Cooking
Here it is January, month of resolutions, exercise and diets. Since Lee's doctor is already basically prescribing that he eat chocolate on a daily basis, let's take a closer look at a couple possibilities, for health purposes, of course.
Unlike wine with so many types of grapes, varietals, regions and vintages to contend with, when it comes to chocolate there are only three types of beans--criollo, forastero and trinitario. Criollo is considered the best bean around and is very hard to grow, it constitutes perhaps as little as 5% of the world's chocolate. Forastero is a hardier cacao than criollo and is the most common type of bean coming mainly from Africa. Trinitario is a hybrid of criollo and forastero. Most chocolates are a blend of different beans.
Within each of the beans are varietals of course. And like wines there are single origin or estate chocolates. As with wines, tasting is the true path to understanding. I suggest starting out with one of my favorite bars, the Ocumare from Chocovic in Spain. Many people don't know that while chocolate is a new world ingredient, it has an illustrious history in Spain. The Ocumare bar is 71% cocoa and made from Venezuelan criollo beans. Incidentally one of my favorite filled chocolates brands, Richart, is also made from only Venezuelan criollo beans.
The other chocolate bar to try, if you can find it, is the El Carmen from Venezuela made with 75% cacao. Though I contacted the maker, Scharffen Berger I can't be sure which beans were used, only that the beans were sourced from a single valley in Barlovento, Venezuela and are pesticide-free. This is a limited edition bar so get it while you can. It is already gone from Scharffen Berger's site but available online.
Tasting notes:
* Good quality chocolate should be smooth and have a high gloss
* Notice the crisp snap which indicates it has been well-tempered
* Allow the chocolate to melt in your mouth to let the flavors fully develop
With these high percentage cacao bars, a little satisfies both your tastebuds and your doctor. Like fine wine, enjoy in moderation!
Ocumare from Chocovic, available at Trader Joe's for $1.99, 2.82 ounces
(available online for $3.95 )
Mildly spicy cinnamon, tropical fruit and woodsy tones. It has a mellow buttery finish and wonderfully creamy texture.
El Carmen Scharffen Berger, available at William Cross Wine Merchants, $3.99, 3 ounces
(available online for $6.25 )
Deep rich fruity flavors, plum and cherry tones. It is slightly tannic and dry with a creamy finish.
- Chocolate Bar Review
You wouldn't know it by looking at me, but I'm in training. In March I'll be on the tasting panel for the Annual San Francisco International Chocolate Salon and I take this responsibility very seriously. In fact, I snagged as many bars of...
- Chocolatiers Come To Town
Ever since Lee's doctor told him to eat a little chocolate everyday, I've kept a stash of over 70% cocoa chocolate bars in a drawer in the kitchen. My everyday bar is Chocovic's Ocumare which uses Venezuelan criollo beans. That's probably...
- The Great Book Of Chocolate: Book
Chocolate the exhibition developed by The Field Museum in Chicago has arrived in San Francisco. To the California Academy of Sciences to be exact. This is a great show for kids, with bites of science, history, archeology, sociology and lore. But to be...
- Richart Shop Closed
What's the most fun you can have with your clothes on? Quite possibly attending a chocolate tasting! Which is something I got to do this past week. As you may or may not know, I am very fond of chocolate. Some might say obsessed. What drew me to...
- Scharffen Berger Factory Tour
A few months ago I went to the Scharffen Berger chocolate factory for a visit to their shop and a tour. The shop has just about everything you can think of that you would need to make something chocolate-y. There are various kinds of chocolate, cocoa...
Cooking
Resolution: Eat More Chocolate in 2006
Here it is January, month of resolutions, exercise and diets. Since Lee's doctor is already basically prescribing that he eat chocolate on a daily basis, let's take a closer look at a couple possibilities, for health purposes, of course.
Unlike wine with so many types of grapes, varietals, regions and vintages to contend with, when it comes to chocolate there are only three types of beans--criollo, forastero and trinitario. Criollo is considered the best bean around and is very hard to grow, it constitutes perhaps as little as 5% of the world's chocolate. Forastero is a hardier cacao than criollo and is the most common type of bean coming mainly from Africa. Trinitario is a hybrid of criollo and forastero. Most chocolates are a blend of different beans.
Within each of the beans are varietals of course. And like wines there are single origin or estate chocolates. As with wines, tasting is the true path to understanding. I suggest starting out with one of my favorite bars, the Ocumare from Chocovic in Spain. Many people don't know that while chocolate is a new world ingredient, it has an illustrious history in Spain. The Ocumare bar is 71% cocoa and made from Venezuelan criollo beans. Incidentally one of my favorite filled chocolates brands, Richart, is also made from only Venezuelan criollo beans.
The other chocolate bar to try, if you can find it, is the El Carmen from Venezuela made with 75% cacao. Though I contacted the maker, Scharffen Berger I can't be sure which beans were used, only that the beans were sourced from a single valley in Barlovento, Venezuela and are pesticide-free. This is a limited edition bar so get it while you can. It is already gone from Scharffen Berger's site but available online.
Tasting notes:
* Good quality chocolate should be smooth and have a high gloss
* Notice the crisp snap which indicates it has been well-tempered
* Allow the chocolate to melt in your mouth to let the flavors fully develop
With these high percentage cacao bars, a little satisfies both your tastebuds and your doctor. Like fine wine, enjoy in moderation!
Ocumare from Chocovic, available at Trader Joe's for $1.99, 2.82 ounces
(available online for $3.95 )
Mildly spicy cinnamon, tropical fruit and woodsy tones. It has a mellow buttery finish and wonderfully creamy texture.
El Carmen Scharffen Berger, available at William Cross Wine Merchants, $3.99, 3 ounces
(available online for $6.25 )
Deep rich fruity flavors, plum and cherry tones. It is slightly tannic and dry with a creamy finish.
- Chocolate Bar Review
You wouldn't know it by looking at me, but I'm in training. In March I'll be on the tasting panel for the Annual San Francisco International Chocolate Salon and I take this responsibility very seriously. In fact, I snagged as many bars of...
- Chocolatiers Come To Town
Ever since Lee's doctor told him to eat a little chocolate everyday, I've kept a stash of over 70% cocoa chocolate bars in a drawer in the kitchen. My everyday bar is Chocovic's Ocumare which uses Venezuelan criollo beans. That's probably...
- The Great Book Of Chocolate: Book
Chocolate the exhibition developed by The Field Museum in Chicago has arrived in San Francisco. To the California Academy of Sciences to be exact. This is a great show for kids, with bites of science, history, archeology, sociology and lore. But to be...
- Richart Shop Closed
What's the most fun you can have with your clothes on? Quite possibly attending a chocolate tasting! Which is something I got to do this past week. As you may or may not know, I am very fond of chocolate. Some might say obsessed. What drew me to...
- Scharffen Berger Factory Tour
A few months ago I went to the Scharffen Berger chocolate factory for a visit to their shop and a tour. The shop has just about everything you can think of that you would need to make something chocolate-y. There are various kinds of chocolate, cocoa...