ChocolateBet: May 26, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:
2 pieces
The Oakland Chocolate Co.
1.) Rosebud bonbon - Very Good
2.) Cherry in the Snow - Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.00
Purchased from: The Oakland Chocolate Company, in Oakland, CA

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate, Banana and Cherry Theme Week. Unlikely theme? Not so. In addition to banana splits and chocolate banana shakes topped with a cherry, there are many interesting fine chocolate offerings that incorporate these flavors.

One example: Nancy Nadel's Oakland Chocolate Company bean-to-bar-to-bonbons, that are made with rich dark chocolate from Jamaica. Her Rosebud bonbon was filled with a banana and white chocolate ganache, and the Cherry in the Snow, sprinkled with a bit of white sugar on top, contained a dark chocolate ganache and a cherry.

ChocolateBet: May 25, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 oz. serving
Freeland Foods
100% Organic go raw Chocolate Super Cookies
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) serving/ 3 oz. (85 g.) total package
Calories: 149 calories
Cost: $5.99 total package
Purchased from: Whole Foods, in Kahului (Maui), Hawaii

I bought today's Organic Chocolate Super Cookies (coconut, sesame seeds, dates, agave nectar and cacao), to celebrate Day #12 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, while I was in Hawaii this past week. I laughed when I flipped over the package to read the label and found that these tiny, round, slightly chewy, raw cookies came from Freeland Foods -- a company based less than five miles from my house. Thus is the worldwide spread of chocolate.


These bite-sized, healthy morsels were also gluten free and nut free.

ChocolateBet: May 24, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
2/3 piece
Banyan Tree Deli and Bakery
Marshmallows with peanut butter, chocolate, coconut
Good + - Very Good
Weight: unknown
Calories: 350 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from: Banyan Tree Deli and Bakery, in Lahaina (Maui), Hawaii

Thank you to Darren Hagobian at Banyan Tree Deli and Bakery for packing this chocolate creation "to go" yesterday; we enjoyed it as a mid-morning snack at the airport this morning. It sure beat the heck out of most airport snacks.

The Banyan Tree Deli and Bakery was located on the busy Front Street in Lahaina. The bakery items with chocolate were wonderfully creative and unique, including chocolate covered Spam and chocolate covered bacon.

Sadly, the chocolate covered Spam was sold out; however, this generously sized marshmallow and chocolate item was available. It was composed of three large marshmallows on a stick, rolled/slathered in peanut butter, chocolate and coconut.  The marshmallows were fresh and deliciously spongey-light and over-sweet. The peanut butter under-layer was a nice surprise and helped balance out the sugar sweet marshmallows.

The chocolate coating on this item (and the chocolate covered bacon that I tried yesterday) had great chocolate frosting taste and texture -- made with just the right blend of bittersweet and sweeter chocolates.

Today was Day #11 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: May 23, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1/2 serving
Coconut Grill
Creme Coconut Brulee (with haupia/coconut ice cream)
Very Good
Weight: unknown; 4 oz.  for 1/2 (estimate)/ 8 oz. total (estimate)
Calories: unknown
Cost: $7.95 total dessert
Purchased from: Coconut Grill, Maui Seaside Hotel, Kahului, Maui; in Hawaii

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, and the last full day of our trip in Hawaii (Maui). Following a quick chocolate field trip out to Lahaina, and a spin around the Kahului area of Maui in a search for new chocolates (see upcoming Lahaina and Kahului Chocolate Stories), we retired to the Coconut Grill restaurant and enjoyed a great dinner and a nice rich coconut dessert (Creme Coconut Brulee with Haupia (Coconut) ice cream, and pineapple puree. I ordered a side of chocolate fudge sauce, because... well, I think that requires no explanation. It was chocolate. This dessert was very rich, but it was a great dish for coconut dessert lovers.

ChocolateBet: May 22, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 cup
Ono Gelato Company
Loco Coco
Very Good
Weight: 3 oz. cup
Calories: unknown
Cost: $3.99 for 3 oz. cup
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in Kahului, Maui; in Hawaii


In a warm tropical climate like Hawaii, gelato, ice cream and shave ice are all appealing. Even better: great locally made gelato flavors -- like the tasty Loco Coco (coconut with pieces of dark chocolate) from the Ono Gelato Company. The company's shop in Paia (Maui) was not open when we were there earlier.  Fortunately, the Whole Foods Market in Kahului, carried Ono Gelato and a few other local chocolate items.

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week.

Note: Posts and photos may be delayed this week due to travel.

ChocolateBet: May 21, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/2 bar
Wow Wee - Maui's Candy Bar
Dark Chocolate Hawaiian Coconut (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .875 oz. (25 g.) / 1.75 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 130 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00
Purchased from: Cafe at Nahiku Market Place - Maui, Hawaii

I decided to extend Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week a few days, until we leave Hawaii. There are too many great coconut-related chocolates, tropical fruits and other great items available at road stands and small markets.

Yesterday, we found one such road stand/market: the Nahiku Market Place, on the road to Hana, in Maui. The market was made up of a few informal vendor stands in the middle of a lush, green tropical jungle. A small cafe hut served beverages, and also carried Wow-Wee chocolate bars. This slightly soft, fudgy, Dark Chocolate Hawaiian Coconut bar paired nicely with some fresh oven-roasted coconut candy from another vendor, and a stir-fry fish, vegetable and steamed rice dish from a chef working out of a trailer.

Note: Posts and pictures may be delayed due to travel this week.

ChocolateBet: May 20, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Chuao Chocolatier 
1 small bar
Coco - dark chocolate
Very Good
Weight: .39 oz. (11 g.)
Calories: 69 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ lost receipt
Purchased from: lost receipt

2.) Joy's Place Live
1 container
Chocolate Mousse
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 6.7 oz.
Calories: unknown
Cost: $5.29
Purchased from: Whole Foods, in Kahului, Maui; in Hawaii

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Week, which entailed eating a small Coco Choco Pod from Chuao Chocolatier -- a small dark chocolate with coconut, almond, cinnamon and coriander. Perfect size for a high-end, satisfying, bite-sized chocolate snack.

The second chocolate was a Chocolate Mousse, made with nut milk and coconut, and sweetened with local (Hawaiian) honey, from Joy's Place Live! (Maui, Hawaii), found in the local Whole Foods market in Kahului, Hawaii, near where we were staying.

Wow, all these great flavors, and it's not even lunch yet. Have to save room for what's to come.

Following the chocolate trail in Hawaii. Aloha.