ChocolateBet: August 15, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
fleurir chocolates
Lavender Shiraz
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.2 g.) (estimate) / 9 oz., 18-piece assortment box
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ part of a larger, 18-piece, $34.00 assortment box
Purchased from: fleurir chocolates, via foodzie.com

Today was #6 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week. As often happens, I wonder, after eating almost 1,800 different chocolates already, how I'll manage to find 7 different, new chocolates for a theme week like this. But, many of us are lucky to live in such an abundant chocolate universe that such a thing is possible.

Lavender and Rose tend to be the most popular floral flavors co-mingled with chocolate. Today's chocolate from fleurir  (Washington, D.C.) adds a hint of Australian Shiraz (red wine) to Maryland lavender for something a little different. Both of these flavors in the ganache were fairly subtle. It's difficult to tell whether this low-key flavor burst was chosen as the optimal blend, was the preference of the chocolate chef, or whether the two flavors might have neutralized each other a bit. I'm curious to try sipping a red wine or two with a lavender chocolate. More research is called for. Fortunately, I have friends who will help compare notes.

ChocolateBet: August 14, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Maison Bouche
Rose - Lait
Very Good +
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) (estimate)/ 3 oz. (84.9 g.) (guess) for total package of 12 tiny bars
Calories: 37 calories (estimate)
Cost: $18.00 for package of 12 pieces
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Today was a lazy summer Sunday, one of the few I've had in recent days. So, it was great to stop and smell the roses, literally. Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week. This very small milk (lait) chocolate Rose bar from Maison Bouche (Oakland, CA) was imbued with a wonderful, natural rose floral taste.

ChocolateBet: August 13, 2011

Chocolate of the Day: 

1 bar
Maison Bouche
Lavende Hautes-Alpes et Fleur de Sel
Very Good +
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 37 calories (estimate)
Cost: $18.00 for total package of 12 pieces/tiny bars
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA


Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week. This tiny little Maison Bouche (Oakland, CA) Lavender and sea salt milk chocolate bar, scored into 15 even tinier squares, was a little piece of heaven. I savored each tiny bite. I loved that I could actually taste the lavender.

ChocolateBet: August 12, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:


Mink Chocolates


1.) Mermaid's Choice bar - 1/4 bar
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.5 g.) in 1/4 bar/ 1.79 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 50 calories
Cost: $7.00 ($6.25 + .75 HST in Canada)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

2.) ...By Any Other Name bar - 1/4 bar
Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.5 g.) in 1/4 bar/ 1.79 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 70 calories
Cost: $7.00 ($6.25 + .75 HST in Canada)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week.

Salt caramel and chocolate together make for a robust flavor combination, and any flower flavors, e.g. lavender or rose, need to be amped up, if they are to be noticed. I was wanting to add extra flower flavorings to salt caramel + flower bars earlier this week. (Flower catsup?).

Today, I decided to go back to two different bars, both from Mink Chocolates (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) -- one salt caramel bar with rosemary, and a separate (white) chocolate bar with rose. Mink offers numerous bars with different fillings and flavor combinations.

What's with the mermaid you ask? The rosemary in the first "Mermaid's Choice" bar was lovely, and strong enough to stand up to the burnt caramel filling, fleur de sel, and the dark (70% cacao) chocolate bar base/coating. These flavors were all very well balanced.

The second Mink Chocolates bar that I tried was a white chocolate bar called "...By Any Other Name"and was embedded with pretty, organic rose petals. I don't normally eat white chocolate, and could taste the higher fat content in this bar. Unfortunately, I couldn't taste the rose, which, had it been stronger, would have balanced this "fat" taste out. This bar is of high enough quality that it could certainly be repurposed. I will try to make a hot beverage or mousse from this bar later. And, I will likely add rosewater. I do like my flavors/additions.

ChocolateBet: August 11, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

.5 oz. piece
schokolade artisan chocolates
Caramel and Lavender Sea Salt Dark Bar
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 74 calories (estimate) in .5 oz. piece
Cost: $4.49 (+ HST tax in Canada)
Purchased from: Urban Fare #7618 (Alberni), Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week; and also Day #2 Chocolate and Flower Theme Week.

This attractive, single origin, dark (70%) chocolate bar, from schokolade artisan chocolates (based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), was decorated with white chocolate, and was filled with an appealing layer of caramel filling.

The flower in question today was lavender -- in the form of lavender sea salt. I could not taste any lavender, which was disappointing. However, if just the salt was infused with this floral flavor, then the dark chocolate and caramel filling in this bar could have overwhelmed this subtle flavor.

Note: posts and pictures were delayed this week due to travel.

ChocolateBet: August 10, 2011

Chocolate of the Day: 

1/3 bar
Vosges Haut Chocolat
Blood Orange Caramel bar
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 127 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.50 (approximately) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Vosges shop, Caesar's Palace; in Las Vegas, NV

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week.

This unique dark (70% cacao) bar from Vosges (based in Chicago), was flavored with blood orange, hibiscus flowers and Campari; and I enjoyed this flavor combination. However, unlike some plain chocolate bars, brownies or cookies, the more subtle flavors in this bar tended to dissipate once the silver wrapper had been opened, so don't delay in finishing this up or sharing it with others.

Note: posts and pictures were delayed this week due to travel.

ChocolateBet: August 9, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/3 bar
Vosges Haut Chocolat
Black Salt Caramel Bar
Good+
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 134 calories
Cost: $7.50 (estimate)
Purchased from: Vosges shop, Caesar's Palace; in Las Vegas, NV

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week. Many wonderful combinations of salt, caramel and chocolate are available. Today's Vosges bar was made with "black Hawaiian sea salt; burnt sugar caramel; and dark chocolate (70% cacao).

Note: Pictures and posts were delayed due to travel this week.