World Chocolate Masters 2017/18 announces theme as ‘Futropolis’
The event will now begin with national selections to be held in 20 countries around the world across 2017, with one contestant per participating country being named National Chocolate Master. Each of the national winners will then go on to represent his or her country in the global final in October 2018, in front of a panel of international judges.
The UK and Ireland selections will take place in October 2017.
The ‘Futropolis’ theme is in reference to the phenomenon of ‘megacities’ – urban centres of more than 10 million inhabitants, with over half the world’s population expected to be living in one by 2025.
The contest is asking how ‘haute patisserie’ and culinary desserts will look and taste in this urban future, from a visual and sensory point of view.
The chefs will be expected to consider these changing influences in the design, shape, taste and presentation of their creations, and to consider new technology and trends such as edible packaging, the reduction of food waste, and ingredients such as rooftop-grown or hydroponic crops.
All finalists will ultimately have chance to attend a creative bootcamp organised by Cacao Barry and the WCM, in a bid to help them prepare for the final and spearhead their ideas.
Contestants will have one day to create a chocolate showpiece called ‘Citizens of Futropolis’, a hybrid pastry reflecting ‘the flavours of Futropolis’, and a chocolate snack ‘to go’.
In each of the assignments, the contestants have to integrate the theme: in the shape, design and presentation – and even more in the selection of ingredients they will use. Their creations will be evaluated by a professional jury of independent chefs and chocolate experts.
Previous winners have included pastry and chocolate chefs Frank Haasnoot, Davide Comaschi and Vincent Vallée, while UK winners in the contest have included Ruth Hinks and Alistair Birt.
Ramon Morató, global creative director at Cacao Barry, said: “The World Chocolate Masters is much more than a culinary competition. It is an incredible journey during which most contestants learn to push their own limitations. It’s their window to the global culinary world. For many of them, it is a fantastic opportunity to reach out to other chefs, learn from them, establish new contacts and develop their own creative thinking skills.
“Not to mention, it is a platform for them to transform their professional paths into international careers.”
Joost Lindeman, global brand manager for Cacao Barry, said: “The World Chocolate Masters has always been the platform where new talents showcase how they push the boundaries of chocolate. What chefs have created there has often been a preview of a new trend that was later seen on the high street. We’re really looking forward to seeing the new take on chocolate by young, millennial chefs and their ideas of flavour creation.”
Alistair Birt said: “The World Chocolate Masters is a prestigious competition that highlights our expertise as chocolatiers. The fact that we will work with the theme of Futropolis will allow us to examine the future of our own careers.”
