Hard-Hitting Investigative Report, Courtesy of the Southtown

By Laura Oppenheimer in Food on Oct 23, 2007 2:10PM

Halloween is approaching and for one lucky segment of the population, this means loads and loads of free candy. We speak here of those younger than 14, the lucky group whose costume descriptions don't usually start with "sexy" and whose only goal is to fill up their pumpkins as they trick-or-treat around the neighborhood.

The Southtown created a highly-scientific NCAA-style tournament to determine the #1 best candy for this years' South Suburban trick-or-treaters. The testers? Four 10-year-olds who participate Robert Davidson Center's after-school program in Orland Park. Shockingly — and we really would call this an upset — Kit Kat came out on top. Kit Kat?

"Kit Kat is so little, but it gives you such enormous taste. I like to leave it in the sun so it melts a bit. Then you start eating it and it gets all over your face. I wish I could have Kit Kat for breakfast, Kit Kat for lunch, and Kit Kat for dinner," tester Julio Lopez opined. We like Kit Kat too, but more in other countries when it comes in delicious flavors like kir, brandy and orange, and pineapple. Rounding out the top four candies chosen by the testers were Gummi Bears, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Ring Pops. Let's not even talk about the legitimacy of Ring Pops as a candy.

For those who really, really like Halloween candy, CHOW has come up with a nifty how-to so you can make your own chocolate bars this year. Unfortunately for Julio and crew, Kit Kat didn't make the list; Reese's, Almond Joy, Twix and Snickers all got the step-by-step treatment.