ChocolateBet: April 2, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces
Coco Delice Fine Chocolates
1.) Spicy Rouge - Very Good +
2.) Port - Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 145 calories (estimate) for two pieces
Cost: $
Purchased from: Coco Delice, at the San Francisco Chocolate Salon, in San Francisco, CA

I have a weakness for dark chocolate blended with wine and/or liquor. And, while I liked both of these Coco Delice chocolates very much, I especially liked the Spicy Rouge (pictured above, left) -- a well-balanced blend of dark chocolate ganache, Italian red sparkling wine, and cayenne pepper.

There are an increasing number of opportunities in Northern California to sample dark chocolate and red wine, together, in pairings, or flights. So, I'm challenging myself to find enough of these combinations to last for several days. Today is Day #1 of Chocolate and Red Wine Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: April 1, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Coco-luxe Confections
"Jamesons" truffle
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.7 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 70 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00
Purchased from: Coco-luxe store in San Francisco, CA

Happy St. Patrick's Day. April Fools! Today is really April 1st. However, this very tasty Jamesons chocolate, topped with green dots and flavored with Jameson Irish Whiskey, was a great seasonal choice for March.  I bought this in the Coco-luxe San Francisco shop, at the tail end of March. Chocolate chicks, bunnies and other items are now on display.

I look forward to returning to this location to try the chocolate and red wine (122 degrees West Wines) pairings, which started a few months ago. With luck, I'll find a parking place near this Haight Ashbury stop on the first go around with the car.

ChocolateBet: March 31, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/6 bar
Chocolat Moderne
Moderne Kashmir Spice Chocolate and Toffee Bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .58 oz. (16.6 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 95 calories
Cost: $9.00 for total bar
Purchased from: The Candy Store, in San Francisco, CA


Chocolate and Toffee Theme Week came to an exotic close today (Day #7), with the inclusion of this deep milk chocolate (51% cacao) Kashmir Spice bar.  The butter toffee in this gluten-free bar was infused with cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. These spices were present, but not overpowering.

ChocolateBet: March 30, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 bars
Weight Watchers
English Toffee Crunch - ice cream bars
Good +
Weight: 3.5 fl. oz. (103.4 mL) for 2 bars / 21 fl oz. (621 mL) in entire box of 12 bars
Calories: 200 calories for 2 bars
Cost: $3.99 for total box/package
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

Today (March 30) was Day #6 of Chocolate and Toffee Theme Week -- and, apparently, drowning in holidays day. These Weight Watchers bars are made with low fat toffee ice cream and have a milk chocolate flavored coating, with some toffee pieces. Made in Le Mars, Iowa (the self-proclaimed ice cream manufacturing capital of the world), these toffee ice cream bars are only 100 calories each. I'm sure the low calorie count tempts people to have more than one bar. OK, maybe it was just me.  I had "only" two bars, because I wanted to honor today's strange holiday: "I am in Control Day" (www.holidayinsights.com).  And now I'm going for a walk in the park for some exercise. (Coincidentally, today's other lesser known holiday is "Take a Walk in the Park Day.")
On a more serious note, Passover begins today. It's a good time to try out flourless chocolate cake recipes.

ChocolateBet: March 29, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 package
Marich Confectionery Co.
Chocolate Toffee Pistachios
Good +
Weight: 2.25 oz. (63 g.)/ 4.5 oz. (125 g.) in total package
Calories: 315 calories
Cost: $
Purchased from: Safeway

Marich Confectionery Co., based in Hollister, CA, was started as a family business. And members of the same family are still there today. Marich makes a variety of chocolates and candies, including a few different toffee and nut products. In this case, California pistachios were glazed with toffee, and then coated with milk chocolate.

Today (March 29), according to www.holidayinsights.com, is also National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day. Best wishes to all family-owned and/or operated chocolate businesses everywhere. And, today is also Day #5 of Chocolate and Toffee Theme Week here at the Chocolate Banquet blog.

ChocolateBet: March 28, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Chocolove
Toffee and Almonds in Milk Chocolate
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37 grams) in 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories
Cost: $1.19
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in San Rafael, CA

I enjoyed this smaller (1.3 oz./37 grams) Chocolove bar.  The milk chocolate bar, with 33% cacao content, was a little on the sweet side for me, but still good. And, like the larger Chocolove bars, this smaller bar contained a love poem (printed on the inside the wrapper).

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Toffee Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: March 27, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 package
Coco-luxe, llc
Sugar Pine Bark
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) total package
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in one package/bag
Cost: $ (don't have receipt)
Purchased from: Coco-luxe, llc, at the Chocolate Salon in San Francisco, CA

The pieces of pine nut and sage toffee embedded in these pieces of dark chocolate bark were especially tasty.

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Toffee Theme Week.