ChocolateBet: November 9, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 serving
Cape Cod Provisions
Harvest Sweets - All Natural Milk Chocolate Covered Blueberries
OK+ - Good
Weight: .62 oz. (17 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total package
Calories: 81 calories
Cost: $3.49 total package
Purchased from: Marshalls, in Mountain View, CA

As a carry-over from the Garden Grown theme this past week, this week I'm zeroing in on one backyard crop in particular -- blueberries. Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Blueberries Theme Week.

These dried blueberry pieces were coated in milk chocolate. The result was sweet, but not particularly great. In fairness to the manufacturer (Cape Cod Provisions), I bought these at a discounted price/store chain, so it was difficult to tell if these were a tad on the old side.

ChocolateBet: November 8, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2 tiny bars
Maison Bouche
Geranium Bourbon
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) for 2 pieces / 3 oz. (84.9 g.) for box of 12 (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $18.99 for 12-piece box
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week. Geraniums are well-suited to the Mediterranean climate where I live, and I've enjoyed having a small bush or two of these sun-tolerant blooms in my backyard. I haven't tried to mix them with chocolate myself (although I plan to in the future). In the meantime, I enjoyed these tiny, individually wrapped, milk chocolate Geranium Bourbon bars from Maison Bouche (Oakland, CA).

ChocolateBet: November 6, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Chocolate Visions
"Wild" Strawberry
Good
Weight: .8 oz. (22.6 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 120 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.00 - for 2 pieces
Purchased from: Chocolate Visions, in Scotts Valley, CA

I have tiny "Swiss" mountain strawberries growing in my yard. They are great for snacking -- for several months of the year here in California; and they're much hardier than the larger strawberries one sees in grocery stores.

I've never made strawberry vodka from my little yard berries (by soaking them in vodka for several weeks or months). That is the first step in making "wild" strawberries -- a la today's chocolates from Chocolate Visions (Scotts Valley, CA), where homemade strawberry vodka was mixed with cream and Belgian bittersweet chocolate. The quality of chocolate was high and the concept was fun; but don't expect a fresh strawberry taste or texture. These might be enjoyable with a warm scone or English Muffin with strawberry preserves,

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: November 5, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocolate Visions
Herbal Mint
Very Good - Very Good+
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00
Purchased from: Chocolate Visions, in Scotts Valley, CA

One of the most invasive plant outbreaks I experienced in my tiny yard garden was an overgrowth of spearmint. I spent years tearing this out. However, now I'm a little sad because I have no mint anymore -- which is why this refreshingly natural tasting Herbal Mint chocolate from Chocolate Visions (Scotts Valley, CA) was so welcome today. The addition of floral olive oil (from Aptos, CA), helped enhance this flavor.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: November 4, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) 1/8 bar
NewTree
Apricot - Cocoon (Milk Chocolate) bar
Good
Weight: .22 oz. (6.2 g.) / 1.76 oz. (49 g.)
Calories: 35 calories
Cost: $N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - sample from Chocolate event


2.) 1/2 piece
Baba Joon's Chocolate Chewies/C'est Si Bon
California Apricot Chocolate Chewies
Good
Weight: .22 oz. oz. (6.5 g.) / 7.5 oz. (212 g.) total bag of 14
Calories: 18 calories
Cost: $6.99 for total bag of 14 pieces
Purchased from: De Martini Orchard, in Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week.

I grew up in a sub-division (residential neighborhood) that had been carved out of an old apricot orchard. And I remember eating freshly picked (as well as chocolate-covered) apricots; prunes were also big


in the "Valley of Hearts Delight" -- the agriculturally rich area which is now known as Silicon Valley.

So, it was fitting that chocolate and apricots were part of this week's garden grown theme -- in the form of 1.) a NewTree Apricot milk chocolate bar, and 2.) a gluten-free, apricot and egg white chewy cookie with cocoa powder from California.

ChocolateBet: November 3, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocolate Visions
Lemon
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00
Purchased from: Chocolate Visions, from Scotts Valley, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week.
I feel very fortunate to live in a state (California) where it's fairly easy to grow citrus fruits. I happen to love combinations of dark chocolate and lemon. Today's chocolate, from a Chocolate Visions (Scotts Valley, CA) assortment box, had a fresh, authentic lemon taste. I believe this chocolate also had a bit of olive oil in it as well.

ChocolateBet: November 2, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocolate Visions
Tarragon
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00
Purchased from: Chocolate Visions, Scotts Valley, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week. I've successfully grown several herbs in my yard, and attempted to grow a few others. Tarragon fell into the latter category; however, I may try again.

Today's Tarragon chocolate, made with Belgian bittersweet chocolate, from Chocolate Visions (Scotts Valley, CA), inspired me to consider re-planting this herb.

There was a nice flavor arc to this chocolate -- especially noticeable when chocolates are as fresh as these were. Under-appreciated no more. This chocolate was part of a larger 24-piece assortment box. I plan to go back for a second batch -- to try the rest of the herbal flavors.