Master chef Marc Pauquet (right) with David Pulis, winner of the chocolate competition.

World class master chef Marc Pauquet hosted a five-hour chocolate-making demonstration at the Hotel Excelsior, Floriana. He was in Malta at the invitation of Worldwide Import & Export Ltd.

Pauquet demonstrated his skills and gave participants information about techniques, tempering of chocolate, praline making and much more. Recipe booklets, chocolate-making tools and other merchandise were also distributed to all those present.

This experience was further enhanced by the first masterclass chocolate competition of its kind in Malta, whereby competitors were required to prepare a chocolate gateaux/cake with a Maltese theme within a certain time. The entries were assessed by Pauquet.

Pauquet said he was very impressed by the results, not only from a technical point of view but also in terms of tastes and textures.

David Pulis from the Excelsior Hotel won first prize, which consisted of a chocolate course in any of Callebaut’s academies in Europe, together with prepaid flights, accommodation and a custom chef’s jacket.

The second and third runners-up, Maurizio Borg and Jeffrey Borg, received vouchers worth €150 and €100 respectively.