Green Tea and Green Tea and Cherry Blossom Kit Kats

Item: Japanese Kit Kats. Matcha (green tea- Wiki claims is made with green chocolate- whatever that means) and Sakura Macha (Cherry Blossom Green Tea).

Rating out of 5:









I signed into my Gmail account for the first time in months to find a whopping 2,338 emails, which is actually less than I was expecting but daunting nonetheless. I signed on to Blogger do to a handful of new reviews, maybe post a couple of deals or news items.

These Kit Kats were actually eaten over the Winter, my friends brother took a trip to Japan and brought these babies home. You have to understand, years ago a friend posted a link about green tea Kit Kats on some social networking site or other, and I was overcome with the sadness of knowing something I desperately wanted to try would probably be forever out of my grasp (playing this up for all it's worth). So when I walked into my friends kitchen and saw three dozen of them sitting on her table like they fucking belonged there, I'm pretty sure I recall letting out a slight squeal. Her brother in his infinite graciousness gave me one of each flavor, and so here we are.

As with many things, the buildup was a touch over-hyped. The green tea tastes...not like green tea much at all. It could be green tea that's "off" tasting, a little unpleasant. The chocolate seems a bit too thick for some reason. This might be white chocolate with green tea flavoring. After finding Wiki's entry describing it as "green" chocolate, these suspicions are strengthened.
















I actually like the matcha and cherry blossom better, its sweeter and tastes more like candy, I was surprised me because I wasn't expecting to prefer it. I love green tea, but when I think of cherry blossoms I think of flower petals, and wasn't sure what to expect of the taste. I don't think I'd describe this Kit Kat as floral, but there is a lightness of flavor to it and it lacks whatever unpleasantness the plain green tea one had. I finished these but didn't crave more.


So together, they get a rating of two. If I do see them again there will not be any squealing.

Review: Lindt Petits Desserts

Item: Lindt Petits Desserts

Cost: $9.99 (seriously)

Rating out of five:











Usually I don't buy mass produced chocolate from a chain drug store. Since I started baking and eating more (and better) pastries I just can't stomach things like Hershey's, Dove, or even Godiva (which has been mass produced store bought chocolate for a very long time now). But I was desperate and having a rare cocoa craving, so I caved and bought the second most expensive box the store had, figuring the priciest was bound to the be the best.

Wrong.

Here's the breakdown:




















Creme Brulee: Its in the center of the photo on the box- everyone involved in this transaction knows this is the piece that matters most. And it is the second best tasting one in the box, but that ain't saying much. Its not really a creme brulee flavor, I'm not sure how to characterize it. It runs dangerously close to a subtle coffee. There's the smallest bit of a crunch to it. Whatever, it was the piece I excitedly tried first and thus knew it didn't bode well for the rest of the box.
















Tiramisu: There's actually a coffee flavor! Too bad I'm not such a fan of said flavor and prefer tiramisus that are apparently flawed because they're lacking it. I think a lot of people would find it enjoyable, possibly the best out of the other pieces.
















Millefeuille: As I found out, Millefeuille is another word for a Napoleon, as the picture on the box so helpfully points out. I don't know what's going on here but its not a Napoleon. It was at this point in my experience that I decided chocolates turned into desserts that originally contain little to no chocolate was probably a flawed concept. Its got a creamy inside, again I think other people might get something out of this but it just didn't do it for me.

















Meringue: Why the fuck would they even attempt this? I dreaded biting into this chocolate. It wasn't as bad as I thought, but I don't get "meringue" from this either. The inside was mostly creamy, but for whatever reason they also included these tiny crunchy white bits in there.




















(not only is the little shit not photogenic, he fails to upload properly- and is not worth fixing)

Lemon Tart: Ugh, the things I do for all the folks who don't read this blog. I fucking hate lemon, but I bit into this and promptly spit it out. This means people might actually enjoy it, because it positively reeks of lemon just like most lemon flavored desserts do. Its got a layer of lemon goo inside. So there you go.

