2022 march 16
WCM SOUTHEAST EUROPE

Excited to find out what #TMRW tastes, looks and feels like according to these talented chefs? Then tune in to the World Chocolate Masters' qualifying round in Athens, Greece.

Who will become the next Southeastern European Chocolate Master and claim a spot in the World Final?

Join us from 16 March at the Chocolate Academy™ Center in Athens to find out.

Meet the contestants

Kyriakos Papadopoulos

GREECE


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

Pastry Chef at Sweet Art

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • - Experienced and passionate Pastry Chef with over seven years of industry experience.
  • - Adept in creating chocolate and sugar showpieces, desserts, pastries, chocolate bonbons, and a variety of confections.
  • - Bringing forth advanced pastry techniques, food safety knowledge, and a strong understanding of the principles of pastry design.

Nicolas Nikolakopoulos

GREECE


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

- Pastry Professor, Le Monde Institute of Tourism

- Pastry Chef of the "NZ Dessert "

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • - Chocolate confiserie, Ice cream making, balancing /creating. Modernist or Molecular Cuisine techniques
  • - Artistic chocolate showpieces
  • - Design and development of plated, boutique and thematic desserts
  • - Menu design for special dietary needs (vegan, fitness, religious restrictions, etc.)
  • - Good knowledge of French and International pastry
  • - Substantial Seminar/Masterclass conducting experience

Christos Sarantinopoulos

GREECE


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

Executive Pastry & Bakery Chef | Eagles Resort

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • - Pastry chef consultant
  • - Private seminar with the chocolatier Kanakin Andey
    - Private seminar with honored pastry chef Rolf Murner(Switzerland)
    - Seminar with Emmanuel Hamon

Drazen Zeljkovic

CROATIA


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

Founder of CHOZEN

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • - 3 years of industry experience
  • - Specialized in chocolate bonbons making with innovative twist and very pleasing taste.
  • - Experience in catering and custom orders

Dusan Jelicic

SERBIA


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

Chief Pastry Chef and Director of Development at Stamveski

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • - International Kremlin Culinary Cup 2009
  • - Product innovation in all product categories
  • - Creating and sorting products by which sales channel they are meant for (Stamevski cake shops, HoReCa sector, custom made cakes and sweets, mass markets, export)
  • - Organizing mass production and a team of more than 120 people 

Bojana Bukvic

CROATIA


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

Corporate Executive Pastry Chef UPD STARI GRAD - BOUTIQUE CORPORATION

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • - Production leader for 8 restaurants
    - Executive Pastry Chef at Lafayette Restaurant and Cabaret
    - Writer TV show “Bojanina Radionica Kolača" and "Bojana's Cake Workshop"
    - Collaborator of various culinary TV shows in Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Bulgaria
    - Contestant Masterchef Croatia
    - Guest in various TV and radio shows in Belgrade and Croatia

Veljko Spasic

SERBIA


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

Owner of cake shop and manufacture

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • - 2001: The 7th Takasaki Internacional Art & music Competition for High School Students 2001 (TIAC); painting, Winner
    - 2013: Regional cake competition – Gold medal
    - 2016: Regional a la carte competition – Gold medal

Jury

Christos Lambrou

GREECE


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

  • - Executive Pastry Chef @ Ledra Foods

    - Cacao Barry Ambassador

  • - Pastry and gelato consultant

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 1995 – French Champion Ice Sculpture
    1999 – Champion at World Pastry Cup
    2000 – Meilleur Ouvrier de France Glacier
    2000 – Book feature : Apprenez l’art de la glace et des sorbets
    2004-2012 – Café Pouchkine
    2013-2014 – Anne-Sophie Pic, 3 Michelin stars

Emmanuel Ryon

FRANCE


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

  • - Pastry and ice cream chef

    - Chef Patissier of the Pouchkine restaurants and cafés in Moscow, Paris and New York

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 1995 – French Champion Ice Sculpture
    1999 – Champion at World Pastry Cup
    2000 – Meilleur Ouvrier de France Glacier
    2000 – Book feature : Apprenez l’art de la glace et des sorbets
    2004-2012 – Café Pouchkine
    2013-2014 – Anne-Sophie Pic, 3 Michelin stars

Christophe Morel

CANADA


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

Founder Morel Chocolatier

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  • - 2003 – Canadian National Chocolate Awards winner3
    - 2005 – First prize for chocolate at the Coupe du monde de la pâtisserie in Lyon, France

Krsto Radovic

SERBIA


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

Co-founder & Master Pastry Chef at Mandarina cake shop

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Elias Krassas

GREECE


CURRENT PLACE OF WORK

 

FORMER WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Practical

When?
16th March 2022

 

Where?
Chocolate Academy™ Center Athens

Agiou Konstantinou 52
Marousi 151 25
Greece

How to watch?

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for live updates during this qualifying round.