Cocoa Caliente bar - June 4, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Compartes Chocolatier

Cocoa Caliente bar
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) piece / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1/2 oz. (14.1 g.) piece
Cost: $9.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Compartes Chocolatier, Los Angeles, CA

Mexican Hot Chocolate truffle
Good - Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 truffle
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $25.00 (part of 10 piece Jonathan's Signature
Purchased from: Compartes Chocolatier, Los Angeles, CA

Today I celebrated Day #6 of Spicy Chocolate Theme Week with two chocolates (a bar and a truffle) from Compartes Chocolatier (Los Angeles, CA). Both were adorned with colorful Day of the Dead skull art.

The first chocolate: Compartes "Cocoa Caliente" (hot chocolate) bar was made from dark chocolate (73% cacao). This gluten-free bar had a deep, almost earthy, flavor. About 7-10 seconds after taking a bite, cinnamon notes in this bar ignited into a slow cayenne burn finish.

Compartes Chocolatier's Mexican Hot Chocolate truffle was decorated with small red skull and crossbones across the top; and it tasted very much like a cup of hot chocolate, with a warm cinnamon flavor and a chocolate ganache (filling) with an almost flowing melt.

Chipotle Caramel bar - June 3, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Amy E's Bakery, LLC
Chipotle Caramel bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) for 1 bar
Cost: $3.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #5 of Spicy Chocolate Theme Week.

This dairy and corn syrup free Chipotle Caramel bar from Amy E's Bakery (Coquille, OR) was dairy and corn syrup free; and it was sweetened with organic evaporated cane juice, organic coconut milk and organic agave. It received a bit of heat from organic chile peppers. And cashews, pecans and peanuts gave the bar a satisfying crunchy texture, and nicely complemented the spicy caramel filling and dark chocolate couverture.

Amy Edwards, of Amy E's Bakery, also makes organic candy and biscotti. SweetE Organic (Mill Valley, CA) offers a wide range of organic candies, chocolates and other treats.

Hot Pink truffle - June 2, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

The Oakland Chocolate Company
Hot Pink truffle
Good+
Weight: .43 oz. (12.16 g.) (estimate) for 1 truffle
Calories: 64 calories (estimate) for 1 truffle
Cost: $2.00 for 1 piece
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Company, Oakland, CA

It was a hot day outside today, on this fourth day of Chocolate and Spicy Theme Week. It seemed like the perfect occasion for a Hot Pink truffle from The Oakland Chocolate Company (Oakland, CA).

This round truffle made with rich and earthy Jamaican cacao beans was constructed in layers. Beneath a dark chocolate exterior was a dark chocolate ganache (creamy filling) flavored with a hint of cayenne pepper. At the very heart: a piece of strawberry. And a tiny pink flame of strawberry garnished the top.

Also radiating pink spiciness (flanking the Hot Pink truffle in the picture above right), were two Pink Peppercorn Caramels, that were quite nice. I will feature this caramel in the future. 

Hot Chili Truffle - June 1, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolat Lily
Hot Chili truffle
Good - Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 truffle
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - from Chocolat Lily, Portland, OR

Today was the third day of Spicy Chocolate Theme Week.

Different chile peppers yield different results when combined with chocolate, ranging from a blast of heat to a whisper of warmth.

Today's Hot Chili truffle from Chocolat Lily* (Portland, OR) was filled with a creamy dark chocolate ganache that was infused with just the right amount of chili mystery -- not too hot, but enough to offer some subtle yet complex flavor and finish.

*Chocolat Lily was named for a chocolate-colored flower (Frittilaria lanceolata) that grows in the Columbia Gorge area of Oregon.

Mango Chile bar - May 31, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Casa de Chocolates
Chile Mango (bar)
Good - Good +
Weight: .25 oz. (7.07 g.) / 1.1 oz. (29 g.) (estimate) for 1 "mini" bar
Calories: 35 calories (estimate) for 1/4 oz. (7 g.) piece
Cost: $2.66 for 1 mini bar (3 for $8.00)
Purchased from: Casa de Chocolates, Berkeley, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Mango Theme Week, and Day #2 of Spicy Chocolate Theme Week. (Sometimes theme weeks do overlap.)

Not too long ago, I picked up a few Latin-inspired chocolates from Casa de Chocolates (Berkeley, CA), including today's Chile Mango "mini" bar (also available in a larger 3 oz. size bar). (Photo of bar at right from Casa de Chocolates.)

Made with bits of dried spicy mango, the bar's 61% cacao was just dark enough to be interesting, but close enough to the "deep milk chocolate" percentage pool so as not to overwhelm subtle hints of mango and chile.

Inspired by chocolatier Arcelia Gallardo's chocolate creations at Casa de Chocolates, I roasted some chicken with spicy mango chutney with a dash of spicy cocoa powder and smoked salt. Nothing like a sweet and rich spicy alternative to barbecue sauce now and then. 

Mango Red Chili truffle - May 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Marco Paolo Chocolates
Mango Red Chili Gelee (truffle)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) for 1 truffle
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) in 1 truffle
Cost: $ part of larger $25 (sale price) 9-piece box
Purchased from: Marco Paolo Chocolates, Van Nuys, CA

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


This lovely Mango Red Chili truffle was part of a beautifully packaged, 9-piece "Sense Venture" assortment from Marco Paolo Chocolates (Van Nuys, CA). All 9 truffles in the box were different and featured great, layered flavor combinations. Today's Mango truffle had a tasty, sweet and almost savory, dark chocolate ganache infused with lime and habanero pepper. A layer of mango red chili gelee sat atop the ganache.

Layering ingredients in a slightly larger (taller) truffle like this was a great way to enjoy a complex flavor ride -- particularly when ingredients are fresh and well balanced like this.

Coconut Mango Bites - May 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Dark Chocolate Covered Coconut Mango Bites
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in 3 pieces / 7 oz. (198 g.) total package
Calories: 200 calories in 1 serving (3 pieces)
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Menlo Park, CA

These soft and chewy, sweet coconut candy and mango flavored bites from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) were coated with dark chocolate that helped balance out the sweetness. The small rectangular pieces that came packaged in a resealable bag were just the right size for a snack.

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