ChocolateBet: August 29, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 frozen dessert bar
Blue Bell Creameries, L.P.
Great Divide Bar
Good+
Weight: 2.75 fl. oz. (81 mL)
Calories: 210 calories
Cost: $1.25 (estimate)
Purchased from: Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Magnolia Cafe, Theodore, Alabama

I enjoy hunting for chocolates whenever I travel. What I find may be quite everyday to locals, but exotic to me. Today after touring the Bellingrath Gardens in Alabama, I enjoyed a Blue Bell Great Divide frozen dessert bar (chocolate and vanilla), in the company of three other women, from Texas, who were on the house and garden tour. Blue Bell is a Texas company, and it was once difficult to find Blue Bell ice cream and dessert products outside of Texas.

Later in the day, I stopped at a pecan stand to try some boiled peanuts. They did not have any chocolate and nut products there, but we had fun discussing what chocolate covered boiled peanuts might look like.

Note: Due to travel this month, the chocolate eating will continue, but posts and photos may be delayed.

ChocolateBet: August 28, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Terrific Toffee Treats
Walnut - Chocolate Toffee
Very Good
Weight: .7 oz. (19.8 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g.) total package/bag
Calories: 105 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $N/A
Purchased from: N/A - from Charles C., Terrific Toffee Treats, Santa Clara, CA

Fancy hotels often leave a mint on your pillow. I wasn't taking any chances, and brought my own chocolate to leave on my bed at turn-down time. Today's selection was a piece of Walnut Chocolate Tofee. Even though I dragged this toffee through airports yesterday and wet, humid weather, the piece I had was still crunchy and delicious. For those unable to eat walnuts, Terrific Toffee Treats also offers almond and peanut toffees.

Note: Due to travel this month, chocolate eating will continue, but postings and photos may be delayed.

ChocolateBet: August 27, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Terrific Toffee Treats
Peanut - Chocolate Toffee
Very Good
Weight: .7 oz. (19.8 g.) / 4 oz. (113 g) total package/bag
Calories: 105 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ N/A
Purchased from: N/A - from Charles C., Terrific Toffee Treats, Santa Clara, CA

Today was a travel day. As you may be able to see from the photos,
I was in an airport terminal.

Much better than any airport food was the Terrific Toffee Treats Peanut Chocolate Toffee I had packed in my brown bag lunch. The peanuts added a little extra texture and visual flourish to this crunchy, chocolate-coated treat.

This toffee was made by Charles Christy. Yesterday I sampled Christy's Almond Chocolate Toffee -- today I moved on to the Peanut Chocolate Toffee. And tomorrow I'll sample the Walnut toffee.

Note: Due to travel this month, chocolate eating will continue, but postings and photos will be delayed.

ChocolateBet: August 26, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1 package
Terrific Toffee Treats
Almond - Chocolate Toffee
Very Good
Weight: 4 oz. (113 g.) total package
Calories: 600 calories (estimate) in 1 4 oz. package/bag
Cost: $N/A
Purchased from N/A - from Charles Christy, Terrific Toffee Treats, Santa Clara, CA

There are many different variations on toffee, with nuts and without. Charles Christy has perfected recipes for three different nut toffee recipes: almond, peanut and walnut (pictured above right).

Today I tried Charles's Terrific Toffee Treats Almond Chocolate Toffee, and ended up polishing off an entire 4 oz. sample bag that Charles generously donated to Chocolate Banquet. I think this vanishing act (last piece shown, about to disappear, at right) helped demonstrate that this classic, butter crunch toffee was the real thing.

For more information on these toffee products, see http://www.terrifictoffeetreats.com/

Note: I will be traveling out of town in the next few weeks. Rest assured, I will continue to eat a different chocolate each day; however, posts may be delayed.

ChocolateBet: August 25, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
1.) Wild Fennel Truffle - Good + - Very Good
2.) Cardomom Truffle - Good + - Very Good
Weight: .8 oz. (22.6 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 119 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $3.75 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: The Xocolate Bar, in Berkeley, CA

Today I enjoyed two chocolates from (an earlier chocolate field trip to) The Xocolate Bar in Berkeley, CA. I like being able to taste natural spices and flavorings when they're blended and balanced well with chocolate. Both the wild fennel and the cardomom made their presence known in these chocolates.

The Xocolate Bar makes a variety of interesting chocolates (such as banana jerky, ginger bark, and naturally flavored chocolates). However, they may be most well known for their attractive and interesting molded chocolates (e.g. a chocolate buddha). The chocolate coverings are a bit hard and thick on these molded pieces. This means the chocolates hold their shape and don't leak; however, I would be interested to try some with thinner "shells" so I could enjoy more of the ganaches/fillings.

ChocolateBet: August 24, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Furuta Confectionery Co., Ltd.
(Exported by Daiso Industries Co., Ltd.)
Chocolate(s with) strawberry crem (sic) filling
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (12.66 g.) in 2 pieces / 1.8 oz. (57 g.) total package of 9 pieces
Calories: 69 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $
Purchased from: Daiso store, in Mountain View, CA

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week, and today's chocolate (individually wrapped milk chocolates filled with strawberry cream filling) from Furuta (and brought to the U.S. courtesy of Daiso) hailed from Japan. For anyone in the U.S. not familiar with Daiso, they are a very large worldwide retail chain. Daiso stores are typically packed with economically priced goods ranging from chop sticks and dishes to writing pads and wrapping paper.

It was a very hot day today (over 100 degrees Farenheit). A cool beverage was in order; so I blended some summer-themed iced water, lemonade and frozen berries to accompany these chocolates.

ChocolateBet: August 23, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Ethel's Chocolate
1.) Raspberry Champagne Tart - Good +
2.) Creme Brulee - Good
Weight: .9 oz. (25.4 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: 135 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.50 for 4 pieces in a box ($3.75 for these two chocolates)
Purchased from: Ethel's Chocolate, Las Vegas Airport, C Gate, Las Vegas, NV

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Berries Theme Week, and I sampled two individual chocolates from Ethel's Chocolate, purchased earlier during a trip to Las Vegas. The first chocolate was a Raspberry Champagne Tart, with a raspberry-flavored milk chocolate ganache filling. The second piece was a Creme Brulee milk chocolate, with a cream-type filling.

To accompany these chocolates, I poured myself a small bowl of unsweetened, frozen raspberries. I've found that frozen fruit pieces can be refreshing alternative to ice cream or sherbet on a hot day. And raspberries partner well with chocolate. Now, if only I could find an easy way to de-seed these berries without destroying the fruit.