RachelLeRoy
Member Since: August 27, 2007Reviews
Nestlé Noir Cherry
Our taste testers were: Rachel: 32 year old woman, extreme chocolate lover Jeff: 31 year old man, enjoys chocolate, picky eater Kelly: 32 year old female Ben: 30 year old male Alice: 10 year old girl, part time host of online cooking show... +
Our taste testers were:
Rachel: 32 year old woman, extreme chocolate lover
Jeff: 31 year old man, enjoys chocolate, picky eater
Kelly: 32 year old female
Ben: 30 year old male
Alice: 10 year old girl, part time host of online cooking show, enjoys chocolate
Each taste tester tried each bar, and rated it on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best chocolate ever, and 1 being “yucky”. As a benchmark, we rated a plain Hershey bar and a Nestle Crunch bar as 8 on the scale. All of the bars were large, 100g compared to the 43 g of a “plain, old” Hershey bar. The bars were split into 10 squares, wrapped in gold foil (reminiscent of a Wonka Golden Ticket), and placed in a cardboard outer wrapper with graphics and information geared toward a sophisticated chocolate eater. The cardboard packaging even had instructions for how to open it!
After a bit of quick research, I read that in the April 2007 edition of “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry”, a research team from the Nestlé Research Center (Lausanne, Switzerland) reported on Polyphenols. They claim these “powerful antioxidants” positively affect arterial function, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, insulin sensitivity and oxidative stress. The packaging says it each bar is “a good source of magnesium which helps build strong bones” and “contains 300 mg of Polyphenols per serving.”
What’s really going to sell chocolate, though, is taste.
The Cerise is dark chocolate with cherry flavored pieces. Rachel is not a fan of cherry, and at first did not want to try this flavor. Kelly said she is not a big fan of fruit mixed with chocolate. We can happily say that instead of the cherry being a thick, oozing filling, as is often the case with candy, the cherry was in small bits, about the size of Nerds candy, but softer. It is 64% cocoa solids. The ingredients do list cherries, as well as apple and pineapple, surprisingly. Alice rated the cherry bar a 5.5, Jeff gave it a 4 and Rachel & Kelly gave it a 6. Ben thought the cherry flavor got a bit lost, but gave it a 7. We noted that the cherry bar had no after taste.
In the end, Rachel enjoyed the cherry that she didn’t even want to try – due to the blend of sweet fruit flavor with semi-dark chocolate.
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Nestlé Noir Eclat Noir
Our taste testers were: Rachel: 32 year old woman, extreme chocolate lover Jeff: 31 year old man, enjoys chocolate, picky eater Kelly: 32 year old female Ben: 30 year old male Alice: 10 year old girl, part time host of online cooking show... +
Our taste testers were:
Rachel: 32 year old woman, extreme chocolate lover
Jeff: 31 year old man, enjoys chocolate, picky eater
Kelly: 32 year old female
Ben: 30 year old male
Alice: 10 year old girl, part time host of online cooking show, enjoys chocolate
Each taste tester tried the bar, and rated it on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best chocolate ever, and 1 being “yucky”. As a benchmark, we rated a plain Hershey bar and a Nestle Crunch bar as 8 on the scale. All of the bars were large, 100g compared to the 43 g of a “plain, old” Hershey bar.
This is not a chocolate bar you’ll see melting in a 7-year-old’s palm, but rather an adult’s much deserved “special treat”. The packaging says it each bar is “a good source of magnesium which helps build strong bones” and “contains 300 mg of Polyphenols per serving.”
What’s really going to sell chocolate, though, is taste.
The Eclat Noir has 64% cocoa solids – but mixed with caramelized cocoa bean pieces. This was a very unique candy bar, like nothing we had tasted before. The bits of bean were crispy, similar to a Nestle Crunch, but smaller & fewer crispies. Alice gave it a 6, Jeff gave it a 6 and Rachel gave it a 7. Kelly thought the flavor was reminiscent of coffee, and the texture and aftertaste were a bit strange and gave it a 7. Ben thought it was hard to discern the cocoa bean flavor from the candy bar itself and gave it a 5.
