ChocolateBet: January 3, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Eclipse Chocolat
Orange Peel Anise (bar)
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (84 g.) in total bar
Calories: 450 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, in San Francisco, CA

This orange peel infused dark chocolate (61% cacao) bar was "spiced with star anise."
Yes, 3 ounces of chocolate is a lot. My justification: this bar helped fortify my walk across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco today.

ChocolateBet: January 2, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 cup
TCHO
Hot Chocolate
Very Good +
Weight: 10-oz. cup
Calories: ~ 250 calories (guesstimate)
Cost: $3.50 for 1 cup
Purchased from: TCHO, Pier 17, in San Francisco, CA

Time to rejoice. TCHO makes a hot chocolate with high-quality chocolate, that is not overly sweet. It's worth making a trip to the source, TCHO's shop on the waterfront. There were no TCHO tours, but some of their chocolates were available for tasting. The chocolate sign along the Embarcadero helped point the way. I stopped at here today as part of my walk-around-San Francisco-Bay I'm doing. (See also http://walkingthebay.blogspot.com.) Walking is a great way to discover new places and get some exercise. That, and I can justify eating a few more chocolates.

ChocolateBet: January 1, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1/8 bar
Patisserie Chocolaterie Pralus s.a.s.
Le 100% Criollo
Very Good
Weight: .437 oz. (12.5 g.)/3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 63 calories (estimate)
Cost: $8.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, in San Francisco, CA

Why not start 2010 with a full commitment to cacao? This 100% cacao bar, known simply and factually as "Le 100%," does not waste space on any added sugar or other sweeteners, milk products or fancy flavorings or fillers. Here you simply get to taste what Criollo cacao beans are all about. A little bit of olive and earth, and a slightly acidic taste. Or, as my sister said about a preview taste during Christmas dinner last week: "It tastes like dirt." Yes, but in a good way.

ChocolateBet: December 31, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 chocolate cups
Dobla B.V.
Cordial and Toasting Cups
Very Good
Weight:  .32 oz. (9 g.) for 2 cups/1.9 oz. (54 g.) for 12 cups
Calories: 45 calories
Cost: $3.99 for a box of 12 cups
Purchased from: T.J. Maxx, in San Francisco, CA

Happy New Year's Eve to all. And what better way to usher in a new decade than to toast 2010 with some brandy in tiny Dark Belgian Chocolate Cordial and Tasting cups from Dobla (The Netherlands).

ChocolateBet: December 30, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

2 pieces
Alegio Chocolate
1.) Ecuador - 90%
2.) Venezuela - 72%
Weight: .8 oz. (22 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Alegio Chocolate, in Manika Jewelry, Maiden Lane, San Francisco, CA

These were two very nice, rich dark chocolates from Berkeley, CA-based Alegio Chocolate -- purchased in their newest location at Manika Jewelry near Union Square in San Francisco.

My favorite was the 90% cacao from Ecuador (shown with the hummingbird decoration above). However, on a different occasion, it might be the Venezuela (with the girl and butterfly), which today was just a nano-measure too sweet for me.

Such is the nature of food, wine and chocolate. I know I like something on the first try; however, the finer points of flavor preference are easily influenced by other factors, such as how hungry I am or what I've just eaten; my surroundings and/or mood; the freshness of the chocolate; etc. It's a great problem to have, trying to decide between two fine chocolates.

ChocolateBet: December 29, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Xocolatl de David
72% Ecuadorian Chocolate with Black Truffle and Sea Salt
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: .5 oz. (14 g.) in 1 small, square bar
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.00 (need to verify)
Purchased from: Far West Fungi, in the Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Fungi and dark chocolate. It was so much better than it sounds. Then again, I like savory flavors and salt melded with chocolate.  I'm going back for more next time I head into downtown San Francisco.

ChocolateBet: December 28, 2009

Chocolate(s)  of the Day:

1.) Clarine's Florentines
1/2 cookie, Florentine
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: Approx. .5 oz. (14.1 g.)/5.5 oz. (155 g.) total pkg.
Calories: 75 calories (guesstimate)
Cost: $8.99
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, in San Francisco, CA

2.)  Nestle Butterfinger pieces in milk chocolate
"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
1 serving, medallion
Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (34 g.) total package
Calories: 160 calories
Cost: $
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

One round, flat chocolate item does not equal another. It is unfair to compare these two chocolate items; however, I will. They both involve chocolate and nuts in some combination, and were holiday treats.

The Butterfinger medallion, stamped with Santa's jolly face, was good. However, I tend to favor dark chocolates made with a smaller number of high-quality ingredients.

Clarine's Florentines were the run-away winner here. These thin almond and chocolate confections were a hit with my extended family. In fact, I had to hustle to save half a Florentine to eat later (today). They were disappearing very quickly at our table. These Florentines were also gluten free, pleasing the non-wheat eaters.