“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”~ Charles M. Schulz

Today we started our day in the city of Ghent. Some of our fellow travelers did a walking tour of Ghent, some chose to do an all-day bus and walking tour of Ghent and Bruges and some chose to do an educational workshop on the making of Belgian chocolate. Because we are most interested in furthering our education, we chose the making of chocolate. I know shocker!

Our morning was spent at the wonderful Chocolates Van Hecke, which seemed more home-like than a factory. They are fourth-generation chocolatiers. Chocolaterie Van Hecke was founded in 1928 in the Koestraat in Ghent.The family has been making artisanal and high-quality chocolate creations for 4 generations. Stephen, as the 4th generation, has provided the necessary innovation in the field of pralines and patisserie.

The family works as a seamless team, Stephen and his father and mother moved with ease around the small workshop giving everyone a chance to see and try for themselves how to make chocolates. He began with a brief educational video and explanation of the sourcing of chocolate, the different kinds of chocolate, and demonstrated how to make a chocolate mold for a filled candy, and then we each got a chance to try it for ourselves.

“Anything is good if it’s made of chocolate.” ~ Jo Brand

I need would like this machine in my home!

We were all adept at making the chocolate molds after he gave a demonstration.

After Stephen showed us how to make the chocolates, his father showed us how to fill the chocolates, and then we tasted the chocolates. Then, of course, we bought some chocolates which tasted as good as they looked!

I think I need to join this group.

“The 12-step chocolate program: NEVER BE MORE THAN 12 STEPS AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE!”
~ Terry Moore

“Who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The candy man, Willy Wonka can, the candy man can
The candy man can ’cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good

And the world tastes good’
Cause the candy man thinks it should”

~Roald Dahl Candy Man