OVER 900 entries from across the world have been received for the 2017 Academy of Chocolate Awards, 300 more than last year. Judging will take place at Westminster Kingsway College in London, commencing on 3rd April.
The Academy, founded in 2005 by five of Britain’s leading chocolate professionals, united in the belief that eating fine chocolate is one of life’s great pleasures is delighted to announce that awardwinning pastry chef and consultant Sarah Hartnett will be the Chair of Judges for the 2017 Awards.
Hartnett will have the job of coordinating a group of expert judges ranging from chocolatiers, pastry chefs, food and drink writers, journalists, buyers and industry experts to award this year’s chocolates Gold, Silver and Bronze awards as well as special awards including; the Golden Bean award, Newcomer award, Mott Green Sustainability award and Rising Star award.
Sarah says: “I am absolutely thrilled to be part of the Academy of Chocolate Awards, which is going from strength to strength each year. The record number of entries is a clear indication of the growing significance they hold in the industry and I am very excited to see what's being produced.”
Since January 2016 Sarah Hartnett has been working as a freelance pastry chef, specializing in the concepts projects tailor made to her customers’ needs. Sarah has also contributed to the two most recent Belgian IBC catalogues for 2016 & 2017 and works closely with Barry Callebaut as an Ambassador. Among her varying projects is the role of Chef Ambassador to UCC Coffee UK & Ireland, where she is working on food and coffee pairings.
Previous to this Sarah was Head Pastry Chef at the Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly. She joined Starwood Hotels and Resorts in 2003, where she spent ten years working with Andrew Bennett MBE. During her time in London, Sarah has worked under the guidance of John Williams at Claridges and also Martyn Nail. She achieved the Award of Excellence in 1999 from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts of which Sarah is now an active member. Sarah is currently joint-chairman for the pastry committee for the Annual Awards of Excellence.
In 2010 Sarah won Pastry Chef of The Year at the Craft Guild of Chefs Award. Also in 2010 Sarah was awarded the EAME Starwood “President’s Award”.
Sarah is an Honorary Fellow at Westminster Kingsway College for Excellence in Education and in 2016 Sarah was made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, invested with John W.Reed.
