U.S. Chocolate Masters Competition - pics

[rraaflaub]

2007 U.S. National Competition of World Chocolate Masters...

Held at the French Pastry School in Chicago on May 19th to decide who would represent the U.S. at the World Chocolate Masters finals in Paris on October 20-22nd, 2007.

http://www.worldchocolatemasters.com/en/

Competitors were graded on a chocolate showpiece (minimum 1 meter tall), pralines (both dipped and molded), and on a plated dessert created from a mystery box of ingredients.

I was at the competition (thank you Geoff at Barry Callebaut for the invitation by the way) and took the following pictures of the final sculptures and chocolates. My apologies for the mediocre pictures (especially of the chocolates), but it was crowded, the lighting wasn’t great, and most of all…I’m not that terrific a photographer. None the less...here they are:

Naomi Gallego, pastry chef at PS7’s in Washington, D.C.

-sculpture title: ‘Geronimo’

2

Jove Hubbard, executive pastry chef at David Burke’s Primehouse in Chicago.

-due to shipping problems, Jove did not submit a sculpture, making him ineligible to win; unfortunately, I was also unable to capture a picture of his chocolates.

Jimmy MacMillan, executive pastry chef at The Peninsula Chicago.

-sculpture title: ‘Fountain of Youth’

Oscar Ortega, executive pastry chef/owner of Cioccolato Pastry shop in Jackson Hole, WY.

-sculpture: ‘A Gift To the World’

Vincent Pilon, executive pastry chef at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV

-winner of the both the competition overall, and the taste award

-sculpture: ‘The Great Spirit’

David Ramirez, executive pastry chef at Rosen Shingle Creek luxury resort in Orlando, FL.

-sculpture: ‘A Land Remembered’

Joseph Utera, culinary instructor at the Orlando Culinary Academy Le Cordon Bleu.

-sculpture: ‘Indian Great Spirit’

Edited May 26, 2007 by rraaflaub (log)

[K8memphis]

Cool and thanks for posting. Which one won??

[rraaflaub]

Cool and thanks for posting. Which one won??

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Vincent Pilon won both of the two awards presented...one for taste, as well as the overall competition.

[SuzySushi]

Beautiful! Thanks for posting!

[Tonyy13]

Hey guys, everythign looks wonderful! I have the wonderful privelige of working with Joe Utera every single day, and he is as nice a guy as one could ask for. The thing is, we work for the Orlando Culinary Academy Le Cordon Bleu (that's the official name anyway, I have no idea where the Ramirez reference came from other than the other competitor)

You think they look good? I get to taste them from time to time! Haha!

[rraaflaub]

Hey guys, everythign looks wonderful!  I have the wonderful privelige of working with Joe Utera every single day, and he is as nice a guy as one could ask for.  The thing is, we work for the Orlando Culinary Academy Le Cordon Bleu (that's the official name anyway, I have no idea where the Ramirez reference came from other than the other competitor)

You think they look good?  I get to taste them from time to time!  Haha!

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Ahhh...I wondered about that myself. I typed the Ramirez part verbatim out of the booklet handout at the event, and thought it looked at little suspect. Thanks for the correction.