Asia Pacific’s World Chocolate Masters prepare for the final

 
Hosted by the gourmet chocolate brand, Cacao Barry, with the support of Callebaut and Carma, the World Chocolate Masters Final is a premium international competition solely dedicated to the art of chocolate. It will take place in Paris in October.

At the World Chocolate Masters Final, the world’s 20 best pâtissiers, chefs and chocolatiers will compete across four assignments: Chocolate Showpiece, Sweet Snack on the Go, Molded Praline and “My or Noir” Story. “Inspiration from Nature” is the theme for this year’s final.

The final is now a three-day competition with a knockout approach. Only the top 10 finalists will have the opportunity to compete on the third day, where they will work on two assignments; “Patisserie of the Day” and “Where Nature Goes”.

The winner of this prestigious competition and the coveted title of “2015 World Chocolate Master” will gain recognition from the world’s leading chocolate craftsmen, elevating their reputation in the international arena of chocolate and pastry.

The four winners from the national pre-selections in Asia Pacific are:

– Hisashi Onobayashi, chef chocolatier, Club Harie, Shiga (Japan);

– Roger Fok, pastry supervisor, JW Marriott in Hong Kong (China);

– Sang Kyun Jeong, pastry chef, Lotte Hotel, Seoul (South Korea);

– Chia-Feng Tsai, production department executive chef, Feeling 18°C, Taichung (Taiwan).

Three of the Asia Pacific finalists, Roger Fok, Sang Kyun Jeong and Chia-Feng Tsai, attended a preparation workshop at the Chocolate Academy of Shanghai in March. The workshop was an intensive two-day session where the Asia Pacific finalists experienced up-close and personal sessions with past winners from the 2011 World Chocolate Masters Final, Frank Haasnoot (first place) and Seung Yun Lee (fourth place).

Frank and Seung Yun shared valuable insights, techniques, past experiences and strategies to help the finalists prepare for this year’s final. In addition, the Asia Pacific finalists presented their finished assignments for tasting and received constructive feedback in terms of concept, taste, texture, finishing and technique.

Denis Convert, vice president of Gourmet Asia Pacific, said: “The World Chocolate Masters Final is the most anticipated chocolate competition in the world and we are proud to witness the finalists from Asia Pacific take home the top prizes from the World Final year after year. Our Asia Pacific finalists are determined to put up a strong performance at the World Final and by organizing a pre-competition workshop for the first time, we are giving them the support required to be serious title challengers.”