ChocolateBet: January 19, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Godiva
Caramel Pecan Bark
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.)/12 oz. (340 g.) total tin
Calories: 230 calories
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week. I admit I'm stretching this concept with the choice of a chocolate "bark" - but this term was inspired by tree bark. Yes, I think it was. And, pecans come from trees. Yes, I think they do. Thank you to Lisa and family for this gift.

ChocolateBet: January 18, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces

Maison Bouche 

Caramel Praline Logs

Very Good

Weight: 1.4 oz. (39 g.)/2.8 oz. (78 g.) total package, clear box of 8 pcs. (estimate)

Calories: 261 calories for 4 small log pieces

Cost: $?

Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

I found a very sweet caramel filling when I bit into these log-shaped dark chocolates. I couldn't find a gluten-free buche de noel (yule log cake) in time for the Christmas holidays last month, so these were the next best thing. (Note: These seasonal caramel logs are no longer available.)

Day #3 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week

ChocolateBet: January 17, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
3 pieces/acorns
Maison Bouche
Acorns
Very Good
Weight: 1.8 oz. (51 g.) total package/clear box of 3 (estimate)
Calories: 261 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.00
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, in San Francisco, CA

The squirrels outside are probably jealous. Alas, for those of you desiring solid dark chocolate acorns to see you through the winter, I think these were seasonal items, which may be gone by now.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: January 16, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
4 pieces
Maison Bouche
Rose Marzipan Pine Cones
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 2.4 oz. (67.92 g.)/3.6 oz. (101.88 g.) total clear plastic box (estimates)
Calories: 324 calories (estimate) for 4 pine cones
Cost: $14.00 for a set of 6
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, in San Francisco, CA

I've been doing a lot of walking outside, admiring trees and the new green shoots of spring. In honor of  trees, I'm thematically mixing chocolate with tree and plant parts this week. If you like dark chocolate, marzipan/almond, and rose flavoring, this pine cone is for you. Unfortunately, these were seasonal items, and may be all sold out now.

ChocolateBet: January 15, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Anthon Berg
Danzka Cranberyraz Vodka of Denmark
Very Good
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 82 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.00
Purchased from: Venice Gourmet Delicatessen, in Sausalito, CA

A tiny chocolate bottle filled with an even smaller amount of cranberry vodka infused syrup. It was a fun start to a gloomy day, and week, outside. This vodka-inspired chocolate, from a Scandinavian country well acquainted with long winters, was from Anthon Berg. Over the past few years, I've been making my way through a variety of liquor chocsimiles from Anthon Berg, Turin and a few other manufacturers. While a fine dark chocolate is best appreciated all by its lonesome, I enjoy mixing chocolate with other flavors. And, after trying more than 1,200 chocolates in as many days, I've concluded that I'm not alone here.

ChocolateBet: January 14, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 bar
Kim's Chocolates
Cachet - Peru 64% dark chocolate bar
Very Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.)/3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 263 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 (sale)
Purchased from: Venice Gourmet Delicatessen, in Sausalito, CA

In deepest, darkest Peru....Actually this is part of the origin story of Paddington Bear (but, I digress, once again). This dark bar, made with a mix of criollo and trinitario cacao beans, was very rich, smooth, and tasty. I discovered it, not in Peru, but, when I was walking the San Francisco Bay Trail in Sausalito, CA - a beautiful city by the water - when I stopped at the Venice Gourmet Delicatessen for some dinner.

ChocolateBet: January 13, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Blue Frog Chocolates
Louisiana Seafood
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .46 oz. (13 g.)/4.6 oz. (130 g.) total package/clear plastic box
Calories: 69 calories (1 crab, 1 crawfish)

Cost: $8.00 (plus shipping for online orders)
Purchased from: Blue Frog Chocolates, in New Orleans, LA

Imagine fishing for chocolate seafood. If this were possible, you might haul up a box of these milk chocolate crabs and crawfish from Louisiana, which are "always in season," according to the Blue Frog Chocolates label.

Blue Frog also made something called the Hurricane Katrina trashpile, and a FEMA chocolate house. (I did have a chance to taste the house, but not the Katrina trashpile, which was discontinued.) Humor is often the best medicine.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Animal Theme Week.