ChocolateBet: August 20, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 truffle
beekind
Dark Chocolate Honey Truffle
Good +
Weight: .3 oz. (9.43 g.) (estimate for 1/2 truffle)
Calories: 45 calories
Cost: $3.00 for 1 truffle
Purchased from: beekind, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

This big, fat dark chocolate honey bumblebee of a truffle from beekind (Sebastopol, CA) was all about the rich, creamy dark ganache -- akin to a rich, chocolate creme brulee. I did not, however, taste any distinct honey taste. Tomorrow

I'll try the milk chocolate version of this same truffle to see if I can taste a bit o' the bee.

Hats off to the Saffron and Acacia Honey (see yesterday's post) that I bought at beekind, along with these dark and milk chocolate honey truffles. The combination of the saffron and the honey yesterday was amazing, especially with some lavender buds over vanilla ice cream.

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

ChocolateBet: August 19, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/4 bar
Rococo Chocolates
Lavender (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .62 oz. (17.5 g.) / 2.47 oz. (70 g.) total bar
Calories: 89 calories (estimate)
Cost: $12.00 total bar
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Another dispatch from the land of milk and honey. Today's report: saffron honey and vanilla ice cream star in a chocolate sundae topped with dried lavender buds, and lavender dark chocolate sauce (made from a few small squares from a Rococo Chocolates Lavender dark chocolate bar, melted in the microwave oven).

Saffron honey* is one of the most decadent substances I've tasted in a long while (since rose petal preserves). Saffron blends fairly well with chocolate. And the bright orange saffron color of this liquid honey contrasted nicely with the slightly crunchy, dried purple lavender buds. My only complaint about this chocolate bar was that the chocolate was a little too rich, and too dark, at least for this sundae that was filled with beautiful, subtle flavors that were worth savoring on their own.

*Note: Saffron and Acacia Honey was purchased from beekind (Sebastopol, CA) at their Ferry Building, San Francisco location.

ChocolateBet: August 18, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Moonstruck Chocolatier
Dark Chocolate Daisies
Good +
Weight: 4.45 oz. (126.1 g.) total package
Calories: 50 calories (estimate)
Cost: $10.95 total package (Moonstruck website)
Purchased from: Farm Fresh store, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Greetings from the land of milk and honey -- a place that always sounds bountiful and pleasant in story books. Well, if I can't live in such an imaginary place, I can create a reasonable facsimile, or should I say chocolate facsimile (chocsimile), of such a place.

Welcome to the last, extended day (Day # 9) of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week, and the first day of Chocolate and Honey Theme Week. Today's combination of Fage Lowfat (2%) Yogurt with Honey -- poured over the top -- was garnished with a realistic-looking, molded, solid dark chocolate daisy from (Portland, OR based) Moonstruck Chocolatier.

ChocolateBet: August 17, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Rose Caramel
Recchiuti Confections
Very Good
Weight: .3 oz. (8.5 g.)
Calories: 45 calories (estimate)

Cost: $1.80
Purchased from: Recchiuti Confections (store), Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week -- one of many theme weeks I am happy to extend by a few days to fit in more excellent chocolates in this category.

This unique-looking, elongated, triangular piece from Recchiuti Confections (based in San Francisco, CA) was a classy mix of 3 looks: white chocolate on the top, darker chocolate on the base, and rich caramel-colored -- well, soft, flowing caramel -- in the middle.

There was just enough rose flavor in the caramel to make it intriguing -- intriguingly frustrating that is. Recchiuti does make fine chocolate confections; however, their flavors are a bit more muted than I'd like sometimes. The chocolate is taking center stage and not the flavors -- in their truffles and filled chocolate case at least. Just roll me in the most fragrant rose petals available and I'd be a happy gal.

ChocolateBet: August 16, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/4 bar
Rococo Chocolates
Rose Otto bar
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .62 oz. (17.5 g.)/ 2.47 oz. (70 g.) total bar
Calories: 93 calories (estimate)
Cost: $12.00 total bar
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

This Rose Otto bar, from Rococo Chocolates (London) -- made with smooth, Organic milk chocolate -- was redolent with natural rose flavor. While it might be too floral for some, I really appreciated being able to actually smell and taste the roses today, and would happily buy this bar again in the future.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week; however, I'll be extending this theme week for a few days, as I really enjoy floral flavors. And, thankfully, there are many different chocolates available in this category to try.

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.