Here are the chocolatiers of the year

Every year, the Gault&Millau chocolate guide elects the best chocolatier. Today, Dominique Persoone, Van Dender and Pierre Pas were among the winners.

For this year's guide, a selection was made from 123 chocolatiers in Belgium and Luxembourg, representing more than 170 addresses. The selection was made on the basis of several blind tastings.

Gault&Millau noticed that sustainability plays an increasingly important role. "Belgian and Luxembourg chocolatiers are looking for the best chocolate beans in the world, which they are increasingly processing from 'bean to bar' in their ateliers," it sounds.

With The Chocolate Line, Dominique Persoone has been "hyperactive as a pioneer and groundbreaking chocolatier for 30 years", Gault&Millau echoes. Meanwhile, son Julius has also joined the business. Persoone often uses the term 'sexy', "to emphasise that chocolate can be hip, cool and seductive", says the culinary guide. "And to show that his relationship with chocolate, besides being professional, is above all passionate, appealing to the chocolate freak who likes to return to the roots with him."

For Brussels, Herman Van Dender was awarded. With this, "our tasting panel underlines the perseverance and commitment of this artisanal chocolatier who already started with the 'bean-to-bar' concept a few years ago," says the guide. At the award ceremony, Van Dender gave his simple definition for a good praline: "It has to appeal to the senses. Then you immediately want another one!"

In Wallonia, Pierre Pas, from Bastogne, was named chocolatier of the year. The discovery of the year is also across the language border: By Michèle in Herstal.

© BELGA PHOTO JORGE DIRKX ​ - Chocolate-maker Dominique Persoone finishing one of his creation, at the Palace at the Meir, during the special opening for the press of the project called "Paleis op de Meir" (Palace at the Meir), on Wednesday 05 May 2010 in Antwerp.