Melbourne pastry chef deniz Karaca has won first place for australia at the asia Pacific Chocolate Masters in taipei, China.

Winning the event has ensured deniz’s place as a participant at the prestigious World Chocolate Masters, set to be held in Paris in October this year.

deniz, who currently works as executive pastry chef at epicure in Melbourne, spent months preparing for the competition under the guidance of award-winning pastry chef and author Kirsten tibballs of Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School.

having won the australian National Selection of the World Chocolate Masters, deniz was pitted against six leading chocolatiers and pastry chefs from China, India, South Korea, taiwan and Macau to decide who would represent the asia Pacific region in Paris.

Capturing the essence of the competition theme, “architecture of taste”, deniz’s winning showpiece impressed both the jury panel and the audience.

“Just like a building or a bridge, taste has its very own architecture,” deniz said.

“For a building, its strength is measured by the way it is put together just as much as what elements were used to build it, such as wood, stone or steel. the same principal can be applied when creating flavours.”

the World Chocolate Masters, an initiative by Barry Callebaut Chocolate, is the world’s premier culinary competition devoted solely to the art of chocolate. In 2012, the demanding three-day event in Paris saw competitors create a range of chocolate masterpieces, including more than 100 handmade chocolates and a 2m high chocolate showpiece.

deniz’s result at the asia Pacific Chocolate Masters has further boosted the australian chocolate industry’s international profile. the accolade comes on the back of australia’s strong performance in the 2012 World Chocolate Masters, where Seung Yun Lee took fourth place – the highest place ever awarded to an australian competitor.