ChocolateBet: November 12, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Jungle Grub
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Snack Bar(s)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: o.88 oz. (25 g.) in 1 bar/4.4 oz. (125 g.) total pkg.
Calories: 100 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $4.49 total - for box of 5 bars
Purchased from: Sprouts, in Glendale, Arizona

This gluten-free, organic snack bar was fairly tasty. The picture of the monkey* + small bar size (100 calories) enabled me to justify eating this - despite being full already. Also, the "cookie dough" flavor was a reasonable facsimile of dough I remember sampling before I gave up wheat/gluten.

*Yes, I am a monkey liker.

ChocolateBet: November 11, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Alegio Chocolate
Caribbean - 66% cacao
Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.14 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.95
Purchased from: Alegio Chocolate, in Berkeley, CA

The Caribbean (66% cacao) was a fine chocolate with a smooth, dark chocolate ganache. Alegio Chocolate is a small shop, located toward the back of a small group of shops, on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, CA. I made a mental note to visit the outdoor garden in back next time. It looked like a very relaxing place to enjoy some chocolates.

ChocolateBet: November 10, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Alegio Chocolate
Grapefruit (caramel + grapefruit)
Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.14 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.95
Purchased from: Alegio Chocolate, in Berkeley, CA

I like grapefruit and caramel, and this chocolate was a skillful blend of both. Thank you again to Robbin Everson, chocolate ambassador at Alegio. We received great answers to all the questions we had about chocolates they carry the day we visited recently.

ChocolateBet: November 9, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 package
Enric Rovira
Bombolas de pimienta rosa con chocolate negro
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/3.5 oz. (100 g.) total package
Calories: 145 calories (estimate)
Cost: $19.95 total package
Purchased from: Alegio Chocolate, in Berkeley, CA

I recommend a stop at Alegio Chocolate if you happen to be in the San Francisco Bay Area. This small store offered an excellent variety of unique and exotic chocolates. These tasty pink peppercorn flavored, dark chocolate pearls (from Spain) were so authentic, I could taste the tiny pieces of pink peppercorn skin.

ChocolateBet: November 8, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 square
Savor...
Chocolate Rice Krispy square
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 4 oz. (115 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 400 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.75
Purchased from: Long Beach Aquarium Cafe (Scuba), in Long Beach, CA

There were many interesting things to see at the Long Beach Aquarium: fish, sharks, otters, starfish, and a few chocolate items in the Cafe.

ChocolateBet: November 7, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece

Saul's Restaurant & Delicatessen

Chocolate Covered Halvah

Very Good

Weight: 2.08 oz. (59 g.)

Calories: 250 calories (estimate)

Cost:$2.00

Purchased from: Saul's Restaurant & Delicatessen, in Berkeley, CA

This chocolate halvah, was from the take-out area of Saul's. Other tasty items in the glass case called out to me; but I refrained, as they contained wheat.

ChocolateBet: November 6, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 macarons

Masse's Pastries

1.) Hazelnut - Good +

2.) Orange Chocolate - Good - Good +

3.) Chocolate - Very Good

Weight: 3.25 oz. (92 g.)

Calories: 300? calories (estimate) for 3 macarons

Cost: $5 for 4 (Yuzu flavor eaten early)

Purchased from: Masse's Pastries, in Berkeley, CA

Macarons. There are so many great flavors available now. Masse's is located in Berkeley, on Shattuck Ave., next door to Saul's Deli. Masse's chocolate macaron was great -- almost brownie-like in flavor and texture. I was less impressed with the orange macaron. I could see the orange color, but couldn't taste any orange flavor. The hazelnut was nice, although I would have loved an even stronger hazelnut flavor. (I like stronger flavors.) Note: I also bought a Yuzu flavored macaron and ate this the day before; it was chocolate-free, but had an excellent flavor.