Heather Bennett is something of a chocolate superstar having now won both the 2014 and 2015 Godiva Chocolate Challenge.
Godiva's #chocolateweek 2015 fabulously chocolate filled competition is a culmination of a yearly search for the best recipe out there to excite and impress. This year with the added bonus of supporting the awesome Breast Cancer Now.
20th March 2014 was a glorious winning day for Heather Bennett, so with the 2015 comp she pulled out all the stops to bring home the trophy yet again. With strong contenders threatening her chances it was an evening of sweet aroma and chilled tension with chefs from around the country proposing fantastic dishes for the judges to pick.
Judged by a fine collection of tastebuds; Mark Hix (HIX restaurants), William Sitwell (writer and BBC Masterchef food critic), Gizzi Erskine (chef and food writer) and Jean Apostolou (Godiva's head chocolatier), the standard was high and certainly showed why my interesting but 'tried hard' entry fell be the wayside. Deservedly so in my opinion, as whilst my savoury cooking is not bad, I am happy to concede all sweet/dessert cooking to other more worthy contestants.
The clean-cut and well appointed ALNO kitchens used for the final 'cook-off' were courtesy of Halcyon's Wigmore showroom, and thanks to Hush Heath English Sparkling Wine, the sparkles flowed well from the start matching the Breast Cancer Now pink theme. In my book a good evening always starts with a kitchen and a decent sparkling rose!
Heather's winning dessert will be served in one of Mark Hix’s London restaurants, and will also visit Godiva’s Atelier of Chocolate Innovation.
All four finalists will enjoy a 5-star weekend trip to Brussels.
Looks like I need to practice my chocolate skills for chocolate week next year then!
Well done to all who entered, Godiva, BreastCancerNow and of course winner Heather Bennett
