Cacao Barry has named Simon Bregardis Chocolatier of the Year in its annual L’Art du Chocolatier Challenge. Bregardis is an assistant pastry chef at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
During the two-day competition May 5 and 6, seven pastry chefs competed at the Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy in Chicago for the title.
In a first for the competition, Bregardis also won two additional awards in the competition: Best Showpiece and Best Workmanship. His prize package included a $4,000 cash prize, a course at the Chocolate Academy, roundtrip airfare to Chicago plus accommodations, a signed copy of Ramon Morató’s book “Chocolate,” and $4,000 worth of gifts and certificates donated by sponsors.
Other awards that were presented included: second place to Florent Cheveau, pastry chef at Jean-Philippe Pâtisserie, Las Vegas; third place to Russ Thayer, assistant pastry chef at PreGel America, North Carolina; and best tasting to Florent Cheveau, pastry chef at Jean-Philippe Pâtisserie.