ChocolateBet: March 3, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 hot milkshake
Rose, Kulfi and Chocolate Hot Milkshake
Very Good
Weight: 11 oz. (311 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 500 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.32
Purchased from: Rick's Rather Rich Ice Cream, in Palo Alto, CA

It was probably a cold, dismal, rainy day (like today) when someone at Rick's created a hot milkshake, by putting a freshly made milkshake into a microwave oven. And guess what, this idea works. Apparently some flavors (such as chocolate and cinnamon; or lemon and ginger were suggested) yield better results than others. I thought the Rose/Kulfi/Chocolate shake was pretty tasty.

Before going to Rick's, I consulted one of my inspiration sources for chocolate mixology -- holidayinsights.com -- and found that today was Happy Peach Blossom Day -- a good fit with the chocolate + flower theme for this week. However, I was unable to find a peach blossom item in time; so I went with a rose once again, in the form of this milkshake. The rose hot shake made more sense than trying to do something with "If Pets Had Thumbs Day," also celebrated on March 3. On the other hand, if our cat (Dizzy) had thumbs, not only would she be opening my bedroom door for an early wake-up call every morning, but she would also be trying to open the microwave oven door to sample hot milkshakes.

ChocolateBet: March 2, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Cadbury Roses - Strawberry Dream
Good - Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate)/7.7 oz. (220 g.) total package
Calories: 75 calories (estimate) for 1 piece
Cost: $7.99 for total package (10 different kinds of chocolates)
Purchased from: Cost Plus/World Market, in Mountain View, CA

2.) Mariebelle Chocolate Rose Tea
Good+
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.)/2 oz. (56 g.) total container
Calories: 80 calories for 1 serving with milk
Cost: $12.00 for total container
Purchased from: Mariebelle shop, in New York City, New York

Continuing on the floral theme from yesterday, I found myself sipping chocolate and rose tea (with milk) and eating Cadbury Rose chocolates today. It felt very proper and British for a moment, until I almost spilled everything while trying to take a picture of these items.

ChocolateBet: March 1, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1.5 oz. (of larger bar)
Rococo Chocolates
Orange and Geranium dark bar
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.)/2.47 oz. (70 g.) total bar (estimates)
Calories: 203 calories (estimate) in 1.5 oz.
Cost: $
Purchased from: The Candy Store, in San Francisco, CA

Happy March to all. The Indian Holi celebration of the colors of Spring has been going on this past week. Seeing all the revelers decorated with patches of powdered bright colors, inspired me to seek out some chocolate mixed with flowers this week. I love floral smells and tastes in most food items. So, I was very happy with this Rococo bar. If you're not so inclined, you still may enjoy it. There are small pieces of orange confit embedded in this smooth, dark chocolate bar. The label for these organic bars uses artwork/images from old chocolate mold catalogs.

Last, but not least, thank you to The Candy Store in San Francisco for introducing me to this Rococo bar. As mentioned in a previous post, they specialize in candy, but have a nice selection of chocolates as well in their small shop (pictured).

ChocolateBet: February 28, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
5 pieces
Recchiuti Confections
Key Lime Apples
Very Good +
Weight: 1.66 oz. (47 g.)/4 oz. (113 g.) in total box of 12 pieces
Calories: 198 calories for 5 pieces (estimate)
Cost: $23 total for box of 12 pieces
Purchased from: Recchiuti store, in Ferry Building, San Francisco, CA

These ultra thin, crispy slices of Granny Smith apples were covered in bittersweet chocolate. The texture and flavor mix was just right.

And, if you're in the San Francisco area and you enter the Ferry Building, I dare you to go in there and buy just one item -- of anything. Hang on to your wallet; it's a foodie paradise.

ChocolateBet: January 27, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 chocolate cigar
Thompson Candy/Chocolate
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) for 1 cigar
Calories: 150 calories (+ 75 calories for cherry preserves, fondue ingredients)
Cost: $ (lost price info)
Purchased from: (lost purchase info)

The occasional chocolate cigar probably can't hurt -- especially when it's part of a decluttering-my-room celebration. (Thank you to Vicky for getting the ball rolling on this front.)

Since this was also the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Cherry Theme Week, I combined part of this cigar with some Hero Black Cherry Swiss Preserves, since I couldn't find a chocolate cherry cigar. More specifically, I melted down the "butt" end of this hollow milk chocolate stogie with the cherry preserves and a few drops of wine. The results: a micro-batch of chocolate cherry fondue to eat with fruit and nuts. (Bowl with happy spoon pictured at right.)

ChocolateBet: February 26, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
1.) Luca Chocolate - Orange Pistachio Nougat (3 pieces)
Good +
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) for 3 pieces (estimate)/ 4.2 oz. (118 g.) total box (estimate)
Calories: 135 calories (estimate)
Cost: $16.95 total for 12 piece assortment box (3 different flavors)
Purchased from: Luca Chocolate via Foodzie.com

2.) Cella's Confections  - Dark Chocolate Covered Cherries (2 pieces)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in 2 pieces/8 oz. (226 g.) in total box of 16 pieces
Calories: 130 calories in 2 cherries
Cost: $3.99 for a box of 16 chocolate cherries
Purchased from: Paradise Foods, in Corte Madera, CA

There's always cause to celebrate with chocolate. And if I find the occasion lacking, I visit sites like holidayinsights.com, to inspire a real chocola-ganza.  For example, Friday, January 26th was National Pistachio Day, a great fit for Luca Chocolate's Orange Pistachio Nougat chocolates.  Unfortunately the nougat seemed to have leaked out a little, but they were still just fine.

Jan. 26th was also Day #6 of Chocolate and Cherry Theme Week (#2). Cella's dates back to 1864. Any company that started during the (U.S.) Civil War era, and is still in business, deserves some praise. I had no problem with cherry seepage with Cella's dark chocolate version of their chocolate covered cherries. The dark chocolate shell was quite thick, to encase the "100% liquid center" accompanying the cherry. I prefer dark chocolate, and a few notches down on the sweetness meter, so these dark cherries were a good choice.

ChocolateBet: February 25, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 bar
Dagoba
beaucoup berries
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g)/2 oz. (56 g.) total bar
Calories: 125 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.49 for total bar
Purchased from: Paradise Foods, in Corte Madera, CA

Dagoba's beaucoup berries bar contained pieces of cranberries and cherries in (74% cacao) dark (organic) chocolate, with a little vanilla. When I first tried this bar (outside), it had a slight hard, waxy texture, but this seemed to go away later, when I was in a spot (inside) that was warmer. (I didn't have the patience to hold the first piece in my mouth for 30 seconds.) Just goes to show, once again, that the same piece of chocolate can taste differently under different circumstances. I liked that this chocolate wasn't overly sweet.

Day #5 of Chocolate and Cherries Day (#2).