Garforth chocolatier Thierry Dumouchel has recently returned from London where he was on the judging panel at The World Chocolate Masters. The Masters is the international top level competition for chocolate craftsmen, attracting participants and an audience from around the world.

From September 2010 to May 2011, the three leading brands for high quality chocolate, Callebaut, Cacao Barry and Carma, hold worldwide sectional competitions, in which chocolatiers, pastry chefs and other chocolate professionals compete.

For the 2010-2011 National selections and the 2011 Final the theme is "Cocoa, Quetzalcoatl's Gift". Quetzalcoatl was the Aztec god, who gave cocoa as a gift to the Aztec civilization.

The contestants used the theme to create show pieces inspired by the mystery surrounding the discovery of cocoa in South American rain forests and Aztec legends surrounding the gift of Quetzalcoatl to its peoples. Contestants were expected to reflect the atmosphere, flavour and tastes connected with the early history of cocoa in South America.

For these master chocolatiers, competing in the World Chocolate Masters is already the pinnacle of achievement. They performed under enormous pressure and succeeded in creating amazing works of chocolate and art.