Chocoholics with an appreciation for ‘haute cocoa’ take note: the World Chocolate Masters, where 19 of the best chocolatiers in the world will compete for sweet victory, will be streamed live 24 hours a day. At the fourth annual World Chocolate Masters this week, finalists who’ve already been crowned the best in their respective countries over the last 18 months will gather in Paris to show off their skills transforming chocolate into works of masterful art.
Unlike food TV shows where competitions are edited for edge-of-the-seat drama — towering cakes collapsing in a heap, the race against time, competitors mopping the sweat off their brows — viewers will have to make up their own commentaries as the event will be streamed live.
In this edition of the world championship, competitors will be creating masterpieces in line with this year’s theme, “Cocoa, the gift of Quetzalcoatl.” Chocolatiers will channel the history of ancient Mexican civilizations, when Aztecs traded cacao beans as currency and chocolate held a mystical power.
Each contestant will produce a chocolate cake, two pralines, a dessert, and one free-form artistic creation based on the theme over three days.
A prize pot of €75,000 will be shared among the winning contestants.
Last year’s winner was Grand Hyatt Tokyo sous-chef Shigeo Hirai, of Japan, who will return as the honorary president. The second runner-up was Lionel Clement of the US, followed by Michaela Karg of Germany.
This year, competitors represent countries like Australia, Canada, the US, UK, Taiwan, Japan, Lebanon and Mexico.
To cheer for your country, visit their website http://www.worldchocolatemasters.com/en/.
The competition kickstarts October 19-21, in conjunction with the Salon de Chocolat. Chocolate-covered ladies will model haute couture designs at the annual show where chocolatiers and designers will illustrate chocolate trends against a baroque-burlesque backdrop.
Collaborations include chocolate house Cacao Barry, and visual designer Willy G, whose strapless dress is studded with macarons and profiteroles. The dress, says the designer, was inspired by the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl who, legend has it, brought cocoa to mankind. The Aztecs also traded cacao beans as currency.
French singer Juliette Katz will model the dress of tulle, taffeta and Aztec jewelry at the gala fashion show October 19. The dress will also be displayed every day at 5 pm beginning October 20 in a nightly fashion show for the public.
Other chocolatier and designer collaborations include Jean-Paul Hévin and designer Caroline Chuu for Aya, and Jacques Bellanger and Audrey Biarnais.
The Salon de Chocolat takes place in Paris between October 20 and 24.