ChocolateBet: July 5, 2011

 Chocolate of the Day:

1 bag
Glutino
Gluten Free Chocolate-Covered Pretzels
Good +
Weight: 5.5 oz. (156 g.) total package (less 2 pieces)
Calories: 790 calories
Cost: $ Was not given a receipt
Purchased from: Raley's Supermarket, in Newark, CA

I've been interested in making some chocolate-covered, gluten-free pretzels, as I like chocolate and savory flavors combined. And, then I found these Glutino gluten free, milk chocolate covered pretzels, seasoned with just a hint of sea salt. These were already made, sitting on a store shelf, and ready to eat, which was very handy. The pretzels added a crunchy, slightly salty, starchy texture. In short, they scored well on the snack satisfaction index.

ChocolateBet: July 4, 2011

Chocolates of the Day:


Keoki's Chocolate Factory
Donkey Balls
1.) Dirty Balls - Dark Chocolate - Cocoa Powder - Good +
2.) Orange Cream - Milk Chocolate - Good + - Very Good
3.) Frosted Ass - Dark Chocolate - Good +
4.) Salty Balls - Dark Chocolate and Hawaiian Salt - Good +

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Animal Theme Week.

This morning I ate a red, white and blue breakfast (strawberry, honey and blueberry yogurt, and fruit), in honor of Independence Day (4th of July) in the United States. I'm also looking forward to making some BBQ, and dropping in on a chili cook-off later today.

Last Friday, July 1, was Canada Day, and I needed to buy a chocolate + animal related item in the Montreal airport in Canada on my way back home from a trip. The only item I could find that fit this bill in the airport was a tin of Canadian Chocolate Covered Almonds (aka moose droppings). My apologies to Canada for this.

So, in fairness, today is Fourth of July, in the U.S.; and I have... Donkey Balls, with macadamia nuts, from Hawaii. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing in chocolate and in life in general.

ChocolateBet: July 3, 2011

 Chocolate of the Day: 

1 bar
Russell Stover
Bunny Solid Milk Chocolate "1,000,000,000 note"
2 oz. (57 g.) total bar/"note"
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 310 calories
Cost: $ information not available
Purchased from: Walgreens

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Animal Theme Week. Included in theme weeks like this are a variety of tenuous connections between chocolate and animals -- which, like Hoppy McCarrot -- referred to on this Russell Stover Bunny Bar label, are often used to sell products. Yes, I know most of you are shocked, simply shocked, to hear that cute, fuzzy woodland creatures are used in this way. But, it's true. And, I certainly bought into this marketing strategy -- to the tune of 1,000,000,000 -- the denomination of this chocolate bunny note. A billion is a good round number, although I'm not sure what bunny units we may be talking about with this U.S. made bar, shaped like a monetary instrument and stamped with "In Bunnies We Trust" on the outside label, and "In Chocolate We Trust" on the bar itself.

Should you invest in fine art, or in chocolate? Who's to know what the better strategy might be in the long term; however, in the short term, I can tell you that eating solid milk chocolate bunny money is sweet.

ChocolateBet: July 2, 2011

Chocolates of the Day: 

2 pieces
Maui Specialty Chocolates
1.) Solid Dark Chocolate Whale - Good + - Very Good
2.) Solid Milk Chocolate Whale - Good +
Weight: 2.2 oz. (62.26 g.) (estimate for 2 whales)
Calories: 264 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ part of a larger purchase
Purchased from: Maui Specialty Chocolates, in Kahului, Hawaii

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Animal Theme Week. It's only fair to include some sea mammals and creatures in this animal themed week. So, today's two chocolates were solid dark and milk chocsimiles (chocolate facsimiles) of whales, made by Maui Specialty Chocolates, based in Kahului (Maui), Hawaii.

Those that prefer their chocolate whales unadorned, read no further. Regarding chocolate whale pairings and nuts: the dark chocolate whale went well with a few walnuts roasted with cinnamon, and the milk chocolate whale paired nicely roasted, unsalted almonds. Adding just a few grains of hickory-smoked sea salt to these almonds would have worked too. 

ChocolateBet: July 1, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

Heart Industries
Canadian Moose Droppings
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) (estimate) / 5.83 oz. (165 g.) total container
Calories: 264 calories (estimate)
Cost: $7.49 total container
Purchased from: Montreal Airport gift shop, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Animals Theme Week.

Since I am a devoted chocolate omnivore, chocolate and animal parts of all kinds must be addressed. Chocsimiles (chocolate facsimiles) of animal droppings may be gross to some, but these fit the "animal" theme -- and more importantly these were the only chocolate animal-related chocolates I could find today in the Montreal airport while traveling in Canada. This is not the first product I've tasted with an implied a link between chocolate and animal poop. Usually the imaginary animal in question is furry, funny or lovable -- such as this sheepish-looking moose. I guess that makes these sweet, milk chocolate covered almonds more appealing. My, how did I get on this topic?

ChocolateBet: June 30, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Maui Specialty Chocolates
Dolphins
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1 oz. (28 g.) total package of 2 pieces
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ info not available
Purchased from: Maui Specialty Chocolates, Kahului (Maui), Hawaii

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Animals Theme Week. I enjoyed pretending I was back in Hawaii when I ate this solid chocolate piece -- two dolphins swimming together -- from Maui Specialty Chocolates.

Note: pictures delayed due to travel.

ChocolateBet: June 29, 2011

 Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces/bears
Sweet Candy Company/Sweet's
Chocolate Cinnamon Bears
Good +
Weight: .7 oz. (19.6 g.) / 5.6 oz. (159 g.) total package
Calories: 105 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ not available
Purchased from: Sweet's (online order)

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Animals Theme Week. And the animals in question were red cinnamon gummy bears coated in chocolate. The cinnamon flavor gives these bears some sweet zestiness, and provides a nice counterpoint to the chocolate coating.

Note: Travel will delay post of pictures this week.