Junior Chocolate Masters 2023 - Meet the Competitors
Junior Chocolate Masters 2023 - Meet the Competitors
Our Junior Chocolate Masters 2023 Final is just around the corner and we wanted to introduce you to our finalists.
This year the competition takes place on 27th July 2023 at the UK & Ireland Chocolate Academy in Banbury.
This years theme is...The Changing World 🌎
The world is under pressure to change to survive. Environmental issues and food manufacturing processes are under scrutiny to improve and evolve to keep our planet going. Health is a top requirement for customers, people want healthy ingredients that give nutritional boosts to food and snacks. Individual choice is important and customers want vegan and free-from options.
The world needs our help to survive, sustainability and ethical food choices are vital to the changing world. Chocolate is a special ingredient that has always inspired creation and mystique, the mission is to use chocolate to help change the world.
We're excited to introduce you to one of our Finalists - John Almeida, Sous Chef at Soko Patisserie.
1. Where did it all start? How did you fall in love with cooking, pastry and chocolate?
The fulfilment of understanding the hard work that goes into each product to achieve the best always fascinated me. That’s how it all started for me, watching my grandparents sustainably grow and nurturing every crop to provide for themselves and the family. Such childhood opened the doors to creativity to use such products and create something exciting.
2. What or who is your greatest source of inspiration?
My main source of inspiration has always been my grandma’s and mother’s cooking which gave wings for my passion to flourish. However, with the number of great professionals worldwide that keep pursuing their careers and striving for self-development and sharing their work, it is impossible to me not to attempt the same and be inspired.
3. What has been your favourite culinary creation so far?
So far, I would have to say the chocolate showpiece that I’m creating for the JCM. The excitement that is bringing me to showcase my vision of the “changing world” through chocolate while competing with other people equally as passionate and determined is beyond worlds.
4. What motivated you to enter the Junior Chocolate Masters competition?
The Junior Chocolate Masters is the opportunity to challenge myself, showcase my skills and learn further. Furthermore, it is the opportunity to meet with leading professionals in the industry and create new connections. The last thing I want is to look back and regret what it could have been.
5. What does the theme “The Changing World” evoke to you?
“The Changing World” can be such a broad theme that becomes hard to choose which approach to take. From environmental issues to how mechanized everything has become or the need for more healthy and nutritional confections. All very good topics that if addressed in the right ways could help the industry further to provide different healthy and nutritional choices in a world so full of restrictions. Moreover, the desperate need to be more sustainable and ethical about our produce could truly have an impact on how the world will be in the future.
6. How are you preparing for the competition?
Through constant training, research and brainstorming different ways to represent the theme in the most achievable and exciting way.
7. What is your favourite chocolate? Why?
My favourite so far would have to be the Ambre Java, a 36% milk chocolate due to the hazelnut notes and the fruity taste.
8. Any ambition for the future you'd like to share with us?
The ambition continues to be the same from the start. Keep learning and absorbing knowledge as much as possible to succeed in my career. Perhaps open my own patisserie shop further down the line and pass my experience and knowledge to a future generation.
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