Kat's 9 Lives

As many of you know that chocolate comes from all over the world and tastes completely different from one another depending on its origin. We tried the Varietal Line with chocolates from Madagascar, Columbia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. I have had Recchiuti quite a few times now since I am a big chocolate fan, but I am never all that amazed. Only recently was I captured by their hot chocolate line. As for their regular chocolate... meh... this box proved the same. Must say thanks to Ms. Lin to share this box of chocolates. I will make life easier for you and copy & paste their description as well as tell you what I think.

Madagascar - "Criollo cacao beans, grown in Madagascar's extraordinary island environment, crown this chocolate the most complex of all four Varietals. Hints of a slight tang are perfectly balanced with waves of gentle fruit to create the Madagascar Varietal's elegant complexity."

Columbian - "The single cacao bean varietal from the Chucurreno region of Colombia yields a balance of berry and spice notes matched with burgundy hues. A long, slow finish and elements of wine provide the perfect precursor for the Ecuador Varietal."

Ecuador - "The straightforward intensity of this chocolate, made using single cacao bean varietal from Ecuador, exhibits a truly remarkable persistence of flavor. Smokey tobacco notes, a hint of earthiness and a rich, coffee color make this piece the most dramatic of the four Varietals."

Venezuela - "Lake breezes in the Sur de Lago region of Venezuela provide a unique climate for growing cacao beans and result in a distinctive flavor. Less complex than L'Harmonie, the Venezuelan exhibits pure, delicate nut and caramel tones."
Maybe there was suppose to be a certain order to eat the chocolate but we chose our own path. I decided to start with Madagascar as I think the South American chocolate would be much better. Lets just say I was right. The flavor was all over the place and not in a good way, it had an awkward lingering flavor. This was our least favorite. Next we tried what I thought would be better, the Columbian, and it was very rich. The flavor was deep and it just popped. I had a suspicious feeling that the remaining two pieces would be iffy. The Ecuador chocolate was not as flavorful and didn't have a multi-level taste. It was solid but nothing special. We ended the box with a trip to Venezuela. The chocolate was good but to be honest, I did NOT taste any of the things they wrote so lavishly about. I love my delicious chocolates but this box certainly underwhelmed. All the descriptions I copied from their website makes me think... ummm what a bunch of lies! We definitely did NOT experience such complex flavors. To be honest, they taste about the same except for the Madagascar chocolate. I have not been converted a fan to Recchiuti yet, but a sample of their hot chocolate has gotten me a lot closer to converting. O=9

Orange County Reviews

230 Forest Ave
85 °C Bakery Café

A

Ajisen Ramen
Albertaco's
Ambrosia

B

BACON MANia Truck
Bistro d'Asia
BJ's Restaurant & Brewery
Black Forest Bakery Cafe
BlackMarket Bakery
BlackMarket Bakery (B-day)
Bluewater Grill
Boston Market
Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe
Boulangerie Pierre & Patisserie
Break of Dawn
Brodard
Bubba Kahuna's
Bánh Mì Chè Cali


C

C & C Express
Cafe Blanc
Califonia Pizza Kitchen (CPK)
California Fish Grill (Foothill Ranch)
California Fish Grill (Irvine)
Capital Seafood
Carl's Jr
Cham Sut Gol
Cham Sut Gol (2)
Champion
Chef Chen
Chinatown Express
Chris' & Pitt's
Chuao Chocolatier
Claim Jumper
Claws
Coffee Bean
Coffee Zone
Corea BBQ (Freshia Market)
Cosmo's Italian Kitchen
Cream Pan
Cream Pan (2)
Crystal Jade
Curry House
Céfiore
Cơm Tấm Thuận Kiều
Cơm Tấm Trần Quý Cấp

D

Dairy Queen
Đinh Thiêng

E

El Torito
El Torito Grill
Eva's Caribbean Kitchen
Eva's Caribbean Kitchen (w/ Tofu)

F

Famima!!
Five Guys Burgers & Fries
French's Bakery
Fukada
Fukada (2)

