Pastry Live 2014 – National Showpiece Championship Winners

ATLANTA - Sept. 2, 2014 - PRLog -- Pastry Live is proud to announce Team Bill Foltz and Cori Schlemmer of L’Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles, LA (http://www.mylauberge.com) as this year’s National Showpiece Champions. Along with earning the title and a cash prize of $5,000, the team was also awarded Best Sugar Showpiece for their innovative design portraying this year’s theme of “Video Games.”

Five teams of two chefs competed on Tuesday, August 26th over the course of seven hours, constructing showpieces utilizing a unique trio of pedestal bases, encouraging an entirely new range of showpiece design. Team Foltz’s sugar showpiece, titled “Dragon Ball,” was favored by the judges for its innovative use of the three pedestal bases, as their design fully utilized the creative potential of the pedestals.

Additionally, their showpiece was praised for its imaginative use of the theme as the duo executed a clear vision of the world of video games through their original design. Filled with a close attention to detail, the inspiration for their design was the metamorphosis behind video games from past to present. The piece highlighted a villainous dragon shattering through a modern-day game screen to foil the play session of some unsuspecting player in the middle of a classic game of pinball. Among the judges, the team’s sugar-work was also held in high regard for its flawless appearance and construction. Team Foltz’s design was also selected by their peers for the Competitor’s Choice Award, giving the team a triple win.

Close behind Team Foltz in points was Team Christophe Rull (MGM Grand, Hotel and Casino) and Nicolas Rio (Jean-Marie Auboine Chocolates) who were awarded Best Chocolate Showpiece and Best Artistry by the judging panel. The inspiration for their design was found in one of the more famous heroines seen in video games, Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider franchise. Their design highlighted the various traps and challenges faced by the character, all rendered in exquisitely crafted chocolate work.

Chosen by the audience for the People’s Choice Award was Team Julian Perrigo-Jimenez (Caesars Palace, Las Vegas) and Jordan Snider (Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino) for their chocolate showpiece titled “The Countdown.” Their design highlighted some of the key components found in all video games - villains, obstacles and timing. Sponsor’s Choice, went to Team Cher Harris (The Hershey Hotel) and Joseph Settepani (Pasticceria Bruno), whose sugar showpiece portrayed the classic video game scenario of the Princess Peach having to be rescued from Donkey Kong by the ever plucky plumber, Mario.

The National Showpiece Championship calls for competitors to push the boundaries of normal showpiece construction, but without requiring huge financial and personal sacrifices from competitors. Rather than constraining chefs with endless rules and regulations, the National Showpiece Championship is a new form of competition that encourages chefs to compete at the highest level possible. Each team exhibited a high level of creative capability, demonstrating what minimal restrictions produce. Pastry Live wishes to congratulate chefs Bill Foltz and Cori Schlemmer for winning this year’s National Showpiece Championship. Pastry Live also thanks each competitor for their outstanding work, professionalism and for helping to make this yet another successful year.

For more details about Pastry Live and the National Showpiece Championship, please contact Event Producer Chef Paul Bodrogi at chef@pastrylive.com or 678.881.9490. Further information is also available on our website at www.pastrylive.com.