The 1st Commis Pastry Chef and Assistant Sommelier at Le Manoir aux Quat` Saisons have won this year`s Wines of Roussillon Dessert Trophy.
Anne Coquelin and Thibaut Panas (pictured, centre with Eric Aracil, Export Director, Wines of Roussillon and Sophie Roberts-Brown of the Academy of Food and Wine) wowed judges with their dessert and wine match of Manjari Chocolate ‘Sable Breton’ with Black Provencal Fig and Rivesaltes, Domaine Gerard Gauby, Caricia, 2005 at the final on Monday.
The competition`s final four teams from Compass Group – Restaurant Associates, Maze, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons and Tom Aikens Restaurant, were asked to prepare and present their perfect pairing of an original chocolate dessert creation with a Roussillon Vin Doux Naturel from AOC Banyuls, Maury, Muscat de Rivesaltes or Rivesaltes.
The winning duo will now go through to compete in the European final in Perpignan in February next year.
Panas said: “We are delighted to have won this competition. Anne and myself worked really hard on our dessert and wine matching combination and were grilled by our team at Le Manoir until presentation and delivery were perfect. We are looking forward to competing in Perpignan in February and will be proud to represent Britain”.
Coquelin will also attend a four-day course in Perpignan at the Ecole Internationale de Patisserie of world champion pastry chef, Olivier Bajard and Panas will be invited on a four-day visit to producers of Roussillon’s finest wines.