ChocolateBet: April 21, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

8 small squares
Gnosis Chocolate
SuperChoc
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1.77 oz. (49.77 g.)/2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar/box
Calories: ~267 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (sample)
Purchased from: N/A - received sample during visit Gnosis made to San Francisco

I have to admit some earlier raw chocolate items I've tasted were just so-so. So, I was very pleasantly surprised with SuperChoc's great taste and consistency, as well as the healthy back-story associated with this bar. I'm looking forward to trying the other flavors from Gnosis this year.

Gnosis Chocolate was founded by Vanessa Barg, who brings with her a substantial health counseling background. She and her team are engaged in making each batch by hand - without the help of large machinery normally associated with bulk manufacturers. She explained that there is no milk (that can bind to antioxidants - which might normally bind with free radicals, neutralizing some of the chocolate's beneficial properties). And, instead of sugar, she uses agave syrup, a boon to diabetics and those watching their blood sugar levels. This chocolate is also gluten-free. Thank you to Sarah for tipping me off about Gnosis.

ChocolateBet: April 20, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
4 pieces (truffle eggs)
Ethel's Chocolate/Mars
Truffle Egg Collection (8 pc. - 4 different flavors) in Egg-Shaped Box
Very Good - Very Good +
1.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Lemon Ganache - Very Good +
2.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Mango Passion Ganache - Very Good +
3.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Key Lime Ganache - Very Good - VG+
4.) Milk Chocolate Truffle with Raspberry Ganache - Very Good
Weight: 2.61 oz. (74 grams)/5.22 oz. (148 grams) total box
Calories: ~ 395 calories in 4 eggs
Cost: $14.00 (sale price for 8-piece box)
Purchased from: Ethel's Chocolate Lounge in the Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

These eggs are made from high-quality milk chocolate, and are paired with very nice fruit-flavored centers. The lemon was my favorite; the filling was a perfect blend of lemon curd + lemon meringue. All four flavors are worth trying - if you can find them. These seasonal treats were already on sale when I bought them yesterday.

ChocolateBet: April 19, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Cerreta's Fine Chocolates
Very Good
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28 g.)/4.5 oz. (126 g.) in total package
Calories: ~ 130 calories for 2 pieces (cowboy boots)
Cost: $3.99 + shipping (online order)
Purchased from: Cerreta's Fine Chocolates, in Glendale Arizona (online order)

These were very tasty boots. I look forward to trying more chocolate boots and shoes in the near future. I'm researching a shop in L.A. area that sells chocolate high heels.

It is great to try some chocolate from Arizona. I also have some cactus candy from Cactus Candy Co. (Phoenix, Arizona). Perhaps I will try dunking this cactus candy in some melted chocolate.

ChocolateBet: April 18, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 cakes
Quaker (The Quaker Oats Company)
Good +
Weight: ~1.59 oz. (45 g.)/7.23 oz. (205 g.) total package
Calories: 180 calories (estimate) for 3 cakes
Cost: $ (don't have this info)
Purchased from: (Safeway?)

ChocolateBet: April 17, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz.
Chocoholics Divine Desserts
Chocolate Voodoo Doll ("The Sweetest Revenge of All!")
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) /5 oz. (142 grams) total voodoo doll
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (need to find order info.)
Purchased from: Blue Frog Chocolates, New Orleans, LA (online order)

Some very clever thinking went into this chocolate voodoo doll. I'm "using" mine to help clean up my house. The instructions direct me to use my teeth instead of pins to sink into the chocolate doll. Well, it certainly tastes good.

ChocolateBet: April 16, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocorart (Chocolate Organico Artesanal)
Cafe/Coffee
Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.)/ 6.36 oz. (180 g.) total package of 6
Calories: ~ 160 calories (estimate)
Cost: $15.95 for a package of 6 different flavors*
Purchased from: store in airport (San Jose, Costa Rica)

*I enjoyed the vanilla and coffee flavors from this assortment package the best. These two flavors may have come from locally grown vanilla orchid and coffee beans (in Costa Rica).

ChocolateBet: April 15, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocorart (Chocolate Organico Artesenal)
Gengibre/Ginger
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.)/ 6.36 oz. (180 g.) total package of 6
Calories: ~160 calories (estimate)
Cost: $15.95 for a package of six different flavors*
Purchased from: store in San Jose airport, Costa Rica

I was supposed to be on a diet this week. But I was running around all day, and I ended up eating most of a pint of ice cream for dinner, in addition to this chocolate with ginger. Maybe it was the stress from tax day. Happy annual tax return filing deadline day to all in the U.S. Ah well, tomorrow it's back to 1 oz. (28 grams) of chocolate a day. Really.