ChocolateBet: November 3, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Hotel Chocolat Ltd.
"Dark Chocolate with Chilli" Penguin
Very Good
Weight: .41 oz. (11.6 g.) (estimate) /12.36 oz. (350 g.) total package of 30 pieces
Calories: 59 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ N/A - evaluation samples
Purchased from: N/A - from Hotel Chocolat, London, England

It's getting chillier out there. And, when the skies start turning gray, there's nothing like a good dark chocolate penguin with chili powder to warm you up. What? You've never heard of such a thing? Then I refer you to Hotel Chocolat's Classic Christmas Collection. This dark chocolate penguin, from the company's 30-piece Sleekster Christmas assortment box, is one of many pieces geared toward the winter holiday season. And, if the penguin doesn't manage to warm you up, you might try the Rum Ingot or the Florentine Dream (to be reviewed later this week).

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Christmas-is-Coming Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: November 2, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
Hotel Chocolat Ltd.
Tiddly Reindeers
Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.)/ 3 oz. (85 g.) total package of 8 reindeers
Calories: 225 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ N/A - evaluation samples
Purchased from: N/A - Hotel Chocolate is based in London, England

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Christmas-is-Coming Theme Week.

A tiny sled box with 8 tiny (Tiddly) 70% dark chocolate reindeer from Hotel Chocolat (London, England) landed on my plate today. Unfortunately for them, only 4 survived the encounter.

Not to get too gruesome, but bites of the first reindeer produced quite a hard snap. I suspect in cold winter mornings (when chocolate is firmest) this snap may produce a mild ringing of sleigh bells in your head, but by the time I'd eaten the last one of the four unfortunates in the afternoon, the warmer weather had softened the snap a bit.

Examples of 1.) Well-fed, friendly 70% dark reindeer and 2.) Reindeer dreading what comes next as a hand reaches out, at right.

ChocolateBet: November 1, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 bar
Hotel Chocolat Ltd.
Purist - 50% Island Growers - Saint Lucia (bar)
Very Good +
Weight: 1.3 oz. (36.8 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) total bar
Calories: 190 calories (estimate)
Cost: $N/A - samples sent to evaluate
Purchased from: N/A - Hotel Chocolate, Ltd., London, England

Today is the first day of November, and Day #4 of Chocolate and Christmas-Is-Coming Theme Week.

Nestled among the Christmas holiday items I received from Hotel Chocolat was a Purist (rare and vintage) bar. This 50 percent 'dash of milk' offering (from Saint Lucia) was very good. Its unique wavy shape, with rounded corners results in a unique look and feel. Open the bar's packaging and you will find the story (with photos) that accompanies the bar.

And, if you are very fortunate, you'll be able to visit Hotel Chocolat's  new plantation style resort on Saint Lucia, West Indies, opening this coming month. It looks pretty fabulous.

ChocolateBet: October 31, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Hotel Chocolat Ltd.
Day #3 - Orange Liqueur Caramel truffles
Very Good
Weight: .44 oz. (12.5 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces / 10.6 oz. (300 g.) total package of 48 pieces
Calories: 66 calories for 2 pieces
Cost: N/A - samples provided for evaluation
Purchased from: N/A - Hotel Chocolat Ltd., London, England, U.K.

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Christmas-is-Coming Theme Week, and I enjoyed two Orange Liqueur Caramel truffles from Hotel Chocolat's (Truffles to Share) Advent Calendar.

Happy Halloween all!

ChocolateBet: October 30, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Hotel Chocolat Ltd.
"Ultimate Advent Calendar - 48 Truffles for Two" - Rum Liquid Caramel(s)
Very Good
Weight: .44 oz. (12.5 g.) (estimate) for 2 pieces / 10.6 oz. (300 g.) total package of 48 pieces
Calories: 66 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ N/A - evaluation samples
Purchased from: N/A - Hotel Chocolat Ltd., London, England, UK

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Christmas-is-Coming Theme Week. I opened the Day #2 flap of  Hotel Chocolat's Ultimate Advent Calendar -- and lifted out two small, well-crafted Rum Liquid Caramel truffles. Caution: if your plan is to share the other truffle with someone else in your life, make sure they are standing in the vicinity when you reach in for your chocolates. It's all too easy to eat that second truffle yourself.

ChocolateBet: October 29, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces/truffles
Hotel Chocolat
"Ultimate Advent Calendar: Truffles for Two"
Very Good
Weight: .44 oz. (12.5 g.) (estim.) for 2 pieces / 10.6 oz. (300 g.) total package of 48 truffles
Calories: 66 calories (estimate)
Cost: $N/A - evaluation samples
Purchased from: N/A - Hotel Chocolate, London, UK

Welcome to Chocolate and Christmas-is-Coming Theme Week. Yes, I know it's early; but advanced planning for the holidays means you could be eating some great chocolates a month or two from now.
 
Today I opened a box of Christmas holiday chocolates from UK-based Hotel Chocolat (London), and unwrapped the company's "Ultimate Advent Calendar - Truffles for Two" offering. This attractively packaged box, designed for grown-up consumers, looks like a winner. Each day/window opened on the calendar yields not one, but two chocolate truffles. So, if you're a kind-hearted person who shares chocolate with loved ones, this is perfect. And for the rest of you -- and you know who you are -- there are two pieces just for you.

Today's two truffles, hidden behind Day #1 flap, were hazelnut-flavored House Milk Pralines I believe. Whether you start with #1 and count up to 24, or count down (from 24 to 1), you'll be able to enjoy flavors such as: Liquid Caramel, Gingerbread, Orange Liqueur, Rum Liquid Caramel, and Mousse au Chocolat. 

Thank you to Hotel Chocolat for the chance to evaluate these holiday chocolates. For those in the U.S., more information can be found at http://www.hotelchocolat.com

ChocolateBet: October 28, 2010

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 chocolate skeleton man
Long Grove Confectionery Co.
"The Skeleton"
Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 1.5 oz. (43 g.) total package
Calories: 112 calories in 1/2 skeleton
Cost: $6.25
Purchased from: Draegers, in San Mateo, CA

I pried today's chocolate prey -- a small milk and white chocolate skeleton man, out of his orange and black coffin box. I ate his shoes first. Such is your fate if you're a piece of chocolate holiday candy. Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Halloween and Day of the Dead Theme Week.