National Selections

Ryan Stevenson wins the "Belgian Chocolate Masters" competition

Dimitri Salmon is second, Pascal De Deyne ends up third
Three days of competition and the revelation of 10.000 finest Belgian chocolates in Brussels

Brussels, 17th May 2009 - The 33-year-old patissier of "Le Saint Aulaye" in Ixelles showed off his talents with Callebaut chocolate at Culinaria². Ryan Stevenson was the best of 11 participants. He impressed jury and public with delicious creations, such as his "Miss Citronelle" pastry and "Magic tree" showpiece. 

The jury of the Belgian preselection comprised some of Belgium's most famous chocolate and kitchen chefs such as Peter Goossens, Felix Alen, Jean-Philippe Darcis, Marc Ducobu, Serge Alexandre and Pol Deschepper. The jury president was Gunther Van Essche of Del Rey in Antwerp. He concluded that the future of Belgian chocolatiers seems promising, if people like Ryan, Dimitri and Pascal keep perfecting and optimising their creations.

"I am incredibly happy with this victory", says Ryan Stevenson. "I will now fully focus on the October finals to get Belgium on the winners' stage". Stevenson is originally Australian, but has been working for years in different highly classified places in Belgium.

 

The Belgian Chocolate Masters preselection took place at Culinaria², a unique gastronomic event in the Parc du Cinquentenaire in Brussels. The evening before the competition, over 80 Belgian artisan chocolatiers unveiled 10.000 hand made pralines and distributed them to the visitors of Culinaria. A deliciously impressive show!

The Belgian selection for World Chocolate Masters was organised with the valuable support of our sponsors :
- 'Prosper Montagné' Gastronomic society
- Bru water 
- Raffinerie Tirlemontoise sugar
- IBC chocolate decoration products 
- Bragard chef jackets
- Boiron frozen fruits
- Cointreau alcohol
- Chocolaterie magazine
- Ranson distribution of bakery ingredients
- Prefamac chocolate melters
- Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe
- KitchenAid stand mixers
- Villeroy & Boch tableware
- Callebaut chocolate Academy
- Chocolate World equipment
- Corman cream & butter
- Demarle cookware
- Thermohauser work tools