World Pastry Cup: Search begins for 2015 UK pastry chef team

30-Jul-2013 - Last updated on 27-Apr-2021 at 12:59 GMT

The hunt is on to find the pastry chefs who will follow in the footsteps of Javier Mercado, Nicolas Bouhelier and Nicolas Belorgey and represent the UK in the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie

Six months after the UK came ninth in the final of the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie in Lyon, preparations are now being put in place for the 2015 World Pastry Cup and the search is on to find the chefs to represent the country in the contest.

France-based luxury chocolate manufacturer Valrhona is leading the hunt for the three pastry chefs who will form the UK team and who will then have to qualify for the final by taking part in the next European Cup in Paris.

Applications to join the team closed in May, a selection of shortlisted candidates were then invited to attend a three-day chocolate workshop at Valrhona’s HQ in Tain L’Hermitage and the chefs are now preparing to take part in the selection process for the squad which takes place at The Restaurant Show in October.

Pastry industry

The trio will be following in the footsteps of Javier Mercado, Nicolas Bouhelier and Nicolas Belorgey who managed just ninth place in the 13th Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie which was held in Lyon earlier this year - a position team president Martin Chiffers admitted had been 'disappointing'.

However the team won their European semi-final last year and collected the prize for the best sugar and chocolate piece.

Ahead of the world final Bouhelier, pastry sous chef at Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, told BigHospitality he hoped the UK's participation in the contest would help develop the reputation of pastry chefs in this country.

Now Marie Van Brantegem, UK Brand Manager for Valrhona, has said the hunt for the next line-up of competition chefs will help further.

"We strongly believe that taking part in this selection process will open up further opportunities for candidates and the pastry industry to progress," she said.

"We are looking forward to supporting the next exciting challenge."

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Musical Theatre

To make the UK team shortlisted candidates will need to prepare a sugar or chocolate display which shows off their strongest skills.

The chefs will have six hours to produce either a sugar sculpture using two-thirds cooked sugar which presents a fruit entremet for six portions or a chocolate display to include one plated dessert which is typical of the UK and integrates chocolate and British ingredients.

The chefs will also have to make either a second fruit entremet for tasting or six of the same chocolate desserts for the jury.

Candidates will have to provide all the ingredients they need as well as a stand to present their sculpture on.

Five prizes will be given out on the day and the final line-up for the UK team will be revealed a week later.

The theme for the UK squad in the build-up to the European Cup in March and the 2015 world final will be 'Musical Theatre'.