John and Kira's - Orange Rosemary bar - Nov. 4, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
tangy orange + garden rosemary bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.75 oz. (77.8 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $7.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: John and Kira's (online order)

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

The "tangy orange + garden rosemary" bar from John and Kira's (Philadelphia, PA) was made in partnership with the company's Urban Garden Partners, who provide ingredients like the fresh rosemary in today's bar. One of these partners, the Common Good City Farm, in Washington, D.C. -- an urban farm and education center -- was highlighted on the packaging that enveloped this bar.

John and Kira's 40% milk chocolate bar, with caramel overtones, was infused with a great balance of orange peel and fresh rosemary flavors. 

John & Kira's Bergamot chocolate - Nov. 3, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
Just Us Bergamot chocolate
Good +  - Very Good
Weight: .766 oz. (21.7 g.) / 5.75 oz. (163 g.) total box
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $ 32.00 for 15-piece box -- cost already noted in previous entry for different flavor
Purchased from: John and Kira's (online order)

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week, and an opportunity to try another orange-related chocolate from John and Kira's (Philadelphia, PA). This chocolate was part of the company's Every Flavor 15-piece Collection box.

John and Kira's "Just Us Bergamot" squares were enrobed with a thin layer of 62% dark Valrhona chocolate. Flavored with organic and fair trade earl grey tea from "Indulgashena tea co-op in Sri Lanka," this dark chocolate square imparted a rich flavor "with slight orange overtones."

A cup of hot Constant Comment (orange and spices) or Earl Grey tea would be a perfect pairing with this flavorful chocolate. Both tea and chocolates kept me warm on a cold, windy fall day.

John and Kira's Angelic Oranges - Nov. 2, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
Angelic Oranges
Good +
Weight: .33 oz. (9.44 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in 9-piece box
Calories: 50 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $29.00 in 1 box of 9 pieces
Purchased from: John and Kira's (online order)

Welcome to the first day of Chocolate and Orange Theme Week.

This 9-piece box of bright, cheery orange chocolates from John and Kira's (Philadelphia, PA) looked fresh enough to have come right from the tree.

These domed, orange beauties may appeal to white chocolate fans as well. Inside a thin, 62% Valrhona dark chocolate shell was a creamy white chocolate ganache, flavored with orange juice, orange peel, and a hint of Indonesian vanilla. 

Melzy - Figamajigs Bars - Nov. 1, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Melzy Enterprises, Inc.

1.) Figamajigs - Original bar
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Santa Cruz, CA

2.) Figamajigs - Almond bar
Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.) in total bar
Calories: 150 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: New Leaf Community Markets, Santa Cruz, CA

Happy November all. Today was the last day of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week.

These made-in-California Figamajig (bar) creations from Melzy Enterprises, Inc. (San Mateo, CA) tasted (and in fact were) nutrient dense* and satisfying, with a well-balanced blend of moist dried fig and cocoa inside a dark chocolate coating. The Almond bar, a variant on the Original flavor, also contained almond pieces.

*Each gluten-free bar contained iron, fiber and calcium. Figs also are a source of "Vitamin B6, potassium and manganese."

Mama Ganache Dark Chocolate Skull - Oct. 31, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates
Fair Trade, Organic Dark Chocolate Skull
Good
Weight: .566 oz. (16 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48.11 g.) (estimate) for 1 skull
Calories: 84.9 calories (estimate) for 1/3 skull
Cost: $2.59 for 1 skull
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week -- and, more important, it was Halloween, an important "date" to celebrate -- eating chocolate.

And what better way to celebrate than an Organic, Dark Chocolate Skull from Mama Ganache (San Luis Obispo, CA) that called to mind Halloween as well as the Day of the Dead (El Dia de Los Muertos).

Made from rich, slightly earthy tasting, organic 70% dark chocolate, this skull was decorated with white chocolate eyes, and very straight, white chocolate teeth.

Halloween was also a good day for making spooky faces with bits of dried fruit and nuts. Pin these facial features on pumpkins, if you dare. Dates made great eyeballs, or little, fat "fingers." I enjoyed the date eyeballs today, with dried papaya and chocolate chips (for pupils). Piped cream cheese can also be used for the whites of the "eyes." Nothing fancy, just fun. 

John and Kira's - Chocolate Figs - Oct. 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
Chocolate Figs
Very Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total box of 6 figs
Calories: 135 calories (estimate) for 2 figs
Cost: $ N/A - part of larger "tower" (combination of boxes)
Purchased from: John and Kira's (online order)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week.

Any dessert item that blends figs + chocolate + cream + whiskey (or sherry, or port) is one I'd hasten to try. (Add a pinch or either vanilla or cinnamon, and I might float away into the heavens momentarily.) So, no surprise, I loved these Chocolate Figs from John and Kira's (Philadelphia, PA).

The company started with imported, organic dried Calabacita (little pumpkin) figs from a small family farm in Spain, and filled them with a smooth chocolate, whiskey-infused dark chocolate (Valrhona) ganache (filling). The final step: figs were dipped up to their necks in 62% dark chocolate. Just two of these were surprisingly rich and satisfying and would make a great end-of-meal dessert.

JohnAndKiras.com

These pumpkin shaped chocolate figs also reminded me of all the pumpkins and carved jack-o-lanterns I've been seeing in my neighborhood this week. Tomorrow is Halloween, one of the biggest chocolate holidays of the year in the U.S. Happy Halloween Eve to all.

Note: John and Kira's was also selling a box of seasonal chocolate pumpkin caramels this month -- one option was to order a box of these in a coach (reminiscent of Cinderella's enchanted coach that turned into a pumpkin at midnight). Image at left, from John and Kira's website.

Kimmie - DateMe's chocolates - Oct. 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Kimmie Candy Company
DateMe's
OK+ - Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.7 oz. (76.5 g.) total container
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $2.50 for 1 container
Purchased from: Visitors Center, Incline Village, NV

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week.

These DateMe's -- chocolatey covered, candy-coated, date pieces -- from Kimmie Candy Company (Reno, NV) were "Made in Nevada" proud. I bought these at a visitor's center in Lake Tahoe recently.

Gluten-free, these DateMe's were crunchy and crisp in a way that most wheat-free/wafer-free chocolate candy items usually aren't, which was nice. The dates provided a bit of extra fruity sweetness, making this candy a bit too sweet overall for me; however, this will be fine for some.

The glossy, beige rounds were attractively speckled with brown (like little round eggs), and might look attractive in a small serving dish, or an edible nest.