ChocolateBet: August 12, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:


Mink Chocolates


1.) Mermaid's Choice bar - 1/4 bar
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.5 g.) in 1/4 bar/ 1.79 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 50 calories
Cost: $7.00 ($6.25 + .75 HST in Canada)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

2.) ...By Any Other Name bar - 1/4 bar
Good +
Weight: .45 oz. (12.5 g.) in 1/4 bar/ 1.79 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 70 calories
Cost: $7.00 ($6.25 + .75 HST in Canada)
Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week, and Day #3 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week.

Salt caramel and chocolate together make for a robust flavor combination, and any flower flavors, e.g. lavender or rose, need to be amped up, if they are to be noticed. I was wanting to add extra flower flavorings to salt caramel + flower bars earlier this week. (Flower catsup?).

Today, I decided to go back to two different bars, both from Mink Chocolates (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) -- one salt caramel bar with rosemary, and a separate (white) chocolate bar with rose. Mink offers numerous bars with different fillings and flavor combinations.

What's with the mermaid you ask? The rosemary in the first "Mermaid's Choice" bar was lovely, and strong enough to stand up to the burnt caramel filling, fleur de sel, and the dark (70% cacao) chocolate bar base/coating. These flavors were all very well balanced.

The second Mink Chocolates bar that I tried was a white chocolate bar called "...By Any Other Name"and was embedded with pretty, organic rose petals. I don't normally eat white chocolate, and could taste the higher fat content in this bar. Unfortunately, I couldn't taste the rose, which, had it been stronger, would have balanced this "fat" taste out. This bar is of high enough quality that it could certainly be repurposed. I will try to make a hot beverage or mousse from this bar later. And, I will likely add rosewater. I do like my flavors/additions.

ChocolateBet: August 11, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

.5 oz. piece
schokolade artisan chocolates
Caramel and Lavender Sea Salt Dark Bar
Good +
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 74 calories (estimate) in .5 oz. piece
Cost: $4.49 (+ HST tax in Canada)
Purchased from: Urban Fare #7618 (Alberni), Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week; and also Day #2 Chocolate and Flower Theme Week.

This attractive, single origin, dark (70%) chocolate bar, from schokolade artisan chocolates (based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), was decorated with white chocolate, and was filled with an appealing layer of caramel filling.

The flower in question today was lavender -- in the form of lavender sea salt. I could not taste any lavender, which was disappointing. However, if just the salt was infused with this floral flavor, then the dark chocolate and caramel filling in this bar could have overwhelmed this subtle flavor.

Note: posts and pictures were delayed this week due to travel.

ChocolateBet: August 10, 2011

Chocolate of the Day: 

1/3 bar
Vosges Haut Chocolat
Blood Orange Caramel bar
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 127 calories in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.50 (approximately) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Vosges shop, Caesar's Palace; in Las Vegas, NV

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Flower Theme Week.

This unique dark (70% cacao) bar from Vosges (based in Chicago), was flavored with blood orange, hibiscus flowers and Campari; and I enjoyed this flavor combination. However, unlike some plain chocolate bars, brownies or cookies, the more subtle flavors in this bar tended to dissipate once the silver wrapper had been opened, so don't delay in finishing this up or sharing it with others.

Note: posts and pictures were delayed this week due to travel.

ChocolateBet: August 9, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1/3 bar
Vosges Haut Chocolat
Black Salt Caramel Bar
Good+
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total bar
Calories: 134 calories
Cost: $7.50 (estimate)
Purchased from: Vosges shop, Caesar's Palace; in Las Vegas, NV

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week. Many wonderful combinations of salt, caramel and chocolate are available. Today's Vosges bar was made with "black Hawaiian sea salt; burnt sugar caramel; and dark chocolate (70% cacao).

Note: Pictures and posts were delayed due to travel this week.

ChocolateBet: August 8, 2011

 Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Thomas Haas

Salted Caramel Truffles

Very Good +

Weight: .62 oz. (17.5 g.) (estim.) for 2 pieces

Calories: 92 calories (estimate)

Cost: $6.66 + HST

Purchased from: Urban Fare, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week.

Thomas Haas's Salted Caramel Truffle had a dark chocolate shell, was filled with 1/2 dark ganache and 1/2 soft caramel, and topped with a few grains of sea salt. It was one of the nicer salt caramels I've had this week, and the mixture of two fillings yielded an interesing and delicious tasting experience.

The only unfortunate part: truffles were packed in a plastic bag vs. a box, to there was some caramel leakage by time I got back to the hotel where I was staying.

Note: pictures will be delayed due to travel this week.

ChocolateBet: August 7, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) Fleurir - 1 piece

Caramel

Good + - Very Good

Weight: .39 oz. (11 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece

Calories: 58 calories (estimate)

Cost: $ part of a larger, 18-piece, $34 assortment box

Purchased from: fleurir - via foodzie.com

This fleurir Caramel was a bit sweet but the mild spice in this chocolate covered caramel was intriguing. Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate and Salt Caramel Theme Week.

2.) Mink Chocolates

Personal Fondue

Very Good

Weight: unknown; estimate 4 oz. of chocolate fondue

Calories: unknown; estimate 400 calories

Cost: $8.75 (+$1.06 HST)

Purchased from: Mink Chocolates, in Vancouver, British Columbia; Canada

This item was not a salt caramel; but who wouldn't want their own personal serving of chocolate fondue for dinner? Sign me up. If you happen to be in Vancouver, British Columbia, near the Convention Center, downtown, I recommend a visit to Mink Chocolates cafe/shop. Thank you to Kate at Mink for her help.

Mink offers two different types of chocolate fondue: traditional with fresh fruit, and a second, more elaborate S'mores version (with a small grill to toast marshamallows). I chose the former, with 1/2 dark and 1/2 milk chocolate fondue suspended over a small lit candle, and served with cut fresh apples and bananas, and marshmallows (substitute for pound cake).

ChocolateBet: August 6, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Neuhaus
Galerie
OK + - Good
Weight: .39 oz. (11 g.) (estimate) for 1 piece (part of an assortment box)
Calories: 58 calories (estimate)
Cost: (store closing sale)
Purchased from: Andronicos, Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA

Today's chocolate was plucked from a Neuhaus Dark, Milk and White assortment box. This "Galerie" piece had a caramel ganache with fleur de sel de Guerande (French sea salt). It was a perfect choice for Day #7 of Chocolate and Sea Salt Theme Week; and Day #3 of Salt Caramel Theme Week.

Unfortunately, when I bought this box (at a marked down price) it was during a liquidation sale; and I noticed just this morning that I had purchased this box well beyond the expiration date of 1/11/11. Ah well. The chocolates in this assortment box still looked good; however, the flavor was a bit bland and was a bit "off."