What we're seeing in the U.S., including higher prices, smaller sizes and less cocoa in some products, reflects longer-term adjustments. Prices are likely to stay high through 2026 and could climb further if supply expectations don't hold.
The best supermarket Easter eggs include Waitrose's dark chocolate orange egg, which is Fairtrade-certified and features a sophisticated 65% dark chocolate, flavored with aromatic Valencian orange oil.
Reese's Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Crème Eggs offer the same chocolate and peanut butter combination as other Reese's offerings. The chocolate and PB are flavorful, with an emphasis on the soft peanut butter-filled center. These are a good pick if you want something more peanut buttery than chocolatey, with colorful wrappers that are eye-catching and ideal for setting out Easter candies.
Quality chocolate delivers better flavor, texture, and overall experience. Higher-quality cacao has more complexity, with notes that can be fruity, nutty, floral, or earthy instead of simply sweet or bitter. It also melts more cleanly because it relies on cocoa butter rather than cheaper fats.
In Italy, the most common topic mentioned as a source of national pride was culture and the arts. These were cited by 38 percent of respondents, more than any other place. An Italian woman who took part in the survey said she was proud of 'the works in the churches, paintings, sculpture ... most places in Italy have something beautiful.' An Italian man said that 'Italy is an open-air museum.'
Last summer, I found myself in Venice during peak tourist season. The crowds were suffocating. Every piazza felt like a theme park, every restaurant seemed designed for Instagram rather than actual dining. Standing on the Rialto Bridge, packed shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other visitors, I couldn't help but wonder: is this really Italy? That question stayed with me long after I returned to London.
Pallabazzer recommends seeing the historic center of Florence at different times of the day. In the early morning, you'll get to experience it "without noise and the pressing pace of crowds." Midday brings droves of visitors, but the destination is "bathed in sunshine." In the evening, "the lights of the street lamps stretch out over the Lungarni [the streets along the Arno River], creating a truly magical effect."
On my last trip, in Bologna, I found yet another way to enjoy Italian coffee (beyond ordering a doppio). One memorable café topped its coffees with fruit powder-infused whipped cream. They were listed under a section on the menu appropriately named "caffe della gioia" (yes, "joy coffee"). These joyful mugs are topped with a generous mountain of whipped cream that can be folded with fruit- or nut powders, like pomegranate, pistachio, orange, wild berries, and aniseed.
A chocolate box is not a substitute for true love. But sometimes it's close enough. The best chocolate boxes can offer all the complexity and intensity of a brief love affair, and more variety than some lives. Sometimes, only the best will do. And these days, the best chocolates in existence are a mere mouse-click away, able to be ordered online and sent to your favorite human being on earth (even if it's you).
Is there anything more delicious than tiramisu? This Italian dessert consists of decadent layers of espresso-dipped ladyfingers and plush mascarpone cream. It's perfectly creamy and only lightly sweet, with a rich dusting of cocoa powder on top. On our first trip to Italy, I ordered it at every restaurant Jack and I went to. It's just that good. After I shared this strawberry tiramisu last summer and this pumpkin tiramisu in the fall, I couldn't resist developing a classic tiramisu recipe too.
But then there are the grocery stores that buck this trend. Whether they score a partnership with a beloved producer to make their private label finds - Deschutes Brewery makes Costco's popular helles lager, for example - or they take the time to develop their own methods that become associated with top quality, these chains sometimes sell items shoppers actually prefer over the name brands.
This coccoli, which can be a street food or restaurant appetizer, is truly an icon in Florentine - a term that simply means "from Florence" - fare. The word "coccoli" translates literally to "cuddles," and these fried dough balls do indeed feel like warm little hugs. They're about the size of dumplings; served hot, they've got a crispy exterior to crack into - with just the right amount of grease - where you'll find both fluffiness and chewy doughy-ness all at once.
Chocolate artist Chris Ford's whimsical creations - once available exclusively online and to celebrities - are now accessible at his West Hollywood pop-up shop. The Butter, Love & Hardwork space features themed, seasonal chocolate designs inspired by holidays and special occasions, from Valentine's roses to Easter eggs. Beyond chocolates, the shop now offers pastries, coffee drinks and a chocolate vending machine, with plans for a dessert tasting menu.
Layered with 47 different artisanal treats, from miniature cakes and truffles to macarons and maple smoked chili caramels, this gift is a nuclear bomb to the waistline, but most of the items on it last up to 30 days in the fridge, so the recipient will be reminded of your generosity all month long. Does it live up to the hype? I put on my fat pants in the name of journalism and requested one to try out.
