Mornin’ DFW,

Chocolate candy ain’t what it used to be, y’all. As families buy bags of Reese’s eggs and other chocolate in preparation for Easter, they should be asking, “Is this even real?” Folks have been sounding the alarm on social media for a few years now—companies have been adding more chemical compound coding and less chocolate to your favorite candies to save money. And you can taste it!

Hershey is the number one offender. But after the grandson of Reese’s founder, H.B. Reece, started an online campaign calling out how Reece’s products have experienced “ingredient drift,” Hershey felt the pressure and says it will now restore original ingredients to many of its products next year.

But the question still remains: What brands are offering real chocolate candy today? Many of those brands are a little artisanal for us, everyday chocolate buyers, but here are a few you can find in regular grocery stores and pharmacies.

And, of course, don’t forget about your local chocolate shops. We know they’re the real deal.

Kate Weiser Chocolate – Fort Worth, Grapevine & Dallas
CocoAndre/ Olmo – Dallas
Dr. Sue’s Chocolate – Grapevine
The Touring Chocolatier – Flower Mound
City Sweets Chocolatier – Mansfield

Joi Louviere

Senior Newsletter Editor, COURIER DFW

Dallas chefs Maggie Huff and Scott Girling named 2026 James Beard Award finalists

Two chefs from the Dallas area have advanced to the next round of the James Beard Awards. (Austin Ban/Unsplash)

By Sam Cohen

In the world of cooking, the James Beard Award is one of the highest honors you can receive. The annual awards are given to chefs, writers, restaurateurs, food critics, and journalists who achieve excellency in their chosen fields. As the James Beard official website puts it, “The mission of the James Beard Awards® is to recognize exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.”

To receive a nomination is a distinct privilege, and to advance to the final stages of award consideration further cements that privilege for a handful of hardworking individuals. On Tuesday, it was announced that two chefs from Dallas are among the finalists still vying for one of the coveted 2026 James Beard Awards: Maggie Huff from Lucia in Dallas and Scott Girling from Osteria il Muro in Denton. Huff is nominated for the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker award and Girling is up for Best Chef: Texas.

See other Texas finalists

👨‍⚖️ No endorsements on Sundays: This week, a Texas judge said ‘no’ to allowing churches, and other nonprofits, to endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status. (Texas Tribune)

🏞️ Big on conservation: A wildlife shelter and bird observatory is planned for Dallas’ latest green space. Big Cedar Wilderness Park is a 300-acre project to protect land in Southwest Dallas from development. Read more here. (Axios Dallas)

⏱️ The kids are detained: New data is showing Texas ICE detention centers are holding children for more than the 20-day limit agreed upon in a 1997 federal court agreement. Read a 6-year-old’s account here. (NBC 5)