ChocolateBet: June 24, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Madame Chocolat
1.) Amour - (dark choc) Caramel Heart
2.) Je taime - (dark choc) Peanut Butter
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28.3 grams) in 2 pieces
Calories: ~ 150 calories in 2 pieces
Cost: ~ $5.00 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: Madame Chocolat, in Beverly Hills, CA

Fun day trip to L.A. results in over-indulgence in good food and chocolates.

ChocolateBet: June 23, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Dream Chocolate (Organic)
Lavender Dark Chocolate - 66% cacao
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 grams)
Calories: ~ 187 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $3.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: (Not sure)

Nice strong, natural lavender taste. Very good.

ChocolateBet: June 22, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Jade Chocolates
Dragon's Breath bar (65% cacao)
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (58 grams)
Calories: 300 calories (estimate) in 2 oz. bar
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Rainbow Grocery, in San Francisco, CA

The ingredients in this dark chocolate bar from Jade Chocolates (San Francisco, CA) intrigued me: roasted sesame seeds, lapsang souchang tea, and chili pepper. It is easy for dark chocolate to overwhelm tea flavors. And even though it was somewhat difficult for me to pick out all the flavors in this beautifully wrapped bar, it was great fun to try.

ChocolateBet: June 21, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces/tiles
Poco Dolce
Bittersweet Chocolate Tiles with sea salt - Burnt Caramel
Very Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (84.9 g.)/6 oz. (170 g.) in total 8-piece package
Calories: 450 calories (estimate) in 1/2 box
Cost: $19.95 for total 8-piece box
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

Another chocolate winner with salt. These tiles were a very nice blend of chocolate, toffee-caramel center and sea salt. And, unlike some chocolates where a slight unevenness of flavors can take away from the experience, the subtle rise and fall and interplay of chocolate, caramel and salt was wonderful here.

ChocolateBet: June 20, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
~ 3 oz. total from 3 different bags
Peak Concepts (Denver International Airport)
1.) Colorado Bear Poop - Good
2.) Colorado Moose Droppings - Good +
3.) Colorado Buffalo Chips - Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 grams) from each bag = 3 oz. (~84.9 grams) total
Calories: ~ 450 calories in 3 ounces (84.9 grams) (estimate)
Cost: $4.99 x 3 different bags = $14.97 total
Purchased from: Peak Concepts/Store in Denver International Airport (B gates)

These three (animal scat themed) chocolates, sitting next to each other on the shelf, seemed to cry out for some kind of comparison taste test. So, far be it for me to shrink from this opportunity. I have no pride. I will try just about any product with chocolate, once.

Results: The Moose droppings (chocolate panned peanuts) win by a nose. Although the Bear (see illustration on bag) looks the most content with his lot, his bliss did not seem to translate into a better product. And, the buffalo must be confused, because his "chips" looked exactly like the Bear Poop (both bear and buffalo products were chocolate covered pralined peanuts coated in white powdered sugar).

ChocolateBet: June 19, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Saratoga Chocolates
Le Jardin de Chocolat (dark)
Very Good
Weight: 3 oz. (~84.9 grams)
Calories: ~ 450 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.25 for 1 bar
Purchased from: (Draegers?), in CA

I am always excited to hear about a local chocolate I haven't tried yet. This dark chocolate version of the Le Jardin de Chocolat bar contains dried apricot, ginger, orange peel, almonds, and pistachio nuts. I like the combination of ingredients that all have a connection to this area of California.

For all those who roll your eyes at nostalgic food memories, you can stop reading here. But, I lived the list of local Bay Area/California ingredients in this bar.

• Apricots: I grew up on a street with remnants of apricot orchards. Apricot fights anyone?

• Almonds: I attended Almond Elementary School, located on (where else) Almond Avenue.

• Pistachios: Pistachio nuts purchased at the local supermarket back then still had shells that were dyed red, but I remember prying open these nuts and ending up with red fingers.

• Oranges: Yes, we had a big fat orange tree in our back yard. This was California after all.

• Ginger: My exposure to candied ginger came later, mostly through Asian-American friends and shops, and eating delicious Chinese food in downtown Mountain View (which was much more rustic back then).

ChocolateBet: June 18, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1/4 bar
Coco-luxe Confections
"Good Fortune" - dark chocolate (bar) with ginger, fortune cookie pieces
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .625 oz. (17.5 g.) in 1/4 bar /2.5 oz. (70g.) total bar
Calories: ~ 94 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Sugar Shack, in Menlo Park, CA

I like the classic americana theme and flavors that Coco-luxe has created. The homemade fortune cookie pieces are a nice touch to this Asian-American themed bar. I couldn't taste the crystallized ginger, but then I like stronger flavors, and I may have just missed it. It's probably just fine for those who don't want to be overpowered. I recommend warming up this dark chocolate bar a few degrees or breaking it into smaller pieces before tasting this; otherwise it can be a bit hard when you bite into it.