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Nestlé Noir Intense
Our taste testers were: Rachel: 32 year old woman, extreme chocolate lover Jeff: 31 year old man, enjoys chocolate, picky eater Kelly: 32 year old female Ben: 30 year old male Alice: 10 year old girl, part time host of online cooking show... +
Our taste testers were:
Rachel: 32 year old woman, extreme chocolate lover
Jeff: 31 year old man, enjoys chocolate, picky eater
Kelly: 32 year old female
Ben: 30 year old male
Alice: 10 year old girl, part time host of online cooking show, enjoys chocolate
Rated on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best chocolate ever, and 1 being “yucky”. As a benchmark, we rated a plain Hershey bar and a Nestle Crunch bar as 8 on the scale. All of the bars were large, 100g compared to the 43 g of a “plain, old” Hershey bar. The bars were split into 10 squares, wrapped in gold foil (reminiscent of a Wonka Golden Ticket), and placed in a cardboard outer wrapper with graphics and information geared toward a sophisticated chocolate eater. The cardboard packaging even had instructions for how to open it!
In Nestle’s experiment with Nestle Noir, they have added value to their brand by creating new flavors and utilizing recent research to make buyers think that this snack food will not make them feel guilty or fat, but rather relaxed and heart-healthy. This is not a chocolate bar you’ll see melting in a 7-year-old’s palm, but rather an adult’s much deserved “special treat”. The packaging says it each bar is “a good source of magnesium which helps build strong bones” and “contains 300 mg of Polyphenols per serving.”
What’s really going to sell chocolate, though, is taste. We tasted the Intense, made with 70% Cocoa solids. The package says it “snaps at first bite”, which we did not agree with. We have had dark chocolate bars with more intense flavor and more “bite”, such as Cacao Reserve by Hershey’s. We did find this bar to be yummy and the creamiest of the four flavors. Ben noted it was not bitter. Alice gave it a 7, Jeff gave it a 6 and Rachel gave it a 7, Kelly & Ben gave it a 9. This was the first candy bar of the 4 flavors to disappear completely.
Kelly and Ben loved the creaminess of the Intense.
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Dove Deep Moisture Facial Cleansing Cloths
I first bought these cloths because I was in a play and needed to wash my face backstage. Toting around soaps and cleansers was not fun. These are a cleaners and washcloth in one. I liked the results so much that I use them quite often. Sometimes I... +
I first bought these cloths because I was in a play and needed to wash my face backstage. Toting around soaps and cleansers was not fun. These are a cleaners and washcloth in one. I liked the results so much that I use them quite often. Sometimes I feel bad about the excess waste, but the cloth is a lightweight woven sheet, not a real washcloth.
My daughter has slight eczema on her cheeks and these aren't good for her. Her eczema increases when she uses them.
One thing I love is that they are SO GENTLE I can wipe my eye makeup right off, mascara and all, and the suds don't bother my eyes. Then I wipe under my eye and the excess eye makeup that drips down when washing is gone too!
Love it.
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Lady Speed Stick Invisible Dry
I have the powder fresh invisible dry. The package has a picture of a little black dress and says "Dare to wear black - stays on clear." It does NOT stay on clear. I like the deodorant, and it works well, but it does get on my clothes... +
I have the powder fresh invisible dry. The package has a picture of a little black dress and says "Dare to wear black - stays on clear."
It does NOT stay on clear. I like the deodorant, and it works well, but it does get on my clothes, especially sleeveless clothes that come in close contact with my armpit. I fell for the commercial with the women turning their shirts inside out - I wish! I have yet to find a deodorant that really stays on clear.
