Best of 2011 - Ritter Sport Limited Edition Chocolate Review

I said "Best of 2011" because it IS the best of 2011.  This flavor is the 2011 limited edition flavor by Ritter Sport, along with two other chocolate flavors which you can find in my previous posts.  This flavor is the most interesting out of all three of them.  It is a white chocolate with peach-passion fruit-yogurt filling.  Yes, I know, it sounds weird, and I got that from everyone that I talked to.  I bought it for two reasons: one, it is from Ritter Sport, which so far they haven't failed me; two, it contains passion fruit, which is one of my favorite fruit flavors of all time.  Americans however, don't know what passion fruit is, and can't somehow appreciate the purely awesome deliciousness of passion fruit.  So, of course I have to try this.  

Peach and passion fruit and yogurt seemed like a weird combination with chocolate, but let's not forget, it is with white chocolate.  White chocolate only has cocoa butter, which is the fat from the cocoa beans, which is basically tasteless.  White chocolate is basically made with cocoa butter, vanilla, sugar, and cream.  So really, it is very versatile, especially with fruity flavors.  And it worked out so perfectly with the peach and passion fruit.  The aroma of sweet peach and tropical passion fruit conquered me even before I took a bite.  The flavors of the fruits complimented the white chocolate, and harmonized in my mouth.  The combined flavors just burst in my mouth, and as described by one of my friend, a "festival in your mouth".  I personally do not like white chocolate all that much, but this one really worked out perfectly.  If you are looking for chocolate perfection, this is it. Hurry and get some, because 2011 is almost over, and they may not keep this flavor next year!!

I give it a 10 out of 10.  
*PERFECT SCORE!!*

Ritter Sport Limited Edition Amarena Kirsch Review

This is one of the three limited edition flavors of 2011 from Ritter Sport, Amarena Kirsch, or Amarena cherries.  I personally do not like general cherry flavoring too much, because it just tastes extremely fake and artificial.  However, this chocolate does not have so much of that fake flavor, but a hint of the tartness of the cherries.  The outside is creamy milk chocolate, with the smooth filling of cream and accent of sugary cherry crunch.  That's right, the cherries inside are actually crunchy, or more like crispy.  The texture feels like sugar crystals, so I am guessing that they were candied cherries.  The flavor combination worked out fairly nicely, and not contradicting at all.  

I give it a 8 out of 10. 

Ritter Sport Schoko-Duo Review

So after reviewing so many German brand chocolates, I still can't read German.  I only learned to enjoy it.  I know the word "Duo", means "Two", which is very fitting for this particular chocolate.

By the look of it, it is a combination of white and milk chocolate.  If you like dark chocolate, then sorry, this one may not be for you.  I love milk chocolate, and the combination with white chocolate just made sense.  The chocolate followed closely with Ritter Sport tradition with its silky fine texture, and the rich milky chocolatey flavor as it melts in my mouth.  The milk chocolate really overpowered the entire chocolate, and the white chocolate simply added the creamy, vanilla sweetness to the milk chocolate.  I got the illusion that I was eating an extra milky chocolate, and it was worth every bite.  

I give it a 8.5 out of 10. 

 

*Seasonal!!* Rabitos Royale Review

Ahh...the holidays are approaching.  One of the many benefits, other than eating like a hog, is lots of seasonal items available in stores.  I am reviewing a seasonal item, which I missed last year, from Trader Joe's: Rabitos Royale.  Rabitos Royale is chocolate and brandy truffle filled figs.  Translation: a fig stuffed with brandy flavored chocolate truffle and covered in chocolate.  Sounds ridiculous, I know.  And it is.  This seasonal chocolate item sounds so unique, it will trigger most people's curiosity. 

As you opened the package, you can immediately smell the brandy, which is so alluring and mesmerizing.  When you bite into the figs, you get the creamy smooth truffle fillings against the soft yet chewy dried figs.  The contrast in texture was an interesting experience, and combined with the rich chocolate flavor and sensual brandy, it brings the chocolate experience to a whole new level. 

I give it a 8 out of 10. 

