ChocolateBet: March 11, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 small bar
Leonidas
Ghana 60% (from single origin collection of small bars)
Very Good
Wt.: 13.5 grams
Calories: 69 calories in one small bar
Cost: $13.00* for total package of small bars
Purchased from: Leonidas - Chocolate Cafe, in Pasadena, CA

ChocolateBet: March 10, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 small bar
Leonidas
Tanzanie 75% (from single origin collection of small bars)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 13.5 grams
Calories: 76 calories (estimate) in 1 small bar
Cost: $13.00 for total package/box of small bars
Purchased from: Leonidas - Chocolate Cafe, in Pasadena, CA

This small, Tanzania dark bar had smooth dark chocolate flavor. What it may have lacked in complexity (a more dramatic flavor arc), it made up for with a nice, even taste -- which some will prefer.

I liked the packaging on these Leonidas single origin bars -- with examples of tribal masks from the different cacao-growing regions.

ChocolateBet: March 9, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces
1.) Green Tea (Dark) - Good +
2.) Banana Cream (Milk) - Good +
Wt. ~ 1 oz. (28.3 grams)
Calories: ~ 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Mignon Chocolate, in Pasadena, CA

I'm on the road again this week, and am eating some chocolates I bought last weekend on a day trip down to L.A./Pasadena area. Both green tea and banana are difficult flavors to pull off I've found. Parts of these flavors seem to get lost, or end up tasting somewhat artificial. These were fairly good.

ChocolateBet: March 8, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Mignon Chocolate
1.) Limoncello (Dark) - Good +
2.) Lavender (Dark) - Very Good + - Yum
Wt.: ~ 1 oz. (28.3 g.)
Calories: ~ 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Mignon Chocolate, Pasadena, CA

The limoncello flavored chocolate was good, although it didn't really taste exactly like the lemon-flavored alcoholic drink. Something did not translate exactly right. This may may need an extra dose of lemon flavoring to counteract something else that's going on here when the liqueur is blended with the chocolate; I'm not sure. The lavender flavored dark chocolate was excellent.

The family that started Mignon have an interesting story. The company has roots in the Ukraine and Iran. Mignon Chocolate operates in Southern California, with two locations - one in Glendale and one in Pasadena. (Their factory is in Van Nuys, CA.)

ChocolateBet: March 7, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Leonidas - Chocolate Cafe
Marron - Dark
Very Good
Wt.: ~ .5 oz.
Calories: ~ 75 calories (estim.)
Cost: $0 (sample)
Purchased from: Leonidas store, in Pasadena, CA

Old town Pasadena was fun to visit today. Thank you to Starla who was helping us pick out chocolates in the Pasadena store.

ChocolateBet: March 6, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Schurra's
Victorian Cream - Dark chocolate version
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: ~ .5 oz. (14.1 gram)
Calories: ~ 75 calories (estim.)
Cost: $0 (sample) included with purchase of several chocolates
Purchased from: Schurra's store in San Jose, CA

I don't usually care for chocolates with cream centers, but the rum taste to these dark chocolate-coasted creams made for an enjoyable flavor.

ChocolateBet: March 5, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Two different flavors of ice cream in one cup
1.) 1/4 cup Ben and Jerry's "Imagine Whirled Peace" - Very Good
2.) 1/4 cup Breyers (1/2 the fat light ice cream) Mint Chocolate Chip - Very Good
Wt.: 1.) 1/4 cup/1 pint total; 2.) 1/4 cup/1.5 quarts (1.41 Liters) in total container
Calories: 135 calories + 65 calories = 200 calories total
Cost: $ 3.50 + $6.49 = $9.99 total for both containers/flavors
Purchased from: Safeway in Menlo Park, CA

I wanted to focus on chocolate money, coins and a related theme this week, but I didn't have a chance to research this fully. Today, I ran out of time and ended up shopping at a local supermarket at 10 p.m. at night for my chocolate of the day. They had no chocolate coinage...So, I went with two ice creams that had some vague connection to this overall monetary theme.

First, Ben and Jerry's "Imagine Whirled Peace" contained what looked to be small chocolate coins, but they are really peace signs. Second, I sprung for some "1/2 the fat"/light Breyers Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream...well, because a "mint" is where money is made. OK, I realize this is a bad pun and a big stretch; but when you go shopping late at night, and the store employees start suspecting you are a bit strange as you walk down all possible aisles/areas that might harbor some chocolate coins, with the look of a hungry hunter, you have to get creative.