This post is brought to you by Ghirardelli Intense Dark™ Chocolate.

Lately I’ve been trying not to eat about a billion cookies a day.  Shocking, I know.  But would you believe that something like that caught up with me and apparently my clothes are all a bit tight?  Apparently I need to get back to everything in moderation or else the holidays are going to put me in a permanent state of sweatpants.

But I am human, and a woman, after all, so there is something in my blood that says that I must eat something sweet every day.  And after a long day in the kitchen and on my feet, when I am physically and mentally spent, I just need a little something to help unwind.  And while cookies will never be cut out from my life, I try to limit them to once a week.  As a result, something like a few squares of chocolate after dinner does wonders and makes each night just a little bit better.

That is why I was thrilled to get the chance to sample several of the Ghiradelli Intense Dark Chocolates.  Sure, I’m always tempted to eat a whole bar or two, but because of the richness, a little does go a long way.  And paired with a cup of decaf coffee or a glass of red wine, I’m forced to sit down, slow down, and really relax.

My thoughts on the flavors I’ve tasted:

-Overall, they all have a wonderful richness that you can only get in a quality chocolate

-The Sea Salt Soiree had a nice texture and flavor, though I could have used just a tad more salt; if you like a subtle sweet and salty contrast you will love it

-The Toffee Interlude has a great toffee flavor and texture

-I wasn’t blown away by the Cabernet Matinee; the richness and texture were there but it had a little too much grape flavor to me (as opposed to wine)

Now the only trick will be pacing myself as I make my way through the other flavors!