Almond Cluster - Aug. 18, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates
Almond Cluster
Weight: .6 oz. (16.9 g.) (estimate) for 1 cup/piece
Calories: 90 calories (estimate) for 1 cup/piece
Cost: $1.50 for 1 Almond Cluster
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Strawberry Village Shopping Center, Mill Valley, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week, so this past week I was on the look-out for chocolate and almond items I haven't tried yet. (After eating more than 2,500 different chocolates, this is more challenging than you might think, but certainly not impossible.)

I knew I was in the right place to locate more almond-themed chocolates, when I paid a visit to SweetE Organic (Mill Valley, CA). Elana Turchon has lined her shelves with chocolates and candies that offer alternative choices for those looking for organic, gluten free, nut free, dairy free, or other alternatives. I quickly spotted (with Joy's help) today's Almond Cluster from Mama Ganache (San Luis Obispo, CA), that was individually wrapped in copper-colored foil.

Mama Ganache specializes in organic, fair trade confections. I bought two Almond Clusters, and ate one on the drive back home (for research purposes). The dark chocolate was rich in flavor, and embedded in the cup-shaped chocolate was a generous helping of chopped toasted almonds that seemed to have a sweet crunch to them.

Organic Almond Toffee - Aug. 17, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Amy E's Bakery, LLC

Organic Almond Toffee

Good + - Very Good

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) total bag

Calories: 155 calories for 1 oz. piece

Cost: $8.95 total bag

Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

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

Breakfast this morning was on the sweet side: one tiny espresso cup of affogato (vanilla ice cream and coffee), with a hearty piece of Organic Almond Toffee from Amy E's Bakery, LLC (Coquille, OR/Moscow, ID).

Amy E's thick, buttery slabs of toffee were coated with organic dark chocolate and toasted almond pieces. Thank you to Amy Edwards for creating tasty, organic treats.

Donkey Balls - Almonds - Aug. 16, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Donkey Balls
Donkey Blitz - Chocolate Covered Almonds
Good - Good +
Weight: 4 oz. (112 g.) in total package
Calories: 600 calories (estimate) in 1 package
Cost: N/A
Purchased from: shop in Kailua-Kona, HI

What is a Donkey Ball you may ask? Donkey Balls (made and sold in Hawaii) are generally large and round chocolate spheres with whole macadamia nuts residing in the centers. But, today's "Donkey Blitz"bag from the Big Island were bite-sized chocolate covered almonds.

Keoki the Donkey is a cartoon character that appears on Donkey Balls chocolate mac nut packaging. He seems to be the source of two quotes that appear below him: "Nuts to you and chocolate too" and "Chocolate people sure are smart." Yes, Keoki, they certainly are. Smart enough to know that chocolate and almonds are a winning combination.

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

Dark Chocolate Almond Crisps - Aug. 15, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Good and Delish
(distributed by Walgreen Co.)
(Grand) Dark Chocolate Almond Crisps
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 5 oz. (142 g.) total package
Calories: 210 calories in 1.4 oz. serving
Cost: $2.99 (sale price)
Purchased from: Walgreens, Palo Alto, CA

I admit, my head is easily turned by clever packaging. When I spotted a magical nut (almond) sitting upright on a pink-cushioned, black laquered piano bench, poised to play a grand piano with a lid made of dark chocolate, I thought to myself: you don't see that every day.

So, I couldn't resist picking up a package of Good and Delish Dark Chocolate Almond Crisps (distributed by Walgreen Co.) from a local Walgreens store.

I carefully opened the silver, re-sealable pouch, to discover several slim sheets of dark chocolate studded with salted almond bits that were quite tasty. There were no pianos inside or magical piano-playing almonds. However, in fairness, there was a disclaimer in tiny print on the package that read:

"*c'mon, did you really expect each crisp to be shaped like a piano?"

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Music/Audio Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Almond Theme Week.

Note: There were so many great ideas and submissions for Chocolate and Music Theme Week, that I will surely have another similar theme week soon. I'm hoping someone will compose a short (20-second) piece inspired by a piece of chocolate. Ideas welcome.

Totally Tubular 80's chocolates - Aug. 14, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Imagine Chocolate/Imagine Flavor, Inc.
"Totally Tubular 80's" chocolate assortment box
1.) "Purple Rain" - OK+ - Good
2.) "Funky Cold Medina" - OK+ - Good
3.) "Thriller" - Good
4.) "White Wedding" - OK+
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in 1 box
Calories: 195 calories for 1/2 of 4 pieces
Cost: $5.00 for 1 box of 4 pieces
Purchased from: Imagine Chocolate/Imagine Flavor, Inc. (Studio City, CA)

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Music/Audio Theme Week.

"Purple Rain" (Prince) was represented as a milk chocolate lavender almond center covered in milk chocolate. I couldn't taste any floral (lavender) or almond flavor, but it was a pleasant, fudgy chocolate decorated with purple icing.

