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Leeds IT Consultant Turned Chocolatier Takes On Great British Bake Off

Leeds’ culinary skills are to be put firmly on the map next week as Managing Director of Leeds based Lauden Chocolate, Stephen Trigg leads a team including Crafthouse’s Stefan Rose and Michelin Star Pastry Chef Nelson Barros in the BBC’s Great British Bake off Creme de la Creme on Tuesday 26th April.

Globally renowned pastry chef judges put the team through their paces as they are briefed to deliver the production of 108 identical pastries in 3 hours, across 3 different types of pastry with 36 of each item that must be identical and consistent in the volume challenge. Then comes the ‘re-working a classic’ challenge where they must turn a traditional dessert into a modern showpiece. It’s yet to be seen if the trio crack under the pressure, or enjoy the sweet smell of success making it through to the semi-finals.

Stephen, who lives in central Leeds, and who established the chocolate business he runs with his wife, from their apartment in 2008, put the team forward for inclusion and has been feeling the pressure. He said: “It was only once I’d submitted our application and it was accepted that I stopped to realise what I had done. I had just put myself up there with the best of the best in the pastry world, alongside truly respected industry professionals…and up until 2 years ago I still worked in IT…! Suddenly the pressure was immense and my sense of responsibility for not letting the team down, and for showcasing Leeds talents to the max, really hit me.”

Within the re-worked dessert challenge Stephen used one of Lauden chocolate’s new bars and was nervous to get the judges reaction, as the flavours are rich and he registers that taste is extremely subjective but he’s excited to highlight how diverse chocolate can be, as part of his mission to help the UK discover more of their tastebuds capabilities. Stephen believes the chocolate industry is going through a revolution as the consumer starts to recognise and look for fine tasting chocolates, with character, depth and lasting taste and he believes that much like a good quality bottle of wine, once you have tasted the finest you cannot go back.

He said: “We didn’t involve ourselves in this to do it half-heartedly, so creativity and passion had to shine through. Chocolate is a great ingredient to craft with, but its complex properties make it very difficult to control - we’ll see how successful our efforts were on Tuesday!”

The Great British Bake Off Creme de la Creme is aired on Tuesday 26th April, on BBC 2 at 8pm and the team are hoping the city will get behind them on social media to showcase Leeds as a centre of culinary excellence with #teamleeds #cremedelacreme #GBBOCreme. Supporters tagging @LaudenChocolate will also have the chance to win a 121 chocolate making workshop with Stephen at Lauden’s Leeds factory.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matthew .