ChocolateBet: November 22, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) 1 serving
Almond Dream Almond Drink
+ Valrhona Cocoa Powder + Molasses and Gingerbread Spices
= Chocolate Gingerbread Almond Smoothie
Very Good
Weight: 5 oz. (140 g.) serving
Calories: 85 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.99 (Almond Drink) + other ingredients
Purchased from: The Almond Drink was from Whole Foods in Los Altos; Valrhona Cocoa Powder was from Whole Foods in Redwood City; and spices were from my kitchen cabinets.

2.) One .5 fluid oz. sip
World Market
Gingerbread Cocoa Mix
Good ++
Weight: .5 fl. oz. (14 g.) serving/ 8 oz. (226 g.) total container (cocoa mix)
Calories: 20 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.99 for total container (dry mix)
Purchased from: World Market, in Mountain View, CA


Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Gingerbread Theme Week, and today I tried one cold smoothie and 1 hot beverage that incorporated chocolate and gingerbread flavors.

The cold chocolate gingerbread almond smoothie drink, was surprisingly good. And, no blender to wash. I was able to use the half-full container that held the Almond Dream Almond Drink (aka almond milk) as a blender -- i.e. to shake these ingredients together and make this smoothie. I followed the recipe on the carton for a chocolate smoothie, substituting Valrhona dark cocoa powder in place of chocolate syrup, and adding a 1/2 teaspoon of gingerbread "sauce" (molasses, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and other spices) to the mix. Just shake and you've got a healthy version of a chocolate gingerbread almond milkshake.

The hot beverage was made from World Market's Gingerbread Cocoa Mix. It was a bit sweeter than my non-dairy almond smoothie (above), and quite good as well.

ChocolateBet: November 21, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 small piece
Vosges
Gingerbread Toffee
Good
Weight: .3 oz. (45 g.) 4 oz. (113 g.) ttl box
Calories: 45 calories (estimate)
Cost: $13.00 for 1 box
Purchased from: Vosges store, in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Gingerbread Theme Week, and I tried the second of two Vosges entries in this category: the company's Holiday Gingerbread Toffee. (I had tried the Vosges Gingerbread Toffee Bar earlier this week.)

Small bark-like pieces of Holiday Gingerbread Toffee contained, (according to the label on the silver box): "Sweet butter toffee with ginger, Ceylon cinnamon, Grenadian nutmeg, Jamaican allspice, and 65% cacao dark chocolate." The toffee pieces were coated with pecan and walnut crumbs. The description sounded great; however, I think I preferred the Vosges Gingerbread Toffee Bar over this toffee.

ChocolateBet: November 20, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Max Brenner
Chocolate Truffles with gingerbread spices
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .45 oz. (12.7 g.) (estimate) / 2.8 oz. (79 g.) bag (estimate)
Calories: 66 calories (estimate)
Cost: $14.50 for 1 bag of 9 truffles
Purchased from: Max Brenner, Ceasars Palace, Las Vegas, NV

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Gingerbread Theme Week. Last weekend I bought a small bag of dark chocolate truffles with gingerbread spices at Max Brenner's shop, in the Forum Shops area of Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

These Max Brenner truffles (carefully hand-crafted, judging from the style and the price) had dark chocolate whipped cream centers and were rolled in cocoa powder. These truffles were on the bittersweet side -- which is great if you're not fond of overly sweet chocolates. My only complaint: the gingerbread spices were barely detectable.

The Las Vegas location, contained both a shop, a small bar/counter, and cafe, and opened a few months ago. "Max Brenner, the bald man, is creating a new chocolate culture," we're told on the company's website. I did not have time to investigate the sit-down menu or to fully experience this new culture. But, I look forward to doing so the next time I visit Las Vegas.

ChocolateBet: November 19, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Hotel Chocolat LTD
Gingerbread Truffle
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .41 oz. (11.6 g.)/ 12.36 oz. (350 g.) total box of 30 pieces
Calories: 61.5 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A - evaluation sample
Purchased from: N/A - From Hotel Chocolat LTD, London, England

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Gingerbread Theme Week.  Each chocolatier or chocolate maker this week has successfully put their own unique spin on their gingerbread-inspired chocolates. Chocolate and Gingerbread entries this week (will) include: gingerbread truffles, bars, toffees, hot cocoa, and cookies.

The Hotel Chocolat  Gingerbread Truffle, from the company's Sleekster Classic Christmas collection, had a sweet gingerbread center that reminded me of being a young child in the kitchen, getting a lick of gingerbread batter. Wonderful.

ChocolateBet: November 18, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1 square
Vosges Haut Chocolat
Gingerbread Toffee Bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .375 oz. (10.6 g.) / 3 oz. (84.9 g.) total bar
Calories: 54 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.50 for one bar
Purchased from: Vosges shop, in The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV

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

This Vosges Gingerbread Toffee Bar contained tiny bits of sugary toffee in dark (65% cacao) chocolate. The spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, etc.) in the toffee bits were quite mild in the piece I tasted.

ChocolateBet: November 17, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Theo Chocolate
Gingerbread Spice Milk Chocolate (bar)
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 3 oz. (84 g.) total bar
Calories: 79 calories (estimate)
Cost: $5.50 for one bar
Purchased from: Kepler's Books and Magazines, Menlo Park, CA

Gingerbread with chocolate is a perfect comfort food combination, especially as the weather cools down and the last sparkle of colorful fall leaves starts to fade. I've been wanting to do a Chocolate and Gingerbread Theme Week for awhile, and fortunately I found several items that fit into this theme -- including this very tasty Theo Chocolate Gingerbread Spice Milk Chocolate (45% cacao), organic and fair trade bar.

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Gingerbread Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: November 16, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Chocolate Momotombo (Nicaragua)
Banana Whiskey Chocolates
Very Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 6.36 oz. (180 g.) total 9-piece box
Calories: 196 calories (estimate)
Cost: $15.00 total box for 9 pieces
Purchased from: Chocolate Momotombo booth at Luxury Chocolate Salon, held at Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA

These unique, refrigerated chocolate balls (individually wrapped in gold paper) were infused with bananas and a hint of whiskey. The almost chewy texture would also make these chocolates a delicious accompaniment to fresh banana ice cream or other related dessert.  I hope that Chocolate Momotombo founder, Carlos Mann, finds a U.S. distributor soon, so more people can enjoy these.

Note: the chocolates pictured above in the open, nine-piece box are a combination of Banana Whiskey Chocolates and Mani (peanut) chocolates rolled in sesame seeds.