ChocolateBet: May 16, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 bar
Astor Chocolate
(Belgian) Key Lime Filled Milk Chocolate
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) in 1/2 bar/2 oz. (57 g.) total
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $4.50 in one bar
Purchased from: Sugar Shack, in Menlo Park, CA

Key lime flavor makes me think of warm summer weather. And, in fact, it's shaping up to be a hot day here in California. (This upsurge in the temperature reminds me that I need to eat down my chocolate inventory, before summer starts in a few weeks. I have no air conditioning in my house. I've been squirreling away new, and as yet untasted, chocolates in a cool dark corner.)

ChocolateBet: May 15, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

~ 1 oz.
Coco-luxe Confections
Roark - "serious dark chocolate with cacao nibs"
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) serving/ 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate - no calorie information on packaging)
Cost: $7.50 in total bar
Purchased from: Sugar Shack, in Menlo Park, CA

The Roark bar is best if it's brought up to room temperature first; or, if you are patient, you can wait until it softens up in your mouth before biting into it. Otherwise this chocolate can be a bit tough to bite into. But then perhaps with a name like Roark* this is fitting.

*Note: "Roark" refers to a fictional character, a strong, independent architect named Howard Roark who was the protagonist in Ayn Rand's (1943) novel "The Fountainhead" -- a somewhat controversial, philosophical tale some have called an homage to capitalism. Coco-luxe makes a series of chocolate bars with names like this -- i.e. inspired by flashes of "classic Americana."

ChocolateBet: May 14, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 bar
Shaman Chocolates - Organic Chocolate
Shaman's Vision (Organic Dark Chocolate (60% cacao) with Coconut) bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/2 oz. (57 g.) in total bar
Calories: 146 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $0.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Rainbow Grocery, in San Francisco, CA

This Shaman chocolate is crafted for a cause. Profits from this certified organic, fair trade bar help to support the Huichol Indians in Mexico. (Shaman Chocolates is based in Soquel, CA.)

ChocolateBet: May 13, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 oz.
Vosges Haut-Chocolat
Bombalinas - Naga Mango (dried mango pieces, sweet curry, 62% dark chocolate)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28 g.)/2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total package/box
Calories: ~ 140 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.99 for 1 package/box
Purchased from: Rainbow Grocery, in San Francisco, CA

Hats off to Vosges for continuing to dabble in exotic and fun flavor combinations.

ChocolateBet: May 12, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Hershey's
Thingamajig (chocolate, cocoa crisps, peanut butter); limited edition bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 grams)
Calories: 220 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $0.69 (sale price)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Limited edition chocolate candy bars are fun. They're often recombinations of chocolate, nut, caramel, nougat and other common ingredients. You would think candy manufacturers would run out of ideas for these bars, but it is a tribute to their creative staff that new variations keep emerging.

The Thingamajig bar blended what tasted like chocolate breakfast cereal and peanut butter; and while it did contain a few things I'd have rather done without (hydrogenated oils, maltodextrin, barley malt), it wasn't a bad mix. 

ChocolateBet: May 11, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1/4 box (7 pieces)
Osmanium Candy Company
CrackHeads
(dark- and white-chocolate covered espresso beans)
Good + - Very Good
Wt: .325 oz. (9.2 grams)/1.3 oz. (37 g.) in total pkg/box
Calories: ~ 45 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.95
Purchased from: Upstart Crow, in San Diego, CA

I've had chocolate-covered espresso beans before, but I admit I'm a sucker for clever packaging and new ideas. (See above for scanned images from front and back of box - including graphs on caffeine molecule and content. Not seen - side/end flap marked "entrance.") So I had to try these. These dark and white chocolate covered beans definitely deliver a kicky dose of caffeine. I had to stop at 7 pieces (1/4 of the 28 pieces in one small box).

ChocolateBet: May 10, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 servings
Yosemite Country Foods
Milk Chocolate Trail Mix
Very Good
Weight: 3 oz.(84.9 g.)/ 12 oz. (339 g.) total pkg.
Calories: 570 calories (estimate) in 3 servings (3/4 cup)
Cost: $4.29 for total package
Purchased from: Pine Tree Market, near Chilnaulna Falls/Wawona, in Yosemite National Park, CA

I found this Yosemite Country trail mix at the Pine Tree Market, a little store, on a little road, a few days ago, on the way back from a hike up to Chilnualna Falls. It was a great time to visit , as the waterfalls in Yosemite were full and roaring down into the valley.