ChocolateBet: March 25, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
1/2 piece/turtle
Robicheaux's Specialty Candy, Inc.
Pecan Turtle
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) in 1/2 piece/1 oz. (28 g.) total turtle
Calories: 70 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.75
Purchased from: Robicheaux's Specialty Candy, Inc. (via online order)

Once again I combed through odd-holiday themed information from Holiday Insights (www.holidayinsights.com) to help select a new chocolate item. For example, today (March 25) is Pecan Day, not to be confused with National Pecan Day (in April). I had squirreled away this Robicheaux's pecan turtle in my chocolate vault, for just such an occasion. A variant of this pecan turtle, eaten last year, was topped with a chocsimile (chocolate replica/facsimile) of the State of Mississippi. (Robicheaux's is in Poplarville, MS.)

Today's second chocolate of the day, was an unplanned addition in the evening. Hungry, and lacking willpower, I opened a package of Marich Chocolate Toffee Almonds. Sadly, the only image I can show is part of an empty box.

1/2 package
Marich Confectionery Co.
Chocolate Toffee Almonds
Very Good
Weight: 2.25 oz. (63 g.)/ 4.5 oz. (125 g.) in total package
Calories: 315 calories in 1/2 package (estimate)
Cost: $ (no receipt)
Purchased from: Safeway

ChocolateBet: March 24, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
5 pieces
Posh Chocolat
The chocolates (pictured, from left to right)
1.) White Truffle Oil Caramel w/ Cyprus Flaked Sea Salt
2.) (Mystery Chocolate with dark ganache, blue dots on top)
3.) Bacon Caramel with Alder Wood Smoked Salt
4.) (Rose Water with dark ganache, pink flowers on top)
5.) Coconut-Pineapple Caramel with Hawaiian Pink Sea Salt
Weight: 1.9 oz. (53 g.) (estimate) for 5 pieces
Calories: 275 calories (estimate) for 5 pieces
Cost: n/a - thank you for the samples
Purchased from: n/a - from Posh Chocolat, at the Chocolate Salon, San Francisco, CA

If you're fond of salt caramels, Posh Chocolat offers some very nicely paired flavors in their chocolate caramel line. I tried three salt caramels, and two other chocolates (shown above right). My favorites were the Bacon Caramel, although the Coconut-Pineapple Caramel was surprisingly good. The flavors tasted very authentic, and were well balanced. I also really enjoyed the Rose Water flavored chocolate. Again, very authentic. I like florals. (My apologies for not being able to identify the chocolate topped with blue dots. I couldn't find a reference photo on the Posh website for this one.)

ChocolateBet: March 23, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

2 pieces
Socola Chocolatier
1.) Notorious H.O.G. - Very Good - Very Good +
2.) Jasmine Tea - Very Good +
Weight: .84 oz. (24 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 121 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $ lost receipt
Purchased from: Socola Chocolatier, at the Chocolate Salon in San Francisco, CA

Socola (the Vietnamese word for chocolate) is run by two sisters. The company's mascot, Harriett, is a winged alpaca that appears on Socola packaging and some chocolates. I had the chance to hear about Harriett from Susan, one of the two sisters behind this venture, at the Chocolate Salon, held in San Francisco last weekend. It was fun to hear about how the company and flavors have evolved. Pictured (above right) were some items from this event.

Inside the 4-piece blue box were the two chocolates listed for today (lower right, and upper left, respectively). Notorious H.O.G. contained delicious hints of bacon. However, my favorite was the Jasmine. Exactly as advertised, all the wonderful flavor you'd find in an aromatic cup of jasmine tea.

ChocolateBet: March 22, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
1 piece
Ococoa Fine Chocolates
Almond Cherry
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A
Purchased from: N/A - Courtesy of Ococoa Chocolates, at the Chocolate Salon event, held in San Francisco, CA

I'm finally coming down from the chocolate and sugar high from the Chocolate Salon -- a one-day celebration of chocolates, organized by TasteTV, held Saturday, March 20, at Fort Mason, in San Francisco. (There are also Chocolate Salons held in other cities.)

It was a pleasure to talk with chocolatiers and small chocolate business owners in person. Yes, there were many who hailed from the San Francisco area, but also other from other cities. Two companies from the Los Angeles area I enjoyed meeting were: Ococoa Fine Chocolates and Choclatique. Also, Posh Chocolat, from Missoula, Montana, is proof that talented people can create chocolates anywhere they wish. More about these companies this week...

With so many trees in blossom now, today I was inspired to try Ococoa's Almond Cherry chocolate, which had a cherry blossom swirl design on top. I enjoyed the layering of ingredients inside a slightly deeper cup shape, with almond butter on top and flavorful, authentic cherry on the bottom. Very nice.

ChocolateBet: March 21, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Coco Delice Fine Chocolates
Orange Cardamom
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: ~ .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 70 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Coco Delice, (at Chocolate Salon in San Francisco, CA)

Orange and cardamom are a particularly nice combination of flavors when mixed with chocolate. I've had this combination once before, and had the same reaction. Thumbs up.

Thank you to Chef Dennis, at Coco Delice, who allowed me to nab an orange cardomom display model (one of only three pieces that were left), and who also explained the inspiration behind the company's peanut butter bonbons (that I tried earlier this week). As young chef(s) he (and his brother) experimented with melting down chocsimiles (of e.g. chocolate easter rabbits and the like) to create their own chocolate and peanut butter items.  That early practice paid off.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a picture of this chocolate before eating it. So, I will refer all interested parties to www.cocodelice.com. (Note: the image to the right came from this website.)

ChocolateBet: March 20, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 kids scoops
Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream
1.) Chocolate + Salt Caramel - Very Good
2.) Peanut Butter Curry - Very Good
Weight: 5 oz. (143 calories) (estimate)
Calories: 330 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.50 for 2 kids cups

Big chocolate day in San Francisco. I stopped by the Walt Disney Family Museum (they carry a few chocolates in their gift shop); and attended the Chocolate Salon show at Fort Mason, organized by TasteTV and with other sponsors. You'll be hearing more about this event in the next few days. It was a great opportunity to taste many new and interesting chocolates.

Last, but not least, I visited Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream (in the Mission) on the way home. I'd been planning to stop here for awhile. My one requirement: to find parking within 10 minutes of driving around the area. The list of unique flavors on the Humphry Slocombe website looked intriguing - and many of them didn't even involve chocolate. (Surprise.)  This no-chocolate problem can easily be remedied. Hello chocolate sundae made with chevre and strawberry jam ice cream, the next time this flavor is available. Today was my lucky day. I found a space a block away, and I enjoyed both the chocolate + salt caramel and peanut butter curry flavors. Pictured are both kid-sized scoops (in cups). The second photo was an accident, but it did capture today's chocolate and sugar activity level.

ChocolateBet: March 19, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2/3 package
Coco Delice Fine Chocolates
Peanut Butter Bonbons
Very Good +
Weight: 4 oz. (113 g.)/6 oz. (169 g.) total package/bag
Calories: 600 calories (estimate)
Cost: $12.99
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in San Rafael, CA

Yes, you are correct. Four ounces was a large serving of bonbons. I was eating them after a very long walk today, along with much healthier food and drink. And they were good.