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Luminaria’s Pastry Chef Andrea Clover Takes First Place
at the 18th Annual Chocolate Fantasy Chocolatier
Competition & Fundraiser
More than 750 people attended to help raise funds for
the New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation
SANTA FE, N.M.– History has never
tasted as chocolaty sweet as it did at the 18th Annual
Chocolate Fantasy Chocolatier Competition hosted at the
Hyatt Regency Albuquerque on Mar. 6. The event’s theme –
A Greek Odyssey – challenged 16 New Mexico pastry chefs
and culinary students to create a chocolate rendition of
a person, place or event of significance in the Greek
Odyssey.
Chef Andrea Clover and "The Deceptive
Conqueror"
A first year entrant with
a passion for chocolate, Andrea Clover molded 125 pounds
of dark chocolate to create a two and half foot tall
rendition of “The Deceptive Conqueror’ scene, which
depicted Greek warriors exiting the infamous Trojan
Horse and preparing for their surprise attack on the
City of Troy. Clover’s chocolate masterpiece took first
place in the ‘Best Taste-Most Artistic’ award in the
Restaurant, Caterers and Artists category.
The competition featured three entry categories: 1)
students and schools, 2) restaurants, caterers and
artists and 3) hotels and casinos. All entries had to be
comprised of 80 percent chocolate and be 100 percent
edible. The New Mexico Museum of Natural History
Foundation invited a team of culinary experts outside of
the region to judge the competition. Participants were
judged on creativity, use of theme, taste and
composition. While the entries themselves were for
display only, guests were able to indulge in the
chocolate samplings that were free flowing that evening.
“This entry took nearly 200 hours over a three month
period to create, but winning first place made it all
worth it,” said Clover. “The pastry talent New Mexico
harbors is amazing, each entry was exquisite. I am
humbled to have won among such a talented group of
pastry chefs and aspiring students.”
Event proceeds help the New Mexico Museum of Natural
History Foundation financially support the cultural,
educational and scientific programs and purposes of the
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. This
chocolatier competition is one of several fundraising
events it hosts to provide identified services to
enhance the programs and mission of the New Mexico
Museum of Natural History & Science.
For chocolate aficionados who did not attend the event,
Clover serves a campfire chocolate peanut butter smore
fondue for two daily in Luminaria that offers a sweet
sampling of Clover’s chocolate talents. For more
information about pastry delights available in Luminaria,
please visit www.innatloretto.com.
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