As an atheist with Buddhist tendencies, Easter is an interesting holiday to watch other people celebrate. For Christians, Easter is the holiest of days, but the more secular aspects of the holiday are actually pagan in origin - all the chicks and bunnies and goats represent new life and the beginning of the harvest season. How this came to be celebrated via chocolate is beyond me, but the traditional chocolate Easter bunny, usually included in a basket of various egg-shaped candies, is now the norm. It’s just too bad it’s such awful chocolate.

As I roamed the department stores looking for interesting Easter treats, I continually faced a wall of waxy, low-quality milk chocolate. From bunnies and hens to the incredibly disturbing life-sized cats and dogs, to Homer Simpson, not to mention various cars and trains, there appears to be nothing that can’t be molded out of crappy chocolate. After all, it is mostly wax. But surely, there had to be good Easter treats out there.

Then a package of goodies from UK chocolatier Green & Black’s arrived at my door. Included was a gorgeous white chocolate Easter egg, flecked with real vanilla. I found more of the same, plus eggs in dark and milk chocolate and their award-winning Maya Gold flavour ($9.99 each) at Whole Foods (87 Avenue Road), where they also had Green & Blacks mini praline eggs ($11.99/175gr) in milk chocolate. The large eggs are also available at Shopper’s Drug Mart locations for $7.99 each.

While wandering Whole Foods, I also noticed Rogers truffle eggs ($2.99) Saxon flower truffles ($9.99) and Nirvana chocolate bunnies ($12.49). Trays of hot cross buns ($4.99) are also to be had if traditional grub is in order.

Over at Pusateri’s (57 Yorkville Avenue), they had bags of pretty little cookies from Ottawa bakery Isobel and Co. and The Dutchess of Dough in Easter shapes. And while I didn’t get a chance to run all over town, I’m sure there are great Easter-themed goodies at indie shops such as Queen of Tarts (283 Roncesvalles Avenue), Soma Chocolates (55 Mill Street, Building 48) and Madeleines, Cherry Pie & Ice Cream (1087 Bathurst Street). The latter is also hosting an egg decorating workshop for grown-ups on Thursday March 20th, and one for kids on Friday March 21st.

Easter Dinner is another part of the holiday that can be stressful. Typically ham or lamb is served, and like Christmas, it can be a lot of work for the person doing the cooking. While most large hotels in the city offer some kind of Easter brunch, the Fairmont Royal York is going one better with their Easter to Go service.

Epic restaurant will be serving Easter brunch on Sunday, March 23rd with seatings at 10:30am and 1pm, priced from $70 per person. The meal includes sushi and sashimi, poached eggs benedict, roast sirloin of beef, roast leg of lamb and a white and dark chocolate fondue station. For those who prefer to eat at home, they’re also offering a selection of Easter Dinner To Go packages featuring turkey, ham, lamb or beef, with or without all the fixin’s, including Yorkshire pudding, cream of asparagus soup, roast potatoes and more, plus chocolate Easter eggs for dessert. Reservations for brunch or orders for Easter dinner can be made by calling 416-860-5050 or by emailing festive@fairmont.com.

Also available for delivery (if you have a minimum of 10 people) is an Easter dinner by Rose Reisman Catering. Priced at $24.95 per person, it includes such tasty options as Butternut Squash, Nutmeg and Ginger Soup, Pork Tenderloin with an Orange Balsamic Glaze and Dried Apricots, and Roasted Asparagus with Brazil Nuts and Lemon. Call 416-467-7758 or visit the website for more details.

Finally, Casa Loma holds their annual Easter brunch on the 23rd, with seatings at 11am and noon. Cost is $43.35 for adults and includes admission to the castle. For reservations call 416-923-1171 and ask for the catering office.