L’Art du Chocolatier Challenge 2012 is a new annual competition promoted by Cacao Barry and the Chocolate Academy in Chicago with director Jerome Landrieu as its head. The aim is to appoint the best chocolatier of the year and encourage creativity and artistic design in patisserie and chocolate.

The twelve finalists, selected in advance by the organization, will compete the weekend of May 12, 2012, and will submit their two finished gâteaux de voyage and two containers of spreadable paste the morning of the final round. The gâteaux de voyage and spreadable pastes must be identical to the ones submitted for the finalist selection. Finalists also will have six hours to prepare their original chocolate pastry, chocolate tablet and tabletop showpiece. Renowned pastry chefs will evaluate the items based on the published judging criteria.

The Grand Prize winner will be announced on the last day of competition and will receive $4,000, a Chicago Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy class coupon, round trip airfare to Chicago plus accommodations, a shared feature in a leading food industry trade publication, and a signed copy of Ramon Morató’s book “Chocolate”. Awards and prizes also will be awarded to second and third place winners.

Official contest website: www.LArtDuChocolatier.com