Now on to the extra mystery chocolates! You know, the rejects that didn't make the cover of the box. You wouldn't want your customers to get too much of a "good" thing, now would ya?


















Dark Chocolate Crunchy Thing: Super bitter outside, creamy inside, gross allover.


















Smooth Milk Chocolate Thing: Whoa, what's going on? It looks like pure mediocrity but...there's something going on....maybe a hint of almond? Creamy inside with that signature annoying crunch that comes from I don't even know where, but overall not a horrible piece of chocolate! I almost finished the entire piece.















(The inside of dark and milk chocolate mystery pieces)

So here's my overall verdict: This product sucks. But your getting 18 pieces with a cutesy theme, and I have a feeling a lot of people who just enjoy running to the corner store for their chocolate would enjoy this as long as they don't expect the pieces to taste like the desserts they were supposedly modeled after. And with that Hallmark Holiday around the corner, maybe this is something folks want to keep in mind.

If your girl is a picky eater, a "foodie", or a pastry chef for the love of god...just don't.

Mother's Day Chocolate Walking Tour

Via The Village Voice.

What: Mother’s Day Chocolate Walking Tour

When: May 8th & 9th, 1PM

Where: Jacques Torres Chocolate Shop
350 Hudson Street; New York NY

Cost: $45. Get tickets here.

The tour will visit Jacques Torres, Kees, Marie Belle and Vosges.

Les Mercredis au Chocolat

Via The City Sweet Tooth.


















What: Les Mercredis au Chocolat: A Michel Cluizel pairing of coffee truffles with gourmet coffees from Petrol Coffee Roasters

When: Wednesday, May 5th. 7PM-9PM

Where: Boutique Michel Cluizel
584 5th Ave.
New York, NY

Cost: $25 per person

RSVP at info@migrationofsenses.com with your first and last name. Hurry, space is limited!

An Evening of Free Wine and Chocolate at Michel Cluizel

Via Pulse JFK & City Sweet Tooth.



















What: An Evening of Wine & Chocolate

When: April 28th, 7-9PM

Where: Chocolat Michel Cluizel
584 5th Avenue, New York, NY

Cost: FREE

RSVP at info@migrationofsenses.com with first and last name, as space is very limited

Latin Cultures and cuisines expert, chef and author Maricel Presilla will delight us with tasty stories and dishes and sign copies of her last book “The New Taste of Chocolate”, while you sip exquisite Spanish wines selected by Wine & Food Associates and devour blissful Michel Cluizel single-origin chocolate bars.

Festa del Cioccolato at L'Arte Del Gelato

Via City Sweet Tooth.


















What: Festa del Cioccolato: 11 different flavors of chocolate gelato made with Valrhona chocolate for a nice price, with all proceeds going to benefit sick kids.

When: April 23, 24, & 25. Times depend on location (see below)

Where: L'Arte Del Gelato
Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
From 12PM-6PM

West Village
75 Seventh Avenue South
New York, NY 10014
From 6PM-12AM

Cost: $2

All proceeds from special sales made on these dates will go to The Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.

2 Chicks with ChocolateTasting at Macy's

Via Eating in Translation.

What: 2 Chicks with Chocolate Tasting

When: Saturday, April 3, 11:00-3:00

Where: The Cellar at Macy's
151 West 34th St. (Sixth-Seventh Aves.)

Cost: Free admission

"Please join the entire 2 Chicks' Team & Master Chocolatier, Patrick Coston, at Macy's Herald Square as we celebrate our big debut!
2 Chicks' is pleased to announce that Macy's NYC will now be carrying our line of assorted chocolate barks and toffees, along with some delicious Easter treats! 2 Chicks' will be doing a full chocolate tasting along with fun giveaways! Please come by to celebrate with us, and of course, get your cocoa fix! "

Easter Sunday Chocolate Tour

What: Easter Sunday Chocolate Tour

When: April 4th, 11AM

Where: LA Burdick
5 East 20th St. bet. 5th & Bway
New York, NY 10010

Cost: $5 suggested donation to attend, you buy your chocolate as you go

After LA Burdick the tour will be hitting Max Brenner (creator of the chocolate pizza), Black Hound, and. Bespoke.

