ChocolateBet: August 17, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Jacques Torres Chocolate
Grand Cru
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: ~.35 oz. (9.9 grams)
Calories: Very Good + - Yum; ~ 52.5 cals.
Cost: ~$1.63 (including NYC Sales Tax)
Purchased from: Jacques Torres Chocolate, in New York City, New York

The Grand Cru chocolate that I ate this morning had a very nice distribution of red wine and dark chocolate flavors. Like wine, the same brand and flavor of chocolate can vary over time and under different circumstances. (This is why I don't do more formal ratings for different chocolates.) Today, I'm happy to have enjoyed this very nice chocolate. And while this Grand Cru won't appear on this blog again, I hope I can try another one of these in the future.

ChocolateBet: August 16, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces
Jacques Torres Chocolate
1.) Wicked Fun - Very Good +
2.) Bin 27 Port - Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: ~.7 oz. (20 grams) for 2 pieces
Calories: ~ 105 calories for 2 pieces
Cost: ~$3.26 ($3.00 + 8.8% NYC Sales Tax)
Purchased from: Jacques Torres Chocolate, in New York City, New York

Wicked Fun provided a spicy kick at the end, courtesy of ancho and chipotle chilies mixed into the ganache filling. The second chocolate of the day had a more plain exterior, but its dark chocolate ganache was infused with Taylor Fonseca Bin 27 Port. These would make nice after dinner chocolates; but, if you're like me, any time of day is right for chocolate.

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.