ChocolateBet: May 22, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mink Chocolates
No Grumpy
Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) /1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 3/5 bar
Cost: $6.25 + tax
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

This morning I was running around, trying to get things done. I felt much better after taking a break and enjoying some of this "No Grumpy" bar from Mink Chocolates (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) -- a breakfast beverage in solid form.

This organic, dark chocolate bar contained just the right grind of organic espresso -- not too coarse and crunchy, but enough to add a little texture and flavor. The 70% cacao bar base was just right for this blend of two flavorful, dark roasted beans (cacao and coffee) that have much in common.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: May 21, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

CocoaVia (Masterfoods USA)
Rich Chocolate Indulgence Beverage
Good
Weight: 5.65 fl. oz. (167 mL) in 1 small bottle
Calories: 150 calories in 1 small bottle
Cost: $ info no longer available
Purchased from: info no longer available

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.

Today's chocolate choice was a small bottle of CocoaVia "Rich Chocolate Indulgence Beverage" from Masterfoods/Mars, that I scooped up to take on a hike at the beach. Nothing like a smooth chocolatey beverage (with added cocoa flavanols and vitamins) in your lunch bag while visiting a fern grotto by the Pacific Ocean, on a gorgeous Spring day with friends.

ChocolateBet: May 20, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Serendipity 3
Frrrozen Hot Chocolate
OK+ - Good
Weight: 6 oz. (170 g.) total dry mix
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving (1/5 mix)
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A gift - thank you Debbie

I'd heard about the frozen hot chocolate served at Serendipity 3 (New York City) -- a unique blend of coffee shop, ice cream parlor and its very own self. Today I did the next best thing to visiting New York; I made a batch of the packaged version of this Serendipity 3 chocolate beverage. Thank you to Debbie D. who volunteered this packet of Frrrozen Hot Chocolate Mix.

The instructions: pour this mix, a cup of milk, and 2 cups of ice cubes in a blender, and voila! I did end up with about 30 oz. of what looked a lot like a refreshing, chocolate milkshake. (I used part coconut milk.) Had the quality of the cocoa mix been just a notch higher (or perhaps if I'd added some high-end dark chocolate shavings), it would have been even better.

ChocolateBet: May 19, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Wei of Chocolate
1.) Cafe Wei - espresso infused
2.) Wei Gratitude - chai-infused
3.) Wei Joyful - citrus infused
Weight: .75 oz. (21 g.) for 3 pieces
Calories: 90 calories for 3 pieces
Cost: $2.97 (estimate)
Purchased from: Farm Fresh to You shop in the Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

These three lovely flower-shaped, foil-wrapped chocolates from Wei of Chocolate (Phoenix, AZ) were infused with different beverage, spice and floral flavors.

The Cafe Wei espresso infusion was very mild. The Chai-infused chocolate (made with 65% cacao) had a warm, gingerbread taste. The Citrus piece (70% cacao) had soft fragrant notes of orange and a hint of orange blossom + rose geranium if I'm not mistaken. (All three pieces contained some flower essences.)

These Wei chocolates were labeled organic, vegan, fair trade, gluten and soy free.

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week. 

ChocolateBet: May 18, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Starbucks
Hot Cocoa - Salted Caramel (mix)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 envelope/ 8 oz. (224 g.) in total box
Calories: 120 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $5.99 for 1 box of 8 envelopes
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week. I mixed up a packet of salted caramel, dark hot cocoa mix from Starbucks (with hot water), stirred, and enjoyed in the comfort of my own home.

Three years ago, I had tried Starbucks seasonal, Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate, made with milk, at a Starbucks location in San Jose, CA. This in-store version was made with 2% milk, and may have been just a bit better...or was that the whipped cream that they generously applied? Hard to remember that far back.

In any case, it was a testament to today's hot cocoa mix that it tasted rich and smooth, even made with hot water instead of the recommended hot milk.

ChocolateBet: May 17, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

CocoTutti
Hot Chipotle Chocolate
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.56 oz. (44 g.) (estimate) for 4 pieces
Calories: 239 calories (estimate) for 4 pieces
Cost: $10.00 for 8-piece box
Purchased from: Rockwall Wine Company, in Alameda, CA

Last week I brought home some new boxes of CocoTutti (cocotutti.com) chocolates.

And then, my apologies to CocoTutti, I made a terrible, rookie mistake a few days later -- after trying some of the company's wonderful pieces with liquid caramel centers, and lavender and lemon piece.

I left these on my dining room table under a skylight. And, just a few minutes later, the result was a partial meltdown (see image at right).

The solution: I melted three pieces of "Hot Chipotle Chocolate" (and one piece of "Raspberry - with housemade jam") chocolates in a small cup, and the result was a fantastic, rich drinking chocolate with just the right spicy chipotle kick. While I recommend enjoying these in unmelted form, it's good to know that good chocolates can be enjoyed in beverage or fondue form in an emergency.

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate Beverage Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: May 16, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Tea Room
Almond Caramel dark chocolate bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.8 oz. (51 g.) total bar
Calories: 280 calories
Cost: $n/a - sample
Purchased from: Rosie's Roses, in San Francisco, CA

In keeping with other tea infused bars, this relatively new Almond Caramel (organic) dark chocolate bar from The Tea Room (San Leandro, CA), was not oozing with caramel and nuts, but rather was lightly caramel and almond flavored.

I picked up the last Almond Caramel bar left in a beautiful arrangement of Tea Room bars in a basket at Rosie's Roses in San Francisco, CA.