The toy is inside the plastic container, which is inside the chocolate egg. Come on, is this not the coolest toy/treat ever?

I don’t usually do obituaries on this blog, but I couldn’t let the recent passing of Michelle Ferrero go unacknowledged, as he made history in his own right.

He was the candy maker who invented Tic Tacs, Nutella, and the chocolates called Ferrero Rocher. He died, one might say appropriately, this past Valentine’s day. With his vast riches and reclusive lifestyle, he was sort of a real-life version of Willy Wonka.

I remember when I was studying Italian in school, the first dialogue in my book was as follows:

Hai fame?

–Si! Ho fame.

Ecco Nutella!

He also invented Kinder eggs, which aren’t as familiar to Americans because they’re not sold in this country. They’re hollow chocolate eggs that contain an assemble-yourself toy inside, sort of like Cracker Jacks except that the toy is way more complicated and cool, or at least, it used to be. The toys have a zillion tiny parts to them, and they pose a choking hazard, which is why they’re not allowed to be sold here. Europeans appear to be less litigious.

I used to bring my kids Kinder eggs when I traveled to the Bologna book fair every year.

Riposi in pace.