World Chocolate Masters 2013: French finalist announced

In the run-up to the 2013 edition of the World Chocolate Masters, national pre-selections are now well underway.

The French national finals were held in Lyon on January 26 and 27, alongside the World Hospitality & Food Service Event (SIRHA), which wrapped up on January 30.

Twelve young chocolatiers and pastry chefs from across the country competed for a chance to represent France in this year’s World Chocolate Masters, which will take place from October 28 to 30, 2013 at the Salon du Chocolat (professional edition) in Paris.

The winner of the French finals is Yvan Chevalier, a 23-year-old chocolatier from Nantes who works at Chocolaterie Guerlais.

French National Chocolate Championship awards, World Chocolate Masters 2013
Yvan Chevalier (centre) is the winner of the French finals in the lead-up to the 2013 World Chocolate Masters.

Second place went to Jean-Pierre Godier (IREAM, Amiens) and third place to Gaël Gorse (Orfèves, Tulle).

Mr. Chevalier previously won 1st prize in the Concours Serbotel de Nantes in 2011 and 1st prize in the Concours des Journées Gastronomiques de Sologne (under 21 years category, chocolate) in 2009.

The French national preselection required participants to demonstrate their skills in crafting moulded bonbons, a classic revisited (religieuse), gastronomic chocolate desserts, layered chocolate desserts and an artistic chocolate piece, all under the watchful eyes of a 12-member jury presided by renowned chocolatier Yves Thuriès.

The 12 participants were Bastien Bedard (Pâtisserie Recouvreur, Nancy); Bastien Berger (Chocolats et Tradition, Lourdes); Benoît Charvet (Le Relais Bernard Loiseau, Saulieu); Paul Chauvaux (Atelier Arnaud Larher, Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines); Yvan Chevalier (Chocolaterie Guerlais, Nantes); David Ebersold (Pâtisserie Albert Busser, Vendenheim); Jean-Pierre Godier (IREAM, Amiens); Gaël Gorse (Orfèves, Tulle); Loïc Guirao (La Noisette, Grenoble); Guénaël Le Manchec (Chocolaterie Larnicol, Quimper); Raphaël Marchetti (Florelo Pâtisserie, Creney); and Nicolas Richard (Pâtisserie Riederer, Trets).

Yvan Chevalier showpiece, French National Chocolate Championships 2013
Yvan Chevalier’s winning showpiece at the French national finals, held on January 26 and 27, 2013.

The World Chocolate Masters competition is held every two years and brings together top artisan chocolatiers from around the world. The event is organised by Cacao Barry, Callebaut and Carma. The theme for 2013 is “the architecture of taste.”

National finalists have so far been chosen in the U.K., Belgium, Japan, Mexico, the U.S. Italy, Canada, and France, with national and regional competitions still to come for South America, Spain, Russia, Scandinavia, South East Europe, Central Europe, the Netherlands, and Germany.

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Photos: © World Chocolate Masters

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