Father’s Day is in June. However, I’ve decided to celebrate the holiday early (and extra) this year. Why? Because I love my dad more than words can express—and because my family just celebrated his milestone birthday.

On the day my father was born, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was serving his first term as this country’s 32nd president. Elvis Presley was sporting (blue suede) baby booties, the Kit Kat bar had just been introduced by Rowntree’s of York, and Amelia Earhart had recently made aviation history by completing the first solo flight from Hawaii to California.

Monopoly, which would become one of the most popular board games in history, had been created just two months before my dad made his debut into the world. That same year, the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company launched the first-ever commercially canned beer in the United States. In case you’re wondering, my dad likes Monopoly but dislikes beer. He’s a Scotch man through and through—but vodka on the rocks with a twist works just fine too!

You know what else my dad likes?

Chocolate.

For as long as I can remember, my dad and I have been Team Chocolate. I vividly recall the look and taste of the delicious chocolate danishes (with buttery crumbs on top and ribbons of rich chocolate throughout) that would be waiting for my sister and me after school on the mornings he’d stopped at Leon’s Bakery. My dad also bought me my very first Carvel chocolate brown bonnet at age five (you can read that glorious story on my About page).

My paternal grandmother, a wonderful baker, was famous among family and friends for her chocolate cake. I grew up hearing relatives rave about “Eve’s chocolate cake,” and every so often, after we’d visit her, she’d slice off a sizable hunk and send it home with us. If I close my eyes and travel back in time, I can still taste it.

These days, one of my greatest joys is when my dad and I savor Barometer Chocolate bars together—or indulge in decadent slices of salty chocolate chess pie, as we did with enormous glee at his recent birthday party.

So is it a stretch to suggest that cacao pods grow on the paternal side of my family tree? Am I exaggerating when I say chocolate is embedded in my DNA? I think not.

While I’m over here celebrating Father’s Day in April, the calendar reminds me that Mother’s Day is actually right around the corner. With that in mind, I’ve put together two really nice bundles to help you honor Mom—but of course, they’re perfect for any chocolate lovers or special occasions in your life. One bundle is for dark chocolate fans, and the other is for the milk chocolate set. 

If you’ve been reading my newsletters or shopping the site, you know I’ve added quite a few new bars to my collection over the past two months. In this newsletter, I’m presenting two new bars from Karuna: the Belize 70% Dark Chocolate bar and the Coffee Arabica 68% Dark Chocolate bar. Both are gorgeous.

If shopping in person is your jam, you’re in luck. On Saturday, May 10, from 12 to 6 p.m., enjoy yummy samples of fine chocolates and pick up your last-minute gifts at my pre–Mother’s Day pop-up at the beautiful Neighbors Wine Shop—a town gem where shopping for wine is an elevated experience. My chocolate and I are delighted to be returning there for a second event. I hope you’ll come. Bring your mom and let her pick her favorite bars and bottles.

Whether you’re celebrating Mom this season, or Dad, or another human you adore, my suggestion is to express how much they mean to you more than once a year. Sing their praises. Organize a parade. Act like every day is their birthday. I truly believe the world would spin more sweetly on its axis if we all poured a little extra love into its center… and then dipped the whole thing in chocolate.

It’s almost 8:45 p.m., and pretty much every night around this time, I Zoom with my dad. It’s our nightly ritual—where we laugh, share, and simply enjoy being together. Like you, my dad reads this newsletter. And when he reads this one, I hope he knows that in my eyes, he’s the best dad in my entire love-filled, chocolate-covered world.

So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to hop on Zoom and wish my dad an early Happy Father’s Day. Again.