Tate's Bake Shop - Double Chocolate Chip cookies - Oct. 12, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tate's Bake Shop
Gluten Free - Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) / 7 oz. (200 g.) in total package
Calories: 280 calories in 4 cookies
Cost: $4.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #12 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookies Theme Week(s).

Tate's Bake Shop (Southampton, NY) is based in a charming village in the Hamptons. It will be a while before I can make it out to Southampton, but that is the beauty of food. It allows us to travel via our palette and imagination.

The company's Double Chocolate Chip Cookies were a hit, possessing all the qualities I look for in a crispy-style chocolate gluten-free cookie. My checklist is below.

• Good balance between crispy and chewy - Yes, 95% crispy, 5% chewy
• Holds together without an excess of vegetable gum(s), not too crumbly - Yes
• Slight buttery flavor and texture - Yes (contained butter)
• Quality ingredients list - Yes; first ingredient listed was chocolate chips (bonus points)

These chocolate + chocolate chip cookies were just the right thickness (i.e. not too thick or thin) for the optimal buttery crunch. And the tiny hint of salt was perfect.

Schar - Chocolate Sandwich Cremes - Oct. 11, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Schar
Chocolate Sandwich Cremes
Good - Good +
Weight: .88 oz. (25 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 2 cookies
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #11 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookie Theme Week.

These gluten-free, chocolate flavored* cookies from Schar (Germany/Lyndhurst, NJ) were crunchy and fresh tasting. Sweet and a bit starchy (corn starch) they were not overly so on either count.

These are the kind of cookies I would have loved in my lunch in grade school. I would have loved their smaller size, embossed detail and inherent cuteness -- then as now. (And there would have been no side effects from gluten**.)

*Both the biscuit and the filling contained cocoa powder. 
** Schar cookies are made in a dedicated (gluten-free) facility.

Chantal Guillon - 3 more macarons - Oct. 10, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chantal Guillon
1.) Dark Chocolate macaron - Good - Good+
2.) Earl Grey macaron - Good+
3.) Black Sesame macaron - Good - Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25.47 g.) (estimate) for 3 macarons; 1.8 oz. (51 g.) (estimate) for box of 6
Calories: 135 calories (estimate) for 3 macarons
Cost: $5.50 for (3 macarons)/ $11.00 for total box of 6 macarons
Purchased from: Chantal Guillon (shop), in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookie Theme Week.

I finished a box of 6 macarons from Chantal Guillon (San Francisco and Palo Alto, CA) with today's trio of Dark Chocolate, Earl Grey and Black Sesame macarons.

When it comes to macarons, savory and floral flavors (ingredients that help balance out the sugar) tend to be my favorites. The Dark Chocolate, also slightly less sweet, did not disappoint. The Earl Grey macaron had a wonderful orange bergamot, slightly citrus flavor. This paired nicely with the dark chocolate macaron. I also enjoyed the black sesame flavor.

Chantal Guillon - 3 Macarons - Oct. 9, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chantal Guillon
1.) Tiramisu macaron - Good
2.) Salted Caramel macaron - Good
3.) Red Velvet - Good
Weight: .9 oz. (25.47 g.) (estimate) for 3 macarons
Calories: 135 calories (estimate) in 3 macarons
Cost: $5.50 for 1/2 box ($11.00 for 6-piece box)
Purchased from: Chantal Guillon (shop), in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookie Theme Week.

These colorful, round gluten-free cookies came from Chantal Guillon's macaron and tea shop in downtown Palo Alto, in northern California. Rows of macarons were displayed in glass cases inside a chic, white interior.

Macarons are airy and sweet, generally gluten-free confection cookies with a creamy filling sandwiched between two rounds. Popular in France and elsewhere in Europe, they've also been easier to find in the U.S. in recent years.

I tried three Chantal Guillon flavors: 1.) Tiramisu (the flavor of the month for September 2014, dusted with cocoa powder); 2.) Salted Caramel (a best seller); and Red Velvet (red and white, with a hint of cocoa powder).

Macarons are a bit sweet for everyday consumption, but these cheery (polka dot) confections were well executed and attractively colored; and I did enjoy exploring the different flavors.

The Salted Caramel was my favorite of the three, followed by the Tiramisu. A bit of salt and butter often helps balance the sweetness. The Tiramisu was lighter in texture and flavor with a hint of mocha flavor which also helped amp down the sugar.

Alternative Baking Co. - Chocolate Explosion - Oct. 8, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Alternative Baking Company, Inc.
Chocolate Explosion cookie
Good
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in 1 cookie
Calories: 240 calories in 1 cookie
Cost: $1.79 for 1 cookie
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Theme Week.

This Chocolate Explosion cookie from Alternative Baking Company (Sacramento, CA) was gluten, egg, and dairy free. Chocolate chips or chunks created small bursts of chocolate flavor and texture with each bite. The cookie base was cohesive (consistent texture and it did not crumble), with a slight doughy taste.

Alternative Baking Co. - Fudge cookie - Oct. 7, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Alternative Baking Company, Inc.
Fudge Indulgence cookie
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in 1 cookie
Calories: 220 calories in 1 cookie
Cost: $1.79 for 1 cookie
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Theme Week.

However, given the large number of gluten-free cookies with chocolate this week, I'll be stretching this week out -- to a baker's dozen of 14 days.

Today's individually wrapped Fudge Indulgence cookie from the Alternative Baking Company, Inc. (Sacramento, CA) was vegan, egg free and dairy free. It hung together well and was not too crumbly. And it was also a good size for dessert. Not too small, not too large. The sealed plastic package made the individually-wrapped cookie easier to transport for a lunch or snack on the go.

The Fudge Indulgence cookie was one of five different gluten-free cookie flavors available. I will sample the company's "Chocolate Explosion" gluten-free cookie tomorrow.

The Plant - Spicy Chewy Chocolate Cookies - Oct. 6, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Plant Cafe Organic
Spicy Chewy Chocolate Cookie(s)
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 2.1 oz. (59 g.) (estimate) for 2 cookies
Calories: 375 calories (estimate) in 2 cookies
Cost: $1.65 x 2 = $3.30 for 2 cookies
Purchased from: The Plant, Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookie Theme Week.

It's been a pleasure to try so many great-tasting gluten-free cookies this week. When I stopped eating wheat and gluten, 15+ years ago, there weren't many wonderful gluten-free baked goods. Times have changed.

The Plant Cafe Organic (San Francisco) has been a reliable source of organic, vegan and gluten-free chocolate dessert options.

The Spicy Chewy Chocolate Cookies from The Plant Cafe location in Mill Valley, CA, were light, crunchy, crispy and -- as advertised -- spicy and chewy as well. It was a perfect interplay of chocolate with these flavors and textures.

I was worried that the "spicy" in this case might be the hit-you-in-the-face variety. But, the spices were wonderfully mysterious and intriguing. Was that a hint of chili? A glimmer of ginger?