ChocolateBet: October 18, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Jean Philippe Patisserie
Sevillian
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25.47 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces
Calories: 130 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.00 for 2 pieces
Purchased from: Jean Philippe Patisserie, Aria Resort at CityCenter, Las Vegas, NV

No matter what your chocolate preference, it is worth a visit to Jean Philippe's Patisserie, in either the Bellagio or Aria Resort location, if you're in Las Vegas. Impressive decor and chocolate fountains and/or sculptures can be found inside. And, for those even mildly tempted by marzipan I recommend Jean Philippe's dark chocolate coated, brightly decorated, orange marzipan Grand Marnier ganache chocolates. These survived my trip home from Las Vegas, and I enjoyed them today, Day #5 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: October 17, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
ethel's chocolate/Ethel M Chocolates
Orange Liqueur
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00 for 1 piece
Purchased from: Ethel's Chocolate, Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel; Las Vegas, NV

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. Las Vegas is a great chocolate town, and Ethel's Chocolate is a well-known chocolatier in this area. I was walking through the Flamingo resort, having just purchased an Ethel's Orange Liqueur chocolate. As I bit into this barrel-shaped, filled dark chocolate -- decorated with orange flecks on the outside, and with a creamy, orange filling on the inside -- I noticed some movement in the background. Yes indeed, those were live flamingos.

ChocolateBet: October 16, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) 1/4 bar
Godiva
Truffle Bars - Dark Chocolate with Creamy Vanilla Filling
Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) / 1.4 oz. (40 g.) total bar
Calories: 57 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $2.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

2.) 1/4 bar
Godiva
Truffle Bars - Oranges and Cream in White Chocolate
Good - Good +
Weight: .35 oz. (10 g.) / 1.4 oz. (40 g.) total bar
Calories: 57 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $2.95 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

Truffle Bars from Godiva are currently available in chocolate and orange ice-cream inspired flavors. This fact came in very handy as today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. 

I decided to sample these two Godiva bars with a small taste of The Macallan 12-year old single malt scotch whiskey. Sample sips were available on the show floor at BlogWorld Expo (Las Vegas). I recommend trying both scotch and chocolate(s) separately first, to be able to fully appreciate each. However, as far as combining the two -- the Godiva vanilla-filled dark chocolate Truffle bar paired particularly well with the scotch.

Note: Due to travel this week, photo posts will be delayed.

ChocolateBet: October 15, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
Droste (Holland)
Pastilles - Milk/Orange Chocolate
Good +
Weight: .71 oz. (20 g.)/ 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total package
Calories: 115 calories in 4 pieces
Cost: $3.99 total package
Purchased from: Piazzas Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

Today's choice for (Day #2 of) Chocolate and Orange Theme Week came from Europe. Holland-based Droste's smooth, round chocolate pastilles are available in different flavors. These pastilles were milk chocolate with "natural orange" flavoring.

Thank you to those who helped evaluate these with me at the BlogWorld Expo show. It's always fun to make new chocolate/travel friends.

Note: Due to travel this week, photo posts will be delayed.

ChocolateBet: October 14, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1/3 bar
Alter Eco
Dark Chocolate Twist - Crystallized Orange Peel (bar)
Very Good +
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 192 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $3.19
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in Cupertino, CA

Today marked the first official day of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week. However, the celebration started earlier -- last night to be precise -- when I enjoyed an excellent Grand Marnier souffle with chocolate sauce. (See yesterday's 10/13/2010 post for more details.)

This fair trade dark bar from Alter Eco (El Ceibo Cooperative, Bolivia), was very good. The small bits of orange peel added just the right amount of flavor, without being too sweet or too bitter.

Note: I am traveling this week; photo posts will be delayed.

ChocolateBet: October 13, 2010

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Bissinger's Naturals
Dark Chocolate Covered Molasses Puffs
Good +
Weight: .39 oz. (11.25 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) total package
Calories: 45 calories in 1 piece, or puff
Cost: $8.99 for total package
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

Today is Day #7 of Chocolate and Air Theme Week. These puffs were similar to chocolate-coated honeycomb pieces, and were described as "light, airy puffs of molasses covered in Bissinger's Dark Chocolate." This product was also gluten-free.

----------------------

Postscript: Later in the day, I flew East for Chocolate #2 of the day...


2.) The Eiffel Tower Restaurant
Grand Marnier Souffle with chocolate and Grand Marnier sauces
Very Good + - Yum
Weight: 4 oz. (estimate) for 1 serving
Calories: unknown (sometimes it's better not knowing)
Cost: Approximately $15.00 + tax, tip
Purchased from: Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Paris, Las Vegas, NV

To celebrate the end of Chocolate and Air Theme Week, and the beginning of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week, there was really only one choice: fly directly to Paris, where the souffles are magnifique.

High atop the city, in the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, I enjoyed a Grand Marnier Souffle, expertly finished with chocolate and Grand Marnier sauces by Noel at the bar. Does it matter that I was in Paris, Las Vegas, instead of France? No, not one bit.

This souffle was excellent, and the view was too.

ChocolateBet: October 12, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 Whif
ArtScience Labs/ LaboGroup International
Le Whif - Chocolate Mint
Good - Good +
Weight: 0.03 oz. (0.9 g.) in 1 Whif
Calories: 0 calories
Cost: $7.49 for a 3-pack (3 different flavored Whifs)
Purchased from: NewLeaf Chocolates, in MA

Today is Day #6 of Chocolate and Air Theme Week. In honor of this day, here's a chocolate math test question for you: How many whifs in a Whif? Answer: There are approximately eight whifs/puffs for each Le Whif -- a small, lipstick-sized unit that dispenses chocolate, inhaler-style. (For those not used to chocolate in this form, instructions are included.) Today's Le Whif flavor was Chocolate Mint, which I purchased as part of a Le Whif 3-pack (with three different flavors).
------------------

Greetings to those who celebrate chocolate festivities and holidays. Chocolate Week in the UK (October 11 - 16), will be coming to a heady peak this weekend with "Chocolate Unwrapped" (October 16 - 17) in London; this event sounds like a mix of chocolate feast, art exhibit, talks by experts, and general fun. I'm sorry I can't be there to sign the chocolate wall. Meanwhile I plan to engage in some chocolate-hunting adventures while at BlogWorld Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.