Coffee & Treats in Lackawanna

Chocolate Tales owner David's childhood crush on confections multiplied each time his father would bring home chocolates after trips throughout Europe. Years later, David's unconditional love for chocolate would resurface during his own exploration of the Old World, eventually leading him to open Chocolate Tales with his wife and fellow chocoholic. The enthusiastic chocolatiers share their knowledge of generating fine, cocoa-based creations as well as tasty tidbits of chocolate history. Their typical 90-minute workshops engineer impressive sweets such as Belgian bonbons and chocolate soufflés. Chocolate Tales provides all necessary chocolate-building materials, including kitchen utensils, high-grade Belgian chocolate, and cages for chocolate bunnies.

Baskin Robbins' worldwide expansion can be attributed to one thing: gourmet ice cream. More than 31 flavours fill its freezers, with classic flavours such as chocolate chip or butter pecan, and rotating seasonal flavours such as the cherry-filled black forest cake or green tea. Not content to just serve scoops, Baskin Robbins molds their ice cream into cakes, milk shakes, and sundaes made scrumptious by pieces of fresh fruit. Baskin's staff also swirls up soft serve cones, bowls, and parfaits filled with fruits and sweets. The ice creameries also indulge weight-conscious eaters with a menu of no-sugar-added sherbets, light yogurts, and sorbets.

Gen Perryman, owner of The Cupcake Orchard, has always loved to bake desserts but admits that she was inspired to open her bakery by the influx of cupcake shops across the country. She says on her website, “As I saw these cupcakeries popping up around the country, I thought, 'why not package what I love doing into a sweet cupcake?'” Every morning, Gen and her staff freshly prepare each batch using eggs and butter from local farms, seasonal fruits, and Belgian chocolate. The shop carries eight “everyday” flavors—favorites include chocolate-chocolate and red velvet—as well as three to five seasonal flavors such as pumpkin, caramel apple, and snowball.