Belvedere In The News

October, 2004

Belvedere wins Top of the Rocky 2004
Our product was selected as the best. Thank you, voters and readers of the Rocky Mountain News.
Excerpt from the letter from the Entertainment Editor, Rocky Mountain News: "The ultimate. The best. The coolest. The TOP. That's where you've landed...Top of the Rockies honorees were chosen using a vast experience of our writers and critics, as well as other frequent contributors to our newspaper. Rocky readers also contributed nearly 200,000 online votes to select the "People's Choice" winners. And speaking of online, the entire section, including your winning entry, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.RockyMountainNews.com....".

The following local news papers had business specials and/or articles since the ones mentioned below :
- High Plains Rider (February 2001)
- Castle Rock Chronicle (February 2001)
- Douglas County News Press (April 2001)
- Greenwood Village Newsletter (June 2001)

April, 2000

Belvedere wins prize for Best Chocolate
On April 29, 2000, Belvedere won the prize for best chocolate creation at A Chocolate Affaire in the Cheyenne Mountain Conference Resort in Colorado Springs, beating out contestants from other confectionaries from around the area.

March, 2000

Belvedere Belgian Chocolate Shop voted Best Chocolates by Colorado Community Newspapers
In March of 2000, the chocolates from Belvedere Belgian Chocolate Shop were voted Best Chocolates by the readers of Colorado Community Newspapers.  This group of newspapers consists of the Douglas County News-Press, the Castle-Rock News-Press, Parker News-Press, and Highlands Ranch Herald.

February, 2000

Dear Heart (Rocky Mountain News)
Chocolatier offers advice for the lovesick
By Marty Meitus, News Food Editor
Han De Kesel and her husband, Johan, can pinpoint the exact moment they decided to move here from Europe.
"We were attending a conference in Dallas." De Kesel says, "and I fell (at a tourist attraction),...and everyone was so nice and I said, 'I could live here.' "

December, 1999

Belgium Chocolates in CR (Castle Rock Chronicle)

By Wesley English
Castle Rock can now boast a chef who trained with the masters of chocolate in Belgium.  Johan and Han opened up Belvedere, a Belgian chocolate shop with original Belgian recipes and the freshest ingredients.

November, 1999

Belvedere Chocolate Shop opens (Douglas County News)

By Mildred Brodbeck, Staff Writer
Something sweet can be found at 350A Perry St. in Castle Rock.
The doors of the Belvedere Chocolates Shop opened Wednesday next to the Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Department, one block east of Wilcox Street between Third and Fourth streets.
Johan and Han moved to the United States from Bruges, Belgium, in August 1998 and live in Castle Rock with their two daughters, ....