Tahoe Trail Bar - Dark Chocolate Cherry bar - June 19, 2018

Chocolate of the Day; 

Tahoe Trail Bar

Dark Chocolate Cherry bar

Good

Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 260 calories in 1 bar 

Cost: $1.29 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Cherry Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Cherry Tahoe Trail Bar was distributed by King Bars, LLC (Reno, NV). This chewy, mahogany-colored, trail bar contained brown rice syrup, gluten free oats, chocolate chunks, dried Bing cherries, soy protein, cranberries and peanuts. There was also a vague hint of spice/cardamom.

Not everyone cares for the taste and texture of soy protein. But, the chocolate, cherries and peanuts covered up most of that. Certified Gluten Free and Vegan, this compressed bar contained 10 grams of protein.

The tagline for this bar: "Fuel for the Journey." Good thing. Most people need above-candy-bar-level fuel for their busy lives.

My current journey is to visit all the East Bay Regional Park District Parks in Northern California in my spare time; and it's been a deeply rejuvenating experience spending time in open spaces and observing scenery and wildlife.) Bars like this come in handy for hikes in the hills.

I can appreciate the sentiment of the Tahoe Trail Bar founder, Wes King, whose words were printed on the package:

"I am inspired by the crunch of the dirt under my shoes, the sweet silence of skiing powder, and the journey of hiking to the top of mountain peaks."

Celebrity - Chocolaty Cherry Goat Cheese - June 18, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Celebrity Goat
Chocolaty Cherry Goat Cheese
Good
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) / 4.5 oz. (130 g.) in total package
Calories: 22 calories in 1/4 oz. taste
Cost: missing information
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate, Cherry and Berry Theme Week.

Today's Chocolaty Cherry Goat Cheese was from Celebrity Goat (Canada goat milk).

What's that you say? Goat cheese? Think cherry and chocolate cheesecake, only slightly less sweet and a teensy bit cheesier.

This petite, plump cheese log was made with cocoa-colored, creamy goat cheese, chocolaty bits (cocoa, coconut oil, sweetener), Dalmatia cherry, and assorted other ingredients* and preservatives.

A few slices of this cheese would add visual interest to any cheese plate.

Ingredients: Pasteurized goat's milk, sugar, partially hydrogenated coconut oil, cocoa, water, fructose, corn syrup, cherries, modified corn starch, mono and di-glycerides, salt, potassium sorbate, soy lecithin, fruit pectin, citric acid, lactic acid, ascorbic acid, microbial enzymes, bacterial culture, natural and artificial flavors.

Lockhart Fine Foods - Wella Bar - Peanut Cacao Chilled Organic Protein Bar - June 17, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lockhart Fine Foods
Wella Bar - Peanut Cacao Chilled Organic Protein Bar

Good - Good +

Weight: 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in 1 bar

Calories: 260 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $1.49 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week.

Today's Wella Bar (Peanut Cacao Chilled Organic Protein Bar) was manufactured and distributed by Lockhart Fine Foods (Lockhart, TX).

This chilled gluten free bar was similar to the refrigerated Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter bar by Perfect Bar (San Diego) also featured this week. Both were quite good, and superior (in this reviewer's opinion) to virtually every protein bar on the market.

The Peanut Cacao Wella Bar was not overly sweet (the bar was sweetened with honey and maple syrup), and did not coat my teeth with a sugary coating (thank you!). It contained 11 grams of protein (dry roasted peanuts, milk protein, dried egg whites, dry roasted almonds). The cocoa powder incorporated into the bar provided added a hint of richness/chocolate flavor.

Five Star Organics - Organic Ocho PB&J bar - June 16, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Five Star Organics LLC
Organic Ocho PBandJ Bar
Good +
Weight: 1.45 oz. (41 g.) in total bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.50 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week.

Many of us have wished for better, healthier versions candy bars for many years. The founders of Ocho Candy had decided to create bars along these lines when they opened shop in 2011.

In a world where the imperatives of consistency and high-volume production can tilt products away from a short list of higher-quality (more expensive) ingredients, the Ocho lineup has proven that you can produce a better candy bar.

Certified gluten free, today's organic, milk chocolate covered PBandJ bar had authentic peanut butter and raspberry jam flavors and textures.

Mars - Dove Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter - June 15, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Distributed by Mars chocolate na, llc

Dove Silky Smooth Promises Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter

Good

Weight: .545 oz. (15.5 g.) / 7.61 oz. (215.7 g.) in total package

Calories: 90 calories in 2 pieces

Cost: $4.19 for 1 package of 28 pieces

Purchased from: CVS/pharmacy, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week.

Today's Dove Silky Smooth Promises Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter chocolates were from distributed by Mars chocolate na, llc (Hackettstown, NJ).

These individually-wrapped Dove filled chocolates were made from Rainforest Alliance Certified Cacao ("traceable from farms to our (the company's) factory"). They were also "partially produced with genetic engineering." (Not unusual, especially for high-volume chocolate. Appreciate that this information was disclosed.)

The aroma was that of sweet chocolate, and sweetened peanut butter (think Nestle Butterfinger candy bar). The flavor and texture will satisfy a mid-afternoon chocolate and peanut candy bar craving.

And, carrying on in the Dove Promises tradition, you'll also get a sweet message inside each foil wrapper.

"Mars *Real* Chocolate." Interesting descriptive symbol on the label. With this long ingredients list* (see below), one wonders. Real chocolate in our definition typically involves a shorter list of ingredients: cacao beans and sweetener—with a minimum of additives, flavorings, preservatives chemical acronyms and genetic engineering. 

Ingredients: "Sweet Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate, Chocolate Processed with Alkali, Cocoa Butter, Milkfat, Skim Milk, Lactose, Soy Lecithin, PGPR, Artificial and Natural Flavors); Peanut Butter Creme (Peanut Butter, Peanuts, Palm Oil), Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Sugar, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Salt, Corn Syrup, TBHQ to Maintain Freshness."

Good Greens - Chocolate Peanut Butter bar - June 14, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Good! Nutrition, LLC
Chocolate Peanut Butter bar
Good
Weight: 1.76 oz. (50 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 197 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.50 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week.

Seeing today's Chocolate Peanut Butter bar from Good Greens (Cleveland, OH) conjured up childhood memories of eating peanut butter and lettuce for some reason.

This bar, however, contained a blend of different greens and fruit (included in fine print)—and more natural vitamin content than many similar bars.

The bar also contained "natural fruit juices," grain dextrin and a few other mystery ingredients. The dairy-free, chocolate coating was sweet tasting and soft/quick melt.

Perfect Bar - Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter bar - June 13, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Perfect Bar
Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter bar
Good++
Weight: 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 320 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $14.99 for 1 box of 8 bars
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter bar from Perfect Bar (San Diego, CA) was the kind of protein bar you'd love to make yourself if you could.

The company's refrigerated, honey-sweetened bars are satisfying and a bit addicting. The also taste better than 90% of the energy and protein bars on the market. This was a great mid-day snack. And it was filling enough to serve as a meal replacement.

Not coincidentally, the Perfect Bar(s) are high in protein (15 grams), and higher in fat than many, but also contain a generous amount of powdered fruits and vegetables.

This bar was Certified Organic and Gluten Free, and was Kosher (Dairy).

*The Perfect Bar line was created by a family. Their father, Bud Keith, was a health food pioneer.