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Matrix Biolage Sleek Look Water-Free Hairspray
I really enjoyed this product. I have thick wavy/curly hair. I had it just longer than my shoulders and in long layers. I would occassionally flat iron just for a change. My hair stylist explained that my hair absorbs moisture - that is why humid... +
I really enjoyed this product. I have thick wavy/curly hair. I had it just longer than my shoulders and in long layers. I would occassionally flat iron just for a change.
My hair stylist explained that my hair absorbs moisture - that is why humid weather makes my hair curlier. After flat ironing, I need to trap the moisture out to keep it straight.
This product seals the style in after the heat is applied. So I would flat iron and then spray this to keep it straight.
If my hair got wet again - like from rain or sweat or a shower - it would curl back up again. But if I was out for an evening, my hair would stay straight despite the humid Florida weather. If your hair boings up in curls from humidity, this can help you keep that to a minimum.
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The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
#1 NO SPOILERS #2 do not read what Amazon says about this book because they ruin it Don't try to treat this book like rocket science or the bible. It is fiction, and it is almost a love story. Nothing more. This is the best book I have ever... +
#1 NO SPOILERS
#2 do not read what Amazon says about this book because they ruin it
Don't try to treat this book like rocket science or the bible. It is fiction, and it is almost a love story. Nothing more.
This is the best book I have ever read in my life. And I've read a lot! I got so lost in this book that as we went on our road trip and drove for 2 days I completely had no idea where or when it was in the real world. When I finished reading it, I missed the characters.
Fabulous, thought provocing, loving and tender. Great for married women who believe they have found their true match in life.
PLOT without spoilers: This guy has a made up condition that makes him spontaneously time travel. He does not know where or when he will show up, and he can't take anything with him, so he arrives naked. Part of the book is from his point of view. Part of it is from the POV of his wife - imagine waking up at 2am and your husband is missing from next to you in bed, and he might be in 1890 England or 1972 New York City!
I'm sure it will be a movie soon.
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
NO SPOILERS I enjoyed this book as much as the others. It is a bit darker and I wonder if it will still be a PG movie and keep the integrity of the book. When I read books and watch movies I always start out with an idea in mind of what I think... +
NO SPOILERS
I enjoyed this book as much as the others. It is a bit darker and I wonder if it will still be a PG movie and keep the integrity of the book.
When I read books and watch movies I always start out with an idea in mind of what I think will happen. And with this book I was wrong about all of what I guessed. Thanks for keeping me on my toes, JK and for keeping me awake during the drive to Miami.
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Frou Frou Flip Flops
So this little girl decorates flip flops and gives the money to charity. Sweet. But my actual Frou Frou Flip Flops are SWWEEEET. The ribbon she uses is super cute, and it is tied and then glued so they last long. Mine are pink and brown but you... +
So this little girl decorates flip flops and gives the money to charity. Sweet.
But my actual Frou Frou Flip Flops are SWWEEEET. The ribbon she uses is super cute, and it is tied and then glued so they last long. Mine are pink and brown but you can order any size, any color. SHe uses stripes, polka dots, satins, buttons, and other crafty stuff. She is too cute!
You have to go to www.froufrouflipflops.com and then email them to order. My friend got blue and orange for Florida Gators. And I am getting a pair for my cousin who is a cheerleader in her red/black/silver school colors for a surprise for making varsity poms this year.
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Bob Marley - A Tribute to Freedom
Patterned after Marley's actual home in Kingston, Jamaica, this restaurant is located in Universal CityWalk. That means there is a parking fee and possibly evening cover charge if you have not spent the day at a Universal theme park. The rum punch... +
Patterned after Marley's actual home in Kingston, Jamaica, this restaurant is located in Universal CityWalk. That means there is a parking fee and possibly evening cover charge if you have not spent the day at a Universal theme park.
The rum punch was rocking! The sauces & meats were unique and great. The live music was too loud to sit near, but the atmosphere when the live band is not playing is still fun and lively. Artifacts, photos, and video clips from his legendary career surround visitors in the open-air veranda and courtyard.
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