Chocolats du CalifBressan - Bressan shoe, Sea Shell truffles - July 23, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Chocolats du CaliBressan
Bressan truffle - Good ++ - Very Good
Sea shell truffle - Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .78 oz. (22 g.) (estimate) for 2 truffles
Calories: 119 calories (estimate) for 2 truffles
Cost: $3.60 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: Chocolats du CaliBressan, Santa Barbara, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week, and I celebrated with two different bonbons from Chocolats du CaliBressan (a shop with two locations: Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, CA).

Today's chocolates were part of an assortment box from this chocolatier in Santa Barbara that I purchased while visiting this Spanish-themed coastal city last week.

The first chocolate was a "Bressan" -- a shoe-shaped "milk chocolate and praline spiced with nutmeg, covered with milk chocolate." I loved the little spikes of fresh nutmeg embedded in a sweet creamy and firm filling (leavened by what might have been a few micro-specks of salt).

The second piece was shaped like a Sea Shell, with a silky dark chocolate and boysenberry ganache that sparkled with bright, authentic berry flavor, encased in dark chocolate.

Thank you to the staff for tips on which chocolates to buy. Lots of good ones; and it was hard to decide.

Chocolats du CaliBressan - Lotus bonbon - July 22, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolats du CaliBressan
Lotus bonbon
Good+
Weight: .39 oz. (11 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 58.5 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: Chocolats du CaliBressan, Santa Barbara, CA

I'm interrupting Chocolate, Grains and Grasses Theme Week(s), to feature several chocolates from a recent field trip to Santa Barbara, California.

Last week I visited this beautiful, coastal city where I'd lived for 4 + years earlier in life. Why I ever left is harder to fathom now (the world of work and adventure called). However, why I return there is no mystery. The scenery alone is worth it. And, of course, between the towering blue and beige mountains and the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara, there is chocolate.

Chocolats du CaliBressan (Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, CA) has two locations, and is run by a French couple. Jean-Michel Carre calls himself the "French Chocolatier of the American Riviera." The downtown Santa Barbara location is right off State Street, tucked away next to a few other small independent shops, near a fountain with turtles sunning themselves.

Today's Lotus bonbons were attractively displayed in a red lotus bowl in the shop, and this piece was part of an assortment box I purchased. It was filled with a creamy, soft (dark + milk) chocolate ganache infused with lotus stamens and lotus leaf powder; covered in dark chocolate; and adorned with a lotus flower stencil.

The lotus flavor was so subtle that it was difficult to detect, but I enjoyed the thought that I was taking in some part of this flower.

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week.

Woodstock - Mini Me's Organic Rice Bites - July 21, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Woodstock
Mini Me's - Organic Rice Bites
Good +
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: $5.59 for 1 package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate, Grains and Grasses Theme Week, with a focus on alternatives to wheat.

Rice was my first go to wheat substitute when I learned I had issues with gluten many years ago. And while rice cakes didn't seem as exciting as a "real" cake initially, I quickly got used to them. Rice cakes are, however, can be more interesting with a thin dark chocolate coating on top -- just like today's Mini Me's Organic Rice Bites -- a product of the Netherlands and distributed by Woodstock foods (Providence, RI).

These organic, diminutive rounds (billed as a "better cookie" and designed with children in mind) were gluten-free and were "produced with No GMOs." I appreciated the smaller, 3-bite size pieces.

The dark chocolate complemented the rice, and a light touch of sea salt tied everything together nicely.

Hu Kitchen - Almond Butter Puffed Quinoa Chocolate Bar - July 20, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Hu Kitchen
Almond Butter + Puffed Quinoa Chocolate Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 2.1 oz. (59.4 g.) in total bar
Calories: 340 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $6.59 in 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate, Grains and Grasses Theme Week, with a focus on alternatives to wheat, barley and other gluten-containing grains.

Hu Kitchen (New York, NY) is an eatery specializing in less processed foods; and they make chocolate bars with no refined or cane sugar. They also minimize the use of grains. Today's Almond Butter + Puffed Quinoa Chocolate Bar was lightly sweetened with coconut palm sugar. No overly sweet sugar taste or sugar buzz. That was refreshing and wonderful.

This 4-ingredient*, vegan and "primal" 72% cacao dark bar was filled with almond butter, and contained no gluten, no emulsifiers or soy lecithin, and "No GMO."

*The 4 ingredients in this bar were: cacao, almonds, organic puffed quinoa and organic coconut sugar.

Nairn's - Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Cookies - July 19, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nairn's
Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Cookies
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .706 oz. (20 g.) / 5.64 oz. (160 g.) in total box
Calories: 90 calories in 2 cookies (per label)
Cost: $5.39 for 1 box of 4 packages of cookies
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate, Grains and Grasses Theme Week.

I found today's Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Cookies from Nairn's (Edinburgh, Scotland) strangely addicting. These crunchy, satisfying sweet oat cookies were peppered with small chocolate chips and had a mild, oaty, chocolate flavor.

And the Scottish know their oats. Nairn's has been making oatcakes since 1896, and produces a line of gluten-free cookies made in a dedicated gluten-free bakery. They are careful to source gluten-free oats, and mention (on the back of the box) that one of their sources, a farm in Wyoming, is owned by a family of celiacs.

The box contained 4 "snack and go" packs (with 4 cookies per pack), a perfect size for a packed lunch, hike or emergency snack.

These cookies were made with gluten-free whole grain oats (50%) dark chocolate chips (14%), palm fruit oil from sustainable sources, demerara sugar, inulin, golden syrup, dark chocolate powder (3%), baking soda and sea salt.

Earnest Eats - Mayan Blend cereal - July 18, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Earnest Eats
hot and fit cereal earnest eats
Mayan Blend (cocoa and cashews + pepitas)
Good +
Weight: 1.48 oz. (42 g.) / 12.6 oz. (357 g.) in total package
Calories: 190 calories in 1 (1/2 cup) serving
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate, Grains and Grasses Theme Week.

What did I like best about today's hot and fit cereal earnest eats - Mayan Blend from Earnest Eats (Solana Beach, CA)? It wasn't too sweet. Most granolas seem loaded with sugar. This was not. And there was enough cocoa to really taste some authentic, darker cacao flavor.

Billed as a vegan, wheat-free "Superfood Hot Cereal," made with oats, quinoa and amaranth, this blend was flavored with cocoa, cashews and pepitas (pumpkin seeds).

Heart Thrive - Chocolate Chip Energy Bar - July 17, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Healthy Baking Company, LLC
Heart Thrive - Chocolate Chip Energy Bar(s)
OK+ - Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) for 1 piece / 4 oz. (112 g.) in total package of 2 pieces
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.19 for 1 package of 2 pieces
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate, Grains and Grasses Theme Week.

This package of two heart-shaped energy bars was created by The Healthy Baking Company, LLC (Emeryville, CA), and is a part of a line of heart-shaped energy bars. This was the only flavor with chocolate that I saw at the store.

These energy bars are gluten free, Non-GMO and vegan; and they contain no wheat, dairy, preservatives, cholesterol, trans fats, and/or added oils. They are "naturally sweetened" with brown rice syrup and fruit juices. They are made in a nut-free facility.

These bars contained a smattering of small chocolate chips, but the chocolate was just a mild accent flavor. The bars had a hearty texture, but there was a slight skunky, odd flavor note. I shared a piece of this bar with a friend, and she shared this observation. Otherwise, all was good, and I loved the heart shape.