And the Internet Shall Bring Us Chocolates

If you’ve recently shopped for fine chocolates in Paris, London, San Marino, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Istanbul, or Beirut, you might already know of Patchi, a company lauded for its delicious, all-natural delights. As with so many things a bit above average, Patchi has come to the U.S. via patchi.us and to Santa Barbara with a facility, not quite a store. Patchi provides gift ideas for the person who has everything as long as that everything includes a sweet tooth. For instance, you could order a ceramic gold-glazed sphere featuring a tree-shaped cutout from which one pulls a half-pound of chocolates or a stocking stuffer red-leather bag with foil-covered chocolate bells. These really do look spectacular and cost less than one would expect from a place that bills itself a “couture chocolate line.”