Chocolate for lunch, anyone?
One of the things I love most about my office is its proximity to Fog City News, home of San Francisco's best chocolate bar selection. This would be a conundrum if I worked with chocolate-haters, or worse, eaters of mediocre chocolate. Fortunately, the office is staffed by folks who let only the finest chocolate pass their lips, and while our weekly outings can add up in cost, the resulting endorphin rushes are well worth it.
In any typical week, there are an assortment of bars on offer in the kitchen which would sate any mood. Feeling feisty? Here, try the Chipotle bar. Catching a cold? Good thing we have orange infused chocolate! In a lull? There's bound to be an Earl Grey bar in here somewhere.
Until today, however, there was no chocolate bar suitable specifically for a missed lunch. Today, we remedied this with the exquisitely unique Basil & Lime bar from Rococo Chocolates. If ever there was a savory chocolate, this is it.
Based in 65% cocoa, infused with the scent of a Persian garden, and with a mouthfeel we all found pleasant -- not too fatty, not too chalky -- this bar enjoyed a 100% acceptance rate in the office. No small feat, that.
Rococo has an incredible assortment of flavors, some of which are becoming more standard these days (Cocoa Nib or Earl Grey, for example), while others are still quite unique (Cardamom, Orange-Geranium, and Peppered Mint are intriguing). They also have the Mystery Sense Bar:
"Anyone purchasing the bar will be biting into the unknown and have to use their senses to guess the flavour. For each chocolate bar sold, 50p will be donated to Sense."
Very clever, and very cool, indeed.
Rococo bars aren't cheap - I think they ring in at around $9/bar at Fog City - but the flavors are intense enough that you won't find yourself finishing a whole one too fast.
Oh, and for anyone wondering: Yes, we have tried Vosges' Mo's Bacon Bar. We weren't so impressed - the bacon flavor is rather muted, and the not-quite-crisp-not-quite-chewy mouthfeel of the bacon bits is distracting to say the least. We'll happily stick with the Barcelona Bar which, despite its lower cocoa content, hits the mark on the combination of sweet, salty, bitter and texture.
Tags: Chocolate, Fog City, Vosges, Rococo, Candy, Sweet, San Francisco, Food & Drink
No way! They have Rococo? Derrick and I went to the shop in London, oh, nine years ago. Our chocolate addict friends knew about the place, and insisted we pay a visit. It was my very first experience with intense herb and spice flavorings in chocolate. I'll never forget it. Wow, I might have to pop over to Fog City.
Posted by: Melissa | February 27, 2008 at 08:04 PM
um - ok - so did you really have this for lunch YESTERDAY of all days? And, why didn't you bring me one? (joking). I think it sounds like a good thing [for the continued success of my diet] that I don't work anywhere near Fog City News. Thank goodness for the gastronomical wastelands of Redwood Shores where I am safe from all delicious dangers!
Posted by: sam | February 28, 2008 at 09:40 AM
PS - i think Cat needs that for her 'bird art' collection.
Posted by: sam | February 28, 2008 at 10:59 AM
...So terribly jealous as I sit here in middle america where hershey's "dark" is considered haute cuisine.
This jealousy actually HURTS.
I survive on valrhona that's surprisingly becoming more mass....
Posted by: Athena | February 28, 2008 at 07:23 PM
Melissa -
Let me know when you make your excursion. Maybe we can grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee together. I miss you guys!
Sam - Would you believe, I had a bit in my bag to give you but completely forgot?
Athena - There are several retailers that ship wonderful chocolate these days: Hotel Chocolat and Cocoa Bella are two I recommend.
Posted by: Fatemeh | February 29, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Fatemeh,
I'm wondering if you've had the chance to try Scharffen Berger's version of the Barcalona Bar? I was nicely surprised to find it... I have to be extremely careful of going into FCN, it tends to be some sort of suction portal on my bank account.
Although I fear you've intrigued me beyond reason for the Sense bar.
Posted by: shuna fish lydon | March 01, 2008 at 01:35 AM
Never heard of Rococo, but it sounds good. Will you be joining us at the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon on April 13th? (http://www.SFChocolateSalon.com)
Posted by: Chocolate Television | March 06, 2008 at 08:08 AM