Travelsmartplanet

In Antwerp, when you walk through the world diamond center which sports four diamond exchanges (and 2 police stations), you will see men walking with their briefcases attached to them with chains.

SP The brand sparkling new Museum Ann de Stroom, nicknamed MAS (www.mas.be) , is an eye-catching edifice and the new must-see spot in Antwerp, Belgium. Designed by Dutch architects from the firm Neutelings Riedijk, it is made of grids of rectangular stone and astonishing rippled glass walls. It is free to ride the escalators all the way up and then ascend 2 flights of stairs to view the city from its rooftop panorama. The building is an open house and there is a fee only to access the museum rooms.

The museum is a salute to the city, the river, its trade and shipping, the port, Antwerp and the world. Along the escalators there are display cases by eighty young people. In-house composer Eric Sleichem created sound sculptures for each floor. The musical pieces can be heard in the first area of each level. The best view of Museum Square is from the 5^th floor MAS Boulevard. There you can get an overall view of the 1,600 piece mosaic by Luc Tuymans called “Dead Skull”, which refers to the commemorative plaque for painter Quinten Metsys on the facade of the Onza-Lieve-Vrouwekanthedral (Cathedral of Our Lady).

There must have been great chocolate DNA in their blood because famous Belgian chocolates brands Daskalides and Leonidas were created by family members from Ghent, Belgium.

Leonidas Daskalidès or Leonidas Kestekides (1876 – 1954) was born in Turkey and he was the founder of Leonidas chocolates in Belgium making pralines (chocolate shells with soft fillings) famous.

In 1910, he was a member of the Greek delegation from the US competing at the 1910 World Fair in Brussels. He won a bronze medal for his chocolate confection, and a gold medal for his patisserie. On a return visit in 1913 ( World Fair in Ghent), he met a young woman from Brussels and settled permanently in Belgium. He opened tea-rooms in Brussels, Ghent and Blankenberge, and the business expanded from there.

In 1935, Basile Kestekides, the founder’s nephew succeeded the founder and created a whole range of new chocolates, including the well-known ‘Manon’ of Leonidas. Still to this day the most popular chocolates are the manon, manon café, gianduja, dressé noisette, manon blanc and manon blanc café.

There are 350 Leonidas shops in Belgium and and almost 1500 throughout the world in over 50 countries. Leonidas  is still privately owned by family

In 1931, a Greek couple Daskalidès-Kestikidès opened a confectionary in the centre of Ghent. Home made pralines by Daskalidès become famous and their tearooms and chocolate shops grew.

During the sixties his son Jean advised him to devote himself to the production of luxury pralines for connoisseurs which led them to conquer markets abroad. In 1987, Daskalidès was  awarded in France the prestigious Laurier d’Or de la Qualité from France thanks to the exceptional quality of chocolate, the beautiful shape and the delicious taste

Dr. Jean Daskalides became famous for his chocolates under the names Daskalidès and Leonidas. He was also a gynecologist, film director, jazz musician, hospital director and lecturer at the University of Ghent.

You can buy Daskalides and Leonidas chocolate in Ghent or anywhere in Belgium or nowadays, all over the world.

Tags: Belgium, Brussels, Chocolate, Daskalides, Ghent, Kestikides, Laurier d'Or de la Qualite, Leonidas, praline, tea-room, World Fair