Blue Mountain - Cacao Pistachio Brownie - Sept. 12, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Blue Mountain Organics
Cacao Pistachio Brownie
Good
Weight: 2.4 oz. (68 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 240 calories in 1 package
Cost: $5.39 for 1 package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Pistachio Theme Week.

This Cacao Pistachio Brownie from Blue Mountain Organics (Floyd, VA) -- part of the company's line of raw, organic desserts and snacks -- was seriously dark.

The short list of ingredients: dates, agave, cacao, pistachios and golden flax. No funny business. Despite dates and agave being listed first, this was the opposite of birthday cake sweet. Weighing in at only 10 g. of sugars, it was a breakfast brownie built for a seriously busy day. No sugar spike, just raw, sustained energy for the morning.

The lovely green pistachio nut bits in this brownie were a bit overpowered (as in almost all chocolates with pistachio nuts), but the nuts added some crunch and color.

This brownie was non-GMO, kosher and vegan.

Gary and Kit's Dark Toffee Pistachios - Sept. 11, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Gary and Kit's / Clif Family Winery
Dark Chocolate Toffee Pistachios
Good+
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 5 oz. (142 g.) in total tin
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. serving
Cost: $12.00 for 1 tin
Purchased from: The Olive Press, Sonoma, CA


Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Toffee Theme Week, and Day #2 of Chocolate and Pistachio Theme Week. And, speaking of numbers...

Chocolate Anniversary: Year 8
... Today also marks the 8th anniversary of eating a different chocolate each day on ChocolateBanquet.com.

What have I learned after eating 2,900+* chocolates? Among other things: 1.) There are enough chocolates worldwide that I could eat a different chocolate every day for at least 8 more years. And, 2.) chocolate is very versatile; it blends with hundreds of sweet and savory foods, spices and beverages.

What is your favorite, easily mixable food? In addition to chocolate, I'm also fond of lemon (also equally at home in sweet and savory dishes). Butter, brandy, bacon and olive oil are other candidates. I'd nominate potatoes and garlic if I could; although, in truth, I can't see garlic in many desserts.

OK, back to the Chocolate of the Day: Gary and Kit's Dark Chocolate Toffee Pistachios from Clif Family Winery (St. Helena, CA).

Loved the fact that these chocolate-covered nuts were not too sweet. This tin of whole, shelled, crunchy pistachio nuts with a toffee and dark chocolate coating were crispy and flavorful. The sweet, mild nutty flavor of nuts (like pistachios and cashews) can be overshadowed a bit by even a smooth dark chocolate like this; however, I enjoyed these nonetheless.

*I expect to hit the 3,000 chocolates mark, at the end of November 2014. 

Lillie Belle Farms - Pistachio Toffee Bar - Sept. 10, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lillie Belle Farms
Pistachio Toffee Bar
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 225 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Lillie Belle Farms, Central Point, OR

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Toffee Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Pistachio Theme Week. And what better bar to represent both of these themes than the Pistachio Toffee Bar from Lillie Belle Farms (Central Point, OR).

Organic, pistachio toffee bits were incorporated into 37% organic, single origin milk chocolate. A bit sweet and buttery for me. So smooth and melty, you could almost spread it on toast.

Nirvana - Dark bar with toffee, sesame seeds - Sept. 9, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nirvana Belgian Chocolates
72% Dark Chocolate with Toffee and Sesame Seeds bar
Good
Weight: .583 oz. (16.8 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 92 calories in 1/6 bar
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

This Nirvana Chocolates Organic, 72% Dark Chocolate bar is a good example of how cocoa bean origin (cocoa beans/mass grown in the Dominican Republic) and European know-how (chocolate made in Belgium) are more transparently marketed.

While most high-volume chocolate has long been made this way -- i.e. cocoa beans are shipped to more developed countries (Europe/Eastern Europe, the U.S. with advanced equipment and temperature controlled facilities) for manufacturing a finished bar -- there is more recognition now for the country of origin, and what that means for flavor, as well as other attributes of consumer interest, such as organic and fair trade (both present here).

This dark chocolate bar was relatively glossy and broke with a hard snap (well tempered). The bar,  "with natural toffee flavor," had a relatively even, smooth dark flavor with the exception of a slight soapy note (like what one may find in ginger, although, to my knowledge, there was no ginger in this bar). Tiny crunchy bits (sesame seeds) added textural interest. 

