ChocolateBet: August 25, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Jer's Chocolates
Gourmet Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars - Cara Mella
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in 1 bar / 3.0 oz. (85 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.99 total package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

I could have had two Cara Mella dark chocolate peanut butter bars from Jer's Chocolates (Solana Beach, CA) if I wanted them today. Made with U.S. Valencia peanut butter, the bars filling contained a blend of a slightly crunchy/crispy layer (likely the crisp rice), and thick creamy elements. Each package came with two individually wrapped bars. However, after one bar I felt full.

This sense of being overstuffed could have come from a generous portion size, or from some of the ingredients in these bars. A note to those eating gluten free, while no wheat or gluten ingredients were listed on the wrapper, consumers were advised that these bars: "May Contain Trace Amount of Almonds, Pecans, Cashews and Wheat Flour."

The head confectioner, Jer (Jerry Swain), started his business with peanut butter and chocolate balls and, after winning awards, began making a line of bars that has included the Cara Mella; the Pretzo Change-O (with pretzel bits); Toffee Break; and the Original Incredibar flavors.
 
Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: August 24, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Poco Dolce
Peanut Butter Bar
Good +
Weight: 1.05 oz. (30 g.) / 1.763 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 158 calories in 3/5 bar
Cost: $7.00 total bar
Purchased from: Golden Gate Bridge Cafe, in San Francisco, CA

You know those "Got Milk" commercials where someone is eating peanut butter and reflexively grabs for a glass of milk only to find that they're out of milk? I felt a little like that today after eating this Peanut Butter Bar from Poco Dolce (San Francisco, CA). "Hey, where's my water?" I pondered.

This bar was rich, dense and creamy, just like the natural peanut butter it contained. Said peanut butter was thoroughly blended into a base of bittersweet chocolate, and seasoned with the occasional tiny burst of grey salt -- that helped balance the sugar in the chocolate.

Poco Dolce, Italian for "little sweet," focuses on artfully blending sweet and savory flavors in their chocolate bars and bittersweet tiles, and they were successful here.

I bought this bar last month during a walk across Golden Gate Bridge. The inner sealed pouch kept this bar in great shape.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: August 23, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Wild Ophelia
Peanut butter and banana milk chocolate bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

I like monkeys; they make me smile. And I can't help but think of them when I eat combinations of peanut butter, chocolate and banana. I enjoyed the bites of this bar from Wild Ophelia (Chicago, IL) that had chewy, flavorful bits of Williams banana (from Uncle Mikey's Hawaiian Foods).

The 41% cacao milk chocolate bar base had a mild taste with a mouthfeel that felt slightly emulsified (perhaps due to the addition of some soy lecithin). The creamy, organic peanut butter contributed to the smooth texture, and added a pleasant nutty flavor.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: August 22, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Raley's
Hit the Trail - Peanut Butter Chip and Chocolate Trek Mix
Good +
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) total bag/package
Calories: 160 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $5.99 for total package
Purchased from: Raley's, in Incline Village, NV

Nothing like chocolate and great scenery. Given that I was in the Sierra mountains (that straddle California and Nevada) today, this Trek Mix was a great choice for a hike. Filled with generously sized toasted almonds and cashews, as well as milk chocolate stars, peanut butter chips and dried cherries, this "Hit the Trail" mix from Raley's hit the spot. I also shared a few nuts with a small group of blue jays who dropped by.

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week. 

Preview - The Chocolate Bar

- Preview - 

The Chocolate Bar
Truffle plate
Good +
Weight: not known (5 truffles + sauce)
Calories: blissfully unaware of this number
Cost: $7.00 for plate of 8 truffles
Purchased from: The Chocolate Bar, at Northstar/Truckee, CA

Chocolate in northern Nevada? Why yes. And not just milk chocolates modeled after gold and silver nuggets, log cabins, or tiny versions of Lake Tahoe.

An elegantly designed bar and restaurant, The Chocolate Bar we visited on this warm August afternoon was located at Northstar (near Truckee, CA), in the village area with several shops. The Bar was next to a ski area gondola lift and is likely bustling with activity and skiers during the winter ski season. (There was also a Chocolate Bar in Reno, NV, not far away from this location.)

The Chocolate Bar seemed more geared to adults, serving chocolate drinks, including a chocolate martini. Desserts included chocolate fondue and house-made chocolate truffles. After a lunch entree that also contained a hint of chocolate in a sauce, we finished up our meal with 8 truffles, on a white plate that had been drizzled with white chocolate and raspberry sauces. Nice presentation.

I'm planning to return later this year to include at least one of these chocolate items as my Chocolate of the Day.

ChocolateBet: August 21, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Zingerman's Candy Manufactory
ZZang! Candy Bar (Original flavor)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.875 oz. (53.25 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 3/4 bar
Cost: $5.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Heath Ceramics, in Sausalito, CA

Thank you to the staff at Heath Ceramics (Sausalito, CA) for recommending this ZZang! Original bar from Zingerman's (Ann Arbor, MI). Tucked away near the cash register in Heath's gift store (a shop that carried ceramic dishes and tiles), this high-end candy bar looked intriguing.

The first bite of this bar was enough to detect higher quality ingredients than those in many mass-marketed, popular candy bars. The ZZang! bar was stuffed with satisfying layers of "butter roasted peanuts, caramel and peanut butter honey nougat" -- and dipped in dark chocolate. Hard to go wrong with this winning combination of flavors and textures.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: August 20, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Unreal Brands, Inc.
Unreal Peanut Butter Cups
Good +
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.) in 1 cup/ 6.3 oz. (180 g.) total package of 12 cups
Calories: 75 calories in one cup
Cost: $5.39 (estimate) for total package/bag
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Yesterday I tried my first "unjunked" candy bar offering from Unreal (the company's caramel with peanut nougat bar).

Today I sampled an Unreal Peanut Butter Cup, similar to a Reese's peanut butter cup with the sugar dialed back ever so slightly. Like other Unreal candy, this individually wrapped cup was sweetened with agave and contained some inulin fiber. And it was made without corn syrup, GMOs, and ingredients that some might find less desirable.

Today was the first day of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.