Review of Chocolate

Remember that post about the cool chocolate Bill gave me when I started whining about not having any in the house?  Well, you can stop holding your breath; here’s my review on the various bars (you knew it wouldn’t take long, right?).

Fran’s Chocolates, Gray Salt Caramels in Dark Chocolate

This was the first thing I opened.  They’re small, and I devoured about three of them in 10 minutes.  The salt on the top is a little surprising, but actually was a nice texture and contrasting taste to the richness of the dark chocolate.  I ate the last three a day later, and while the chocolates were good, there was a creaminess that was missing.  They were good, but not my favorite “go-to” item.

Rating:  3/5

 Seth Ellis Chocolatier, Dark Chocolate Truffles

I’ve wanted to try Seth Ellis Chocolatier chocolates for a while now, ever since I found out they’re a local compahy.  I am excited that Boulder has not one, but TWO chocolate manufacturing companies here!  Because I got a lovely head-cold from my family right before Christmas, I haven’t been craving chocolate for something like THREE DAYS now, which might be a world record.

 I busted these open on Christmas Eve after lunch, and meant to try just one.  You know, the whole “make it last” thing.  Well, THAT didn’t work at all, and since I just ate all 5 of the truffles that were so prettily arranged in the little box, I have to say that they were divine.  The chocolate was dark, the truffles were creamy enough to do the little “melt in my mouth” thing that I adore, and there was no hard shell around them.  Excellent!!

Rating:  5/5

 Chocolove, Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate

 This was the last one I tried.  I think I’ve mentioned before that I eat a lot of Chocolove bars; the Coffee Beans in Chocolate is my current fave, followed closely by Raspberry’s in Dark Chocolate.

I already knew I loved chocolate and almonds, and I use Sea Salt for cooking, so was prepared to like this one from the get-go.  But…. I have to say that Salt with Chocolate is not my favorite combination.  Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t gross me out completely, but salt… I don’t know, I think salt should be used in cooking, not in my favorite confection.  I ate the bar and didn’t shove it off on Bill like I did with Mo’s Bacon Bar, but I won’t be buying this when the urge for chocolate hits.

Rating: 3.5/5

Vosges Haut Chocolat, Mo’s Bacon Bar

This is the one that concerned me the most.  Bacon, with chocolate?  Are you kidding?  And what kind of bacon; pork or turkey?  I’m a turkey bacon person myself.  The label lists “uncured bacon: pork, sea salt, raw sugar, white pepper, dried juniper berries, celery juice, lactic acid, starter culture” as the bacon ingredient.  I was intrigued by the dried juniper berries and celery juice… not usual ingredients found with “bacon”.

 Intrigued or not, it took me a good four days of looking at the thing before I tried it.  And, I only tried it because Bill was eyeing it and about to eat the entire thing.  I’m sure my face had that doubtful, screwed up look kids get when they look at something green and wilted and their parents say with a perky smile “Try it, it’s great!”.

 Bill made lots of lip-smacking noises and he happily chewed his bite.  I took a square and smelled it, licked it, then finally tasted it.  Verdict:  it’s fine, I’m sure some people (like my wacky husband) will love this, but I don’t care for bacon with chocolate.  I didn’t throw up or anything, but this is a bar of chocolate I will not every buy for my friends unless it’s a gag gift.  Even then, I might think twice before spending $7.50.

Rating:  1/5