ChocolateBet: November 30, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

~ 1 oz. serving
Lotte (distributed by Nishimoto Trading Co. of Tokyo, Japan)
Almond Chocolate Crisp (individual chocolate covered almonds, w/ addit. filling elements)
Good +
Wt.: 1 oz. serving/4.16 oz. (118 g.) in total box
Calories: 170 calories (estimate) in ~ 1 oz. serving
Cost: $2.35 for total box
Purchased from: store in Chinatown, in San Francisco, CA

These chocolate covered almonds from Lotte weren't bad; however, I shouldn't be eating chocolates with "malt puff" in them, because I need to avoid wheat/gluten items. And, I'm 99% sure that malt puff probably has at least some gluten in it.

ChocolateBet: November 29, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece

Jo's Candies

Dark Salt Caramels

Very Good

Weight: .6 oz. (17 g)/ 1.2 oz. (34 g.) in total package of 2 pieces

Calories: 75 calories in 1 piece

Cost: $ 1.75 for total pkg. of two pieces

Purchased from: Peet's Coffee and Tea, in Menlo Park, CA

These Dark Salt Caramels from Jo's Candies (Torrance, CA) were very good.

ChocolateBet: November 28, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving

Cafe Primavera at The Tech Museum of Innovation
Hot Chocolate 

Good +

Weight: 12 oz. size cup

Calories: 400 calories (estimate)

Cost: $ ?

Purchased from: Cafe Primavera, at/in The Tech Museum of Innovation, in San Jose, CA

We enjoyed hot chocolate and dinner at a cafe in the Tech Museum (San Jose, CA). The hot chocolate was based on Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and cocoa powder. It was great to drink something hot before going out to view outdoor holiday exhibits and snow.

After dinner, we walked across the street to the park, and through Christmas exhibits. It was nice to see and walk through a burst of snowflakes (albeit fake snow), given that we live in the Bay Area of California and a rare dusting of morning frost is considered deep winter here.

ChocolateBet: November 27, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz. serving
Redstone's
Cranberry dark chocolate ("72% dark")
Good - nice dark chocolate; the crunchy cranberry granules were interesting, though a bit artificial-tasting
Wt.: 1 oz./3 oz. (85 grams) in total bar
Calories: 133 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar (1 oz.)
Cost: $5.99 for total bar
Purchased from: Natalie's Candy Bar, in Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) airport; Dallas, TX

Happy U.S. Thanksgiving day all.

ChocolateBet: November 26, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 box
Old Dominion Peanut Company
Dipped Peanut Brittle
Very Good
Weight: 5.75 oz. (163 grams)
Calories: 661 calories (estimate) for a whole box
Cost: $.99 for box
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Menlo Park, CA

Well, sometimes you just end up eating the whole box. What can I say. At only $0.99 for the whole box of chocolate-covered peanut brittle goodness....this is a real bargain in the chocolate world.

ChocolateBet: November 25, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 cup
Palo Alto Cafe Coffee House
Hot Chocolate with whipped cream and a shot of almond syrup
Very Good
Weight: ~ 12 fluid oz.
Calories: 400 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.75
Purchased from: Palo Alto Cafe Coffee House, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was the last day (technically day #8) of hot chocolate week. Today we enjoyed some home-made hot chocolate from one of the few independent (non-chain) coffee houses left in midtown/South Palo Alto, the Palo Alto Cafe coffee house.

ChocolateBet: November 24, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
Ibarra Chocolate (from Mexico)
"Table Chocolate", wedges for hot chocolate
Very Good
Weight: ~ 23 grams for two wedges (~ 5 fluid oz. hot chocolate)/ total pkg = 19 oz. (1 lb. 3 oz.) or 540 g.
Calories: 110 calories for wedges + milk (~40 cals.) = 150 calories total
Cost: $3.99 for total package (~ 24 servings) makes this a great deal
Purchased from: La Costena (market and take-out food, burritos) in Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of hot chocolate week.

It's only right to try some hot chocolate from Mexico/Central America - where drinking chocolate originated, before it spread far and wide throughout the world.

Today's Ibarra Genuine Mexican Chocolate, contained a short list of the right ingredients, and made a rich, authentic tasting hot chocolate.