A little more than one year out and taste changes daily, some for the better and some for the worse, but I'm eating and enjoying!! I would say that taste is about 50% and like Bill, things are totally different (Chocolate is yukky for me too, but I've had some (dark chocolate usually) that wasn't bad). The one thing that is weird is after a few bites all taste flattens out.
I had an appointment with my surgeon yesterday and told him that my taste had improved a lot in the past 6 weeks (Picking up flavors, etc.). He said that the radiation really changes the tissues in the throat, affecting vocal chords, swallowing, virtually everything, especially taste. He did say I have done remarkably well and with my progress (Age and prior healthy state) he could see me continuing to recover and improve/adapt (Adapting being a key word) into year two. He did say that is not always the case but he was optimistic about it. Made me feel positive about it as well!! It is strange to take three or four bites and really absorb some flavor, and then take bite 5 and it's like eating a piece of cardboard!! I joke with my kids all the time though when they say something tastes bad, I tell them it tastes terrific!! They laugh and say, "Dad, it all tastes good to you!!" They're Right!!
Got to laugh about it.... Keep experimenting!!
Steve