Milka ChocoCookies Review

Chocolate chip cookies!!!  Who does not like chocolate chip cookies?  I used to love Chips Ahoy! chocolate chips cookies...well I still think that it is very delicious, but I just don't eat it often.  

I saw the Milka ChocoCookies in the store, and thought that I have to try it, since I love Milka chocolates.  The familiar purple packaging really gives me the warm feeling inside, knowing that it is the same company that I trust and love for years.  The cookies' texture is very similar to Chips Ahoy!, crunchy and crumbly.  The flavor, however, is very different.  The cookies have a very strong milky fragrance, which enhanced in my mouth.  The chocolate chips were the delicious Milka milk chocolates, which also satisfied my taste buds perfectly with the smooth and creamy texture.  

I give it a 7 out of 10.  

 

Cachet Madagascar 32% Milk Chocolate Review

As an chocoholic, any chocolates catch my eyes.  I was standing in the cashier line waiting for check out, and this chocolate bar was right next to me.  The first thing I noticed was not "Limited Selection", but that usually has an influence over me.  But I noticed that it is a milk chocolate, which I love.  Then I turned it around and read the back, and saw "Made in Belgium"...DING! DING! DING! Sold!!!! Need to say more? 

The chocolate has a very sweet, milky fragrance.  It is also very evenly in color, which a bad tempered chocolate would not have.  The flavor really releases as it is melting on my tongue, and the flavors of milk is very intense.  The rich flavors and smooth, silky texture of the chocolate really capture my taste puds.  Cachet is definitely a winner. 

I give it a 9 out of 10. 

Ritter Sport Extra Fine Milk Chocolate Review

I brought you another Ritter Sport chocolate today.  It is the Extra Fine Milk Chocolate.  I love milk chocolate, and nothing can go wrong with "extra fine" in chocolates.  
This is a plain milk chocolate bar, with nothing else added.  I always enjoy plain chocolate bar for the pure chocolate enjoyment.  One of the trick in tasting chocolate is to let it sit and melt on your tongue.  This particular chocolate melts very well, and very smoothly.  You can taste the richness and creaminess of the chocolate as it melts on your tongue with no graininess.  You can also smell the strong fragrance of the fine milk in the chocolate, and the aroma releases as it melts on your tongue.  For a milk chocolate lover, I was very pleased and satisfied. 



I give it a 9 out of 10.

Waffle Chix Raspberry Red Velvet Waffle Review

Excuse me of the bad picture, I took it from my phone.  So I went to UCLA last Sunday, and my friends and I went to this restaurant, Waffle Chix for brunch.  The restaurant was fairly new, just opened in May.  The main attraction is waffle sandwiches, and other waffle dishes.  My friends all got fried chicken waffle sandwiches, and the portions are very large, and it came with waffle cut fries. So for around $10, you can get two meals out of it actually.  Not a bad deal.  

I got the Raspberry Red Velvet Waffle.  It just sounded too good, so I had to order it.  In case some of you do not know, red velvet cake usually use cocoa powder with red food coloring to give you the dark red color in the cake.  That is why I am reviewing this waffle.  

The waffle was said to be Belgium waffles.  I never had an authentic Belgium waffle before, but from what I have heard, it is not quite like this.  But oh well...

The waffle was light, airy, and soft, which I loved.  It did have the flavor of red velvet cake, and it came with a Mascarpone cheese spread with whipped cream.  Mascarpone spread was a great compliment with the waffle and raspberries.  The waffle also came with a sweet but slightly tangy raspberry syrup to marry everything together.  I liked the waffle overall.  However, I did find it a bit expensive, $10 for just that.  I guessed that I paid for the experiences.  

I give it a 7 out of 10.

Häagen-Dazs Sundae Cone Review

So...this is kind of late, for this sundae cone has been out for couple months already.  It is still a new product from Häagen-Dazs.  There are two flavors, caramel or chocolate, so I picked the chocolate.  Flavor wise, it tastes fine.  The ice cream itself was definitely better quality than other regular sundae cones., and it has a rich and strong vanilla flavor.  It was covered with crushed, roasted almonds, which gave it a nice crunch.  Most of the sundae cones use chopped peanuts instead, so almond is a nice change.  

