Marco Paolo - Coconut Brittle - Sept. 26, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Marco Paolo Chocolates
Coconut Nectar Brittle Bark
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) /3.65 oz. (103.5 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Marco Paolo Chocolates

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate, Brittle and Bark Theme Week.

Coconut Nectar makes a delicious syrup base -- and a great brittle as well, as evidenced by this Coconut Nectar Brittle Bark from Marco Paolo Chocolates (Van Nuys, CA/Los Angeles, CA).

This confectionary pleasure consisted of thin sheets of buttery toffee made with coconut cream, organic coconut palm sugar, butter, glucose* syrup, flaked coconut, and a 70% dark chocolate coating.

Despite three coconut ingredients, the coconut flavor is very subtle and well balanced, as are the textures and other flavors. So, even if you think you're not a coconut fan, I recommend trying this coconut nectar brittle bark.

The well-sealed pouch enabled this brittle to stay crisp and fresh; and it also refrigerated well. (This Coconut Nectar brittle was available online in a 1-pound box when I checked this week.)

*Note: For those watching their gluten intake, glucose syrup may or may not be gluten free.

Her Coconess - Nibby Peanut Brittle - Sept. 25, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Her Coconess Confections
Nibby Peanut Brittle
Good +
Weight: 6 oz. (169.8 g.) in total package
Calories: 138 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. piece
Cost: $10.00 for one package
Purchased from: Her Coconess (herself)

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate, Brittle and Bark Theme Week.

Perhaps the most well-known brittle in the U.S. is peanut brittle. Shelley Seward, Her Coconess Confections (Belmont, CA), has added her own twist to this perennial favorite -- a sprinkling of cocoa nibs on her Nibby Peanut Brittle.

These dark bits carry the essence of chocolate flavor, without the sugar. This is fine, as there is plenty of sweetness already in this rich, golden brittle. A dab of butter, vanilla bean and sea salt added to this peanuty, crunchy confection make for a great offering.

Pretzel Perfection - Sept. 24, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pretzel Perfection
Good - Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in total package
Calories: 420 calories in 1 package
Cost: $1.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the first day of Chocolate, Brittle and Bark Theme Week.

While not technically a brittle, today's crunchy, gluten-free amalgam of chocolate, pretzels, toffee peanuts and chocolate and peanut butter chips from Pretzel Perfection (Vancouver, WA) contained a sprinkling of toffee bits as well -- making each one of these clusters similar to a fully loaded shard of chocolate brittle or bark.

The jumble of layered flavored and textures was fun and satisfying; and this made me want to try more of the company's sweet and savory gluten-free pretzel offerings.

Jimmy Bar - Super Hip Chocolate Chip - Sept. 23, 2014

Chocolate of the Day

Jimmy Bar!

1.) Super Hip Chocolate Chip
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.00 + tax
Purchased from: The Beach Hut, San Francisco, CA

2.) Peanut Butter Clutter
Good
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 180 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.00 + tax
Purchased from: The Beach Hut, San Francisco, CA

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

These two "clean snack bars" from JimmyBar! (founded by a brother and sister team in Chicago, IL) were very similar. In fact, if you'd held both up side-by-side, you might have trouble telling which was the chocolate and which was the peanut butter flavor.

In terms of taste, the Super Hip Chocolate Chip bar was clearly the one with chocolate; chocolate chips were the second ingredient, listed, after dates. And peanuts, almonds, almond butter and walnuts gave this bar a satisfying, fresh nutty flavor and texture. In fact there were so many nuts, the bar was slightly crumbly, although I didn't find this too problematic.

Dates were also the first ingredient listed in the second, Peanut Butter Clutter, bar; its dark look was similar to chocolate. I tasted the dates, nuts (peanuts, almonds) and honey (no sugar was added). However, the peanut butter was more muted -- perhaps mellowed by the addition of crisp brown rice.

Both JimmyBars were gluten free and dairy free, and were made without preservatives. The Super Hip Chocolate Chip bar was also vegan. I also liked that these bars were flavorful but not overly sweet.

McConnell's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Ice Cream - Sept. 22, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

McConnell's Fine Ice Creams
Double Peanut Butter Chip Ice Cream
Good - Good +
Weight: 1/2 cup (106 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) total container
Calories: 160 calories in 1/4 cup serving
Cost: $6.99 (sale) for 1 Pint
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

You want peanut butter? Here's a "Double Whammy" -- Double Peanut Butter Chip ice cream from McConnell's Fine Ice Creams (Santa Barbara, CA). The peanut butter in peanut butter ice cream dominated the chocolate pieces here; but it was fun to relish in layers of peanut flavor.

This flavor was described as: "creamy peanut butter folded into peanut butter ice cream... (with)... our signature, Guittard bittersweet, melted chocolate chip..."  

MacroBar - Chocolate Peanut Butter - Sept. 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

GoMacro Inc.
MacroBar - Protein Pleasure Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total bar
Calories: 290 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Protein and health bars seem to use very long names to connect with their customers. Today's chocolate item was an organic, vegan, macrobiotic*, Non-GMO, gluten free and pareve, MacroBar Protein Pleasure Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bar (whew, there, I've said it) from GoMacro Inc. (Viola, WI).

The company operates off several guiding principles including "No Sacrifices." That is, don't give up taste for nutrition, and don't give up nutrition for taste. I'd say they've succeeded here.

This Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip protein (12 g.) bar was fresh and chewy, with an authentic peanut butter taste, and a generous sprinkle of large chocolate chips -- that helped concentrate the chocolate flavor. A better tasting protein bar in this category than most.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

*Macrobiotic(s), a term first coined in 1797 by a German physician, became popular in the 1900s in the U.S., and refers to a diet of whole foods, often whole grains and vegetables, that are balanced -- with occasional reference to yin and yang forces.

InovoBiologic - PGX Chocolate Peanut Butter bar - Sept. 20, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

InovoBiologic Inc.
PGX Organic 15g Protein Bar - Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter
Weight: 2.2 oz. (61 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 260 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.39 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

InovoBiologic (Monroe, WA; and BC Canada) has done an admirable job of serving a market niche for an organic, vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free protein bar with their PBX Satisfast 15g Protein Bar line.

There was a dark chocolate coating around this bar, and a subtle peanut butter flavor throughout, but I was conscious that I was eating a protein bar first and foremost.

Despite a slight chemical or alcohol* aroma when I opened this wrapper, the bar itself contained no "off" taste. It had the texture that most protein bars do, which is to say, not quite the wonderful creamy smoothness of a pure dark chocolate bar, but this one was not bad as protein bars go. And it left no scratchy feeling in my throat -- a temporary sensation I've felt with other bars in this category.

And I did appreciate a morning chocolate "meal" that was not too sweet, and was relatively satisfying and filling.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

*Total Carbohydrate listing for this bar was 27 grams, broken out as follows: Dietary fibre - 4 grams; Sugars - 11 grams; and Sugar Alcohols - 8 grams. Protein was supplied largely by Organic Brown Rice Protein, Peanut Butter, and Pea Protein.