ChocolateBet: May 7, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

cocotutti
1.) Chocolate-orange confit caramel - Very Good +
2.) Florentine - citrus liquid caramel & roasted almonds - Very Good
Weight: .7 oz. (19.8 g.) (estimate for 2 pieces)
Calories: 105 calories (estimate for 2 pieces)
Cost: $6.00 for a 4-piece box
Purchased from: Rock Wall Wine Company, in Alameda, CA

Today was a bit of heaven -- if heaven is flavored with orange confit, perfect renditions of caramel, and covered in dark chocolate. Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Orange/Citrus Theme Week, and I tasted two orange-themed chocolates from cocotutti.com.

The first, a chocolate-orange confit caramel, was so rich, I almost felt like I was eating a smooth, dark chocolate orange caramel brownie -- all packed in a truffle-sized square with a bright orange, yellow and red pattern screened on top.

The second, a version of a Florentine, contained a wonderful liquid caramel (apparently carefully hand-stirred for up to 1.5 hours), and was topped with chopped almonds.

ChocolateBet: May 6, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Seattle Chocolate Company
Orange Appeal - Dark Chocolate bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) total bar
Calories: 190 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $2.99 total bar
Purchased from:


This Orange Appeal bar from Seattle Chocolates (Seattle, WA), was made with a mix of 53% cacao dark chocolate and 33% milk chocolate -- and was flavored with bits of candied/glazed orange peel. My only half-hearted complaint: I think I would have liked this bar more if there was about 30% less sugar.

ChocolateBet: May 5, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Divine Chocolate
Dark Chocolate with orange and ginger (bar)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2.5 oz. ( 70.75 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 372 calories (estimate)
Cost: $
Purchased from:

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Citrus/Orange Theme Week.  Today's 70% dark chocolate bar from Divine Chocolate (Wash, D.C.), contained small, tender bits of ginger and orange -- a naturally compatible flavor pairing.

Eaten outdoors, during a warm, sunny picnic lunch, this bar was enjoyed just before it started to melt into a sheet of dark chocolate fondue.

However, hot weather-induced chocolate fondue, it must be noted, is delicious with fresh strawberries, and/or bits of toast, or gluten-free gingersnaps, if you happen to have some of these other items in your picnic basket.

ChocolateBet: May 4, 2012

Chocolate of the Day:

Michael Mischer Chocolates
Orange Zest
Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.3 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 59 calories (estimate)
Cost: $2.00 (estimate) for 1 piece
Purchased from: Michael Mischer Chocolates, Oakland, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Citrus/Orange Theme Week. This Orange Zest filled chocolate from Michael Mischer Chocolates (Oakland, CA) was shaped like a half-round citrus fruit, complete with orange peel textured skin. Inside the dark chocolate covering was dark chocolate and naturally flavored orange peel ganache.

ChocolateBet: May 3, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Calafia (Market a Go Go)
Chocolate Muffin (gluten free)
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 3.5 oz. (100 g.) (estimate)
Calories: 220 calories (guess)
Cost: $2.50 (guess)
Purchased from: Calafia Market a Go Go, in Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Citrus/Orange Theme Week. I visited Calafia Market a Go Go (adjacent to Calafia Restaurant) in Palo Alto this past week. I picked up a chocolate muffin and chocolate cookie on this trip -- both gluten free.

Today I ate the chocolate muffin for breakfast. I loved the hint of citrus I got in every other bite of this dense but not overly heavy treat. Very nice. And this muffin was not overly sweet -- even better!

Thank you to Chef Charlie Ayers, the force behind Calafia, for making delicious, healthy, gluten-free food available to our community in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

ChocolateBet: May 2, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Betty Lou's Inc.
JustGreatStuff - Organic Chocolate Dream Greens
Good+
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42 g.) total bar
Calories: 180 calories
Cost: $2.39 total bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today I continued on a healthy streak I've been on this week. I found a tasty blend of organic dark chocolate and organic vegetables: carrots, spinach, broccoli and kale, to be precise. All this, and some dried fruits (raisins, dates and bananas) too -- in the form of a pressed, slightly chewy, chocolate coated bar from Betty Lou's Inc. (McMinville, OR).

This gluten free, vegan, lightly sweetened (with tapioca syrup) bar supplied 15% of my recommended daily allowance for Vitamin A; 10% of Vitamin C; and 8% of Iron -- and a few other nutrients. It hit the spot. I've found that healthier chocolates, with less (or no) refined sugars just seem to taste more satisfying to me. Thanks Betty Lou.

ChocolateBet: May 1, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

chocri (mein schokolade)
Italian Riviera Dark bar
Good +
Weight: 1.15 oz. (33 g.) /3.5 oz. (100 g.) total bar
Calories: 168 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $14.40 (estimate) total bar
Purchased from: chocri (online order system)

Today I enjoyed a bar I'd custom-built and ordered from chocri (Germany).

After choosing the bar's chocolate base (dark, milk or white), customers can name their own bars and specify add-ins of their own choosing. The number of possible different combinations boggles the mind. Have fun all.

I chose savory and sweet flavors from the Italian Riviera -- or at least, what I imagined they might be -- including dark (64%) chocolate, bits of dried fig, rosemary, sea salt, Bourbon vanilla and soy bacon.  (Sorry, no pancetta was available on the chocri menu.)