Torn Ranch - Dark Chocolate with nibs bar - February 4, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Torn Ranch
Organic Signature Dark Chocolate with cacao nibs bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 260 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $ N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - from Torn Ranch booth at Fancy Food Show, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week.

This dark chocolate bar with cacao nibs was part of the Organic Signature line of bars from Torn Ranch (Petaluma, CA).

I enjoyed hearing about this line of bars during the recent Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, CA.

The first bite of this bar yielded a bright, nutty crunch from the nibs that I really liked. Subsequent bites resulted in a complex flavor arc, ranging from rich chocolate with a slight earthiness, to a very faint sour milk note. An interesting bar overall. 

Butterfly Brittle - Wow Cacao brittle - February 3, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Butterfly Brittle
Wow Cacao brittle
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 7 oz. (198 g.) in 1 bag (part of a 4-bag box)
Calories: 145 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28 g.) serving
Cost: $35.00 for a holiday variety pack with 4 flavors
Purchased from: sneakpeeq.com

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week. The versatile cacao nib is an excellent addition for many dishes and desserts.

Today's gluten-free and preservative-free Wow Cacao brittle from Butterfly Brittle (Santa Monica, CA) was made with buttery sweet crunchy brittle, coconut, and Valrhona cacao nibs.

The Wow Cacao brittle was part of a holiday box of four different brittle flavors that also included Tropical Macadamia (infused with coconut, lime and lavender); Gingered Cashew (flavored with ginger and lemon zest); and Holiday Mint (flecked with bits of peppermint candy).

The company also offered a more conventional peanut brittle, and at least three other flavors. Some flavors were seasonal.

While these brittle flavors were worth enjoying on their own, dipping pieces partway in melted chocolate was also fun.

Christopher Elbow - No. 15 Dark Nib bar - February 2, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Christopher Elbow
No. 15 - Dark Nib bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.5 oz. (100 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 198 calories (estimate, per label) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $7.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: CocoaBella, San Francisco, CA

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

This No. 15 - Dark Nib bar from Christopher Elbow (Kansas City, MO), made with relatively smooth 61% dark chocolate, broke with a hard snap. The bar contained some fleeting, mostly pleasant, earthy flavor notes -- likely from the smattering of roasted cacao nibs.

Christopher Elbow, trained as a pastry chef, became interested in chocolates while in the restaurant business and, according to a video interview, has never looked back since then. His desire to create a professional line of chocolates and bars, with artistry and authentic flavors, is evident.

This bar did not exhibit the distinct flavor arc present in some small artisan makers' bars. But short of becoming a small batch chocolate maker who makes all their own bean-to-bar or liquor-to-bar chocolate from scratch -- that requires extra time, equipment and expertise -- it's difficult to create and maintain unique flavor profiles over time. Consistency and/or smoother flavors often win out over seasonal variations in chocolate, wine and other favorite foods.

For those in the San Francisco area who are interested in exploring this chocolatier's confections, at the time of this writing there was a relatively new Christopher Elbow retail location on Hayes Street in San Francisco; and the Cocoa Bella Chocolates shop (in the Westfield San Francisco Centre shopping mall) also carried their chocolates.

Three Twins - ice cream sundaes - February 1, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Three Twins (Organic Ice Cream)
1.) California Cliche Sundae - Very Good
2.) The Crunchy Sundae - Very Good
Weight: unknown
Calories: 1,600 calories (estimate) for 2 sundaes
Cost: $14.00 for 2 sundaes
Purchased from: Three Twins shop, Marin Country Mart, Larkspur, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week.

The Three Twins (sign and logo) may have influenced me to return to the company's scoop (ice cream) shops (in Larskpur, CA) for a second, or "twin," sundae with cacao nibs today.