G

Genki Living
Givral Bakery
Gloria Jean's Coffee
Godiva
Godiva (2)
Guppy House

H

Hans' Ice Cream & Deli
Harry's Deli
Hatam #2
Hidden Kitchen
Hokkaido Fair Part I, Mitsuwa
Hokkaido Fair Part II, Mitsuwa
Hokkaido Fair Preview, Mitsuwa
Home Town Buffet
Hyatt Regency Orange County

I

Ikko Japanese Restaurant
Incheonwon BBQ House
Inka Mama's

J

Jack's Bakery
Jerry's Dogs
JJ Bakery
JJ Bakery (B-day)
Joe's Italian Ice & Petrucci's Ice Cream
JS Bakery
JS Bakery (2)
Juice Stop

K

Kanpai
Kaori Sushi
Kappo Hana
KFC
Kobe Fugetsudo
Korea House B.B.Q. Buffet
KyoChon

L

L & L Hawaiian Barbecue
La Brea Bakery
Lakeside Chinese Cuisine
Layer Cake Bakery
Le Diplomate Cafe
Le Diplomate Cafe (2)
Leatherby's Cafe Rouge
Leatherby's Cafe Rouge (Media Dinner)
Lee's Sandwiches
Liang's Kitchen
Lotus Chinese Eatery
Lucille's BBQ
Lucille's BBQ (2)
Lục Đinh Kỳ

M

Marche Moderne
Marche Moderne (2)
Marche Moderne (3)
Maw 'n Paw Kettlekorn
Merhaba
Milk + Honey
Miyabi-Tei
Mochilato
Mozambique Steakhouse & Coastal Lounge
Mr. Stox

N

New Seoul BBQ Buffet
Newport Tan Cang Seafood
Nice Time Deli
Niko Niko Sushi (Costa Mesa)
Niko Niko Sushi (Irvine)
Nirvana Grille
Nordstrom Cafe
Nordstrom Cafe (2)
Nước Mía Viên Tây

O

OC Fair Part I
Ono Ono Hawaiian BBQ
Orchid
Original Pancake House
Original Pancake House (2)

P

Palace Bakery
Paris Baguette Bakery
Paris Baguette Bakery (2)
Pescadou Bistro
PF Chang's
Phúc Lộc
Phở 99
Piccomolo : Italian Ice Cream
Pinkberry
Pizza Hut

R

Ramen Festival, Mitsuwa
Red Lobster
Red Velvet Asian Cafe
Royal Kitchen

S

Sabatino
Sabatino (2)
Sabatino (3)
Sabatino - Lunch
Sam Woo BBQ
Sam Woo BBQ (2)
Sam Woo Seafood Restaurant
Sango Sushi
Santora's Hot Wings
Santouka Ramen
Savy Donuts & Smoothies
Seafood Noodle House
Seasons 52
Shabu
Shik Do Rak
Shin Sen Gumi
Shin Sen Gumi (2)
Sky Express
Spice Thai
Spicy City
Starbucks (Airport)
Subway
Sushi Murasaki
Sushi Riki
Sushi Wasabi
Sushi Zen Bistro
Sushi Zone
Sushilicious
Swaad
SweetSpot Baker's Workshop
Swirls

T

Tabento Sushi
Taléo Grill
Taste of Asia
Thai Bite
The Boiling Crab
The Burnt Truck
The Cellar
The Clubhouse
The Clubhouse (2)
The Hat
The Lime Truck
The New Shogun
The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar
Toranj Persian Grill
Trabuco Oaks Steakhouse
Tradition by Pascal (Dine Newport Beach '10)
Tri-Village
Tutto Amore Gelato
Tutto Fresco

U

Urban Thai Bistro

V

Vientiane (Lao & Thai Food)

W

Wasa Sushi
Wasa Sushi - Happy Hour!
Wasabi Sushi
Waters
Wetzel's Pretzels (Anaheim)
Which Wich
Whole Foods Market Huntington Beach
Wingnuts

Y

Yard House - Happy Hour!
Yogurtland (Downtown Fullerton)
Yu's Garden
Yum Cha Cafe

Los Angeles

Energy Karaoke

Fresh Roast

Joan's on Third


The Bazaar

XIV, Michael Mina