Category Archives: Announcement

2013 Chocolatier of the Year Finalists Announced

Pastry Live is excited to announce the finalists for the 2013 Chocolatier of the Year. Carefully selected for their expertise and abilities, each competitor will be required to produce two different chocolates sold in their shop. As both taste and appearance are key criteria to be evaluated, each chocolatier will have to meticulously handcraft their creations in order to obtain the title of Chocolatier of the Year. Competing on Sunday, August 25th, here are this year’s finalists:

  • Robin Autorino, Robin Chocolates, Longmont, CO
  • Jose Luis Castellanos, Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy Center, Chicago, IL
  • Melissa Coppel, Jean-Marie Auboine Chocolates, Las Vegas, NV
  • Robyn Dochterman, St. Croix Chocolate Company, Marine on St. Croix, MN
  • Ross Evans, Stars Restaurant Rooftop and Grill Room, Charleston, SC
  • Brandon Lee, Modern Chocolatier, Charlotte, NC
  • Gene Leiterman, CocoFlow Chocolate Café, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Maura Metheny, Norman Love Confections, Fort Myers, FL
  • Karen Neugebauer, Forte Chocolates, Mount Vernon, WA
  • Luis Robledo-Richards, Tout Chocolat, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Evan Sheridan, Inn at Little Washington, Washington, VA
  • Andrea Smith, diAmano Chocolate, Atlanta, GA
  • Amy Stankus, Chocolate South, Atlanta, GA
  • Santosh Tiptur, Co Co. Sala, Washington, DC
  • Emma Kate Veader, The Hess Collection, Napa, CA

Check out the Chocolatier of the Year page for more info!

2013 Art of Cake Competitors

Without further delay, we’re excited to announce the cake artists competing in Pastry Live’s 2013 Art of Cake!

  • Marilyn Bawol, Unique Cakes, Bealeton, VA
  • Joseph Cumm, EdenJoesCakery, York, PA
  • Dawn Davis, Dawn Bakes Cakes, Cumming, GA
  • Matthew J. Dyer, Culinard Culinary Institute of Virginia College, Birmingham, AL
  • Veronica Estrada, Sugar Benders Bakery, Marietta, GA
  • Gretchen George, Le Cordon Bleu, Tucker, GA
  • Janet Hurley, JJ Pastries by Design, Chicago, IL
  • Frederick Isla, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV
  • Christine Johns-Harris, Not a Crumb! Exquisite Cakes, Atlanta, GA
  • Herlina S. Kwee, Piedmont Driving Club, Atlanta, GA
  • Ramona Oskirka, Perfect Wedding Cake, Marietta, GA
  • Jessie Anne Reilly, Take the Cake Decor, Somerset, KY
  • Jaime VanderWoude, Lund Food Holdings, Inc. (Byerly’s), Edina, MN
  • Andrea Webster, The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Denver, CO
  • Sara Hardy Williams, The Cakehouse at Waterstone, Acworth, GA

Congratulations to each! This year we’ve been able to welcome even more talented artists to compete and combined with the theme of “Art Nouveau” some truly beautiful works of art are sure to be created.

2013 National Showpiece Championship Captains!

Applications for this year’s competitions are officially closed!

Pastry Live is proud to announce the team captains for the 2013 National Showpiece Championship. After careful consideration, eight teams of two chefs have been chosen to compete on the morning of Tuesday, August 27th, 2013. Each team will choose from either chocolate or sugar to showcase their innovation and talent while competing for the title of National Showpiece Champions. Among some of the top pastry chefs in the country, here are the team captains selected to compete:

  • Brian Donaghy, Chocolate Delivery Systems, Buffalo, NY
  • Bill Foltz, L’Auberge Casino Resort, Lake Charles, LA
  • David Lewis, The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Denver, CO
  • Maura Metheny, Norman Love Chocolates, Fort Myers, FL
  • Jim Mullaney, J Mullaney Pastries, Atlanta, GA
  • Kelsee Newman, Sullivan University, Louisville, KY
  • Julian Perrigo-Jimenez, The Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA

Congratulations on being selected chefs, we’re excited to see what you come up with in August!

Want to see what incredible pieces these chefs create? Don’t forget to buy your tickets!

2013 Passes Now On Sale!

Tickets Available now!

General Admission: $50

A three day pass to Pastry Live 2013. Admission includes Chef demos and admission to all competitions.
Buy now!

Student Admission: $30

A three day student pass to Pastry Live 2013. Admission includes Chef demos and admission to all competitions. You must bring your current Student ID to the event.
Buy now!