NEWS

16 June 2009

On 7th June, the third edition of De lekkerste Bonbon van Nederland was opened by General Manager of Belcolade The Netherlands, Leo Kruit. 42 bonbons were blindly evaluated by the professional jury, on taste, originality, craftsmanship, structure and visual aspects. The 16 semi finalists were announced by last year’s winner Hans Hulshof.

Belcolade launched the competition in 2007 with the intention of generating more awareness around the craftsmanship of Chocolatiers, and to increase the value perception of bonbons amongst consumers. In addition to originality, craftsmanship and ingredients were also important elements of the competition. Some of the ingredients were typically Dutch, like liquorice and honey; others were very exotic like, saffron, cardamom and green tea. The origin of ingredients becomes more and more important. Quite some participants used origins and chocolate made using beans which have been sourced from a Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farm in Costa Rica.
 
The semi finals will take place on September 9th at the Belcolade chocolate centre in Erembodegem (Belgium). The finals then follow on Sunday September 20th, during "De SmaakParade" at the start of the "Week van de Smaak" (the Week of Taste). The winner of the professional jury will visit a cocoa plantation in the Dominican Republic, where Belcolade sources cocoa beans for its Collection Organic Chocolate range.

The Semi-Finalists are:
• D. Stans van Bakkerij Oonk te Enschede
• D. Sutterland van Banketb. & Choc. Sutherland VOF te Sassenheim
• M. Scheepers van Banketbakkerij J. van Bragt te Geldrop
• W. Elie van Banketbakkerij J. van Bragt te Geldrop
• R. van Gelder van Bonbon Atelier A3 te Hattem
• P. van Driel van Chocoladeatelier Puur te Gouda
• B. Bruns van Chocolaterie Bruns te Eygelshoven
• C. Hillebrand van Chocolaterie Van Dam te Heemstede
• H. Geers van Huize Geers te Tilburg
• G. van Boekel van Patisserie Den Otter te Vught
• N. Verweij van Patisserie Holtkamp te Amsterdam
• R. Buis van Top's Edelgebak te Soest
• H. Heiloo van Unlimited Delicious te Amsterdam
• G.J. Heesterbeek van Visser Chocolade te Nuth
• H. Frenks van W. Koelman Brood Banket en Bonbons te Heemskerk
• P. van der Griend van Zuccotto Chocolaterie te IJsselstein

More info on: www.lekkerstebonbon.nl