SWEET-TALKERS SHARE BOOKS – AND CANDY

The popular downtown reading series “Happy Ending” indulges its sweet tooth tonight with readings by two authors who have committed their love for candy to print.

Beth Kimmerle will read from her new book, “Chocolate: The Sweet History” (Collectors Press), while also whipping up some chocolate confections on the spot. The book is a colorful cultural study that includes recipes and a history of packaging. Her last book was “Candy: The Sweet History.”

Ms. Kimmerle’s company, Big Tips Candy, recently produced a collection of 15 chocolate bars packaged in old-fashioned wrappers. Ms. Kimmerle’s current favorite – it varies according to her mood and the season, she says – is the Salted Nut Roll, a nougat center surrounded by caramel and peanuts.

Her friend and business partner, Will Noonan, will be on hand tonight to assist in brewing up treats for the audience on the spot. (They are bringing their own burner.)

“People are going crazy for pods,” observed Mr. Noonan. “You’ve heard of the iPod. We’re going be making a peanut-butter pods.” After sharing the peanut-butter treats, which are, of course, coated in chocolate, Ms. Kimmerle and Mr. Noonan will conduct a candy quiz to see who’s been eating their homework.

The event takes place in a bar, so the question arises: What drink complements the peanut-butter candy? “Because it’s got that salty-sweet combo, you don’t want to do some thing that’s overly sweet,” mused Ms. Kimmerle. She settled on Chambord, a black-raspberry liqueur, but also recommends a White Russian, any dessert wine, or even a dry martini (no olives).

Tonight’s other reader has a name that was made for a career in candy: Steve Almond. He is the author of “Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America” (2004) – and yes, that’s his real name.

Mr. Almond toured candy factories across America, writing about his own love for sweets and about how the industry is changing.

He’ll be reading from his new book, a collection of short stories, “The Evil B. B. Chow and Other Stories” (Algonquin). But in a nod to his love of sweet stuff, he’ll also hand out several “obscure candy bars” to audience members.

Mr. Almond’s favorite candy is the KitKat Dark, which is off the market. He bought 12 cases of them to tide himself over. For those who don’t plan so far ahead in their snacking, he recommends Valomilk, a chocolate cup filled with vanilla syrup. “It’s a love bomb for the mouth.”

By the time tonight’s reading has concluded, audience members may be in a state of sugar shock. As Mr. Noonan said, “In one word, many syllables, it’s going to be candymonium.”

Tonight, 8 p.m., Happy Ending bar, 302 Broome St. at Forsyth Street, 212-334-9676, free.

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