Dagoba Roseberry Bar

I had never tried Dagoba chocolate in any form prior to buying this bar. I had seen it before but passed it up fearing the organic chocolate would probably disappoint me. What caught my eye with this bar was the flavor. Roseberry is a dark chocolate bar with raspberries and rosehips. It was the rosehips that intrigued me.

Rose flavoring is a pretty big part of Persian desserts and I have something of a love/hate relationship with it. If it is not used with a heavy hand it adds a sweet almost honey like flavor, however at it's worse it is like eating perfume. I had never had rose paired with chocolate so I picked up the bar.

The bar is a solid 2 oz's of glossy dark chocolate and is portioned into small fingers Ala mini Kit Kat's. If you give the bar a good sniff you can just barely smell the rosehips.
The first taste that get is the rosehips, actually taste is not the best way to describe it. You smell it more then taste it once in your mouth and that quickly fades into a rich and creamy dark chocolate. There are small pockets of raspberry throughout the finger. The raspberry tastes like a good ripe summer berry and you get the added texture of the seeds. Both the rosehips and the raspberry are subtle but just strong enough to compliment each other and the chocolate.

This is the best high end bar I have had this year. Thinking about it did I really think a company named after where Yoda lived could let me down? (Yes!, I realize that is most likely NOT how the company got it's name- I just don't care) Now I have got to try they're other bars!

Grown up Soda: Dry Cranberry Lime

Why waste time?- one word sums this up:
YUM!

I might just be addicted. This is perfect! Not too sweet, not too tart, dry enough to keep it crisp. The perfect amount of carbonation to give it a hint of bubbles.

I know a lot of people only drink cranberry juice to ease UTI's or with vodka- and I am sure this would still be good for both counts. I however am one of those weird freaks who loves cranberry in just about every shape and form I think it is one of the most overlooked flavors/fruits out there. Even if you think you don't like cranberry give this a try because it might just be what it takes to convert you to the red side.

Off to buy more! (thank the powers that be for 24 hour stores)

Archer Farms Unsweetned Spearmint Water

Once again I have to give credit to whatever company it is making the Archer Farm products.

I have yet to have an Archer Farm product that disappointed especially for the price range. I am a big fan of all of the flavored spring waters. When I saw the Spearmint today I had to get it.

I love just putting fresh mint in water and I was eager to try the Metro Mint waters that came out awhile back. Metro Mint was great- if your goal was to find a way to drink large amounts of Scope without all that nasty alcohol.

The Archer Farm water tastes just as the name would imply, like unsweetened mint leaves in water. Very crisp and refreshing- and you can drink it without fear of DUI!

Russell Stover German Black Forrest Truffle

I came across these at Target and had to give them a try.

Black Forrest cake has always been one of my favorites. What's not to love? rich dark chocolate, tart cherry and sweet cream. HMMMMMM

Russell Stover chocolate?, well not so much. I never go out of my way to buy them. It's not that they are bad so much as they are just there. HOWEVER these truffles may be the best candy they have ever done.

It's a thin semi-sweet square that has a light layer of milk chocolate. A dark chocolate truffle center and just a hint of cherry. The square does manage to taste like a good slice of cake would.

What's not so great about it- although I am willing to over look it for the taste is the lack of "snap" if you break the square it basically bends and crumbles rather then giving a satisfying snap. And the lack of melt. The chocolate doesn't so much dissolve or melt in a creamy, rich, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory-type river down your throat as it simply disappears.

Give it a try... or don't more for me!

Ben and Jerry's Creme Brulee

Creme Brulee is one of my all time favorite desserts so of course I would love an ice cream version.

And I would like to remind everyone that Haagen Dazs did indeed have a creme brulee flavor a few years ago that was to die for. With that in mind old Ben and Jerry had a big spoon to fill.

The base flavor is supposed to be a sweet custard. I happen to be one of five people left in the world that LOOOVES frozen custard so I was looking forward to that part of the ice cream the most... and I will have to keep looking.
It's not that the custard is bad. The mouth feel is rich and creamy and it does have a strong caramel aroma. No, the problem is not that it tastes bad- it just doesn't taste like anything. It's the weirdest thing! Anyone who has had a McDonalds sundae or McFlurry knows what I am talking about. Your mouth feels cold, you have the rich, thick melt on your tongue that you expect from premium ice cream. There is just no taste what's so ever.

What they did pull off is the burnt sugar swirl. The Haagen Dazs version was a soft ribbon of burnt sugar. The Ben & Jerry's version is bits of the hard caramelized sugar topping a brulee would have on it crushed in. All I can say is that it is probably a good thing that I can't get the Haagen Dazs base with the Ben & Jerry's swirl- I kinda like being able to fit through doors.

Try it for the sugar swirl alone.