ChocolateBet: March 4, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
XOX Truffles
1 Lemon/Citron and 1 Caramel Truffle
Both were Very Good; I liked the Lemon
Wt: ~.8 oz. for 2 pcs.
Calories: ~ 115 for 2 pcs.
Cost: $1.50 for 2 truffles (.75 per truffle)
Purchased from: XOX Truffles, in San Francisco, CA

I purchased a small bag of 6 truffles at XOX Truffles during my last trip up to San Francisco a few days ago, and have been picking them off - two by two the past few days. They offer a nice range of flavors. Cautionary note, these are prone to getting soft so be careful not to squish them together.

Chocolate in the News:

Dark Chocolate Shown to Lower Blood Pressure
Dark varieties promote healthier hearts, lower cancer risks
by Sally Squires, The Washington Post
"...Americans each consume an estimated 11 pounds (more than 26,000 calories) per year, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition..."
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/healthyliving2/stories/DN-nh_leanplatenew_0304liv.ART.State.Edition1.465996b.html

ChocolateBet: March 3, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces/Truffles
XOX Truffles
1 Green Tea Matcha Truffle and 1 Earl Grey Truffle
Both were Very Good; nice tea flavors in both
Wt. ~ .8 oz.
Calories: ~ 115 calories for 2
Cost: $1.50 for 2 (.75 each)
Purchased from: XOX Truffles, in San Francisco, CA

XOX Truffles is a tiny little chocolate (and coffee) shop on Columbus; I waited in line (on the sidewalk) behind a half dozen folks who were picking out a custom variety of truffle flavors. No problem. It gave me more time to make up my mind.

ChocolateBet: March 2, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 cupcake
"Crave - A San Francisco Bakery"
Confetti Cupcakes (chocolate with chocolate frosting, and some sprinkles)
Very Good - and Very Good + if warmed slightly in the microwave oven
Weight: 3 oz. (85 grams) per cupcake / (12 oz. (342) grams total for total package of 4)
Calories: 240 for 1 cupcake
Cost: $9.99 for a container of 4 cupcakes
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in Cupertino, CA

I made my first trip into the Whole Foods Market in Cupertino - a huge (68,000 square foot) store that opened in 2007 and was built across the street from their old store. It was impressive.

There were lots of chocolates (conveniently located close to the front entrance). And, equally important for me, there were lots of gluten-free chocolates to choose from -- including these gluten-free and milk-free, chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting from Crave (San Francisco, CA). These Confetti Cupcakes were topped with festive sprinkles.

The cupcakes were even better, if that's possible, when warmed very slightly in the microwave oven.

ChocolateBet: March 1, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chuao Chocolatier
Choco Pod - Modena
Weight: 1 pod - 11 grams / 2.3 oz. (66 grams) total package of 6
Calories: 50 calories for 1 piece/pod
Cost: $6.29 for package of 6 pieces
Purchased from: Andronico's Market, in Palo Alto, CA

This package of 6 dark chocolate (60% cacao) "pods" from Chuao Chocolatier (Carlsbad, CA) were filled with a strawberry and balsamic caramel center, and were very good.

Each pod (roughly shaped like a cacao fruit) was individually wrapped making single servings convenient; the filling had a nice flavor without overwhelming the dark chocolate that surrounded it, which I liked -- probably because so many fillings are too sweet for my taste.

ChocolateBet: February 29, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
MarieBelle (New York)
1 Buckwheat and 1 Caipirinha
Very Good - Buckwheat: what taste like little pieces of buckwheat kernels help give it some nice texture and flavor; nice combination.
Very Good + - Yum - Caipirinha - taste like a very nice light citrus drink you might enjoy at a tropical vacation spot.
Wt. ~ .8 oz.?
Calories: 145?
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: Red Envelope/MarieBelle (New York)

Very nice 25-piece assortment box/gift - shared with folks at work. (Thank you Susan!) Nice artwork on each piece and accompanying sheet that described what flavor each chocolate was.

ChocolateBet: February 28, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces (1 serving)
B. T. McElrath Chocolatier
B.T.'s Ginger Toffee
Very Good
Wt.: 42 grams in 1 (4-pc) serving; 4.0 oz.
Calories: ~210 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $ 10.99 for a 4 oz. bag (pricey if you only want a single serving)
Purchased from: Andronico's Market, in Palo Alto, CA

These chocolate covered buttercrunch toffee squares were very good, but the ginger flavoring seemed to be a bit uneven - undetectable in first bite or two, then registering only as a hot taste. It was only in the last piece or two that I could finally taste a "ginger" taste that helped balance out the hot sensation.

ChocolateBet: February 27, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Theo Chocolate - 3400 Phinney bar series
NiB Brittle - Dark Chocolate (65% Cacao)
Good+ - Very Good
Wt: 2 oz. (57 grams)
Calories: 280 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ 3.99
Purchased from: Andronico's Market in Palo Alto, CA

This NiB Brittle bar from Theo Chocolate (Seattle, WA) was almost too sweet, but not quite as much as other two Theo 3400 Phinney bars/flavors I tried earlier this week. (The other two were milk chocolate bars with coconut curry and chai.)

Overall the quality of chocolate was quite good, but the taste throughout the bar was slightly uneven. For example, there was an almost burnt nib taste in one bite, but not in other parts of the same bar.