countdown: 10 more days until I eat my 1000th different chocolate in as many days.

ChocolateBet: May 27, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Amano Chocolate
Jembrana (70% Cacao Minimum)
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56 grams)
Calories: 290 calories
Cost: $6.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draegers, in Menlo Park, CA

Thank you to Rick at Amano Chocolate for helping to find a local store that carry their bars, and for recommending that I try pairing chocolate with single malt scotch. I felt like the nice, smooth Jembrana flavor was overshadowed by the scotch. But, I like the idea of combining the two.

Chocolate countdown: 11 more days until I've eaten 1,000 different kinds of chocolate in 1,000 days.

ChocolateBet: May 26, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces
Seth Ellis Chocolatier (Organic, gluten- and nut-free)
1.) Raspberry Truffle - Good + - Very Good
2.) Blueberry Truffle - Good+
3.) Mint Truffle - Very Good
Weight: ~1.18 oz. (33.3 g.)/3.53 oz. (100 g.) total 9-pc. box
Calories: ~177 calories for 3 pieces
Cost: $14.99 for total 9-piece box
Purchased from: Foodzie.com/Seth Ellis Chocolatier

The natural raspberry and mint flavors made these truffles enjoyable. And I loved the molded shape of the blueberry truffle, even though it was harder to taste the fruit flavor in this one.

ChocolateBet: May 25, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Seth Ellis Chocolatier (organic, handmade, gluten- and nut-free)
1.) Ginger Truffle - Very Good +
2.) Milk Chocolate - Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: ~.8 oz. (22.2 g.)/3.53 oz. (100 g.) ttl 9-pc. box
Calories: ~120 calories for two pieces
Cost: $14.99* total for 9-piece box
Purchased from: Foodzie.com/Seth Ellis Chocolatier, in Boulder, CO

The Seth Ellis Ginger Truffle's ganache filling was great. The Milk Chocolate Truffle was nicely flavored with a little cinnamon.