Tonic Scene - Wild Cherry bar - Feb. 9, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tonic Scene Company
Wild Cherry bar
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 181 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Cherry Theme Weeks. (There are so many chocolate + cherry items that I'll be extending this theme week to two weeks.)

Tonic Scene Company (Dana Point, CA) is a relatively new company that makes organic, soy free and gluten free chocolate bars.

Today's "Wild Cherry" bar was composed of organic, raw, dark chocolate (70% cacao), and dried cherries. The bar was sweetened with coconut nectar.

John and Kira's - Chocolate Cherries - Feb. 8, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
Chocolate Cherries
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total box of 9
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $29.00
Purchased from: John and Kira's, Philadelphia, PA

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

John and Kira's box of 9 attractive, shiny red Chocolate Cherries were filled with 62% Valrhona dark chocolate ganache with a hint of brandy -- a nice warm combination of flavors for a cool winter's day.

The company has developed relationships with a number of interesting growers, some local, all with a good story. The cherries in today's Chocolate Cherries were from King's Orchards, in Central Lake, IL. 

Sjaak's - Hearts of Cherry - Feb. 7, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Hearts of Cherry
Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 70 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $0.95 for 1 piece
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

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

This "Hearts of Cherry" chocolate wrapped in bright fuschia-colored foil from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA) was filled with a smooth blend of cherry and nut butter ganache, an interesting variation on the traditional artificially sweetened and preserved cherry.

Coco Delice - Sour Cherry Almond Bark - Feb. 6, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Coco Delice
Sour Cherry Almond Bark
Good+ - Very Good
Weight: 1 oz. (14.1 g.) in two pieces / 4.5 oz. (128 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 2 squares
Cost: $11.95 for 1 package
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

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

All across the U.S., people are embracing or dreading the arrival of Valentines Day (Friday, February 14th, 2014, lest you forgot). I choose to look at this bright red holiday as an opportunity to be thankful for friends, family and special people in my life....and, an opportunity to eat chocolate of course.

Cherries, strawberries and red raspberries are classic "red" fruits paired with chocolate for Valentines Day. This week, I'm going with cherries.

Today's package of Sour Cherry Almond Bark, from Coco Delice (Emeryville, CA), contained a neatly trimmed stack of 9 squares that was full of mouth-watering flavor and texture. Generous, fresh-tasting pillows of tart-sweet cherry and chunks of almond were well balanced with the surrounding dark chocolate.

According to the company's website, Coco Delice this chocolate was vegan, gluten-free and free of vegetable oils and stabilizers.

Not inexpensive (at $11.95 per package), these bark squares were, nonetheless, satisfying enough in small quantities that they could be shared with one or two others without the offerer feeling pouty or deprived. (Field research has shown that it's easier to fall into a state of possessiveness over foods containing chocolate or potatoes.)

BARR Necessities - Vegan Chocolate Cherry "Meal" - Feb. 5, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

BARR Necessities
Vegan Chocolate Cherry It's a Meal
Good+
Weight: 4 oz. (116 g.) in total package
Calories: unknown (500 calories (estimate) in 1 package)
Cost: $4.25 (discounted price)
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today was the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week, and the first day of Chocolate and Cherries Theme Week.

Each generously sized, gluten, grain and soy-free, Vegan Chocolate Cherry "It's a Meal" from BARR Necessities (Berkeley, CA), was about the size of a large cookie and came individually wrapped.

This product was meal-sized and looked like it might be on the heavy side. However, it was surprisingly light, refreshing, and not overly sweet. Sweetened with coconut nectar and made with almond meal instead of flour, the bits of dried cherries, orange zest gave this treat a warm, bright holiday taste. TCHO chocolate chips, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds contributed good flavor balance and texture. 

Taza Almond Crunch bar - Feb. 4, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate
Almond Crunch bar
Good
Weight: .28 oz. (8 g.) / .85 oz. (24 g.) in total bar
Calories: 42 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $2.25 for 1 small (mini) bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Today's Almond Crunch bar from bean-to-bar (and drinking chocolate) maker Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA) was made with organic, stoneground chocolate, giving it a rustic feel and taste.

This 65% dark chocolate bar, with bits of almond and puffed brown rice, was also certified gluten-free; soy and dairy free; and pareve.

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

Quinoa, Almonds, Chocolate - Feb. 3, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

keen-wah, LLC
Chocolate Sea Salt
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 4 oz. (113.4 g.) total package
Calories: 130 calories in 7 piece serving
Cost: information no longer available
Purchased from: Abe's Market (online order)

Today's Chocolate Sea Salt quinoa clusters were distributed by keen-wah, LLC (Chicago, IL). These petite, dense crunchy squares were studded with healthy chunks of almond, and drizzled with organic dark chocolate.

These satisfying diminutive, sweet nuggets reminded me of a healthy (gluten-free and non-peanut) version of peanut brittle.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Almonds Theme Week.