ChocolateBet: January 20, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces/logs
Grand Bakery
Almond Logs
Very Good
Weight: 2.5 oz. (71 g.)/7.5 oz. (212 g.) total for package of 6 logs
Calories: 312 calories (estimate) for 2 logs
Cost: $7.99 for package of 6 logs
Purchased from: Piazzas, in Palo Alto, CA

Day #5 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week had me searching high and low for more tree-themed chocolates. I was hoping to find some dark chocolates with a tree flavoring or component (or chocsimile) of some sort. (I may have to make something like this on my own, once I find some kind of food-quality pine or other tree flavoring.)  These "logs" were the closest I could find, and I was happy to see them after stopping at several stores this afternoon. These (wheat and dairy free) almond logs were also kosher.

Another happy discovery today involved visiting Monique's Chocolates, a new shop in downtown Palo Alto. I will be back to sample more dark, single-origin chocolates. Thank you to Mark West for allowing us to sample the house chocolate (a very nice mixture of milk and dark), and homemade marshmallows.

ChocolateBet: January 19, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Godiva
Caramel Pecan Bark
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.)/12 oz. (340 g.) total tin
Calories: 230 calories
Cost: N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week. I admit I'm stretching this concept with the choice of a chocolate "bark" - but this term was inspired by tree bark. Yes, I think it was. And, pecans come from trees. Yes, I think they do. Thank you to Lisa and family for this gift.

ChocolateBet: January 18, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces

Maison Bouche 

Caramel Praline Logs

Very Good

Weight: 1.4 oz. (39 g.)/2.8 oz. (78 g.) total package, clear box of 8 pcs. (estimate)

Calories: 261 calories for 4 small log pieces

Cost: $?

Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

I found a very sweet caramel filling when I bit into these log-shaped dark chocolates. I couldn't find a gluten-free buche de noel (yule log cake) in time for the Christmas holidays last month, so these were the next best thing. (Note: These seasonal caramel logs are no longer available.)

Day #3 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week

ChocolateBet: January 17, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
3 pieces/acorns
Maison Bouche
Acorns
Very Good
Weight: 1.8 oz. (51 g.) total package/clear box of 3 (estimate)
Calories: 261 calories (estimate)
Cost: $6.00
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, in San Francisco, CA

The squirrels outside are probably jealous. Alas, for those of you desiring solid dark chocolate acorns to see you through the winter, I think these were seasonal items, which may be gone by now.

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Tree Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: January 16, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
4 pieces
Maison Bouche
Rose Marzipan Pine Cones
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 2.4 oz. (67.92 g.)/3.6 oz. (101.88 g.) total clear plastic box (estimates)
Calories: 324 calories (estimate) for 4 pine cones
Cost: $14.00 for a set of 6
Purchased from: Miette Bakery, Ferry Building, in San Francisco, CA

I've been doing a lot of walking outside, admiring trees and the new green shoots of spring. In honor of  trees, I'm thematically mixing chocolate with tree and plant parts this week. If you like dark chocolate, marzipan/almond, and rose flavoring, this pine cone is for you. Unfortunately, these were seasonal items, and may be all sold out now.

ChocolateBet: January 15, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Anthon Berg
Danzka Cranberyraz Vodka of Denmark
Very Good
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 82 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.00
Purchased from: Venice Gourmet Delicatessen, in Sausalito, CA

A tiny chocolate bottle filled with an even smaller amount of cranberry vodka infused syrup. It was a fun start to a gloomy day, and week, outside. This vodka-inspired chocolate, from a Scandinavian country well acquainted with long winters, was from Anthon Berg. Over the past few years, I've been making my way through a variety of liquor chocsimiles from Anthon Berg, Turin and a few other manufacturers. While a fine dark chocolate is best appreciated all by its lonesome, I enjoy mixing chocolate with other flavors. And, after trying more than 1,200 chocolates in as many days, I've concluded that I'm not alone here.

ChocolateBet: January 14, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 bar
Kim's Chocolates
Cachet - Peru 64% dark chocolate bar
Very Good +
Weight: 1.75 oz. (50 g.)/3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 263 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 (sale)
Purchased from: Venice Gourmet Delicatessen, in Sausalito, CA

In deepest, darkest Peru....Actually this is part of the origin story of Paddington Bear (but, I digress, once again). This dark bar, made with a mix of criollo and trinitario cacao beans, was very rich, smooth, and tasty. I discovered it, not in Peru, but, when I was walking the San Francisco Bay Trail in Sausalito, CA - a beautiful city by the water - when I stopped at the Venice Gourmet Delicatessen for some dinner.