Chocolate Maya - Dark Chocolate + Almonds - August 2, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Maya
Dark Chocolate + Almonds
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 2.65 oz. (74.9 g.) in 1 bag of pieces
Calories: 397 calories (estimate) in 1 bag
Cost: $5.19 for 1 bag
Purchased from: Chocolate Maya, Santa Barbara, CA

Today was Day #12 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week. (As often happens, one week of chocolates often leads to two weeks.)

This evening I enjoyed a small bag of Dark + Almonds chocolate pieces from Chocolate Maya (Santa Barbara, CA) for dessert. The dark chocolate was rich tasting without being bitter, and had a creamy melt. And the crunchy, toasted whole almonds embedded in these bark-like pieces were perfectly done. 

The Chocolate Gallery - Texas Crunch - Aug. 1, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Chocolate Gallery
Texas Crunch
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) / 3 oz. (84.9 g.) in total bag
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1/3 bag
Cost: $2.25 (guesstimate) for 1 bag
Purchased from: The Chocolate Gallery, Goleta, CA

Welcome to the first day of August, and Day #11 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week.

The Chocolate Gallery is located in a shopping center in Goleta, CA -- just north of Santa Barbara. (And the company's first location was on State Street in Santa Barbara.)

The owners have been in the chocolate business for 35+ years. That's a long time to be a small business owner in any business. Hats off to them.

When picking out chocolates, I consulted with Karen Kegg (co-owner). When I asked about best sellers she pointed to today's Texas Crunch, available in either milk or dark chocolate. This bark-style confection was cut into squares and sold in small plastic bags. Karen (who grew up in Houston, TX, in a candy-making family) suggested the milk chocolate version of Texas Crunch, so I went with that.

A faint milk chocolate aroma wafted out when I opened the bag. These creamy + crunchy squares were sweet, but the bits of toffee (that supplied the crunch) helped off-set the sweetness. Toffee does that. It enables a chocolate to be quite sweet, but still enjoyable. The butterfat, butter and hint of salt in this house-made toffee roped me in.

The Chocolate Gallery - Pear and Ginger chocolate - July 31, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

The Chocolate Gallery

Pear chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $1.50 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: The Chocolate Gallery, Goleta, CA

Ginger chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $1.50 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: The Chocolate Gallery, Goleta, CA

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week.

A friend and I stumbled upon The Chocolate Gallery, in the Calle Real Shopping Center (Goleta, CA), just north of Santa Barbara on a recent trip to the area -- when making a stop at another store nearby. I discover a lot of new chocolates this way.

Today's Pear chocolate caught my eye. I spoke with Chocolate Gallery co-owner, Karen, about the challenge of infusing pear flavor into chocolate. Natural pear flavor can be subtle and easily overwhelmed by more robust or dark chocolates. Some chocolatiers use pear liqueur or concentrated essence of pear to help boost the fruit flavor.

The Chocolate Gallery chocolatiers got the balance right. There was just enough subtle pear flavor in the ganache/filling in this chocolate to create a balanced and enjoyable tasting experience.

This Pear chocolate was also a great match for the company's chocolate covered ginger pieces. Pieces of slightly chewy candied ginger (bursting with authentic ginger flavor) were covered in chocolate. If you like ginger, this is a great combination.

Chocolate Gallery - Chocolate Explosion - July 30, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Chocolate Gallery
Chocolate Explosion
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $1.50 (guess) for 1 piece
Purchased from: Chocolate Explosion, Goleta, CA

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week.

During a recent trip to Santa Barbara, a friend and I visited Goleta, a community adjacent to the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB), and just north of Santa Barbara proper.

When we saw the "Chocolate Gallery" sign, I had to stop and check out this local shop. We wandered into store, and after admiring shelves full of different chocsimiles*, and chocolates behind glass, we talked with one of The Chocolate Gallery owners (Karen Kegg).

Karen (and husband Tim Johnson) have been in the chocolate business in the Santa Barbara area for 35+ years -- a real accomplishment for any small business. And, that's long enough time to see many trends come and go. When I asked about certain flavor combinations, she admitted that she was not a fan of a lot of exotic flavors.

Basic chocolates (perhaps molded into different shapes), and basic flavor and texture combinations were her preference. She handed me a Chocolate Explosion to taste, that had a creamy chocolate filling and crunchy cocoa nibs, and was covered in dark chocolate. Yep, that's the essence of chocolate all right. And it was pretty tasty too.

*Chocsimiles are facsimiles of objects rendered in chocolate -- think Easter bunnies and other animals, musical instruments and other shapes.

Chocolate Maya - Basil chocolate - July 29, 2015

Chocolate of the Day:

Chocolate Maya
Basil chocolate
Good ++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: Chocolate Maya, Santa Barbara, CA

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week.

I love flowers and herbs in filled chocolates, truffles and bonbons. So I was interested in trying this basil-flavored filled chocolate (adorned with a dark and white colored patterned stencil) from Chocolate Maya (Santa Barbara, CA).

Chocolate and mint is a popular combination. And basil is a member of the very large mint family. Both the chocolate and the basil-almost-mint herbal flavoring in the smooth ganache (filling) complemented each other nicely and the flavors were refreshingly natural and authentic.

Today's piece was one of several interesting, unique and carefully crafted filled chocolates packed into a relatively small Santa Barbara-based shop that also contained a great selection of chocolate bars from around the globe.

Chocolate Maya - Buddha in Jasmin; Ganesh chocolates - July 28, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Chocolate Maya

Buddha in Jasmin (sic) tea
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $2.00 for 1 piece
Purchased from: Chocolate Maya, Santa Barbara, CA

Ganesh
Good ++
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $1.50 for 1 piece
Purchased from: Chocolate Maya, Santa Barbara, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week.

These two wonderful and exotic pieces, a Buddha-shaped chocolate infused with jasmine tea, and a Ganesh medallion-shaped chocolate, were from Chocolate Maya (Santa Barbara, CA).

Both were made with rich, high-quality chocolate; and buddha contained a subtle hint of floral flavored tea.

Chocolate Maya - Milk and Honey and Champagne chocolate - July 27, 2015

www.chocolatemaya.com

Chocolate of the Day: 

Chocolate Maya
Milk and Honey and Champagne chocolate
Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: Chocolate Maya, Santa Barbara, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Santa Barbara Theme Week.

I've been enjoying the assortment box of chocolates I purchased from Chocolate Maya (Santa Barbara, CA) recently. We knew when we peeked in the door of this small, but wonderful shop that we'd be walking out with an interesting assortment of chocolates. And we did.

Today's "Milk and Honey and Champagne" bonbon was a creamy, sweet milk chocolate round topped with tiny (crunchy), gold candy "bubbles;" and it had a very slight hint of champagne grape flavor. Great for a gift or for celebrating a festive occasion, especially if you're milk chocolate fan.