Photo by Kevin Fox/courtesy East Van Roasters
Talk about sweet news: East Van Roasters has just nabbed some big wins at the 2019 International Chocolate Awards World Final for a couple of their incredible creations.
The chocolatier's Cranberry Spruce, made with juicy pâte de fruit on top of spruce-infused ganache, won silver and the Cardi C, a cardamom and coffee-infused ganache with a crunchy feuilletine, earned bronze.
Ahead of the International competition, East Van Roasters also won awards in the Canadian competition.
East Van Roasters is a social enterprise operated by the PHS Community Services Society and not only do they produce incredible, “bean to bar” chocolate but they also employ women who live in the DTES and face various barriers to employment.
The chocolates are designed by head chocolatier Gizelle Pare. Last year, we sat down with East Van Roasters' manager and chocolate maker, Shelley Bolton, for an in depth-chat on the V.I.A. Podcast.
You can find East Van Roasters at their cafe at 319 Carrall Street in Vancouver, and right now at the Vancouver Christmas Market.
Here's a full breakdown of their recent awards:
East Van Roasters 2019 International Chocolate Awards World Final
Flavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles category:
Silver: Cranberry Spruce, pâte de fruit on top of spruce-infused ganache.
Bronze: Cardi C, cardamom and coffee-infused ganache with a crunchy feuilletine.
East Van Roasters 2019 International Chocolate Awards Canadian Chocolatier Competition
Nut based pralines with dark chocolate category:
Gold, plus Special Craft and Special Classic: Hazelnut Caramel, chocolate hazelnut and almond butter, with chewy salted caramel.
Silver: Pepita Praline, pumpkin seed praline topped with spiced ganache.
Flavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles category:
Silver: Cranberry Spruce, pâte de fruit on top of spruce-infused ganache.
Silver: Cardi C, cardamom and coffee-infused ganache with a crunchy feuilletine.
Dark chocolate dragées, enrobed whole nuts category:
Bronze: Chocolate Covered Giant Inca Corn.
East Van Roasters 2019 International Chocolate Awards Americas Bean-to-Bar and Chocolatier Competition
Micro-batch, plain/origin dark chocolate bars category:
Silver: Lachuá, Guatemala 70%.
Bronze: Pangoa, Peru 70%.
