Check It. Chocolate Easter eggs.

One of the best Easters of my childhood was one spent in London. Every friend and family member that came 'round brought me a chocolate Easter egg. I must have ended up with at least ten, of all different kinds! This year, I'll be about a month away from my twenty-sixth birthday on Easter, but am still looking forward to my kiddie-style Milkybar white chocolate egg.

There is definitely something different about chocolate from the U.K. It's sort of more full-tasting and creamier. Try some this Sunday.

Imported chocolate Easter eggs are available at three shops I know of in Santa Monica: The Continental Shop, Ye Olde King's Head Gift Shoppe (on the corner of 2nd and Santa Monica next to the pub) and the Tudor House Gift Shop (next to the tea room, on 2nd Street between Santa Monica and Broadway). They range in price from about $5 to $15 dollars each.

Happy hunting!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Drink It. Irish Breakfast tea.

I know, I know, today is all about beer (and maybe some whiskey too) ... but in case any of you feel it's still too early for Guinness, Irish Breakfast tea is a nice non-alcoholic alternate that still allows you to drink something Irish to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Irish Breakfast tea is a bold black tea blend very similar to English Breakfast tea, but a bit stronger. Like with English Breakfast, it's common to use sweetener (sugar, honey, or an artificial sweetener if you must) and cream or milk in the tea, which is served hot. "Malty" is also a word often used in describing Irish Breakfast tea, appropriate as I'm suggesting it as a beer alternate this March 17.

Barry's Tea was founded in 1901 in Cork, Ireland, and today accounts for 40% of all tea sales in Ireland, according to their website. Can't get much more Irish than that!

Cheers, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Barry's Tea is available at the Tudor House in Santa Monica, and at their online shop.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.theirishshop.co.uk