ChocolateBet: May 23, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
9 small pieces (rocks)
Manufactured for and Distributed by Alaska Jack's
Chocolate River Rocks
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.)/6.75 oz. (191 g.) total plastic jar
Calories: 75 calories
Cost: $8.95 total jar
Purchased from: gift store at Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage, Alaska

I wasn't able to visit Alaska Jack's while I was in Anchorage, but the company seemed to have a fair number of products available in stores there. The Alaska Jack's brand included an image of a grizzled prospector (Jack?) -- that evoked the gold rush in the Yukon era.

ChocolateBet: May 22, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
Novelty Mints/Distrib. Tweedie and Storter (Alaska)

1.) Alaska - Milk Chocolate bar (with art from Alaskan artist Jon Van Zyle)
Good - Good +
Weight: .33 oz. (9.3 g.)/ 2 oz. (56 g.) total bar
Calories: 55 calories in 1/6 bar
Cost: $3.50 for total bar
Purchased from: Cabin Fever, in downtown Anchorage, Alaska

2.) Gourmet Milk Chocolate bar - with The Alaska Art of Barbra Lavallee
Good - Good +
Weight: .375 oz. (10.6 g.)/ 2.25 oz. (64 g.) ttl bar
Calories: 56 calories in 1/6 bar
Cost: $3.50 for total bar
Purchased from: Cabin Fever, in downtown Anchorage, Alaska

I enjoyed finding out more about local Alaska artists when I purchased these two chocolate bars at the Cabin Fever gift shop, in downtown Anchorage.

ChocolateBet: May 21, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day
Wild Berry Products of Alaska

1.) Mt. McKinley - Very Good
1/2 piece
Weight: .7 oz. (19.81 g.)/1.4 oz. (39.62 g.) in 1 whole piece
Calories: 105 calories (estimate)
Cost:
Purchased from: Alaska Wild Berry Products, in downtown Anchorage, Alaska

2.) Chocolate Covered (polar, brown and black) Gummy Bears - Good +
6 small bears (2 polar bears, 2 brown bears, 2 black bears)
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 135 calories (estimate)
Cost:
Purchased from: Alaska Wild Berry Products, in downtown Anchorage, Alaska

3.) Dark Strawberry Rhubarb chocolate - Good + - Very Good
1 piece
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) (estimate) 1 piece
Calories: 59 calories (estimate)
Cost:
Purchased from: Alaska Wild Berry Products, in downtown Anchorage, Alaska

ChocolateBet: May 20, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
3 small packages
Will Henri's Farm
Chocolate with Almonds
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g.) (estimate) for 3 small packages
Calories: 300 calories
Cost: $3.00 for 3 small packages
Purchased from: Cabin Fever, in Anchorage, Alaska

I enjoyed shopping in the Cabin Fever gift shop in downtown Anchorage. Thank you to the staff who pointed out the various local chocolate offerings in the store. Will Henri's Farm is a non-profit in Anchorage that teaches work skills to mentally, emotionally, or physically handicapped individuals. I felt good supporting this cause, and their Chocolate with Almonds offering was very good indeed. The almonds used in this handmade chocolate drops/discs tasted like they were hickory smoked almonds; they created a savory and sweet flavor blend that I really liked.

ChocolateBet: May 19, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
4 truffles
Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge
1.) Raspberry Grove - Very Good
2.) Blueberry Patch - Very Good
3.) Buna Burst - Very Good
4.) Cacao Wow - Very Good
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) (estimate) for 4 truffles
Calories: 240 calories for 4 truffles (estimate)
Cost: $11.80 for a 4-piece box of truffles
Purchased from: Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge, in midtown Anchorage, Alaska

I visited the Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge location in downtown Anchorage last week, and enjoyed trying their salmon and anchovy truffles, as well as a small sample of their drinking chocolate (very good). This was the final batch of truffles -- from the midtown location -- that I took to go when I left the city. They made it home intact after being jostled around and tipped over once during the long trip home to California, so you may see a bit of cocoa powder from the Buna Burst truffle (shown lower right) on the other truffles.

The Buna Burst truffle contained espresso and agave ganache, and was "rolled in dark chocolate," and then "rolled again in cocoa and cinnamon powder." Also shown: the Blueberry Patch truffle (upper right) with bittersweet blueberry ganache; the Raspberry Patch truffle (lower left) with bittersweet raspberry and maple ganache, enrobed in dark chocolate and finished with a luster finish; and the Cacao Wow truffle (upper left) with a dark 72% ganache and organic cacao nibs. Thank you again to the very helpful staff at the counter (in both locations) who helped field questions I had and allowed me to take a picture or two.

ChocolateBet: May 18, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
6 pieces
Alaska Wild Berry Products
Chocolate Covered Blueberry (ies)
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total package/bag
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $N/A - was given to me at the Marriott (Springhill Suites) in midtown Anchorage, Alaska
Purchased from: N/A, see above

Today's chocolate was a bag of chocolate covered blueberries that I received at the Marriott (thank you to everyone there), when I checked in. I tried some of these when I was flying home the next day (pictured above right on my airplane seating tray at 30,000 feet up), after I had been to Alaska Wild Berry Products in Anchorage.

Alaska Wild Berry Products has at least two locations in Anchorage, Alaska: 1.) a smaller shop in downtown Anchorage (in a shopping mall); and 2.) a larger location, in midtown Anchorage. The latter has a park (featuring a movie theater, reindeer, and other attractions). I visited both locations, while it was too early for the park portion to be open in midtown, I did enjoy seeing the big chocolate fountain. The fountain, visible when you walk in, was made up of a large volume of flowing, melted chocolate, that made its way down (see photo) to a large tub via a series of buckets. Huge slabs of Guittard chocolate were stacked next to the fountain -- presumably to use to replenish the flow, as needed. To complete the scene, Alaskan (stuffed) brown bears played pianos and looked on at shoppers looking for chocolates, t-shirts and other gifts inside the store.

Thank you to Natalie, who happened to be manning a counter at both locations when I popped in and started asking questions; and to other staff, who were also very helpful. I tries these chocolates with blueberry centers on the plane flight home from Alaska today.

ChocolateBet: May 17, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
3 pieces/truffles
Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge
1.) Orange Drop - Very Good
2.) Purple Infusion - Very Good ++
3.) Margarita Zing - Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1.2 oz. (33.96 g.) in 3 truffles (estimate)
Calories: 180 calories (estimate)
Cost: $11.80 total - for a 4-piece box
Purchased from: Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge, in midtown Anchorage, Alaska

Earlier this week, I visited the (newer) Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge location in downtown Anchorage. Today I visited the Lounge located in midtown Anchorage  -- for another round of new truffles. Both Chocolate Lounge locations offered their own chocolate truffles and two types of drinking chocolate; and both stocked a wonderful variety of chocolate bars and other items from many different parts of the world. (The midtown location also had space for a few more tables and some additional gift items.) My favorite of today's batch listed above was the Purple Infusion (with a lavender-infused ganache, and lavender petals/buds on top). The Modern Dwellers truffles I tasted were made with a skillful blend of flavors and textures. The lavender petal garnish provided just the right light, crunchy texture on top, and an additional burst of taste. The Purple Infusion truffle was a great choice for lavender lovers.