The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to reveal the winners of the Italian round of judging, which took place in Artimino, Tuscany, April 14-16. The organisers received over 100 entries for the inaugural event, with a fantastic array of styles and flavours on offer.
The International Chocolate Awards is a new scheme set to recognise the best fine quality chocolate from around the world. The awards are designed to reflect international tastes and offer a level playing field for international entries. The judging panel is made up of experts, food journalists and pastry chefs from the host country, overseen by a Grand Jury who travel to each competition.
The categories, which range from flavoured bars to filled chocolates to spreads, are designed to reflect the current chocolate industry. Prizes are separated according to category, with Gold and Silver awards available. Winners go through to the International Grand Final, in October 2012 in London.
The winners of the 2012 Italian round are:
[line]Bars – flavoured and stone ground
Bars – Flavoured dark chocolate
GOLD: Slitti ‘CaffèNero’
SILVER: L’Artigiano dei f.lli Gardini snc – ‘Extra fondente caffè e cardamomo’
Bars – Flavoured milk chocolate
GOLD: Domori ‘Lattesal’
SILVER: Slitti ‘CaffèLatte’
Bars – Stone ground
SILVER: Donna Elvira Dolceria – ‘Modicana Pepe Nero Kuching’
[line]Filled chocolates – unflavoured dark
Unflavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles
No awards given
Unflavoured dark – Gianduiotto
GOLD: A Giordano ‘Giandujotti fatti a mano’
SILVER: Guido Castagna ‘Giandujotti’
[line]Filled chocolates – flavoured dark
Flavoured dark – Ganaches and truffles
GOLD, ALCOHOL: Dolci Libertà ‘Tartufo modellato al Nucillo’
GOLD, FRUIT: De Bondt Cioccolato Originale ‘Ganache al limone’
SILVER: Slitti ‘Cappuccino’
SILVER: Slitti ‘Passion Fruit’
SILVER: De Bondt Cioccolato Originale ‘Ganache al tè’
SILVER: Dolci Libertà ‘Tartufo modellato al Barolo Chinato Cocchi’
Flavoured dark – Dark – Enrobed whole fruits or nuts
No awards given
[line]Filled chocolates – milk (flavoured or unflavoured)
Milk – Nut based pralines and gianduja
PRALINES
GOLD: De Bondt Cioccolato Originale ‘Pralina alla nocciola al latte’
SILVER: Dolci Libertà ‘Rocher al Latte e Nocciola’
UNFLAVOURED CREMINO
No awards given
FLAVOURED CREMINO
GOLD: L’Artigiano dei f.lli Gardini snc – ‘Cremino latte fondente con amarena’
SILVER: L’Artigiano dei f.lli Gardini snc – ‘Cremino latte fondente con liquerizia’
Milk – Enrobed whole fruits or nuts
GOLD: De Bondt Cioccolato Originale ‘Pinoli’
[line]Spreads
Spreads with dark chocolate
SILVER: Guido Castagna ’55+’
Spreads with milk chocolate
GOLD: Slitti ‘Riccosa’
SILVER: Piluc ‘Pilucchella’
[line]The winners of the Italian round will be put forward to compete with the winners from the UK and US rounds (to take place in May and September respectively) at the International Chocolate Awards Grand Final, which this year takes place in London in October.