Heath Toffee Bits Sundae - September 8, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

McConnell's Fine Ice Creams
Dark Chocolate Paso Brittle Ice Cream
Good +
Weight: 1/3 cup (70.5 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) total container
Calories: 173 calories in 1/3 cup serving
Cost: $6.99 (sale)
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

The Hershey Company
Heath Toffee Bits
Good
Weight: 1 Tablespoon (15 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) total package
Calories: 80 calories in 1 Tablespoon
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

When I was growing up and I thought about toffee, one of the first items to come to mind was Heath Toffee bars from The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA). These were made with milk chocolate, sugar, dairy butter, lactose, and bits of roasted almonds. Crushed Heath and Skor (similar to Heath) bars were also popular as toppings over (or mixed in with) ice cream.

So, it was in that spirit today that I made a chocolate and toffee sundae, with Dark Chocolate Paso Brittle Ice Cream from McConnell's Fine Ice Creams (Santa Barbara, CA), sprinkled with Heath Toffee Bits (now sold by the bag for cooking and dessert toppings). Sweet, cold and crunchy, this ice cream treat hit the spot on a warm day, after a 7-mile hike up in the redwoods.

The McConnell's dark chocolate ice cream (made with Valrhona cocoa and Coeur de Guanaja*) was studded of bits of "Paso Brittle" -- roasted almond brittle with salt made by Paso Almonds (San Luis Obispo, CA). Note: This is rich ice cream, enough to coat your bowl and spoon with a thin-film of Central Coast grass-pastured milk and cream.

*A dark (80%) chocolate "concentrate" developed by Valrhona, made from non-GMO ingredients, suitable for ganaches, ice cream, mousses, drinks and sauces.

Terry's Chocolate Toffee Orange Segsations - Sept. 7, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Kraft Foods
Terry's Chocolate Orange Segsations
Toffee Crunch
Good ++
Weight: .35 oz. (9.9 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece / 11.66 oz. (330 g.) total package of 5 flavors
Calories: 51.9 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $ N/A - gift from friend
Purchased from: N/A - gift from friend (Thank you Mary)

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Toffee Theme Week; and today's package of Terry's Chocolate Orange "Segsations" (owned by Kraft Foods) came in 5 different, individually-wrapped flavors.

This evening, I tried the Toffee Crunch flavor. Each citrus segment-shaped piece was made of sweet, milk chocolate and crunchy toffee bits, infused with lovely orange flavor.

Too Much Chocolate?
Earlier today, I was a judge in a chocolate awards tasting. Over one hundred chocolates is probably too many chocolates to taste in one day, especially given the range of quality involved. Still, it was great to participate; and it was fun to compare notes with others. There are always new things to learn when it comes to chocolate.

There were no toffees to taste in this competition, so I topped off the day's tasting with this additional piece of chocolate when I got home. With all this theobromine* in my system, it will be interesting to see if I can sleep at all tonight.

*Chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulant that is similar to, but not the same as caffeine.

Break Brittle - Chocolate Cashew Brittle - Sept. 6, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Break Brittle
Chocolate Salted Cashew Brittle
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 4 oz. (113.4 g.) total package
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. piece
Cost: $8.50 in total bag/package
Purchased from: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy - Warming Hut, San Francisco, CA

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

There is a fine line between toffees and brittles in the U.S. Both are sold as crunchy, caramel-colored shards of sweet goodness, usually with nuts. They are close enough that I'm including today's brittle in Toffee Theme Week.

The Chocolate Salted Cashew Brittle from Break Brittle (San Francisco, CA) was gluten free, vegan and butter and oil free.

So how was it? As brittles go, it was quite nice. The pieces broke with just the right amount of fresh, sugary candy crunch. There was no cream or oil to buffer the sweetness as there might have been with some toffees. The sweetness overwhelmed the dark chocolate layer on the back and the milder, roasted cashew nut bits. This was pure candy. I did really enjoy the sprinkling of kosher salt that added a layer of flavor and helped balance the sugar.

Part of the philosophy of Break Brittle is to be able to break off pieces of this confection to share with others. And, I will surely pass this on to candy lovers I know for a taste.