Belgium 'superfans' pack Fairfield chocolate shop for World Cup watch party
While people usually head to bars or restaurants for watch parties for big games, BE Chocolat owner Sylvie Fortin says she wanted to provide people with something different.
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Sweet treats can help ease the pain of losing a big game.
Belgium may have been defeated by Spain 2-1 in Friday's World Cup quarterfinal match, but fans of the team are still thankful for all the unforgettable memories they made at the handful of watch parties hosted by BE Chocolat in Fairfield.
"The Senegal game, which was the big comeback, this place was absolute bedlam," Walter Roland, of Fairfield says. "People were jumping up all over the place, hugging each other as they overtook Senegal with that third goal. It was crazy and so much fun."
While people usually head to bars or restaurants for watch parties for big games, BE Chocolat owner Sylvie Fortin says she wanted to provide people with something different.
"People are cheering and hugging," Fortin says. "It's just fun, you know?"
During each Belgium game, the shop provided hundreds of fans with complimentary waffles, French fries and of course, chocolate.
"One funny thing is that Belgium is a small country," says Benoit Racquet, master chocolatier at BE Chocolat. "So, if we do not take every opportunity to bring people together, we would not bump into each other."
Born in Belgium, Fairifeld's Emile Racquet says seeing so much support for the Belgium team in Connecticut is heartwarming.
"I watched a couple of games when I was in Belgium at the beginning of the World Cup," Racquet says. "So it's cool to have that similar atmosphere here."
Even though the run has come to end, fans say the memories made at the local Belgian chocolate chop will last a lifetime.
"I love the country," Racquet says. "I'm very proud, and I'm very proud of the team."
