Photo of Annalisa Barbieri
Annalisa Barbieri

Annalisa is the Observer's Chocolate Correspondent. She started her journalistic career on the Observer Magazine in 1993. She has worked on national broadsheets ever since. She was the Independent’s fishing correspondent for many years and has been a columnist for the Guardian for the past two decades. She has a series of Podcasts called Conversations with Annalisa Barbieri, and lives in Suffolk.

Photo of Annalisa Barbieri

Annalisa Barbieri

Annalisa is the Observer's Chocolate Correspondent. She started her journalistic career on the Observer Magazine in 1993. She has worked on national broadsheets ever since. She was the Independent’s fishing correspondent for many years and has been a columnist for the Guardian for the past two decades. She has a series of Podcasts called Conversations with Annalisa Barbieri, and lives in Suffolk.

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    The comfort of new socks and old-fashioned chocs

    A visit to chilly Edinburgh leads to warming treats, and joyful nostalgia in an Italian deli

    Sun, 14 Dec 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Sweet somethings to spread the joy this season

    Special treats to seek out, because chocolate is always a welcome gift

    Tue, 2 Dec 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Look out Quality Street, there's a new tin on the block

    M&S has raised the bar with their Big Mix selection

    Sun, 30 Nov 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    A shingularly fine homage to Suffolk’s beaches

    Vegan, free of additives and packed with taste, Tosier’s Suffolk Shingle floats my boat

    Mon, 24 Nov 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Blissed-out cacao at Snape Maltings

    Mili Mendez has a passion for life, and chocolate

    Sun, 16 Nov 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Get yourself a ticket straight to choc heaven

    Always impressive, Bare Bones is raising its game to astonishing new heights

    Sun, 9 Nov 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Let them eat 80% cocoa

    A visit to the Marie Antoinette show at the V&A gives rise to thoughts of outrageous luxury

    Sun, 2 Nov 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Let’s hear it for properly chunky bars

    There’s a place for wafer-thin finesse, but sometimes you need something you can really sink your teeth into

    Sun, 26 Oct 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Fruit-flavoured choc is a matter of taste

    Freeze-dried raspberries in dark chocolate can be complete heaven. Or hell…

    Sun, 19 Oct 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Let your tastebuds travel round the world with these ingenious bars

    Phil Koury’s inspired idea is to celebrate a city a month in chocolate

    Sun, 12 Oct 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    An outstanding gianduia bar and, remarkably, it’s vegan

    But why does Aldi have to spell the word ‘gianduja’? It just isn’t the Italian way

    Sun, 5 Oct 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Isn’t it time you made your own giant chocolate boulder?

    Channel your inner confectionaire Zara Chocolates’ workshop in Bristol

    Sun, 28 Sept 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Noisy new bars to chomp around the fire pit

    There's something about chocolate under the stars…

    Sun, 21 Sept 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    It’s hard to beat a warming hot choc. But is this a gadget too far?

    Sun, 14 Sept 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Try chilling with cacaofruit water on a hot day

    Sun, 7 Sept 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    In search of big flavours on the Jurassic Coast

    Fortunately the chocolatier’s art is far from extinct in this part of England

    Sun, 31 Aug 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Let’s have less name-calling and higher cocoa content

    How could you give someone a bar called Fatso without risking offence?

    Sun, 24 Aug 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    ‘Sweet nostalgia in childhood wrappings’

    Perhaps sweet treats should be a matter of both life and death

    Sun, 17 Aug 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Hunters of Holt breathe new life into the Caramac concept

    This rethought version marries the sweetshop favourite with honeycomb

    Sun, 10 Aug 2025

  • Annalisa Barbieri
    Discovering intensely chocolatey flavours in Norfolk

    There’s a sweet nostalgia about the place, but some cutting-edge independent chocolatiers are represented too

    Sun, 3 Aug 2025

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