France

Lyon, January 27th 2013 - Working hard during the competition, Yvan Chevalier has become the French Chocolate Master during the SIRHA fair in Lyon. The Jury was composed by 12 well-known members like Yves Thuries, who was 2 times “Meilleur Ouvrier de France Pâtissier-Chocolatier Confiseur” and “Glacier”; Régis Marcon, Bocuse d’or, 3* in the Michelin guide Michelin and Laurent Le Daniel, “Meilleur Ouvrier de France Pâtissier”. Yvan Chevalier amazed this famous Jury by his work and the creativity of his chocolate showpiece.

Yvan Chevalier, twenty-three years old, works for the "Chocolaterie Guerlais" in Nantes (France). He has already won several awards: 1st prize at the Serbotel competition in Nantes in 2011 and 1st prize (for contestants who are less than 21 years old - chocolate category) at the "Journées Gastronomiques de Sologne" in 2009. Winning the French Final of the World Chocolate Masters, Yvan Chevalier got his ticket to represent France at the grand international final, where 19 other contestants will compete for their own country in Paris between October 28th and 30th 2013.

The World Chocolate Masters, organized by the 3 leading Gourmet brands Cacao Barry®, Callebaut® and Carma® happen each two years and gather the most talented chocolatiers from all over the world. This competition highlights the creativity, technicity and ingeniosity of the Chocolate world. The best chocolatier wins the coveted title of “World Chocolate Master”.

The results:
1st prize and French Chocolate Master: Yvan Chevalier
2nd prize: Jean-Pierre Godier
3rd prize: Gaël Gorse
Best chocolate showpiece: Yvan Chevalier
Best moulded praline: Gaël Gorse
Best pastry: Bastien Berger
Best plated dessert: Paul Chauvaux
Best revisited classics "the religieuse": Jean-Pierre Godier

The other winners
Jean-Pierre Godier: 28 years old. Works at the "Institut de Recherche et d'Enseignement Appliqué aux Métiers" (IREAM) in Amiens (France). Before, worked at Covelli in Beauvais and at La Brioche Royale in St Chamond. In 2005, won the title of "Meilleur Apprenti Pâtissier" of Picardie. In 2011, he won the 1st prize of the Salon du chocolat and Gourmandises competition in Amiens.
Gaël Gorse: 35 years old. Works for Orfèves company in Tulle. Before, he worked with Bernard Besse and Luc Guillet, members of the Relais Dessert association. He also worked for Patrick Chevallot, "Meilleur Ouvrier de France Pâtissier".. In 2011, he won the Criollo competition
Bastien Berger: 31 years old. Works for the Chocolate and Tradition Company in Lourdes. Has worked with famous pastry Chefs and chocolatiers: Elie Cazausus, Sébastien Brocard and Jean-Marie Auboine. In 2012, he won the 1st chocolate prize at the Festival de l'Occitanie
Paul Chauvaux: 26 years old. Works for Arnaud Larher's Atelier in Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines. In the previous French Final of the World Chocolate Masters in 2010, he won the 3rd prize. In 2008, he won the 1st prize of the Young Chocolatiers French Cup