"Funky Cold Medina" was a 1989 rap hit performed by L.A. native, Tone Loc. The song appeared as a dark mint chocolate almond center in dark chocolate in this assortment. The mint flavor was pleasant.

"Thriller" (a hit by Michael Jackson) was my favorite 80's inspired hit and chocolate in this collection. The pumpkin spiced milk chocolate center in milk chocolate was infused with authentic tasting spices (cinnamon, nutmeg).

The fourth and final chocolate in this box was "White Wedding" (a reference to a ) Super creamy vanilla walnut (?) center in white chocolate, decorated with white sprinkles. If you like white chocolate, this one's for you.

These chocolates were a bit heavy on the sweetness, preservatives and additives for me, but I loved the concept and packaging.

Megahits chocolates - Aug. 13, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Imagine Chocolate/Imagine Flavor, Inc.
Megahits Gourmet Chocolate Assortment
1.) "Party Rock Anthem" - OK+ - Good
2.) "Rolling in the Deep" - Good
3.) "Pumped Up Kicks" - OK+ - Good
4.) "Good Feeling" - Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in 1 box of 4 pieces
Calories: 190 calories for 1/2 of 4 pieces
Cost: $5.00 for a 4-piece box
Purchased from: Imagine Chocolate/Imagine Flavor, Inc. (Nessy N. - school music program fund-raiser)

Today, as part of Day #5 of Chocolate and Music/Audio Theme Week, I continued with a new box of music-inspired chocolates by Imagine Chocolate/Imagine Flavor, Inc. (Studio City, CA). The company's tagline read: "Gourmet Chocolate That Rocks!" "Gourmet" is a word that may have lost some credence in recent years, but Chocolate That Rocks fit the theme week this week. Today's box of "Megahits" included the following four pieces:

"Party Rock Anthem" (a megahit song by Los Angeles duo LMFAO) was represented by a milk chocolate honey almond piece. I couldn't really taste the honey almond flavor for the sweetness, but was covered with a festive sprinkle of multi-colored, tiny candy orbs.

"Rolling in the Deep" (a megahit by British singer and songwriter, Adele), translated into chocolate, took the form of a satisfyingly fudgey, chocolately piece with cashew pieces.

"Pumped up Kicks" was a 2011 megahit by the Los Angeles trio, Foster the People, and the chocolatier behind this piece rightly capitalized on similarity between the word "Kicks" and a certain popular corn-based cereal, KIX(R). The four, round, golden KIX puffs were somewhat absorbed by the milk chocolate they were embedded in, but it was a clever mix.

"Good Feeling" (a megahit by Flo Rida) was coated with white, and had a vanilla center with a hint of peanut butter flavor. This creamy, ivory-colored square decorated with threads of purple icing, made me feel I'd dipped my finger into a cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting. If you like vanilla frosting and don't mind a little sugar high, you'll love it. There was no chocolate (cocoa solids) in this piece.

Punk Passion chocolates - Aug. 12, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Imagine Chocolate
(Imagine Flavor, Inc.)
Punk Passion chocolate assortment
1.) "London Calling" - Good
2.) "Blitzkrieg Bop" - OK+ - Good
3.) "Personality Crisis" - Good
4.) "Brain Stew" - OK+ - Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) for 1/2 of 4 pieces / 2.8 oz. (80 g.) in 1 box
Calories: 192.5 calories for 1/2 of 4 different chocolates
Cost: $5.00 for 1 box of 4 pieces (school music program fund-raiser)
Purchased from: Imagine Chocolate, Studio City, CA via Nessie Noel (parent of high school student)

Today's Punk Passion assortment box from Imagine Chocolate/Imagine Flavor, Inc. (Studio City, CA) contained four different flavors, each inspired by a different song and group.

"London Calling" (a 1979 hit by The Clash) was up first. This milk chocolate peppermint center with peanuts, covered in milk chocolate, and topped with green sprinkles, was my favorite piece in this Punk-influenced collection. The hint of peppermint gave this chocolate a punch and the peanuts gave it a bit of a crunch.

Next, I tried "Blitzkrieg Bop" (a "fast, loud, and fun" hit by The Ramones from 1976). This milk chocolate toffee almond center in milk chocolate with sweet, but lacked full flavor I'm used to with higher end toffee creations. I loved the excuse to listen to "Blitzkrieg Bop" again though.

The third chocolate in this 4-piece box was "Personality Crisis" (an early punk hit in 1973 by the New York Dolls) had a vanilla walnut center covered in semi-dark chocolate, and decorated with pink icing. Often vanilla nut nougat centers are too sweet for my taste, but this one was about right, and the semi-dark chocolate coating helped balance the sweetness.

Last, was "Brain Stew" (referencing a 1995 hit track from Green Day's Insomniac album). This milk chocolate with (white) chocolate crunchies in milk chocolate was a bit mellower than the other chocolates in this group, except for a slightly crunchier texture.

The company's music-themed chocolate collection boxes are available through school fund-raisers, and are being updated over time to capture the latest hits.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Music/Audio Theme Week.