Judging Chocolate | #PodSaveChocolate Ep 107
Episode 107 of #PodSaveChocolate is an exploration/explanation of judging entries in the 2025 edition (Season 4) of the Craft Chocolat Challenge.
When (and Where) to Watch
Links below to watch LIVE and to view the archived episode.
Click on this (shareable) link to watch on YouTube. Please subscribe (free!) to the @PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel, like this video, comment, and share this episode to help grow the #PSC community.
Clay Gordon
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Episode 107 Overview
Episode 107 is all about getting all judgy and stuff with/about/over chocolate.
I will be talking about my experiences judging over 40 (of 65+) entries in this year’s Craft Chocolat Challenge as well as chatting about what makes the CCC different from other competitions and why I like to judge this competition over others.
The Craft Chocolat Challenge is a different sort of competition, designed for smaller companies, some of which are starting out, for them to get feedback on their bars and experience participating in competitions – many entering a competition for the first time is invaluable.
There are only four judging categories, there are only three awards per category (so no awards inflation to encourage more entries and earn more money), and there are no entry fees to participate, And, if you win in three editions (no matter the award level), you are graduated as a “Master” and can no longer compete.
Click here to see all of the official entries in this year’s challenge.
Adding value for all entrants and entries via a new platform. PLUS anyone can be an unofficial judge
Backstory and Other Topic Resource Links
I got my start as staffer for the National and World Pastry Team Championships starting back in 2003. While I was not a judge, I did get to see the judging process from the inside, got to meet and take classes from many of the judges – internationally known pastry chefs and chocolatiers – and got to taste many competition entries over a decade. I had been writing for the publishers of Chocolatier and Pastry Art & Design magazines – who were the organizers of the Championships and the World Pastry Forum. – since 2001 So, I was in the right place at the right time and knew the right people.
I was asked to be the head judge of an independent competition – The Next Generation Chocolatier Competition – in 2008. In this case, I had known the organizer since I started writing about chocolate. I did not judge the first year but made some comments about the judging process when I attended the awards announcement party for the first season. Having opened my mouth, I was asked to be the head judge for the second season, during which I completely changed up the judging system. The competition ended when the organizer was unable to secure sufficient sponsorship support.
For the International Chocolate Awards I was asked to judge Worlds rounds in London, Americas rounds in NY/NJ, and rounds of the Peruvian competition in Lima. Again, the requests came because I personally knew the organizers. The same is true when I was asked to judge in the Good Food Awards – members of the committees for the Chocolate and Confectionery categories reached out to me for assistance which led to invitations to judge.
While I have been asked to judge in the Academy of Chocolate Awards, the judging has never been timed for some other event in London that I was being compensated to attend. I could not justify the travel expenses for a trip just to judge.
Links to other stories and resources mentioned in the livestream will be added after the episode.
Questions?
If you have questions or want to comment, you can do so during the episode or, if you are a ChocolateLife member, you can add them in the Comments below at any time.
More Episode Hashtags (and Related Accounts to Follow)
#cocoa #cacao #cacau
#chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate
#PodSaveChoc #PSC
#LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife
Future Episodes
I am traveling to NY for the Salon du Chocolat. The next scheduled episode is:
Salon du Chocolat Trip and Show report.
#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives
To read an archived post and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards, below.
Clay Gordon
Clay Gordon
Clay Gordon
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