By Sally Briggs

Passing the little yellow house that sits atop Buttermilk Falls on Westside Road, few may know that Pierre Gilissen, the Belgian-born chocolatier, and his American wife Susan, are also the owners of “Belgique,” the handsome Victorian house and patisserie dominating the main crossing in Kent; or that the Gilissens’ clients include royal visitors to the United States.

Brightly painted yellow, red and black, the colors of the Belgian flag, the house in Kent has been turned into a tea room with space for small private parties. Behind, in what was the carriage house (also yellow), is the Patisserie and Chocolatier from which emanate enticing aromas. The shop opened in Kent in 2000 and has been named “Best Chocolates and Pastries” in the area by the Litchfield County Times.

Pierre Gilissen knew at the age of 13 that he wanted to be a chef. His studies in Belgium included gourmet cooking, pastry preparation, enology (the science of wine-making), and restaurant and hotel management. On a vacation trip to the States in 1989 he answered an ad in a paper for sous chef at the British Embassy in Washington. While at work there his interest turned to the confection of pastries and chocolates. Recognizing that the U.S. market didn’t offer good quality Belgian-type chocolates or European desserts, he decided to branch out on his own.

The Gilissens met in Washington where Susan had moved from Oregon. Having majored in broadcast journalism, she accepted a position with C-Span. She also worked for the National Press Club, on Capital Hill, in a Washington law office and finally in personnel administration at the World Bank. It is Susan, in a very different role now, who designs the packaging and presentation of the chocolates and pastries. The shop is worth a visit, not only to sample one of the pastries or chocolates, but to admire how decoratively the shelves and boxes are arranged.

This past May chef Gilissen was honored by being asked to prepare chocolates for a dinner hosted by the British Ambassador to Washington on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth’s recent visit. The following day he provided an assortment of chocolates shaped like tiny crowns with various fillings for a reception in New York for a visit of the King and Queen of Belgium.

The Gilissens found their way to Norfolk through a friend while they were looking for a place to open a shop. They considered the former hardware store. Although that didn’t work out they did find the house by the falls that they enjoy whenever they can get away from work for a few days. It may be our loss that “Belgique” is not part of our town, but in Norfolk, Pierre and Susan Gilissens have found just the quiet haven they were looking for.

Photo, top, of Susan and Pierre Gilissen, by Patrick Short.