It really is quite similar to other sundae cones with minor differences.  My main complaints about the cones are that they are too small, and too expensive.  

I give it a 5.5 out of 10. 

Ritter Sport White Almonds Review

I don't have that many white chocolate reviews.  Personally, white chocolate isn't too appealing to me.  White chocolate was made with cocoa butter, with combination of cream and sugar and all other stuff.  Make sure it is real white chocolate by reading the ingredient list.  

White chocolate has no cocoa content, so the flavor is quite different compared to dark chocolate or milk chocolate.  It's nice to have it once in a while, like this particular White Almonds from Ritter Sport, with the rich creamy white chocolate with crushed almonds throughout.  The almonds cut down the sweetness of the white chocolate, and helped balanced the overall flavors.  Almond was a great compliment in this chocolate bar.  If you like white chocolate, and you like nuts in your chocolate, this one is worth a try. 

I give it a 7 out of 10.  

 

Recipe: Tripple Chocolate Mousse Tart

Alright...I know, I know, the picture look like...crap.  Because I took the picture with my phone at my friend's house.  This is my second attempt of this creation.  The white chocolate mousse did not set in my first attempt.  This one turned out well, but since it was for friends, I couldn't cut it nicely and take forever at getting a perfect picture.  Anyway, I still want to share this delicious recipe with you all.  If you love chocolate, which you should, or else you wouldn't be here, and you love the light yet rich texture of mousse, you will not want to miss this one. 

Crust:
1 box (8 oz.) Hazelnut chocolate biscotti cookies 
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted.

To make the crust, put the cookies in a think plastic zip locked bag, and crush the cookies with a rolling pin until the cookies look like sand.  You may also use a food processor, but hitting it with a rolling pin is more therapeutic.  
Add the melted butter to the cookies crumbs, and mix until the crumbs look like damp sand.  Spread the crumbs into a 9" springform pan, and press down the crumbs into the bottom of the pan to form a crust.  Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour to set. 


Mousse*:

White chocolate mousse:
   8 oz. good white chocolate*
   1 cup of heavy cream


The white chocolate mousse is actually surprisingly simple to make.  Just melt the white chocolate over a double boiler until completely melted.  Let it cool.  Beat the heavy cream until stiff peak.  Spoon 1/3 of the whipped cream into the cooled white chocolate, and mix in to lighten up the mixture.  Spoon half of the remaining whipped cream, and fold in until uniform in color.  Repeat.  
Pour onto the crust, and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour before the next process.  
*I used chocolate bars for this, but if you find chocolate chips, they will be easier to use.  But make sure it is very good white chocolate.  


Milk chocolate mousse:
   4 oz. good milk chocolate
   1 cup of heavy cream
   1/4 cup sugar
   1/4 cup water
   3 egg yolks

Start by beating the eggs on medium high speed with a hand-held mixer until pale and thick, around 5-7 minutes.  Add the sugar and water in a small sauce pan, and melt over medium heat.  The sugar should be cooked until big bubbles formed, thickened, and just start to change color.  Slowly drizzle the hot syrup into the eggs with mixer on medium low.  This will sweetened and thickened the eggs even more.  
Meanwhile, melt the chocolate over double boiler.  Once completely melted, add the chocolate into the egg mixture and mix in well.  The mixture will be quite thick.  Beat the heavy cream until stiff peak, and fold it into the chocolate mixture.  Pour into the prepared pan and chill in the fridge.  


Dark chocolate mousse:
   4 oz. good dark chocolate (72%)
   1 cup of heavy cream
   1/3 cup sugar
   1/3 cup water
   3 egg yolks


Follow the same steps above.  
I used more sugar for dark chocolate because dark chocolate is more bitter.  But if you love the bitterness of dark chocolate, you can use 1/4 cup of sugar instead.  It will also show better contrast in flavor.  


To assemble, simply make the mousse, and pour it onto the previous layer.  Feel free to change the order of the layers.  Make sure the tart is chilled at least over 4 hours before serving.  

About 12 servings. 

Good Luck & Enjoy!!!

