National Selections : Belgium :
FAQ
1. Pralines : is it allowed to bring transfert sheets?
Yes, this is allowed.
2. Pralines : is it allowed to bring a spray gun?
Yes, compressors and spray guns will be available, but it is allowed to bring a proper spray gun.
3. Pralines : do they have to be placed directly onto the chocolate showpiece, or can they be put on a mirror or so and then on the showpiece?
Directly on the chocolate showpiece.
4. Mystery Praline : after the presentation of the mystery pralines to the technical jury will the remaining number then be placed at the tables of the working boxes?
These will be presented to the public at the proclamation.
5. Mystery Praline : Can personal recipes on paper, computer etc be brought?
No, this is not allowed. The contestants are challenged to prepare a praline with the experience and knowledge they have. A calculator however, is allowed.
6. Mystery Praline: Can gold leaf be used?
No, this is not allowed.
7. Mystery Praline: Can colourings be brought or will it be available?
No, this is not allowed and it won't be available.
8. Showpiece : can parts of the showpiece extend over the 40x40cm base?
No, the base must be max. 40x40 cm at the bottom and on its entire height.
9. Showpiece : can 'tuile' with cocoa beans be used for decoration?
No, only chocolate, cocoa and cocoa deriving products. Cocoa beans are allowed as well.
10. Showpiece : are gold leaf and gold powder allowed to colour the showpiece?
Yes, these are allowed. Apart from edible lustre colours, only fat-soluble colours on a cocoa butter basis are allowed.
11. Showpiece : can the showpiece be glued to the wooden base that the Organisation provides?
Yes, this is allowed, but only with chocolate.
12. Showpiece : is it allowed to use modelling chocolate (sugar, water, glucose and dark, milk or white chocolate + colourings)?
Yes, this is allowed BUT only in small quantities and only where normal chocolate cannot be used.
13. Showpiece : what is the height of the 'base' for the showpiece?
It is a 107 cm high, dark base in tropical wood.
14. Showpiece : will it be possible to spray the showpiece 'on spot'?
The showpiece can be sprayed in place, but please use cardboard to protect the environment!
15. Showpiece : can the pralines that are placed on the showpiece be fake?
No, only the real pralines, as they are presented to the jury, can be integrated into the showpiece.
16. Recipes : 10 copies of the recipe books will be haned in to the Organising Committee. Who will get these books and when?
The technical jury will each get a recipe book in the morning and the rest are for the Organising Committee.
17. Recipes : do the recipes/pictures that I send in with my application, have to be the ones that will be reproduced at the competition?
No, these can just be recipes/pictures of creations you have realised in the past, to give the Organisation an impression of your expertise.
18. Recipes : when a contestant is allowed to go the finals, can he/she repeat his/her recipes from the national preliminary contest, or only new ones?
The finalists are free to repeat their own recipes from their national competition, or create entirely new ones. They can adapt and further develop as they wish.
19. Cake : can the cake be integrated into the showpiece?
Yes, this is allowed but not obligatory.
20. Cake : is it allowed to use plastic sheets for decoration? Both bubbled and straight?
Yes, this is allowed.
21. Cake : is it allowed to use sjablones?
Yes, this is allowed.
22. Cake : would it be allowed to bring a drawing for the decorations for instance to be placed under a plastic foil?
Yes, this is allowed.
23. Cake : how many to be decorated?
2 cakes must be decorated : 1 for photography and to be shown to jury and 1 to be integrated into the showpiece. The one that has been used for pictures can be cut and tasted by the guests at the proclamation.
24. Cake : can we use our own attributes to prepare the decorations for the cake?
No, only the ingredients and material provided in the Mystery Box, with the exception of small working material like knives, spoons etc. No home made moulds, recipients, decorations etc can be used in the Mystery Box
25. Cake : can moulds / forms be brought for decoration of the cakes?
No! Only the moulds provided by the Organisation.
26. Cake: Can a base be brought?
Yes, this is allowed.
27. Equipment : do you bring a microwave oven for each contestant, and is it allowed to use it for tempering of chocolate when working with the mystery box?
Yes, we bring one for each contestant and it is allowed for tempering and any other use.
28. Equipment : Will a compressor and spray gun be available?
No, this will not be available. It is allowed to bring one for finishing the showpieces. If a contestant wishes to use his own compressor and spray gun with the Mystery Box , he will have to allow other contestanst to use his equipment as well so that all have the same possibilities.
29. Equipment : Is a freezer available for the cakes that are brought in the day before the contest?
Yes, this is available.