Sweet Paradise - Chocolate Dipped Tropical Fruit - December 10, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sweet Paradise Chocolatier
Chocolate dipped dried tropical fruit
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (226.4 g.) total bag/package
Calories: 135 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. serving
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bag
Purchased from: Sweet Paradise Chocolatier, Hawaii

This past week I featured several mango + chocolate combinations. Today was the first day of "Chocolate and Hawaii" Theme Week, which included sampling pieces of dried apple banana, Maui pineapple, and dried mango -- all partially covered in Belgian dark chocolate, from Sweet Paradise Chocolatier (Hawaii).

As the weather outside turned to winter this month, I imagined touring a cacao plantation near a warm beach in Hawaii -- the only state in the U.S. where cacao is grown. Virtual travel to the islands, made possible thanks to the wonderful magic of chocolate.

Eighteen dollars may sound like a lot for an 8 oz. bag dried tropical fruit, but there were enough flavorful pieces to share with several chocolate fans and friends on a hike in a redwood forest today, with half a bag to spare. And this purchase was much less expensive than an airline ticket.

May you all find time to enjoy a bit of sweet paradise wherever you might be.

Dessert Service - Cioccolato Gelato, Mango Sorbetto - December 9, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Dessert Service (distributor)
1.) Cioccolato Gelato (bindi)
 Good - Good +
Weight: 1/4 cup /1.5 Pints (710 mL) total tub
Calories: 50 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $6.29 total for 1 container/tub
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

2.) Mango Sorbetto (bindi)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1/4 cup/1.5 Pints (710 mL) total tub
Calories: 70 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $6.29 total for 1 container/tub
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Mango Theme Week. The sun was out, and it was a perfect afternoon for a walk. Good day for a light frozen fruit and chocolate dessert as well.

What's my idea of a "light" ice cream sundae? A martini glass with little scoops of cioccolato (chocolate) gelato and mango sorbetto (sorbet), topped with a sprinkle of trail mix with dried mango, coconut, other fruits and chocolate chips. Only about 246 calories -- almost half what a richer ice cream sundae would be.

The mango sorbetto had a smooth, light and fresh mango taste and consistency. The chocolate gelato had more of a sorbet mouth feel than a creamier gelato (consistent with less fat), but had a rich, dark chocolate flavor.

Jade Chocolates - Edible Mango Orchids - December 8, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Jade Chocolates
Edible Mango Orchids
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: 2.16 oz. (60.7 g.) / 6.5 oz. (183.9 g.) total package of 3
Calories: 281 calories (estimate) for 1 mango orchid
Cost: $24.95 for 3 orchid bouquet
Purchased from: Jade Chocolates, San Francisco, CA

Carefully packed in a plastic container with a green ribbon, the set of 3 edible blooms looked like a large prom corsage from afar. The individually wrapped mango orchids, with tips dipped in bittersweet chocolate, were made of fruit from the island of Cebu in the Philippines, known for its flavorful mangoes. Mindy Fong, of Jade Chocolates, credits the Pacific Islands as her inspiration behind this tangy sweet, floral bouquet.

The term artisanal may be overused; however, I have no trouble applying this term to Mindy's creations.

This hand-crafted mango orchid trio from Jade Chocolates (San Francisco, CA) would be a great gift for any special occasion.

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

Jade Chocolates - Green Mango Tiles - December 7, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Jade Chocolates
Green Mango Tiles
Very Good
Weight: .77 oz. (21.8 g.) / 2.4 oz. (68 g.) total box of 7 pieces
Calories: 104 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $9.00 (available online)
Purchased from: Jade Chocolates, San Francisco, CA

Perfect for a light lunch dessert, special treat, or replacement for an after-dinner mint. Anytime would be a good time to enjoy today's bittersweet chocolate tiles topped with plump bits of dried green mango from Jade Chocolates (San Francisco, CA).

I enjoyed the stylish look and taste of these Green Mango Tiles. Each square could be a tiny sculpture; and each bite contained an artful layering of flavors, with a slightly delayed tangy uptick and spicy kick from a chile-lime rub.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Mango Theme Week.

Jade Chocolates - Mangoes and Chocolate - December 6, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Jade Chocolates
Mangoes and Chocolate
Very Good
Weight: 1.65 oz. (46 g.) / 5 oz. (141 g.) total container
Calories: 222 calories (estimate) for 1/3 container
Cost: $11.54 (approximate) for 1 container
Purchased from: Jade Chocolates, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Mango Theme Week.

Chocolatier Mindy Fong, of Jade Chocolates (San Francisco, CA), has combined chocolate and mango in unique and beautiful ways.

Today's "Mangos and Chocolate" offering came packaged in take-out style containers (available online in groups of three). Inside, thick strips of dried, tropical mango were glazed in bittersweet chocolate. The flavors were fresh and well balanced.

Stay tuned for Jade Chocolates' other mango and chocolate creations, including edible mango orchids -- a work of art. They'll be featured later this week.

Chocolaterie Robert - Nibs, Orange Brandy, Passion chocolates - December 5, 2012

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Robert Chocolatier (aka Chocolaterie Robert)
1.) Chocolat Noir aux eclats de Cacao (bar)
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) for 1/2 bar
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Assortment Box - Individual chocolates
2.) Orangea Lait - Good - Good +
3.) Passion - Good
Weight: .8 oz. (22.6 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $ N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift - Thank you Toni and Paul

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Mango Theme Week. A winter waterfall hike earlier today inspired a hearty fondue dinner entree and dessert: 1.) smoked chicken, mango habanero sausages dipped in mango chutney and a sweet and spicy sauce, and 2.) a chocolate fondue with mango, fresh pineapple and other fruits.

It's December here in California, but it's mango season in Madagascar -- a large island nation known for producing fine cacao -- and home to today's chocolates. I tried several sauce/fondue combinations, before settling on a combination of mango chutney and spicy barbeque sauce, with a sprinkle of cacao nibs.

For dessert, I incorporated three different chocolates made in Madagascar, from Chocolaterie Robert, also known as Robert Chocolatier, (Antananarivo, Madagascar).

First, I melted a Chocolaterie Robert 68% cacao dark chocolate bar with cacao nibs to make a base chocolate fondue for dried mango, fresh pineapple, other fruits and candied ginger.

I also enjoyed two fruit-themed chocolates from a Chocolaterie Robert assortment box: 1.) "Orangea Lait" (cream with orange brandy, covered in dark chocolate) and 2.) a "Passion" chocolate (passion fruit paste coated with dark chocolate). The brandy infused cream center in the Orangea Lait had a slight orange and cherry flavor. The Passion chocolate with a fruit pate or jelly-like center had a very mild passion fruit taste.

Hong Kong Bakery - Rum Ball - December 4, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hong Kong Bakery
Rum Ball
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 140 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $1.45 for 1 piece
Purchased from: Hong Kong Bakery, Mountain View, CA

This afternoon I visited the Hong Kong Bakery (Mountain View, CA), and brought home a full plate's worth of wheat-free sweets.

In addition to a generous sized chocolate Rum Ball, I tried a small serving of Mango Pudding with a very authentic, fresh mango flavor, and three types of rice cakes -- one steamed sugar rice cake, a banana rice cake, and another banana rice cake with red bean paste.

The chocolate rum ball was soft and sweet, almost cake-like inside, and rum-laced. It was coated with chocolate sprinkles on the outside.

I also purchased a small bag of chocolate fortune cookies at this local bakery to give to others. These did contain wheat, so I didn't try them, but they looked fresh and crunchy.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Mango Theme Week.