Sweet success for chocolatier

Image above: Courtesy Australian Cake Artists & Decorators Association (ACADA).

An Eatons Hill chocolatier has been crowned Chocolate Artist of the Year at the Cake Oscars.

CoCouture head chocolatier Monica Pearson says she’s humbled by the honour and fell into creating works of art from chocolate by accident after being given classes at the Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School in Melbourne for Mother’s Day.

The school is run by renowned chocolatier Kirstin Tibbles, who was dubbed the queen of chocolate by Masterchef.

“I’d said I didn’t want any presents but the kids insisted, so I asked if I could go and do a course,” Monica explains.

“I was hooked straight away – I went back four or five times.”

Monica has had to switch her focus from creating works of chocolate art and bomboniere for weddings in the wake of COVID.

“Now brides have prioritised what they want and bomboniere are not top of the list,” she says.

Instead, she’s working her magic for events, with stunning table centrepieces, dessert platters and other delectable treats for guests.

Run by the Australian Cake Artists and Decorators Association, the Cake Oscars. are the most coveted awards in Australasia.

Best of the best

They celebrate the achievements of the best cake and cookie artists, wedding cake designers, pastry chefs, chocolate artisans and businesses in the industry.

“I am so honoured and proud, I’m really proud of myself,” Monica says.

“It’s a personal thing for me, to know I’m on the right track.”

The winner of the Chocolate Artist of the Year is determined by public vote.

“It comes down to four finalists from three nominees,” she says.

“The other three were really wonderful artists, they’re top-notch.”

Monica is thrilled people loved her entry – a scarecrow she’s been planning for months.

“I had it in my head for 12 months and I had to work out how to put it together.

“It took lots of research and I had to make a solid base and carve into it and glue the arms on.”