Japanese Chef Shigeo Hirai is the “World Chocolate Master 2009”

After three-days of breathtaking competition between nineteen national Chocolate Masters, the results of the third World Chocolate Masters competition have been announced. The event took place at the "Salon du Chocolat Professionnel" exhibition at Porte de Versailles in Paris (France). At this year's world finals, organised for the third time by Cacao Barry, Callebaut and Carma, Shigeo Hirai, Sous Chef of the Grand Hyatt Tokyo, was selected as the "World Chocolate Master 2009" by an international jury composed of twenty-two leading chocolate professionals. In second place was Lionel Clement from United States and in third place Michaela Karg from Germany. With the theme of this year's competition being "Haute Couture", the jury carefully evaluated the contestants' work and creativity through chocolate. A

n incomparable fashion show marked the opening of the big chocolate fair "Salon du Chocolat" 2009. For once, all the models on the catwalk strolled over the catwalk in lavish gowns ornated with masterpieces of chocolate - decorations, jewellery and accessories all made from chocolate. www.barry-callebaut.com