An Evening of Wine & Chocolate

Via Pulse JFK.

What: An Evening of Wine & Chocolate: Enjoy Italian & Argentine Wine, chocolate & network with 300+ professionals

When: March 26th, 6PM-10PM

Where: Hudson Terrace
621 W 46th St.
New York, NY 10036

Cost: FREE (no cover, free chocolate samples while supplies last, cash bar)

RSVP here. The event was organized by ManhattanWineGroup.com

Kallari Chocolate Coupon

Original photo can be found here.

Buy one 75% cocoa Kallari chocolate bar and get another one free with this coupon from Tasting Table NY. You can find Kallari chocolates at Whole Foods locations everywhere, so check the Whole Foods site to find the one nearest you.

Free Chocolate at Village Tart

Via The Feed.

Village Tart
86 Kenmare Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 226-4980

Between February 14th and February 21st, come in and get free squares of Valrhona’s Grand Cru, "origin specific" chocolate.

Chocolate Events this Week

The first and last are via The City Sweet Tooth.

What: Global Cocoa Project, Chocolate and wine-tasting gala to benefit the people of Haiti and cocoa farmers worldwide.
When: February 11th from 6-9PM
Where: Hudson Terrace
621 W. 46th St.(between 11th &12th Ave)
Cost: Tickets start at $40

What: Chocolate, Desserts & Wine Tour of NY's UWS
When: Friday February 12th, at 2:30PM
Where: West 72nd Street & Broadway
(Exact meeting location details will be provided immediately upon purchase of tickets.)
Cost: $54

What: Decadent Chocolate & Sinful Cheese with Pastry Chef Colleen Riley
When: February 13th from 3-5pm
Where: Artisanal Premium Cheese Center 483 10th Ave., (by 37th St.) 2nd Floor
Cost: $85

Event: Chocolate & I

Original photo can be found here.


This is pretty exiting.









What: Chocolate & I. A week long chocolate discovery and experience event.

When: February 8th-14th

Where: 511 W. 25 Street
between 10th and 11th ave.

Cost: Varies, but many events in the early afternoon are FREE. Check the website for specific events going on all week long!

Chocolate Treasure Hunt

What: Chocolate Treasure Hunt

When: Sunday, January 24. 11am – 12:30pm

Where: Jacques Torres Chocolates
350 Hudson Street

Cost: $5 (purchase of chocolates additional)

You'll search and locate 4 of the Villages best chocolatiers. On the day of the hunt you'll be given a clue sheet and the organizers number for location assistance. Gifts will be given to those who finish the hunt and reach the last destination. 100% of your $5 goes to Food Bank For New York City.

Bespoke Chocolates to Donate 100% of Sundays Sales

Via The Feed.

Original photo can be found here.









100% of sales at Bespoke Chocolates tomorrow will go directly to Haitian relief efforts!

So get out there and eat chocolate for a good cause.

Chocolat Michel Cluizel Opens New Location

Chocolat Michel Cluizel
584 Fifth Avenue
(646) 415-9126

The French chocolatier is no longer sharing a location with ABC Home & Carpet. This is the only retail location outside of Paris.

Original photo can be found here.

Cocoa V Opens in Chelsea

Cocoa V
174 9th Ave, New York NY 10011 (map)
212-242-3339

Serious Eats takes a look. What makes this place sound really great are the organic/vegan/fair trade wine pairings.

Last Minute Foodie Gifts

The City Sweet Tooth tests out Gingerhaus, a gingerbread house kit, and gives it some personal rock n roll touches.

Grub Street New York has a review in slide show form of 12 chocolate gifts to give to everyone in your life (they liked Tumbador Chocolate the most, Max Brenner the least).