ChocolateBet: August 15, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
3 pieces
Jacques Torres Chocolate
1.) Fresh Squeezed Lemon (2 pieces) - Very Good +
2.) Golden Espresso (1 piece) - Very Good +
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28.3 grams) for 3 pieces
Calories: ~150 calories (estimate)
Cost: ~$4.89 (estimate - including New York City sales tax)
Purchased from: Jacques Torres Chocolate, in New York City, New York

I like the combination of dark chocolate, lemon, and espresso - so eating these flavors all together in one sitting was pretty heavenly.

ChocolateBet: August 14, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces
Jacques Torres Chocolate
1.) Alize Hearts of Passion - Very Good
2.) Ginger - Very Good +
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28.3) grams
Calories: ~150 calories (estimate)
Cost: ~$3.26 (including New York City sales tax)
Purchased from: Jacques Torres Chocolate, (downtown location) New York City, New York

The Ginger chocolate was the winner here. The ginger flavor was authentic and strong enough to stand up to the dark chocolate ganache. Ole! The heart-shaped heart of passion (flavored with passion fruit) with Alize liqueur was nice as well.

ChocolateBet: August 13, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

2 pieces
Jacques Torres Chocolate
1.) Menage a Trois (Dark) - Very Good +
2.) Almondine - Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28.3 grams) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: ~ 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: ~$3.26 (including NYC sales tax)
Purchased from: Jacques Torres Chocolate, in New York City, New York

I am dreaming of a box of chocolates from Jacques Torres (aka Mr. Chocolate). Is that why the image of this box looks so fuzzy? (No, actually the pretty orange ribbon prevented the box from laying flat in my scanner.) Oh well, I am not dreaming...and because there is no one around I have to set a good example for, I can eat these chocolates for breakfast. Hurray.

"Menage a Trois" in this case refers to a mix of three (undisclosed) flavors blended in one dark chocolate. Does mystery sell chocolate? I'll bet it does. (Patrons are advised "Don't Ask!"...as in we won't give the secret away.) I bought a few, to try to identify what the three mystery flavors were. Honey perhaps?

The Almondine was a little too sweet for my taste, but still good. I was interested in trying a chocolate filled with "crushed candied almonds." That sounds great. The Jacques Torres logo/signature is printed across the top.

ChocolateBet: August 12, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
3 pieces
Kee's Chocolates
1.) Kaffir Lime (1 piece) - Very Good
2.) Pignoli (pine nut) (2 pcs.) - Very Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 grams) for 3 pieces
Calories: ~210 calories (estimate) for 3 pieces
Cost: ~$6.75 (for 3 pieces)
Purchased from: Kee's Chocolates, in New York City, New York

The round-shaped Pignoli had a great dark chocolate ganache filling, and was coated in toasted pine nuts.

The second chocolate I tried today was the Kaffir Lime. I like this flavor. However, I noticed that the same Kaffir Lime chocolate tasted a little bit better a few days ago. I'm guessing warm summer weather may have degraded the taste of this flavoring slightly over a day or two. Fresh is usually best. I am sorry I couldn't carry home Champagne, Fennel, and many other flavors to try from Kee's. I will have to order some online, maybe when the weather cools down.

I like summer, and I don't much care for winter. I'm always looking for some things to like about the cold and gray season. Being able to ship chocolate back and forth with greater ease should definitely be on my Why I Don't Hate Winter list.

ChocolateBet: August 11, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces
Kee's Chocolates
1.) Black Sesame - Very Good +
2.) Thai Chili - Good + - Very Good
3.) Lemongrass Mint - Not good
Weight: ~1.4 oz. (40 grams) for 3 pieces (estimate)
Calories: ~210 calories (estimate) for 3 pieces
Cost: ~$6.75 for 3 pieces (inclu. NYC sales tax)
Purchased from: Kee's Chocolates in (SoHo area of) New York City, New York

I loved the small macaroons from Kee's Chocolates I ate yesterday, and was looking forward to trying these chocolates. The Black Sesame was very nice, with a dark ganache filling and a coating of toasted black and white sesame seeds. The Thai Chili chocolate was also good; the chili flavor was very subtle. Unfortunately, the Lemongrass Mint, leaf-shaped chocolate tasted off, with a slight ammonia-ish or cleaning fluid flavor. I'm looking forward to trying Kaffir Lime and Pignoli (pine nuts) chocolates tomorrow.

ChocolateBet: August 10, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
6 tiny macaroons
Kee's Chocolates LLC
Assortment bag of 6 tiny macaroons
1.) Rosewater Lychee - Very Good + - Yum
2.) Jasmine Green Tea (chocolate filling) - Good + - Very Good
3.) Raspberry (chocolate filling) - Very Good - Very Good +
4.) Kaffir Lime (chocolate filling) - Very Good + - Yum
5.) Cassis (chocolate filling) - Good +
6.) Passion Fruit (chocolate filling) - Very Good +
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37 grams) for one bag of (6) assorted flavors
Calories: ~ 175 calories for bag of 6 (estimate)
Cost: ~$6.00 for 1 bag
Purchased from: Kee's Chocolates, in SoHo area of New York City, New York

I love chocolatiers who experiment with new flavor combinations. And Kee's offers the most wonderful flavor selection of macaroons (macarons) that I've seen to date. My three favorites were: 1.) Kaffir Lime (with chocolate filling); 2.) Passion Fruit (also with chocolate filling); and 3.) Rosewater Lychee (no chocolate in the filling). The kaffir lime and passion fruit were not overly sweet, and I could really taste the authentic fruit flavors. The tiny size of the ones I bought in the assortment bag meant I was able to taste more of them, which was great. (Note: Images above belong to Kee's Chocolates, and are from Kee's website.)

ChocolateBet: August 9, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces

La Maison Du Chocolat

1.) Champagne Cognac - Very Good + - Yum

2.) Jolika (pistachio infused almond paste) - Very Good; a bit sweet

3.) Rocher Noire - Very Good +

Weight: ~ .65 oz. (18.4 grams) for 3 pieces

Calories: ~ 95 calories for 3 pieces

Cost: ~$3.87 for 3 pieces (including NYC sales tax)

Purchased from: La Maison Du Chocolat, in Rockefeller Center, New York City, New York

Barring a trip to Paris, New York was the closest I could get to trying La Maison du Chocolat chocolates in person. (There are no other locations in the U.S.)I like champagne truffles; if this fact were ever in question, I think this champagne cognac truffle put this to rest. (Alas, I have no image for this truffle). I also really liked the Rocher Noire (pictured above).

We also had the opportunity to take a brief walk through 30 Rockefeller Center, where this shop was located, where "30 Rock" the television show takes place -- well at least the exterior shots. No Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) or other celebrity sightings to report.