ChocolateBet: March 22, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
1 piece
Ococoa Fine Chocolates
Almond Cherry
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: N/A
Purchased from: N/A - Courtesy of Ococoa Chocolates, at the Chocolate Salon event, held in San Francisco, CA

I'm finally coming down from the chocolate and sugar high from the Chocolate Salon -- a one-day celebration of chocolates, organized by TasteTV, held Saturday, March 20, at Fort Mason, in San Francisco. (There are also Chocolate Salons held in other cities.)

It was a pleasure to talk with chocolatiers and small chocolate business owners in person. Yes, there were many who hailed from the San Francisco area, but also other from other cities. Two companies from the Los Angeles area I enjoyed meeting were: Ococoa Fine Chocolates and Choclatique. Also, Posh Chocolat, from Missoula, Montana, is proof that talented people can create chocolates anywhere they wish. More about these companies this week...

With so many trees in blossom now, today I was inspired to try Ococoa's Almond Cherry chocolate, which had a cherry blossom swirl design on top. I enjoyed the layering of ingredients inside a slightly deeper cup shape, with almond butter on top and flavorful, authentic cherry on the bottom. Very nice.

ChocolateBet: March 21, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Coco Delice Fine Chocolates
Orange Cardamom
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: ~ .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 70 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Coco Delice, (at Chocolate Salon in San Francisco, CA)

Orange and cardamom are a particularly nice combination of flavors when mixed with chocolate. I've had this combination once before, and had the same reaction. Thumbs up.

Thank you to Chef Dennis, at Coco Delice, who allowed me to nab an orange cardomom display model (one of only three pieces that were left), and who also explained the inspiration behind the company's peanut butter bonbons (that I tried earlier this week). As young chef(s) he (and his brother) experimented with melting down chocsimiles (of e.g. chocolate easter rabbits and the like) to create their own chocolate and peanut butter items.  That early practice paid off.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a picture of this chocolate before eating it. So, I will refer all interested parties to www.cocodelice.com. (Note: the image to the right came from this website.)

ChocolateBet: March 20, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 kids scoops
Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream
1.) Chocolate + Salt Caramel - Very Good
2.) Peanut Butter Curry - Very Good
Weight: 5 oz. (143 calories) (estimate)
Calories: 330 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.50 for 2 kids cups

Big chocolate day in San Francisco. I stopped by the Walt Disney Family Museum (they carry a few chocolates in their gift shop); and attended the Chocolate Salon show at Fort Mason, organized by TasteTV and with other sponsors. You'll be hearing more about this event in the next few days. It was a great opportunity to taste many new and interesting chocolates.

Last, but not least, I visited Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream (in the Mission) on the way home. I'd been planning to stop here for awhile. My one requirement: to find parking within 10 minutes of driving around the area. The list of unique flavors on the Humphry Slocombe website looked intriguing - and many of them didn't even involve chocolate. (Surprise.)  This no-chocolate problem can easily be remedied. Hello chocolate sundae made with chevre and strawberry jam ice cream, the next time this flavor is available. Today was my lucky day. I found a space a block away, and I enjoyed both the chocolate + salt caramel and peanut butter curry flavors. Pictured are both kid-sized scoops (in cups). The second photo was an accident, but it did capture today's chocolate and sugar activity level.

ChocolateBet: March 19, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2/3 package
Coco Delice Fine Chocolates
Peanut Butter Bonbons
Very Good +
Weight: 4 oz. (113 g.)/6 oz. (169 g.) total package/bag
Calories: 600 calories (estimate)
Cost: $12.99
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in San Rafael, CA

Yes, you are correct. Four ounces was a large serving of bonbons. I was eating them after a very long walk today, along with much healthier food and drink. And they were good.

ChocolateBet: March 18, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/5 bar
World Market/Cost Plus
Honey and Green Tea - Milk Chocolate (bar)
Good +
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.)/3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 92 calories in 1/5 bar (3 squares)
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: World Market/Cost Plus in Mountain View, CA

Technically, yesterday was the last day of Chocolate and St. Patricks/Green Theme Week. However, since I acquired a few extra "green-themed" items in the last few weeks, more green related items are on the way.

ChocolateBet: March 17, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 heart-shaped bar
Sacred Chocolate
Mintifluous - Poignant Peppermint
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.)
Calories: 334 calories
Cost: $9.99 (pricey, but good)
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in San Rafael, CA

This heart-shaped peppermint-flavored, raw dark chocolate bar was wrapped in a shiny green wrapper, and epitomizes "green" in more ways than one. First, hats off to Sacred Chocolate-tiers for making a nice raw chocolate with a great smooth consistency, and just the right amount of mint flavoring. Perhaps the stone-ground reference on the label had something to do with the smooth texture. Second, gluten (and dairy and soy) free was a plus. Happy St. Patrick's Day all.

ChocolateBet: March 16, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1/3 bar
Endangered Species Chocolate
Dark Chocolate with Deep Forest Mint bar
Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 grams)/3 oz. (85 grams) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $2.59 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in San Rafael, CA

This was Day #6 of Chocolate and St. Patrick's/Green Theme Week. 

Not everyone celebrates St. Patrick's Day, but it's easy to appreciate a green forest or bunches of shamrocks. I bought this dark bar (72% cacoa) on the drive home from an overnight trip to Sonoma County, after spending yesterday morning walking through an old growth redwood forest.

Above right is a scanned image of the Endangered Species bar wrapper, with a picture of a of a beautiful forest; and I've also included a few pictures (below right) from my walk through Armstrong Redwoods State Park.