July 7 marks the sweetest celebration, the European Chocolate Day. On 7 July 1524 the first delivery of cocoa beans arrived in Spain from America. That is why Europeans have chosen this date to celebrate chocolate. The Aztecs are believed to have been the first humans to make chocolate: they used to call it divine food and associated it with the goddess of fertility. The first chocolate bar was made by John Cadbury in 1842 and some time later Daniel Peter created milk chocolate.

On this day of sweet temptation we talk to pastry chef Alex Ivanchev who has twice already won the nomination for Bulgaria's Best Pastry Chef. The young man has impressed juries with his innovative work, precision and refined taste. He has triumphed over the competition with the amazing sculptures he makes from chocolate. Pastry became his choice for a career after he was trained at a course in Qatar. Following long practice abroad and competitions won Ivanchev is currently pastry chef at a big chain of restaurants in Sofia. „My love of desserts derives from my love of life”, says Alex and looks at his girl-friend Steffi who is also a pastry expert. What are however the challenges on the job?

„When one works with love, there is no big challenge. There is a lot of precision but I do not find this difficult. There are also long hours of work. It is a rule in our business that a pastry chef cannot possibly satisfy the varying tastes of all customers. Some of them are conservative, and a he or she has to try and persuade them to try something new and surprising.”

Alex's favorite dessert is profiteroli with pistachios and roses. The young man describes his favorite as an explosion of flavors that gently caress the palate.

Here are some sweet tips from him: „People begin to eat chocolate in large quantities to feel happy and satisfied. They have to appreciate the job of chocolatiers because it is veritable art. Good chocolate is not unhealthy, on the contrary: provided however it is not consumed excessively.”

Finally, on the European Chocolate Day July 7, it is worthwhile recalling the top European chocolate museums - they are in Bruges (Belgium), Cologne (Germany), Geispolsheim (Poland), Barcelona (Spain) and Prague (the Czech Republic).

English Daniela Konstantinova