On January 21, Ukraine will host the national selection for the World Chocolate Masters. Three outstanding pastry chefs will compete for the honor of representing the country at the International Final in Paris. The event will be broadcast live from the Chef University culinary studio on YouTube, starting at 8:00 AM Kyiv time.

World Chocolate Masters™ (WCM) is the premier international competition for chocolatiers and pastry chefs, dedicated to their creative vision of chocolate's role in the future of gastronomy. Organized with the support of Cacao Barry, the French gourmet chocolate brand owned by Barry Callebaut, this year marks Ukraine’s historic first participation in the competition.

The core theme for 2021 is #TMRW (Tomorrow). Contestants must demonstrate original techniques and utilize cutting-edge equipment to showcase the future of chocolate. The focus remains on global trends: sustainability, healthy living, minimalism, natural ingredients, and technological innovation in production.

While the World Final will take place in Paris in autumn 2022, national winners are currently being selected across 21 countries. The Ukrainian selection is hosted by Chef University, the culinary studio of Best Way Foods—the exclusive distributor of Barry Callebaut and other premium European ingredients for the Food Service sector in Ukraine.

The National Finalists:

1. Oleg Ivzhenko – Former Executive Chef at Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv and finalist of the 2019 Ukraine Championship in Pastry Arts.

2. Semen Postolov – Pastry Chef at Vanil Café, formerly Executive Pastry Chef at Mershall Café.

3. Anton Shtypa – Pastry Chef and instructor at the First Culinary Academy of Ukraine (UCA), who represented Ukraine at the 2020 Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie in Paris.

The Five Competitive Stages:

• #DESIGN – Creating an intriguing chocolate sculpture using at least six techniques, centered on the competition’s signature #TMRW element.

• #TASTE – Crafting fresh chocolate pastries with three textures, incorporating Cacao Barry chocolate, fruit, and a local ingredient.

• #SNACK – Developing plant-based chocolate snacks for on-the-go consumption.

• #BONBON – Creating molded chocolates using entirely natural ingredients.

• #YOU – Presenting a cohesive concept that reflects the chef's vision for the chocolate of tomorrow.

The Jury: The panel includes renowned experts: Nina Tarasova (Pastry Artist and Cacao Barry Ambassador), Dmytro Kolesnykov (Bakehouse Confectionery), Andriy Dubovyk (International Consultant and Chocolatier), and Dinara Kasko (Architectural Pastry Chef). The special guest is Philippe Marand, Head of Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academies (EEMEA), with Evgenia Petrenko (Cacao Barry Ambassador) serving as Head of the Jury.

"For the first time, Ukrainian chocolatiers have the opportunity to stand alongside their global peers," says Evgenia Petrenko. "This is a transformative moment for their careers and the entire industry."

Sponsors: The national stage is sponsored by Kenwood (innovative kitchen appliances) and Forward-Trade (exclusive distributor of Silikomart and Forest professional pastry tools).