Use of English PRO

Belgium (0) LIKES to think of itself as the home of the finest chocolate in the world. If this (1) ............ is true, then the Place du Grand Sablon in Brussels must be the centre of the chocolate world. This square is not far from the city's Museum of Fine Arts and some of the country's (2) ............ chocolate shops can be found there, (3) ............ such internationally famous names as Wittamer, Godiva and Marcolini. Marcolini is the most recent arrival in the square and is (4) ............ regarded as the most fashionable chocolate-maker in Belgium. The designers of the company's shop have evidently been (5) ............ up ideas from Emporio Armani a few doors down. The Marcolini shop has black walls, a white floor and staff who (6) ............ black and white shirts and resemble fashion models (7) ............ than salespeople. As (8) ............ as the chocolates are concerned, these are displayed in impressive glass cases. Once you've made your selection, you go over to the counter to pay, and get a wonderful close-up view of a flowing fountain of melted chocolate. Some Belgians would suggest that the best examples of the country's skill at chocolate-making are the small chocolates called pralines. These have a hard outer shell of chocolate around a softer filling that comes in a variety of flavours. It was these that I decided to try.