ChocolateBet: September 15, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:  

Monique's Chocolates
1.) Madagascar truffle - 64% dark
2.) Liquid Chocolate with Madagascar chocolate and Mexican spices
3.) Ash's Chai truffle

Monique's Chocolates (Palo Alto, CA) offered customers single origin truffles and other specialty chocolates, as well as Liquid (drinking) Chocolate(s) with several options.

I started by sampling a plain, dark chocolate (64%) truffle from Madagascar (Sambriano), and then had a cup of Liquid Chocolate made from this same Madagascar chocolate base. It had well balanced, subtle citric/acidic notes -- a characteristic often associated with this country of origin.

Monique's Liquid Chocolate was available either hot or iced. I chose the iced option, and selected the Madagascar chocolate base, a 1% fat milk as my "liquid" of choice, and Mexican Spices (cinnamon and Ancho chili) as an added flavor.

Last, but not least, I enjoyed Monique's Ash's Chai truffle, made with milk chocolate, tea and chai spices. This Monique's chocolate, topped with pieces of ginger, was a great chocolate replica of this sweet milky, spicy tea beverage.

Today was Day #6 of Spicy Chocolate Theme Week, and Day #1 of Madagascar Chocolate Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: September 14, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Rick's Rather Rich Ice Cream
Mexican Chocolate
Very Good
Weight: ~ 1/2 cup serving/1 Quart
Calories: 250 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.50 for 1 pre-packed Quart to go
Purchased from: Rick's Ice Cream, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Spicy Chocolate Week, and I celebrated the day with a small bowl of Mexican Chocolate ice cream from Rick's Ice Cream (Palo Alto, CA). This ice cream shop is a local favorite, with several wonderful specialty flavors. Other flavor favorites of mine at Rick's have included: Lemon Lavender, Saffron Pistachio, Rose, Molasses Chip and White Chocolate Ginger.

I enjoyed this Mexican Chocolate ice cream with a little extra dash of cinnamon on top. Que rico y delicioso.

We're enjoying some Indian Summer sunshine this week. I hope it lasts a bit longer. However, I do see some red edging starting to appear on a few green leaves to the north of us. I may have to hunt for a spicy, hot chocolate drink for tomorrow's selection.

ChocolateBet: September 13, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Cocoa Designs
Cocoa Nuts - Epices
Good
Weight: approx. .33 oz. (10 g.) serving
Calories: 50 calories (estimate) in 3-4 nuts
Cost: N/A
Purchased from: N/A

These Cocoa Nuts Epices were roasted almond dragees covered in 61% dark chocolate and dusted with cocoa powder and spices (black pepper, allspice, cloves, nutmeg). Sadly, Cocoa Designs is no longer making these nuts -- for the happiest of reasons. The founder/chef left to raise a family, but left a note on her website that she may return. Bon chance Ariella.

Today was Day #4 of Spicy Chocolate Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: September 12, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Lillie Belle Farms
Chipotle Ganache
Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $N/A - sample - thank you Sunita
Purchased from: N/A - The Chocolate Garage tasting

Today's Chipotle Ganache from Lillie Belle Farms (Central Point, OR) was described on the Lillie Belle website as "Dark chocolate ganache, infused with the smokey hot sweetness of Chipotle pepper." I'll buy that. This chocolate had a creamy ganache with just the right amount of spicy bite for me.

Today was Day #3 of Spicy Chocolate Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: September 11, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lillie Belle Farms
Black Pepper Ganache
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $ N/A sample - thank you Sunita
Purchased from: N/A - The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

As of this morning, it's been exactly six years since I started my daily-chocolate-eating-adventure.

And, to spice things up, the chocolate choice for today was a Black Pepper flavored chocolate from Lillie Belle Farms (Central Point, OR). The pepper added a subtle hint of flavor; nothing too overwhelming.

Today was Day #2 of Spicy Chocolate, or Chocolate and Spices, Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: September 10, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate (Santa Cruz)
1.) Fresh Mint Truffle - Good + - Very Good
2.) Mexican Spice Truffle - Good + - Very Good
3.) Fuego hot chocolate - Very Good

For those living in the San Francisco Bay Area who are hankering for an all chocolate dinner, I suggest a visit to Chocolate (cafe/restaurant) in Santa Cruz, CA.

After a hike in the redwoods at Fall Creek, near Felton, CA, I decided to keep driving West toward the Pacific Ocean to Santa Cruz, which inevitably led me to Real Food and Chocolate (which, for me, are often one and the same).

I started my chocolate meal with a Fuego (spicy) hot chocolate. It did not disappoint, and had just enough kick to take the chill out of any overcast day or evening.

I moved on to a Chicken Mole dish with generous serving of polenta, and green salad with pumpkin seeds. And I finished with, what else, more chocolates -- truffles and the cafe's version of an affogato called The Titanic -- espresso gelato covered in (decaf in my case) espresso.

I enjoyed a dessert plate of three large fresh (whipped) cream truffles. The Fresh Mint truffle was sprinkled with mint sugar crystals and was filled with an unexpectedly light filling of whipped fresh cream lightly flavored with mint. The Mexican Spice truffle had hints of cinnamon and chili. (The third, a dark rose truffle was excellent, and I'll cover that in a future post.)

I was happily and completely stuffed after this meal.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week, and Day #1 of Spicy Chocolate Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: September 9, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Jelly Belly Candy Company
Jelly Bean Chocolate Dips - Mint
Good - Good +
Weight:
Calories: 100 calories in 1/3 bag
Cost: $1.99 total bag
Purchased from: Burlington Coat Factory, San Francisco, CA

Jelly Belly (headquartered at One Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield, CA) has continued to expand and improve their famous jelly bean line. The latest flavor (Mint) in the company's dark chocolate covered (Jelly Bean Chocolate Dip) family was comprised of naturally flavored and colored beans with glossy dark exteriors, that had a lasting finish of minty freshness. Instead of the electric green interiors of mint candy yester-year, these were a more welcome, natural looking color on the inside. These Jelly Beans were also gluten free and peanut free.

Note: to those in (or planning a visit to) Northern California, Jelly Belly has a great factory tour in you're in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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