ChocolateBet: November 5, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocolate Visions
Herbal Mint
Very Good - Very Good+
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00
Purchased from: Chocolate Visions, in Scotts Valley, CA

One of the most invasive plant outbreaks I experienced in my tiny yard garden was an overgrowth of spearmint. I spent years tearing this out. However, now I'm a little sad because I have no mint anymore -- which is why this refreshingly natural tasting Herbal Mint chocolate from Chocolate Visions (Scotts Valley, CA) was so welcome today. The addition of floral olive oil (from Aptos, CA), helped enhance this flavor.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: November 4, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1.) 1/8 bar
NewTree
Apricot - Cocoon (Milk Chocolate) bar
Good
Weight: .22 oz. (6.2 g.) / 1.76 oz. (49 g.)
Calories: 35 calories
Cost: $N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - sample from Chocolate event


2.) 1/2 piece
Baba Joon's Chocolate Chewies/C'est Si Bon
California Apricot Chocolate Chewies
Good
Weight: .22 oz. oz. (6.5 g.) / 7.5 oz. (212 g.) total bag of 14
Calories: 18 calories
Cost: $6.99 for total bag of 14 pieces
Purchased from: De Martini Orchard, in Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week.

I grew up in a sub-division (residential neighborhood) that had been carved out of an old apricot orchard. And I remember eating freshly picked (as well as chocolate-covered) apricots; prunes were also big


in the "Valley of Hearts Delight" -- the agriculturally rich area which is now known as Silicon Valley.

So, it was fitting that chocolate and apricots were part of this week's garden grown theme -- in the form of 1.) a NewTree Apricot milk chocolate bar, and 2.) a gluten-free, apricot and egg white chewy cookie with cocoa powder from California.

ChocolateBet: November 3, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocolate Visions
Lemon
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00
Purchased from: Chocolate Visions, from Scotts Valley, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week.
I feel very fortunate to live in a state (California) where it's fairly easy to grow citrus fruits. I happen to love combinations of dark chocolate and lemon. Today's chocolate, from a Chocolate Visions (Scotts Valley, CA) assortment box, had a fresh, authentic lemon taste. I believe this chocolate also had a bit of olive oil in it as well.

ChocolateBet: November 2, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 piece
Chocolate Visions
Tarragon
Very Good - Very Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00
Purchased from: Chocolate Visions, Scotts Valley, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week. I've successfully grown several herbs in my yard, and attempted to grow a few others. Tarragon fell into the latter category; however, I may try again.

Today's Tarragon chocolate, made with Belgian bittersweet chocolate, from Chocolate Visions (Scotts Valley, CA), inspired me to consider re-planting this herb.

There was a nice flavor arc to this chocolate -- especially noticeable when chocolates are as fresh as these were. Under-appreciated no more. This chocolate was part of a larger 24-piece assortment box. I plan to go back for a second batch -- to try the rest of the herbal flavors.

ChocolateBet: November 1, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

2 pieces
Chocolate Visions
Rose
Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $4.00 ($2.00 each)
Purchased from: Chocolate Visions, in Scotts Valley, CA

How many fruits, herbs, flowers and vegetables from your garden can you combine with chocolate? I'm tempted to answer: an unlimited number!

As the weather gets colder, I'm missing late summer harvest produce items already. So, this week I'm focused on combining chocolate with items I might have grown in my own garden here in Northern California.

Today is the kick-off day for Chocolate and Garden Grown Theme Week -- beginning with this Rose, from Chocolate Visions (based in Scotts Valley, CA). Infused with Rose Otto Oil, and plucked from a larger assortment box, this dark chocolate piece with smooth dark ganache was great if you like natural floral flavors; this tasted fresh from the rosebush in the back yard. 

ChocolateBet: October 31, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:


1.) 1 witch monster pop
Long Grove Confectionery Co.
Monster Pop
Good+
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.)
Calories: 225 calories (estimate)
Cost: $3.69
Purchased from: Whole Foods, in Los Altos, CA


2.) 1 piece
Chocolate Visions
Pumpkin
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) /piece
Calories: 60 calories
Cost: $2.00
Purchased from: Chocolate Visions, Scotts Valley, CA

Halloween is a major holiday for chocolate consumption in the U.S., so Happy Halloween all! Listed here are some items from my Halloween treat plate.


Long Grove Confectionery makes several novelty, Halloween and holiday chocolate items. This witch monster pop was good chocolate Halloween fun. I enjoyed this witch monster with two Salted Bourbon Caramels -- a carryover from Chocolate and Whisk(e)y Theme Week (from Salted Caramel, Chicago, IL).

And Pumpkin too!

The Chocolate Visions (Scotts Valley, CA) seasonal Pumpkin chocolate had a very authentic pumpkin pie taste. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some real pumpkin mixed in with pumpkin pie spices. (Postscript: They roast and puree "Cinderalla" pumpkins and mix with dark chocolate, butter, cream and spices.)

ChocolateBet: October 30, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bottle
Anthon Berg
Cutty Sark (chocolate bottle)
Good
Weight: .55 oz. (15.6 g.)
Calories: 80 calories (estimate)
Cost: $14.99 total package of 16
Purchased from: BevMo, in Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Whisk(e)y Theme Week. This small, foil-wrapped "chocsimile" (chocolate facsimile) of a Cutty Sark bottle (from Anthon Berg) contained a whiskey-flavored filling inside a harder chocolate bottle shell.

During a visit to Amador County (California) to the historic towns of Sutter Creek, Volcano, Jackson and others small settlements dating back to the 1800s/California gold rush days, I enjoyed a stop at a cheese and wine shop, and a confectionary/ice cream store. I wanted to combine a bite of cheddar cheese with Irish Whiskey and some chocolate. But, the closest bit of cacao that I could find was a chocolate milkshake -- not the best chocolate match with this cheese. I'll try this with different chocolates when I get home.