Author Archive: Bryn Kirk
BarkTHINS Snacking Chocolate
September 14, 2017
Last month I wrote a review of 7th Street Confection’s Dark Chocolate Thins (Raspberry & Quinoa). I thought they were pretty tasty.
Today, I have an extremely similar product from BarkTHINS®. To the best of my knowledge, BarkTHINS came first, in 2013. The flavor is different, but the concept is the same; thin dark chocolate pieces with inclusions. Today I’m trying Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed with Sea Salt.
Hammond’s Chocolate Bars
September 6, 2017
Once again we get to my birthday, and here come the gifts of chocolate!
Yay, I have new chocolate bars to try and this time they are made by Hammond’s Candies in Denver, CO.
According to their website, www.hammondscandies.com, Hammond’s has been in business for more than 90 years. In 1920, Carl T. Hammond, Sr. founded Hammond’s Candy Company in Denver, Colorado. His first candy creation was the Honey Ko Ko - a chocolate topped with shredded coconut.
The Chocolate Trader: Dark Chocolate with Olive Oil and Sea Salt
August 22, 2017
Here’s a little Milwaukee, Wisconsin history. In 1916, Joseph and Lottie Helminiak, founded Quality Candy Shoppes on Mitchell street in Milwaukee. Over the next 100 years, the company has grown, been through some changes, and became well known in Wisconsin.
In the 1960’s, Quality Candy bought Buddy Squirrel, a nut roasting and gourmet popcorn company, also located in Milwaukee. It became Quality Candy/Buddy Squirrel. Later, it was purchased and renamed Buddy Squirrel, LLC.
7th Street Confections Dark Chocolate Thins
August 14, 2017
7th Street Confections is a new line of “better for you” treats from the long established Pearson’s Candy Company. The line up of Dark Chocolate Thins include flavors such as Raspberry & Quinoa; Strawberry; Blueberry & Almond; and Pineapple & Toasted Coconut.
M&M’s 49% Dark Chocolate Peanut
August 7, 2017
This past week was snacking on the new 49% dark chocolate peanut m&m's.
Naturally, I assumed that the “49%” advertised on the label indicated that there is now more chocolate in the recipe. I don’t really know for certain, since I haven't been able to find the cacao percentage for the original dark peanut m&m's.
Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel
July 31, 2017
Ghirardelli recently introduced a new variety of chocolate square; Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramel. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, I think this is another example of “sounds better than it is”.
CocoLove Raspberry Bouche Bar
July 24, 2017
Vacationing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming was amazing! The Tetons, the hiking, the biking, the chocolate! The chocolate?
Every vacation destination I make a point to hunt out a local chocolates shop and this was no different. We stayed with family living in Jackson, and they knew where to take me - CocoLove Dessert Boutique. It was full of beautiful creations by pastry chef Oscar Ortega.
MilkBoy Swiss Alpine Milk Chocolate with Crunchy Caramel and Sea Salt
July 17, 2017
Milkboy is made in Switzerland and according to their website, www.milkboy.com, cows that graze the alpine meadows “produce some of the best-quality milk available, milk for which Switzerland is rightly famed.”
In addition to “best-quality milk,” the milk solids content is 24%. This is much higher than minimal levels required for milk chocolate in the U.S. (which is 12%). No wonder it’s uber-milky and creamy! Read more
Wild Ophelia Barbeque Potato Chip Chocolate Bar
July 10, 2017
I must say, there are some interesting flavored chocolate bars out there (I’m referring to what’s added to the chocolate, not the natural occurring terroir). And by “Interesting” I mean, raise an eyebrow and ask yourself, “who would think of such a thing?”
Today’s bar for example, honey and hickory barbeque potato chips with smoked paprika in 70% chocolate. Hmmm?
Pascha 85% Chocolate Chips
July 3, 2017
Once upon a time, when I was working at a large chocolate manufacturer, I created chocolate chip formulas. Formulas are based on adding ingredients together until they total 100%. A semi-sweet chocolate chip has to contain a minimum of 35% chocolate liquor or cacao mass (by law) so a typical chocolate chip formula might look like this: