Growing up I was never at a loss for Brach's candies. Aunts, uncles and cousins on my mother's side of the family put themselves through school or started careers working at the former Brach's plant on the West side, and bulk candy from the plant was always a perk. One of my mother's jobs was working the midnight shift at the old Leaf candy plant on Cicero and Division. As an adult, I don't have an affinity for confections like candy corn, star brites, Brach's caramels or Whoppers, which were made by Leaf. more ›

Our winter just became more tolerable with the news that chocolate maker Barry Callebaut A.G. is opening a chocolate academy in Chicago. The academy, slated to open in June, will be in Callebaut's local headquarters in the Montgomery Ward building on West Chicago in River West and fulfills the company's desire to have an academy in the United States. more ›