USA

The top U.S. pâtissiers, chefs and chocolatiers will have more time to vie for the coveted title of National Chocolate Master. The deadline to register and to submit an application for the U.S. selection of World Chocolate Masters is extended to September 14.

The challenge calls on leading chocolate artisans across the country to develop new flavors, assemble new textures and innovate new designs using the Cacao Barry®, Callebaut® and Carma®, gourmet brands of Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products.
The final competition date also has changed, and is now scheduled for the weekend of January 11-12, 2013 at the state-of-the-art Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy. Up to six finalists will be chosen and flown to Chicago.

In the finals, contestants are required to create a chocolate showpiece, a molded praline / molded bonbon, a gastronomic chocolate dessert as well as their interpretation of a classic American pastry, the donut. A professional jury will evaluate the creations, based on criteria such as artistry, taste and technical skills.
Registered contestants are asked to submit an application, including information about their professional experience, original recipes for a chocolate layered cake and molded praline / molded bonbons as well as a picture of an original chocolate showpiece. All submissions are due online by September 14.

The U.S. titleholder will go on to compete against top culinary artisans from 18 countries in the 2013 World Chocolate Masters, an initiative of Barry Callebaut. World Chocolate Masters is in its 5th edition and is the only global culinary competition dedicated to the art of chocolate.