A chocoholics dream; Balham Chocolatier competes for title in World Chocolate Masters
BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk
There’s only one thing better than seeing a good friend. That’s seeing a good friend bearing chocolate.
Barry Johnson, from Byrne Road, Balham, has quite a few best mates already.
But he is likely to acquire a whole lot more if he wins the title at the World Chocolate Masters this weekend.
The lecturer in – yes, chocolate – at London South Bank University takes on the planet’s best pudding chefs in Paris, home of some of the best cuisine in the world – though he aims to prove that it’s not necessarily the top place for making the gooey sweet brown stuff.
He is competing on the international stage at the Salon Du Chocolat in Paris – and hoping to get his just desserts.
The historic cathedral of Notre Dame is 300m away if he wants to call on any help from the Big Sweetshop Owner on high.
Barry will be competing against 19 other international competitors from across the world in the competition, which takes place in France every three years. Barry was praised by the international jury to become UK Chocolate Master in October last year.
That qualified him for the seventh edition of the World Chocolate Masters final. Barry said: “I’m excited about representing the UK and Ireland at the World Chocolate Masters.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I intend to savour every moment of it.
I was delighted with the feedback at the UK qualifying and plan to develop and refine products for the tasted element of the competition, focusing on the ingredients, flavour pairing and the eating experience.
“My showpiece will draw all these themes together and represent what I see as the future of urban sustainable food culture.” Elaine Thomson, course director at LSBU’s School of Bakery, said: “We’re so thrilled with Barry for making us proud by representing LSBU and the UK in the World Chocolate Masters this year.
It seems only yesterday that he won the UK Chocolate Masters. “Fingers crossed, his midas touch with chocolate carries him through to the winning touchline again.”
The World Chocolate Masters is the only competition in the world dedicated to the individual creativity of chocolatiers and pastry chefs with chocolate.
The competition includes a chocolate heptathlon comprised of seven chocolate elements run over three days and almost 15 hours of live competition.
The competitors must present the following products:
- chocolate show piece
- snack to go
- chocolate patisserie item
- moulded chocolates (using a bespoke mould)
- noir challenge – using bespoke chocolate developed by Barry
- gateaux du voyage
- mini showpiece
The city hospital is very close if anyone overdoes it.
Sadly, the job of eating the results is quite likely to fall to some lucky Frenchman – or woman. Sacre bleu.