Kilwin's Chicago

Building on more than 60 years of candy-making tradition, Kilwin's Chocolates & Fudge's adept chefs churn and blend handmade fudge and other confections using copper kettles and other vintage kitchen gear. At their Old Town location, Chef Ken leads the staff as it fashions caramel corn, candied apples, and cashew brittle in full view of its audience. Confectioners cloak Twinkies, Oreos, strawberries, and marshmallows in chocolate to embellish the familiar treats, much as pyrotechnics displays embellish successful parallel-parking attempts. Tongues cool down with more than 32 flavors of kosher ice cream or heat up with coffees, hot chocolates, and hot ciders. Upon entry to the chocolatier, guests pass by a colorful fudge-and-candy-themed mural, as well as trays and piled pyramids of dipped confections set behind glass or atop vintage wooden shelves. The hardwood floors, bright-yellow walls, and free WiFi in the seating area provide a place to recover from prolonged sugar rushes and witnessing fudge particle collisions.