ChocolateBet: October 6, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 package
Planters
Flavor Grove Almonds - Cocoa Cinnamon
Good +
Weight: 1.48 oz. (42 g.) total package
Calories: 230 calories
Cost: $0.99
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week. And, even better, this bag of "Flavor Grove" Almonds from Planters featured Mr. Peanut -- the company's beloved monocle- and top hat wearing legume. No other peanut in the shell that I've seen wears white gloves and carries a black cane. Mr. Peanut is one classy nut.

The cocoa and cinnamon almonds in this single serving bag were not too sweet -- which I liked.

ChocolateBet: October 5, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2 donuts
Kinnikinnick Foods Inc.
1.) Chocolate Dipped Donuts - Good +
2.) Cinnamon Sugar Donuts - Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.9 oz. + 1.6 oz.
Calories: 170 + 220 = 390 calories for 2
Cost: $6.49 x 2
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week. Those who follow this blog know that I avoid wheat/gluten, which means I am largely cake, cookie and donut-deprived. It's probably better that way; however, I do miss some of these items occasionally.

So I was thrilled to find these bad boys -- Gluten Free Cinnamon Sugar and Chocolate Dipped Donuts from Kinnikinnick Foods (Alberta, Canada). I heated these up for a few seconds, and enjoyed one of each flavor with a mug of hot tea.

ChocolateBet: October 4, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocolat Moderne
Don Juan - yellow bonbon
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) total package of 5 "Devotion" bonbons
Calories: 74 calories (estimate)
Cost: $15.00 for package of 5 different bonbons
Purchased from: Fog City News, in San Francisco, CA

Today's sombre (72% dark Venezuelan cacao ganache) "Don Juan" bonbon from Chocolat Moderne (New York) matched the dark clouds outside.

With apologies to Chocolat Moderne, given the rainy weather, I was craving bright, sunny flavor additions -- citrus, perhaps? Sprinkling this chocolate with a little cinnamon warmed it up. This was fitting as today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: October 3, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Mink Chocolates
Taj Masala bar
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 280 calories
Cost: $7.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, B.C., Canada

As the weather cooled off, and the first fall raindrops hit the pavement this afternoon, this lively Taj Masala spice bar from Mink Chocolates was a highlight in an otherwise gray day. Bright, perfectly sized flecks of cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, clove, ginger and tumeric -- embedded in a hand-made milk chocolate (38% cacao) base -- each made an appearance as I was eating this bar.

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

ChocolateBet: October 2, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/4 bar
Rain Republic
Origin Guatemala - 70% Cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.2 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) total bar
Calories: 73 calories (estimate)
Cost: $N/A
Purchased from: N/A - from the Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

I made myself some gluten-free french toast today with a hint of cinnamon, vanilla and maple syrup -- and, oh yes, some chocolate. It was a very enjoyable late lunch; something a little different.

The chocolate -- a Rain Republic dark (70% cacao) bar from Guatemala -- was grated over the top of the small stack of cinnamon french toast. It was a nice topping. A small hot chocolate made from this bar would have worked too.

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

ChocolateBet: October 1, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2/5 bar
Mink Chocolates
Ginger or Maryanne? (bar)
Good+
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.)/ 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 103 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

There was a U.S. television show called "Gilligan's Island" back in the last century. After a 3-hour boat tour that went awry and left seven individuals stranded on an island. Over the course of three seasons, viewers got to know this group of castaways, that included two young women: Ginger and Mary Ann. And they were left to ponder which one was more attractive -- the seductive Ginger, or the wholesome Mary Ann. This cleverly named dark bar (70% cacao) from Mink Chocolates contained organic candied ginger.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: September 30, 2011

 

Chocolate of the Day:

1 small bowl
Laughing Giraffe Organics LLC
1.) Cherry Ginger Granola with Walnuts and Pecans - Good - Good+
2.) Goji Cacao and Maca Energy Snack - Good
Calories: 187 calories
Purchased from: Andronicos, Palo Alto, CA (closing sale)

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week. And, by mixing these two Laughing Giraffe (granola and snack) products, a little of each was enjoyed.