"Belgian Chocolates"

Today, December 8th, the "Holiday Season" starts here at my "blog"! So for the rest of the month (more or less) every post will have some kind of relation to the "Holiday Season". I'm gonna start by telling you about something "World Famous" from Belgium! No..... it's not about me... although it could have been, but more about that later! It's about the "World Famous" Chocolates... Leonidas! Leonidas is a chocolate manufacturer based in Belgium, with an international presence. The company's focus is pralines (chocolate shells with soft fillings); it also sells marzipan, solid chocolates, and other confections. The company is named after its Greek American founder, Leonidas Kestekides. A confectioner in the US since the early 1900s, in 1910 he traveled to Belgium for the first time to attend the 1910 World Fair in Brussels as a member of the Greek delegation from the United States. He was awarded the bronze medal for his chocolate confectionery, and the gold medal for his patisserie. He also attended the 1913 World Fair in Ghent. Kestekides met a young woman from Brussels during his visit, and settled permanently in Belgium. He opened tea-rooms in Brussels, Ghent and Blankenberge, and the business expanded from there. In 1935, the founder’s nephew Basile Kestekides took over. He incorporated the logo of an effigy of the king of Sparta, Leonidas, in honor of his uncle. Basile was also responsible for the Leonidas Manon - the innovatory idea was to replace the traditional fondant sugar coating with white chocolate and the walnut with a grilled hazelnut. Basile was head of Leonidas until 1970. Leonidas continues to be headed by family members. In 1970, Yanni Kesdekoglu headed the company until 1985. In 1985, his daughter, Maria Kesdekoglu took over, and was joined in 1992 by her cousin, Vassiliki Kestekidou, who became President of the Board of Directors in 2003. Leonidas has over 1400 retail outlets all over the world. I really love these chocolates especially the white one's with Buttercream and/or Praliné fillings! Mmmmmmmmmm!!!!! All I want for Christmas is...

Want to find out more about the "Famous Belgian" Chocolate? Click here:
http://www.leonidas.com/smartsite.dws?id=133

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