Canady Le Chocolatier, Chicago

Rich dark, milk, and white chocolates filled with ganaches, soft caramel, and fondant lie nestled inside Canady Le Chocolatier's gift boxes, and their hand-made thai parchment paper wrapping—imprinted with an orchid and soft-green leaf design—ensures that eager fingers unwrap the decadent chocolates with care. Once they're free of their delicate packaging, truffles and bonbons prepared for special occasions, such as holidays and gourmet food fights, flood mouths with creaminess.

Those who are too eager to wait for the treats to emerge from their wrappings can venture into the shop, where owner Michael Canady whisks together his own gelato with fresh fruit and natural ingredients and griddles a selection of sweet and savory crêpes. Canady even teaches people how to replicate his confections at home during hands-on classes for small groups.