The chocolate weekly 22 - 2015

News

With World Chocolate Masters grand finale in Paris coming closer let’s have a look at the last national preselection which happened in Canada.

Months of dedication, passion, and chocolate mastery were distilled into two days of competition at the 2015 World Chocolate Masters Canadian Final in Montréal, Quebec. The theme was “Inspiration from nature” and the winner of the Canadian preselections was the great Michaël Cotard, chef and owner of Cotard Chocolatier. Michaël has participated in several competitions since the beginning of his career, including the Canadian qualifying round for the 2013 World Chocolate Masters, during which he won the award for best layered chocolate cake. He also finished second at the Canadian qualifying round in Toronto for the 2011 World Chocolate Masters.

Michaël demonstrated he masters his techniques, and according to the jury ‘his showpiece proved this perfectly, with a structure and texture that really reflected the look and feel of wood and nature.’ The fact that his massive showpiece merely rested on a narrow base was additional proof of his technical mastery.

The first-timer Pastry Chef Christophe Bonzon of Burnaby Height’s Chez Christophe Chocolaterie Patisserie (4712 Hastings Street) won the hearts of judges, coming away with four out of five awards: Best Moulded Praline, Best Chocolate to Go, Best Cake of the Day, and Media Prize ‘Coup de Coeur’. Overall, Bonzon placed second at the podium.

“The World Chocolate Masters competition only comes around every two years and it has always been a goal of mine to compete,” says Bonzon, owner and master confectioner at Chez Christophe. “I’m truly honoured to have won four awards and placed second at my first-ever World Chocolate Masters. The whole process has been intense but extremely gratifying to further my chocolate journey. I look forward to showcasing my award-winning pieces at my shop. The outpouring of support and congratulatory messages I have received so far has been nothing but heartfelt. Thank you everyone.”

UK and Ireland will be in Paris represented by the amazing Alistair Birt.

www.worldchocolatemasters.com