Jacquez Torres Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies review

My cousin is visiting from New York, and she brought me a Jacquez Torres dark chocolate chip cookies.  No wonder that she is my favorite cousin!!  And apparently, J.T.'s cookie is the best in New York.  With that reputation, I definitely need to give it a try.  

If you like chocolate, this cookie will definitely satisfy your cravings.  It was so chocolaty, with about 70% of the cookie occupied with dark chocolate.  As you break it in your hands, you can see the layers of chocolates inside the cookie, like marble.  J.T. did not use chocolate chips, but chocolate disks apparently, so you see the layers of chocolates throughout the cookie.  The cookie I received had lots of chocolate oozed out of the cookie....  Mmmmmmmmm...no need to say more.

The texture of the cookie was on the hard and crumbly side.  I personally preferred soft and chewy cookies, so the texture was not quite for me.  But the cookie was very rich, and you can definitely taste the butter inside it.  The cookie itself was not too sweet, and had a very nice balance of flavor.  The chocolate has very strong chocolate flavor and aroma, and really stood out in the cookies.  I may not give it the title of the best, but it is definitely worth trying.  

I give it a 8 out of 10.

Milka Milk Chocolate with Caramel Creme Filling Review

Milka sure love their milk chocolates.  And God bless them, because the chocolates are divine!!  This particular chocolate bar is filled with gooey caramel, and that is insane.  Slightly salted caramel with creamy smooth milk chocolate are married so well together, and you really cannot stop with just one square.  There is also a caramel creme in the middle, with a similar texture of smooth chocolate.  As the chocolate melts in your mouth, the caramel ooze out, and excites your taste buds.  It is like sweetness heaven.  



I give it a 8 out of 10.

Ritter Sport Trauben Nuss Chocolate Review

I am certain that Ritter Sport knew very well that hazelnuts compliment chocolate very well, so many of the chocolates from Ritter Sport have hazelnuts in them.  This particular chocolate bar has milk chocolate with hazelnuts and concord grape raisins.  The combination was very unique, and the raisin gave a depth to the chocolate.  As the milk chocolate melts in your mouth, you get the crunchy texture from the hazelnuts, but also the chewy raisins.  The raisins have a slight tartness, and complimented so well with the chocolate with the unique grape fragrance.  With the different flavors and textures, it was like a party in my mouth!

I give it a 8.5 out of 10.

Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate with Neapolitan Wafers Review

I remember that I used to like Kit-Kat a lot.  Milk chocolate covered crispy wafers were perfect for each other.  The chocolate from Ritter Sport reminded me of Kit-Kat, but a more delicate version.  The wafers were layered with rich milk chocolate cream inside.  The wafers themselves were also very crispy and flaky, and gave a wonder texture contrasts against the creamy smooth milk chocolate outer shell. 

I give it a 8 out of 10. 

Random Food Porn: Poached Peach with Marsala Wine Syrup and Vanilla Ice Cream

So I bought some peaches from the market, but they were very sour and hard.  Talk about fruit eater's worst nightmare.  So I decided to make a dessert out of them instead.  The finished product looks tasty enough...

Ritter Sport Olympia Chocolate Review

I had reviewed several Ritter Sport products on the blog, so if you still have no idea what it is, then you need to follow the blog, or get...educated or something.  
I haven't tried one chocolate from Ritter Sport that I do not like so far.  The company came up with such unique and intriguing flavors, it is so fun to discover more Ritter Sport chocolates.  
This particular chocolate that I am reviewing today is called Olympia, which I have no idea what it means.  Flavor wise, it is milk chocolate, with a creamy filling of hazelnuts, cream, and a subtle hint of honey.  Hazelnut and chocolate is such a delicious natural combination, and the hazelnuts added some textural contrast against the creamy milk chocolate and creamy filling inside.  Ritter Sport does not disappoint.  


I give it a 8.5 out of 10.

Kinder Chocolate +MILK -COCOA Review

If you are unfamiliar with this chocolate...well, you shouldn't be, because this particular brand of chocolates is not widely available in the U.S.  

Kinder chocolate is actually one of the many confectionery from the company Ferrero.  Ever heard of Ferrero Rocher?  Yes, it is very delicious.  

