ChocolateBet: May 9, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

L'Amourette Chocolatier
Orange Peel - Chocolat Noir, Zeste D'Orange bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 125 calories in 2 squares, or 1/5 bar
Cost: $4.99 total bar
Purchased from: Candy Baron, Pier 39, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Orange/Citrus Theme Week.

I enjoyed this gluten-free Dark Chocolate (72% cacao) Orange Peel bar from L'Amourette (San Francisco) two different ways: 1.) plain, glossy dark squares bursting with orange peel, right out of the wrapper, and 2.) grated over gluten-free cinnamon french toast sticks (with cinnamon, and a drizzling of orange flower water, honey and maple syrup).

Both were good.

ChocolateBet: May 8, 2012

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

1.) Snake and Butterfly
Belize 67% bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) /1.75 oz. (49.5 g.) total bar
Calories: 130 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.00 (show price)
Purchased from: Snake and Butterfly table, at Chocolate Salon, in San Francisco, CA

2.) Askinosie Chocolate
White Chocolate Nibby Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 (estimate) for total bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA


Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Orange/Citrus Theme Week. It's May, the weather is hot, and even though it's not Memorial Day yet, it's OK to wear white -- white chocolate that is, perhaps paired with St. George Spirits Qi White Tea liqueur - flavored with orange with crushed ice.

For a second chocolate and orange iced tea combination, without the alcohol, I brewed up a batch of Good Earth Super Green Tea -- Matcha and Sencha green tea suffused with fragrant orange flavor.

Either version of iced tea is nice for sipping with Snake and Butterfly's dark 67% Belize bar, or Askinosie Chocolate's White Chocolate Nibble Bar - with rich, single origin cocoa butter made using Davao Trinitario cocoa beans from the Philippines.

ChocolateBet: May 7, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

cocotutti
1.) Chocolate-orange confit caramel - Very Good +
2.) Florentine - citrus liquid caramel & roasted almonds - Very Good
Weight: .7 oz. (19.8 g.) (estimate for 2 pieces)
Calories: 105 calories (estimate for 2 pieces)
Cost: $6.00 for a 4-piece box
Purchased from: Rock Wall Wine Company, in Alameda, CA

Today was a bit of heaven -- if heaven is flavored with orange confit, perfect renditions of caramel, and covered in dark chocolate. Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Orange/Citrus Theme Week, and I tasted two orange-themed chocolates from cocotutti.com.

The first, a chocolate-orange confit caramel, was so rich, I almost felt like I was eating a smooth, dark chocolate orange caramel brownie -- all packed in a truffle-sized square with a bright orange, yellow and red pattern screened on top.

The second, a version of a Florentine, contained a wonderful liquid caramel (apparently carefully hand-stirred for up to 1.5 hours), and was topped with chopped almonds.

ChocolateBet: May 6, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Seattle Chocolate Company
Orange Appeal - Dark Chocolate bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 total bar
Purchased from:


This Orange Appeal bar from Seattle Chocolates (Seattle, WA), was made with a mix of 53% cacao dark chocolate and 33% milk chocolate -- and was flavored with bits of candied/glazed orange peel. My only half-hearted complaint: I think I would have liked this bar more if there was about 30% less sugar.

ChocolateBet: May 5, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Divine Chocolate
Dark Chocolate with orange and ginger (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2.5 oz. ( 70.75 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 372 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from:

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Citrus/Orange Theme Week.  Today's 70% dark chocolate bar from Divine Chocolate (Wash, D.C.), contained small, tender bits of ginger and orange -- a naturally compatible flavor pairing.

Eaten outdoors, during a warm, sunny picnic lunch, this bar was enjoyed just before it started to melt into a sheet of dark chocolate fondue.

However, hot weather-induced chocolate fondue, it must be noted, is delicious with fresh strawberries, and/or bits of toast, or gluten-free gingersnaps, if you happen to have some of these other items in your picnic basket.

ChocolateBet: May 4, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Michael Mischer Chocolates
Orange Zest
Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 59 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: Michael Mischer Chocolates, Oakland, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Citrus/Orange Theme Week. This Orange Zest filled chocolate from Michael Mischer Chocolates (Oakland, CA) was shaped like a half-round citrus fruit, complete with orange peel textured skin. Inside the dark chocolate covering was dark chocolate and naturally flavored orange peel ganache.

ChocolateBet: May 3, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Calafia (Market a Go Go)
Chocolate Muffin (gluten free)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 3.5 oz. (100 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 220 calories (guess)
Cost: $2.50 (guess)
Purchased from: Calafia Market a Go Go, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Citrus/Orange Theme Week. I visited Calafia Market a Go Go (adjacent to Calafia Restaurant) in Palo Alto this past week. I picked up a chocolate muffin and chocolate cookie on this trip -- both gluten free.

Today I ate the chocolate muffin for breakfast. I loved the hint of citrus I got in every other bite of this dense but not overly heavy treat. Very nice. And this muffin was not overly sweet -- even better!

Thank you to Chef Charlie Ayers, the force behind Calafia, for making delicious, healthy, gluten-free food available to our community in the San Francisco Bay Area.