Madecasse - Toasted Coconut Bar - Jan. 14, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Madecasse
Toasted Coconut bar
Good
Weight: 1.32 oz. (37.5 g.) / 2.64 oz. (75 g.) total bar
Calories: 253 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $5.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Madecasse, online order

Today was Day #14 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

This 70% dark chocolate Toasted Coconut bar from Madecasse (Brooklyn, NY and Madagascar) was made from cacao beans and toasted coconut from Madagascar. The relatively strong, acidic flavor of the base chocolate dominated this bar. But the flakes of coconut did add visual interest, flavor and texture.

Madecasse makes bean-to-bar chocolate in Madagascar.

Today was an international travel day, involving sleep deprivation and balancing bars on moving vehicle seats. Apologies for photos the last few days; it was all a bit of a blur.

Note: Due to travel, photos will be delayed.

Cocopotamus - Oopsy Daisy - Jan. 13, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

NYDC Chocolate
Cocopotamus
Oopsy-Daisy Coconut Salted Caramel Fudge Truffles
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) for 2 pieces
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 2 pieces
Cost: $11.95 (estimate) for 1 mesh bag of 5 pieces
Purchased from: NYDC Chocolate (online order)

I'm not sure "Oopsy-Daisy" truffles from NYDC Chocolate (Albuquerque, NM) were the most appropriately-named chocolates to be eating the day I was boarding airline flights to far flung destinations. But they didn't seem to do any harm.

These dark chocolate coated orbs adorned with a thin, pink stripe, were relatively smooth and creamy for a caramel or a piece of fudge -- they echoed both flavors. The truffles were swaddled in bright copper foil, and helped to brighten up time spent in airports.

The origin of the Oopsy-Daisy name, as I understand it, had to do with a happy accident in the Kitchen at NYDC Chocolate, and the melding of fudge and caramel. I love hearing about creative discoveries like this.

Today was Day #13 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

Note: Due to travel and other factors, photos will be delayed.

Trader Joes - Butter Truffle with Coconut - Jan. 12, '14

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Butter Chocolate with Grated Coconut
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) estimate in 1 piece / 16.6 oz. (470 g.) total assortment box
Calories: 74 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $ N/A - gift
Purchased from: N/A - gift  (Thank you John)

Today's Butter Chocolate with Grated Coconut confection from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) was coated with dark chocolate.

The inside of this two-bite sized, individual piece (from a larger Trader Joe's "Belgian Chocolate Shoppe" assortment box) was densely packed with a blend of chocolate and coconut shreds.


Today was Day #12 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

Note: Due to travel and other reasons photos of chocolates will be delayed.

Organic Nectars - Raw Cacao Bar(s) - Jan. 11, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Organic Nectars
Raw Cacao - 85% Cacao bar
Good
Weight: .7 oz. (20 g.) / 1.4 oz. (40 g.) total bar
Calories: 105 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: N/A - part of larger online order already recorded
Purchased from: (online order)

Today's bean-to-bar offerings from Organic Nectars (Malden, NY) were as much about what the makers had mindfully omitted as what they included.

The dark chocolate (85% cacao) Raw Cacao Bar was dairy free, raw, organic (certified), vegan (certified), low-glycemic, kosher confection, and made without refined sugars, gluten or soy. OK, that was a mouthful. Now let's move onto the chocolate.

I sampled two Organic Nectars bars: the company's 85% raw cacao bar, and their Golden White* raw cacao bar. Both bars were sweetened with Organic Nectars organic coconut palm sugar. I also used a recipe on their site for chocolate fondue (for fresh strawberries).

The 85% raw bar made for a nice dark fondue. Not too sweet. Texturally, just about right. It lost a bit of its glossy shine when it cooled down, but remained just pliable enough to hold its shape.

I tend to like white chocolate more when I melt it. The Golden White Chocolate bar was better than most white chocolates I've tasted. When I gently heated it, the resulting fondue was closer to a caramel color and flavor. (It made a good dip for roasted nuts.)

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

*Note: I don't "count" white chocolate on my site as a chocolate of the day; white chocolate may include cocoa butter, but not cocoa solids. (Some lower quality white chocolates may not even include cocoa butter.)

Hail Merry - Chocolate and Coconut Tarts - Jan. 10, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Hail Merry LLC
Miracle Tart - Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 3 oz. (84 g.) in 1 tart
Calories: 380 calories in 1 tart
Cost: $3.99 for 1 tart
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

It's important to have balance in life. The visual yin and yang of chocolate desserts is no exception. Today I balanced a creamy, dark Chocolate Miracle Tart with a Coconut Vanilla Creme tart -- both from Hail Merry LLC (Dallas, TX).

These (refrigerated) vegan, gluten-free tarts were made with raw* oils (organic extra virgin coconut oil) were quite good. The fillings were nestled inside thin, tasty crusts, created using raw almond flour and a touch of sea salt.

Today was Day #10 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks.

*Ingredients not heated above 110 degrees Farenheit

OCD - Big Ass Burtle - Jan. 9, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Obsessive Confection Disorder
Big Ass Burtle
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / "4 honkin' oz."
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $8.95 for 1 package
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

The label said "4 honkin' oz." Believe it. This was one "Big Ass Burtle," from Obsessive Confection Disorder (Pinole, CA).

The company specializes in vegan caramel creations; and the Big Ass Burtle was a giant deluxe vegan caramel, lightly flavored with coconut and seasoned with sea salt, a generous helping of toasted pecan pieces, and bittersweet chocolate. Coconut milk replaced the typical dairy milk/cream, and coconut butter the usual, well, (dairy) butter.

Creative head confectioner, Melodi Brooke Donahue, expresses her philosophy this way: We are "Vegan Caramel Whisperers"...who make sure that the (100% Cootie Free) ingredients are pure, vegan and cruelty free...We obsess so you don't have to. The company also uses local ingredients for flavor additions and recycled materials.

This hearty, hand-wrapped offering would be a fun dessert to bring to a lunch or dinner gathering, with a knife to cut into squares or slices. The Big Ass Burtle could serve 4-8 individuals (or more if cut into square pieces).

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks. 

Patric Chocolate - Red Coconut Curry bar - Jan. 8, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Patric Chocolate
Red Coconut Curry bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .575 oz. (16.25 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in total bar
Calories: 87 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $9.00 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Patric Chocolate, online order

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate and Coconut Theme Weeks. This afternoon it was time to spice things up with a piece of Red Coconut Curry bar from American handcrafted chocolate-maker, Patric Chocolate (Columbia, MO).

This (soy and gluten-free) dark chocolate (64% cocoa) "dish" was infused with lively ingredients (ginger sugar, lime, lemongrass) and a spicy kick (from smoked pimenton and arbol chiles). Thin shavings of coconut were nestled against the back of this interesting bar. The result: a fun ride and bar to share with others, with layered, exotic flavors -- that were competing with the chocolate a bit. Have a glass of water on hand for the chili finale.