Patric Chocolate, The BOSS bar - July 31, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Patric Chocolate
The BOSS (bar)
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .766 oz. (21.66 g.) in 1/3 bar / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $free bar for future chocolate holder purchase
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, in Palo Alto, CA

Alan "Patric" McClure of Patric Chocolate (Columbia, MO) has put the "craft" in American handcrafted chocolate. It is with eager anticipation that I try new Patric Chocolate bars.

Today's limited edition* bar, The BOSS, was no exception. Salty milk chocolate with an even sprinkling of crunchy Rio (Caribe) cacao nibs.

A bit of added cocoa butter and milk powder made this bar very smooth, while still maintaining much of the pleasing, bright flavor associated with Patric's darker bars.

The nibs were embedded (at just the right depth) into the back of this bar. Tiny, high-quality, crystalline shards of cocoa bean, none too sharp, the nibs crunched down to wonderful bits of rich and concentrated cacao flavor.  There was just enough salt to round out and enrich flavors, not too much. Another winner from Patric.

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Cacao Nibs Theme Week.

*Note: This bar was made several months ago for The Chocolate Garage in Palo Alto, CA, and continues to be very popular.

Sea Salt and Nibs bar - July 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Madecasse LLC
Sea Salt and Nibs bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 small bar
Calories: 132 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $ N/A
Purchased from: N/A

This small 63% cocoa bar from Madecasse LLC made up in flavor and texture what it lacked in size. I couldn't detect any sea salt (good for those who prefer less salt and want to focus on the chocolate, perhaps not as good for those who want a bit more salt flavor that might enhance certain flavors). The base chocolate was flavorful and the uniform scattering of cocoa nibs provided crunchy texture in every bite.

Madecasse makes their bars in-country, from bean to bar (in Madagascar), using Madagascar-grown cocoa beans. Being closer to both the beans and the farmers, makes it easier for chocolate making, and for the company to develop local relationships and encourage natural farming practices that may include, for example, natural composting, and alternatives to herbicides and pesticides.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Cacao Nibs Theme Week.

Coco Polo - 70% Cocoa Nib bar - July 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Coco Polo
70% with Cocoa Nib bar
Good +
Weight: .49 oz. (13.8 g.) (estimate) for sample packet/bar
Calories: 69 calories (estimate) in sample bar
Cost: $N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - Coco Polo table at the San Francisco Fancy Food Show, San Francisco, CA

Photo: Coco Polo

The "sugar-free chocolate" section in sweet shops, or grocery stores, can be a bit off-putting. However, there is no need to fear stevia-sweetened chocolate bars from Coco Polo (Highland Park, NJ).

The company is using quality ingredients and an aftertaste-free stevia formulation (with Reb A, an FDA-approved stevia extract) for its line of bars. This may be the new gold standard for sugar-free chocolate.

I obtained today's small sample size 70% dark chocolate bar with cocoa nibs at an industry show earlier this year. Full-size 3-oz. bars are available in stores, or online. (See image of the (larger) full-size bar from Coco Polo's website, at right.)

Dude, Sweet EVOOC - July 28, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dude, Sweet Chocolate

1.) Extra Virgin Olive Oil - hickory and cocoa nib infused - Good +
Weight: 1/2 teaspoon / 8.5 oz. (241 g.) total bottle
Calories: 18 calories (estimate) for 1/2 teaspoon
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bottle
Purchased from: Dude Sweet Chocolate, Dallas, TX

2.) Break Up Potion Chocolate Sauce - Good +
Weight: 1/8 teaspoon / 4 oz. (113 g.) total bottle
Calories: 3 calories (estimate) for 1/8 teaspoon
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bottle
Purchased from: Dude Sweet Chocolate, Dallas, TX

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Cacao Nib Theme Week. Cacao nibs (pieces of unsweetened cacao bean) can be used for sweet or savory dishes. Today's two items from Dude Sweet Chocolate (Dallas, TX) were sweet but could also be incorporated into savory dishes.

I drizzled both carefully over a small sundae (coffee and butter pecan ice creams in a shotglass*).

Let's start with the Dude Sweet Chocolate extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). The oil was infused with hickory smoked cacao nibs, cinnamon and vanilla bean to make "EVOOC." And the Break Up Potion Chocolate Sauce was made with Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon and agave. (The latter was not technically 100% gluten free, but I allowed myself a delightfully flavorful drop or two.) Both complemented the ice cream flavors, and were packaged simply, in sturdy, brown glass bottles.

*A shotglass typically holds between 1 1/2 oz. and 2 oz. of liquid content. I've found using a shotglass is a great way to exercise portion control for richer dessert items.

Coffee and Cocoa Nib bar - July 27, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Trader Joe's
Coffee and Cocoa Nib bar
Good
Weight: .66 oz. (19 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) total bar
Calories: 106.6 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $9.99 part of a 7-bar pack
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Cacao Nib Theme Week.

Trader Joe's dark chocolate (70% cacao) Coffee and Cocoa Nib bar featured today was part of a 7-bar "Takes Flight" tasting odyssey package. Other flavors in this (seasonal) collection of bars included black sea salt with caramel; orange hibiscus; coconut caramel; salt and pepper potato chip; almond ginger; and chili cinnamon.

Today's chocolate had a dark, even flavor; and finely ground cocoa bean bits (nibs) and coffee nibs enhanced the flavor and added a hint of texture.

Mocha Palets - July 26, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Byrne and Carlson
Mocha Palets
Good +
Weight: .25 oz. (7.07 g.) / 3.25 oz. (92 g.) total package
Calories: 36 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $ n/a
Purchased from: Fog City News, San Francisco, CA

These smooth dark chocolate (60% cacao) discs from Byrne and Carlson (Portsmouth, NH) were just the right size and shape for tasting. Flavored with rich coffee and crushed nibs, they were quite tasty too.

Today was the first day of Chocolate and Cacao Nibs Theme Week.

Midnight Mocha bar - July 25, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

The Tea Room
Midnight Mocha bar
Good
Weight: .36 oz. (10.2 g.) in 1/5 bar / 1.8 oz. (51 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 56 calories in 1/5 bar
Cost: $4.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Tea Room table at Chocolate Salon (show) in San Francisco, CA

I didn't wait until midnight to try the Midnight Mocha dark chocolate bar from The Tea Room (San Leandro, CA). Instead I enjoyed this bar after dinner, while watching a particularly colorful summer sunset outside. The sunset hues seemed to match colors on the bar's packaging.

Speaking of harmonizing, I liked the fact that Tea Room chief chocolatier, Heinz Rimann, created a bar where the coffee flavor was pleasingly present, without being overwhelming. I also liked that this dark 72% cacao bar was made with organic* ingredients: chocolate, "cacao fat", cane sugar, and coffee ("Premium Arabica Espresso").

There was soy lecithin added to this bar as an emulsifier. Soy lecithin and cocoa butter (fat) can help make dark chocolate taste smoother, but soy lecithin also can alter the texture and taste - a potential trade-off in chocolate making. Overall, I think most people will appreciate the smoothness of this bar.

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week.

*The Tea Room has worked to source quality organic chocolate, that is also Non-GMO and gluten free. Check labeling on individual chocolate bars for the latest specifics.