When I'm Switzerland by Lake Cuomo, we saw a Laderach and had to stop by. Having then here in LA,…read morewe already knew the quality of the chocolate, but wanted to see if it was different in Switzerland. Fun fact, there is definitely no decline in the quality, it actually tasted exactly the same, and was a little less expensive than here. And you can still sample all of the different barks they have before behind a decision to buy. So, if in Switzerland, stop by Laderach and grab some of the best chocolate bark available. Highly recommend the bark with hazelnuts

Of course you have to stop here for some chocolate…read more We experienced Laderach several years ago while in Switzerland and even took a chocolate making class. There are so much any options, it's good to select a few different types. Make sure you stop by and have a look. Grab some chocolates and enjoy!

We can't get enough of this gelato, twice a day! My all time favorite is pistachio; simple, not too…read moresweet, with a deep nutty flavor, amazing!

How can you not give this a 5 star and positive review?!?…read more Absolute perfection in a cone (or cup). My go to is tiramisu and coconut and I do splurge the extra 1€ to get the cone top filled with melted chocolate. On this trip to Italy I skipped lunch and enjoyed this treat and sat in the piazza to relax and watch the people. The shop is smaller but service is professional and quick. There is a lot of temptation to also purchase a variety of chocolate pieces/bars. Do yourself a favor and give in. You will do enough walking to justify it.

one of the best pistachio gelatos in milan!! the gelato has actual bits of pistachio that provide a…read morelot of texture. with every purchase of ice cream, you get a waffle chip and get to pick between the chocolate sauces to dip it in. they also have a sit-down option where you can order a Cappe Speciali, like an elevated sundae. The issue was that our order came out looking nothing like the image with its various toppings, yet after informing the waiter, they took it back and added the additional toppings.

Awesome place to get some espresso fix. Its the thing. Morning commuters flock to places like…read morehere to get some coffee and bite to eat. I got the matcha tiramisu which was advertised at the outside corner. It looked awesome. Actual one inside the paper cup, nah. Need to come back and try other things. Cannoncini looks very good and at awesome price.

Above the crowds in the Galleria and WOW! what a special place for "Old World" charm, delicious…read moretreats and spectacular hot beverages. Service was impeccable (and we are so grateful for English-speaking staff members). We enjoyed hot tea service and a Moka Extraction coffee. Of course we also had the "Tower of Sweet Treats" that were incredible.

If you are ever in the Galleria, and you want a nice dessert place, this is it. The wait was…read morereasonable, the ambiance was excellent especially overlooking the galleria and the service was impeccable. Here you can get simple drink, some spritz, some desserts, gelato to full sandwiches. You eat, drink and hang out however you like. Place is comfortable, not pretentious and it won't leave you with a big dent in your wallet. It's not cheap but not a rip off. Overall, an excellent experience and was nice even after a full meal at Cracco across the hall.

La miglior cioccolata calda con panna del mondo!!!! The best hot chocolate in the world!! Mmmmmmm!!…read moreMy Parmigiano friend took me here on a freezing cold snowy day and it was the perfect drink that kept us all warm and happy! For a cup of hot chocolate, 5 euro price tag seems a bit pricey but trust me, it's really worth it! So rich and flavorful, it was waaaay better than Max Brenner! Highly recommended!

While walking in Milan, we came to the Ernst Knam pastry and chocolate shop. No such shop was…read moreworthy of being passed overlooked by our group so we went in to look at the pastries and chocolates for sale. I didn't try and of the chocolates. Instead, I bought a bag of Madeleines with both coffee and chocolate pieces and I managed to get the bag home without one being broken. They are very tasty and I have been having one every two or so days to spread out the time they last. Too bad there wasn't more time/stomach size to try more while in the shop.

Items Selected: Olive Oil, Salted Caramel, Aged Balsamic…read moreTruffles Chocolate Pumpkin Tart Fig Brownie Pear, Pinenut, Chocolate Ganache Tart An artisan Chocolatier and Bakery located at Via Augusto Anfossi 10, current sidewalk repairs and subdued signage making the space difficult to identify during a Friday morning visit in September, Ernst Knam is considered the "King of Chocolate" in Milan and operating his shop near Piazza Cinque Giornate since1992 a brief look spoke of a man not only passionate about what he does but also one still learning, the flavors of his confections often as challenging as they are delicious. Apparently a popular face on Food Television overseas, the store itself tight yet clean with a substantial variety of choices available, it was after perusing several Cakes, Tarts, Caramels and Chocolates as oddly shaped as the Kama Sutra that selections were made to take elsewhere for consumption, a trio of chocolates showing a thin shell that breaks cleanly and dissolves smooth around a number of unique fillings from which Olive Oil and Balsamic were chosen, though "Wood," "Speck and Pepper," and Pomodoro were oddly enticing. Unable to resist the elegant array of Tarts, a cost of €5,25 each actually a bargain all things considered, it was with the Chocolate Pumpkin Pie that first bites were enjoyed in a somewhat savage way without utensils, the Pepitas and Salt Crystals adding crunch to an otherwise creamy base while the Pear, Pinenut, and Chocolate Ganache version played off a similar ideas with the fruit's sweetness helping to mellow the rich Chocolate center. Taking a very different approach with item three, a little bit of flour folded in to 72% Cocoa beneath a thinly sliced layer of Figs, suffice it to say that there may be no better "Brownie" anywhere than the one Ernst Knam is selling, the base achieving a rare balance of light texture with intense flavor and little more than the glazed fruit adding sweetness.

Every single coffee shop in Milan was and is fantastic. So don't just try this one. Any one of them…read morewill do! I noticed that very few people drink coffee on the go in Milan. They would simply stroll in, order a cup, pay for it, drink it at the counter without sitting down, and then peace out. The coffee is simply out of this world. After drinking the coffee in Milan, I was embarrassed with the selection that we have in NYC. I mean I knew it was bad but damn. Anyway, props to Milan and...Italy for doing their coffee right. I'm jealous.

So many pastry shops, so little time. This was a morning stop in Parma for what was our breakfasts…read morein Italy--stops at pastry shops. One of our group would normally get several items and we would then share the selections. In this case, I got a lemon tart and a nice cappuccino and quietly enjoyed my breakfast. The abundance of good pastry shops in Italy is amazing. We don't value them like the Italians. A pastry and a shot of espresso and then it's off to work.

Items Selected: Sugar Brioche…read moreRice Cake Cassis Cornetto Pan Dulce Cream Horn Baba au Rhum Raspberry Sfogliatta Cassis Puff Pastry Spending a day in Parma before progressing onward to Milan it was with a late night past that the group filed into Pasticceria Torino at Strada Giuseppe Garibaldi 61, the small shop quiet despite the early hour of 08h30 as the shelves sat packed with nearly fifty styles of Cakes, Pastries and Bread. One of the most affordable Pasticceria visited in Italy, the prices closer to those in Mirano than the aforementioned fashion capitol or Venice, it was with limited English that clerks provided service after extensive perusal of the options, a total of eight selections totaling just €10,80 plated and delivered to a small table. In many ways similar to other bakeries, but also offering some novelties featuring housemade Fruit Compote, tastes of the Sugar Brioche as well as the laminated Butter Baton each proved mild yet pleasant in the face of more interesting options, the citrus-scented Rice Cake moist with Ricotta while the tender Baba found itself rich with Rum. Baking the typical Cornetto more crispy than many, its smooth filling rife with Vanilla notes, even better bites were found amidst two laminated pastries packed with Black Currant Jelly, a rounded item labeled as "Sfogliatta" not dissimilar to a Kouign Amann in texture with a center of Raspberries.