Guest Grand Juror – Sommelier, Consultant (Italy)

Vive a Firenze dove è nato, esperto di vini e Sommellier AIS, ha esperienza nella gestione di attività di ristorazione e catering; è appassionato di gastronomia e di cultura alimentare; Chocolate Tester 1 livello IICT, ha partecipato fin dalla prima edizione italiana all’International Chocolate Award.

Lives in Florence where he was born, wine-expert and Sommelier AIS, has experience in the management of restaurant and catering; He is passionate about food and food culture, Chocolate Tester 1st level IICT, has participated since the first Italian edition of the International Chocolate Awards.

Permanent member – Chocolate/Tea Taster, Wine Sommelier (Italy)

Monica Meschini was a born a curious gourmet. This led her to study a thesis on Indian cuisine in 1987 and become a member of the ‘Association Cordon Bleu’ and train as sommelier. In 1995 she was a founding member of the Chocolate Society. This inspired the birth of the world’s first chocolate-themed venue called “Hemingway” in Florence 1996. In 1999 she became President of Italian Tea Club, and in 2000, The TeaTeam, organising courses with experts Gilles Brochard and Jane Pettigrew. She wrote articles for Italian magazines on French and English tea, chocolate and confectionery.

Collaborating for 20 years with Eurochocolate at the Chocolat Salon and the Chocolate Show in Paris, Copenhagen, London and Tokyo. Her tastings have been attended by over 150,000 people. She collaborated in the guide of the Sweets of the Italian Touring Club, on the jury of Eurochocolate Award of Perugia and President of the jury at Eurochocolate Modica Award.

In 2012 she began as Co-Founder and Partner of the Italian / Mediterranean International Chocolate Awards and Co-Founder of International Institute of Chocolate Tasting. And in 2015 Co-Founder of The Tea Tasting Institute with Gilles Brochard.

Today she continues to collaborate with major international hotel chains for quality control and organising events and training and is tutor chef for The European Bachelor Course at Cordon Bleu School.

Guest Grand Juror – Catering (Italy)

Ildikó Eva Németh was born in Hungary, and lives between Budapest and Florence. She manages restaurant and catering services in Florence. She is a wine expert and also has Level 1 Certificate in Chocolate Tasting.

In September 2015 she organized in Budapest, with Stefano Mecatti, the first International Chocolate Awards for Eastern Europe, expanding the Awards to more new countries, in particular to countries with old traditions in the production of chocolate, like Hungary, Lithuania and Estonia.

Guest Grand Juror – Pasticcere (Italy)

Guest Grand Juror – Pasticcere (Italy)