ChocolateBet: November 28, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

4 cookies
Mary's Gone Crackers
Chocolate Chip Love Cookies
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .9 oz. (26 g.)/ 5.5 oz. (155 g.) total box
Calories: 260 calories
Cost: $ lost info
Purchased from: Andronicos, Palo Alto, CA (closed now)

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Theme Week.
These Organic, Wheat-Free and Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies from Mary's Gone Crackers (based in Gridley, CA) were crunchy and satisfying. When I opened the inner wrapping (for one of two individually-wrapped bags), I thought I smelled and tasted molasses, and then a faint flavor of sweet coconut.

Mary's also offers a line of gluten-free crackers that are made from whole grains and seeds and that have a very hearty taste and texture that I've enjoyed with cheeses. Like the crackers, I felt like I was enjoying cookies that were healthy, without any compromise in taste, and without the pasty mouth-feel that sometimes accompanies gluten-free flour substitute mixes.

ChocolateBet: November 27, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz.
The Kallari Chocolate Project
(Produced at Ecuatoriana de Chocolates SA)
1.) 75% cacao - single source organic chocolate bar - Good+
2.) 85% cacao - single source organic chocolate bar - Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)
Calories: 148 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A - samples (thank you Sunita)
Purchased from: N/A samples from The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today I sampled two dark (one 75% cacao and one 85% cacao), single source, organic chocolate bars, that were produced in Ecuador. The first, the 75% bar, was dark and smooth, with a pleasing vanilla flavor taste -- good for those that like vanilla with their chocolate, maybe not as good for those who don't. The second, the 85% bar had a uniformly deep, dark flavor, but without much flavor arc (that is a define-able and enjoyable beginning, middle and end/finish).

Because today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Theme Week, I also melted some of the 75% bar -- into which I dipped gluten-free, Italian-style Pignoli (Pine Nut) cookies with a lovely, warm almond scent and taste. I think these flavors paired relatively well with the vanilla notes in the chocolate.
This little plate of 3 small dipping cookies disappeared in a hurry.

ChocolateBet: November 25, 2011

Chocolate of the Day: 

1 oz.
B.T. McElrath Chocolatier
Passion Fruit and Tangerine Bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/ 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ Lost info
Purchased from: Lost info


I'm interested in combinations of chocolate and passion fruit. It's hard to make this mixture work. This Passion Fruit and Tangerine bar from B.T. McElrath (Minneapolis, MN) was a good attempt, but swirling white and dark chocolate together confused my taste buds. White chocolate is a good base to let citrus flavors shine through; a heavier solid base of dark chocolate might have wiped out the fruit flavors. However, the two chocolates (and two fruits) might have been one flavor too many.


Change of Subject: Cookies Anyone?
Since today was also Day #1 of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Week, I took the rest of this bar and cut it up into chunks -- to mix into a gluten-free cookie mix, and added some tangerine olive oil to boost the citrus/fruit flavor. The result: some interesting tasting cookies, studded with passion fruit-tangerine chocolate chunks. There must be an infinite number of variations on chocolate chip/chunk cookies.

My apologies to purists, but recycling chocolate bars to make cookies and chocolate fondue/sauce is a great way to experiment and prevent chocolate from going to waste.

ChocolateBet: November 24, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 bar
Vosges Haut Chocolat
Organic Peanut Butter Bonbon bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.50 total bar
Purchased from: Vosges.com; Chicago, IL

Happy Thanksgiving to all in the U.S. and to those who celebrate by enjoying a large meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and, oddly, very little chocolate. I had planned to make a Kahlua pecan pie, or a chocolate walnut pie, but ran out of time.

Instead, before spending time with family, I gave thanks for a world full of chocolate -- and showed further gratitude by trying a Vosges Organic Peanut Butter (45% cacao) bar three different ways: 1.) by itself; 2.) with some sliced, fresh banana; and 3.) as part of a bacon and lettuce sandwich on toasted multigrain (gluten-free) bread.

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Bacon Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: November 23, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
Christopher Michael Chocolatier
Piggy Caramels in Dark Chocolate
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) (estimate) / 3 oz. (84.9 g.) package/box of 6 pieces (estimate)
Calories: 300 calories (estimate)
Cost: $10.00
Purchased from: Christopher Michael Chocolatier

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Bacon Theme Week.

Doth not the name "Piggy Caramel" speak for itself? Well, I'll spell it out anyway. These were bacon caramels covered in dark chocolate; and while I normally like pairing bacon with a deep milk chocolate, these darker versions were just fine, with small flecks of bacon embedded in a caramel center.

ChocolateBet: November 22, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1.) Norcal Gourmet LLC (see also Truffili di Pelligrini)
Dark Chocolate Mousse Truffles - with Himalayan Sea Salt
1 piece
Good
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.)/ 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total package of 5 pieces
Calories: 60 calories
Cost: $ (lost info)
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

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

These Dark Chocolate Mousse Truffles were sprinkled with pink Himalayan sea salt. They had a smooth chocolate filling with a thin wafer layer at the base of the truffle. I ate around the wafer layer (to avoid possible wheat ingredients), and replaced with a layer of bacon lollipop. Here's where the bacon comes in today...

2.) Das Foods LLC
Maple Bacon Lollipop(s)
2 lollipops
Good
Weight: .6 oz. (16 g.) for two
Calories: 50 calories
Purchased from: Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

These maple-based lollipops, from Das Foods LLC, had tiny, visible flecks of bacon embedded in them, and were not bad -- a refreshing change from fruit flavored 'pops -- and much more appealing than the suckers with the (gummy and real) bugs/worms in them.

3.) Accoutrements
"Bacon" Breakfast Floss
1 foot piece
Weight: N/A
Calories: N/A
Purchased from: Fremont Diner, Sonoma, CA

There was no real bacon taste that I could detect when I used this Bacon floss, but the 3-piece Breakfast Floss set (Waffles, Bacon, and Coffee) was a clever offering.

ChocolateBet: November 21, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2/3 bar
Christopher Michael
Sizzling Bacon Bar
Weight: 1.848 oz. (52.8 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) total bar
Calories: 277 calories
Cost: $7.00 total bar
Purchased from: Christopher Michael, Newport Beach, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Bacon Theme Week.

This Sizzling Bacon Bar -- made with milk chocolate, bacon, popping candy and sea salt -- from Christopher Michael (from Newport Beach, CA) was great. Nicely balanced bacon, milk chocolate and salt flavors. There was no sign of the popping candy -- that was to supply the "sizzling" part, but I didn't miss it that much.