Located in the good food-friendly Marin Country Mart (a shopping center across the road from the Larkspur Ferry terminal), this Three Twins shop offered four sundaes, made with the customer's choice of ice creams. Two caught my eye:

First, was the California Cliche - 2 scoops of ice cream (vanilla, salted caramel); caramel sauce; pistachio nuts; sea salt; olive oil; whipped cream; plus I requested some nibs

Later, after a walk, I returned to the scene of the crime and ordered: The Crunchy sundae - 2 scoops of ice cream (chocolate peanut butter, dad's cardamom); chocolate sauce; nibs + cashew pieces; and whipped cream (no granola for me)

Both lovely, luscious sundaes were laden with very authentic flavors -- fresh, real whipped cream, fresh nuts, organic ice creams with natural flavors such as cardamom. The nibs added crunch. I bit down a little hard on one or two nibs that were a bit too firm, but this wonderful combination of fresh flavors and textures was well worth it. I really liked not being taken out of the experience by tasting too much sugar or something a bit artificial.

Her Coconess - Bittersweet Nibby Rocky Road - January 31, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Her Coconess Confections
Bittersweet Nibby Rocky Road
Good +
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48.1 g.) in 1 package, piece
Calories: 240 calories (estimate) for 1 package
Cost: $?
Purchased from: Serendipity, San Carlos, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week.

Cacao nibs added pleasant crunchy texture to an old favorite (rocky road) in this simply packaged Bittersweet Nibby Rocky Road from Her Coconess Confections (Belmont, CA).

With a great company name like Her Coconess I felt I should perform a small curtsy before trying a bite of this dark chocolate confection -- made with marshmallows, almonds and the aforementioned nibs. But, the last bite of this square seemed to have disappeared into my mouth before I got the chance.

Raw Decadence - Biscolinos! Coconut and Cacao Nibs - January 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Raw Decadence
Biscolinos! - Coconut and Cacao Nibs
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) in total package
Calories: 180 calories in 1 package, 3 pieces
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package of 3 pieces
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the last day of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Theme Week, and the beginning (Day #1) of Chocolate and Nibs Theme Week.

I love cacao nibs. Crunchy, nutty bits chocked full of the essence of cacao without the sugar. I wondered if that was why I was so pleasantly surprised by these gluten-free, vegan, Coconut and Cacao Nibs Biscolinos! from Raw Decadence (Redwood City, CA). Maybe.

Three other reasons why I liked these:

1.  The subdued sweetness of unsweetened coconut, and the use of agave and monk fruit as sweeteners instead of corn syrup and sugar
2. The nutty flavor -- from ground California almonds 
3. The perfect hint of sea salt that balanced well with the nutty flavors, and helped counterbalance sweetness

These petite biscotti-shaped treats (3 to a package) were dehydrated and not baked, and had more protein and fiber than many other (gluten-free) cookies -- resulting in a better, more satisfying taste that I preferred.

The company offers other Biscolinos flavors -- including Apricot and Cacao Nibs, and Cranberry and Cacao Nibs flavor, as well as two other flavors without nibs.

Nature's Best - Chocolate Sandwich Cookies - January 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Nature's Best (Cadia product line)
Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 10.5 oz. (298 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 140 calories for 2 cookies
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Gluten-Free Cookie Theme Week.

Nature's Best (Brea, CA) is one of the largest privately owned wholesaler-distributors of health foods in the Americas. Their Cadia product line can be found in an increasing number of independent grocery stores, and small chains, such as Piazza's Fine Foods, where I found these chocolate sandwich cookies.

Similar to Nabisco Oreo sandwich cookies, these cookies (from Canada) weren't marked organic (many of the company's products are); however, they were gluten-free. So, I was able to enjoy two of these crisp chocolate wafer style cookies with the vanilla cream middle, reminiscent of childhood.

Did I unscrew the two chocolate cookies so I could eat the cream center? No, that would be playing with my food. Instead I engaged in some dessert landscaping. I crushed one of the sandwich cookies -- transforming it into chocolate dirt -- and packed this sugary soil into an orange, plastic shotglass flowerpot. With the help of a paring knife, a strawberry became a flower in this pot. Et voila, a shotglass dessert with only 75 calories. Chocolate gardening should be fun.