Kinder in German means "kids", so this particular product line is targeted toward kids, I assumed.  The chocolate that I am reviewing today is a chocolate bar filled with creamy milk filling.  Basically just a chocolate & milk combination.  Now, the chocolate itself is not the greatest, but adequate.  It has a lower cocoa content, which represented by "-COCOA" on the package.  The bar is very milk chocolaty, and considerably soft in room temperature.  If you like milk chocolate, this is not a bad one to have on hand.  

I give it a 5 out of 10.

Ritter Sport Dark Chocolate(with fine cocoa from Papua New Guinea) Review

I still have not figured out how many different flavors Ritter Sport chocolate has.  I kept finding new flavors at different markets.  This dark chocolate only has actually 50% of cocoa, which is not much.  The one I found actually said "with fine cocoa from Papua New Guinea".  The texture of the chocolate was very smooth, like all Ritter Sport chocolate.  The smooth and silky texture definitely come close to Dove's chocolate.  The flavor is very rich and full, and not too bitter compared to most dark chocolates.  There is a distinct flavor, which I assumed that it was from the different cocoa.  The chocolate melted in my mouth nicely and evenly, with just a very minimal aftertaste.  It will definitely go well with a nice cup of coffee.  

I give it a 7.5 out of 10. 

Ritter Sport Cappuccino review

No, it is not a cappuccino coffee instant mix by Ritter Sport.  Ritter Sport Cappuccino is milk chocolate with cappuccino cream.  "Milk chocolate with cappuccino cream" sounds like a total win for someone who loves creamy, silky milk chocolate, and for someone who likes coffee.  The chocolate is filled with generous amount of smooth and creamy cappuccino cream inside, with a captivating aroma of coffee.  This chocolate is a chocoholic and caffeine addict's dreams combined into one bar of heavenly goodness.  Definitely go try it out if you find it in your local markets. 

I give it a 9.5 out of 10.

Haagen Dazs New Limited Edition (Feb - Dec)

Haagen Dazs has been having limited edition flavors every year.  Last year, they were Banana Foster, Almond Amaretto, Midnight Cookies and Cream.  This year, they are Blueberry Crumble, Sweet Chai Latte, and Caramel Apple Pie.  What has happened in the past years was that the most popular flavor will be kept, and become a regular in the Haagen Dazs family.  I have tried all three of the new flavors, and wanted to share some reviews with you. 

Blueberry Crumble:

it is a nice flavor.  Blueberry ice cream base, with crumbles inside, which gives that nice crunch and texture.  The blueberry ice cream has the strong blueberry flavor, with a rich dark purple color, but not overwhelmingly sweet. 

Sweet Chai Latte: 

If you like Chai Lattes, you will love this flavor.  Basically, it is like tasting a iced chai latte.  Sweet, rich, and hint of Chai tea's unique aroma, it is everything that you could imagine in a decadent Chai latte.  I am not personally a big fan of Chai tea, but the ice cream does not have an overpowered Chai flavor.  Rather, it is milder, and more acceptable.  

Caramel Apple Pie:

Sweet and rich caramel ice cream with baked cinnamon apples, just what you will expect from an apple pie.  Unfortunately, I am not a big fan of apple pie, so this is my least favorite.  The ice cream is also too sweet, and too much cinnamon.  Apparently, this was also my friends' least favorite, because this one was eaten the least when I shared with my friends.  

Take this review as a grain of salt, and when you have a chance, definitely try out these new flavors. 

Kashi TLC Dark Mocha Chewy Granola Bar

I am not a fan of Kashi products in general.  They are usually very rough in texture.  I realized that most of their products are high in whole grains, which are great for us, but I just cannot enjoy them.  'TLC' means therapeutic lifestyle changes, which is a criteria for certain group of people, mainly for cardiovascular diseases patients.  The bar contains 4 g. of fibers, which is really good for a snack bar.  It also contains 6 g. of protein, and only 6 g. of sugar.  The bar also contains 90 mg. of cholesterol, which in my opinion, a bit high for a 'health conscious' snack bar.  Overall, the bar yields about 130 kcal, slightly higher than most diet snack bars.  So, if you are thinking of a diet, judge for yourself.  

I give it a 5.5 out of 10.