Chocolate Review 2 - TJ Divine Duets

In my attempt to create thoughtful Chocolate reviews, I will include all kinds of chocolate . Not just the fancy expensive bars found at Bittersweet, and other chocolatiers. I buy my chocolate pretty much anywhere - Safeway, Peet's, gas stations, and especially Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's does a good job of positioning many bars at the checkout line. Since there's always a line at TJ's, I always find myself placing a chocolate bar in my basket before checkout.

This week I decided to try "Trader Joe's Divine Duets". Retail price: $1.69.

-Note for review improvement...always add the retail price...i didn't do that in the first review and I can't find the receipt - oops!

Trader Joe's Divine Duets - Dark Belgian Chocolate Enrobes Almond Praline Cream

First of all, not all chocolate has to be expensive to be good and this is a good example. You get a lot for your money - 5.25 oz. Each stick you break off is nice and chunky. The picture on the box is almost to size.

The chocolate itself is very smooth and a perfect percentage of dark to accompany the almond praline cream. The cream itself is lite and tasty. It practically oozes out of the stick. I wish I could have a jar of it to spread on crackers. Dare I say the almond praline rivals any nutella or hazelnut spread - oh yes I did! It's neither too sweet or predictable. It's downright heavenly.

Rating: 5 cacao beans out of 5!!!!!!!

Go out and get your bar today - hurry!!!!

Chocolate Review 1 - Cafe Tasse - Szechuan

There's a great cafe in Oakland called, Bittersweet. What a concept! Everything in this cafe is related to Chocolate and with this wall - it's a chocolate lover's dream.

I'm one of those chocolate lovers, and what I'm weak for is a good bar of dark chocolate. At this cafe, I can find dark chocolate from all over the world, and then order The Bittersweet. Let me break it down for you - it's crack for the chocolate connoisseur.

I could continue to gush about Bittersweet, but that's not the point of this post. Bittersweet is the inspiration of a series of reviews I plan write. Not sure how it will evolve and who will read it, but once again I'm inspired. So here goes!

Cafe-Tasse - Noir, Poivre de Szechuan

You have to taste this bar a few times to really appreciate it. My best advise - spread out your tastings by a day. First of all, Szechuan pepper mixed in chocolate? Yes, chocolate companies have been experimenting for a while.
The first time I tried it, I almost panned it. But I tasted it hungry and while hearing the pounding of my neighbor's contractor upstairs (she's getting new hardwood floors), and I thought that flawed my better judgement.

I broke off another piece a day later, after dinner. This time I really enjoyed the taste of the bar. The chocolate while not my ideal percentage of cacao (only 54%, I like mine around 70%-75%), was not lost to the pepper. I really found it interesting. There is no real "heat" or "spicyness", but you will notice a bite.

I tasted it again this evening and I felt a minty, refreshing flavor. Could I really have three different tasting experiences with the same bar? Am I emotionally eating? Am I merely trying to like this bar because it's my first review? I don't think so, but I may have to try this bar again in a few months to test my palate.

I have to say, I do not feel the need to rush out and buy this bar again. But I do recommend buying it once.

rating: 3 out of 5 cacao beans

Jango swimming

I'm just testing my picture posting capabilities on this site.



This is Jango at Pt. Isabel. She loves to swim!

E

Oh My! What did I stumble on?

I will try to not spend too much time on this site. But oh, the horror and the brilliant possibilities to be found! To me, it's internet candy at its best.

Visit Singshot.

E

Clutter and paint - oh my!

I think we're making a breakthrough with the clutter in our home. Tom just bought a VHS DVD recorder and we're are making a dent on all the VHS tapes (and we have a lot). Converting the VHS to DVDs means more space will open up - yay! It's a small thing, but I think I finally have the thunder it takes to clean up and get the clutter out!

The office is still a mess, but at least I can see things a little more clearly. I'm finding organzation in my life pretty difficult to maintain. At work I'm a wiz, no problem. But for some reason I have a mental block at home. I guess it's one of those challenges in my life that i have to work through.

I'll have to take some before and after pictures of the home and post them here.

E