Xavier Berger, the best worker in France after his grandfather and father
“It’s a dream I’ve had since I started the business and I’m finally making it come true.” At the age of 39, Xavier Berger, already the French chocolate champion in 2010, won the missing star in his already brilliant career as a wizard of black gold: he won the Meilleur Ouvrier de France title. “That’s the best part of our craft: being judged and recognized by your peers, bravely defending your work in front of a jury.” In order to reach the top of the profession and be awarded the “Grail”, Xavier Berger prepared as a top athlete. The “only” finalist in the MOF competition in 2018, undoubtedly because the stress and the importance of the stakes overtook him, this time the chocolate maker “did everything possible to succeed, as if I had to play for victory in a high-level competition.
“This competition pushes us to surpass ourselves”
For example, I worked with a psychic coach on managing emotions and sophrology. This competition pushes us to surpass ourselves, to sublimate ourselves, to look for raw materials and innovative techniques that we have never used in our daily professional life. And because I have full confidence in my colleagues (Editor’s note: especially Xavier and his wife Marlene Royalty, who took over on October 1st), I have been able to devote myself 100% to my competition.” Xavier Berger, who underwent at least five months of intensive training, succeeded in the first selection in March before qualifying for the grand final along with eight other “competitors” in Orleans from November 1 to 4. in the competition, the chocolatier from Tarbes produced an excellent dresser table, which mixes realism and grandeur with a lamp and a feathered hat, as well as many other “putty” chocolate pieces. The buildings of the apprentice training center, his works ” Three juries of Meilleurs Ouvriers de France examined his working method, from the management of raw materials to the fluidity of gesture, the aspect of taste and the artistic presentation. AB.
Xavier Berger is proud to have won the highest distinction in his profession in two ways: on an individual basis, this award will bring him “lifelong recognition in France and abroad, especially by forcing me to pass it on to new generations. ” and above all on a family basis.
The Bergers are the first family of artisans to win the prized title over three generations and in three different categories: chocolatier for Xavier, ice cream master for his grandfather Louis in 1982, and pastry chef for his father Patrick in 1989. For Xavier, it remains only to wait for the official presentation of the medal and the blue-white-red bordered jacket by the President of the Republic at La Sorbonne in May 2023, to wear the suit of light forever.
“It’s a dream I’ve had since I started the business and I’m finally making it come true.” At the age of 39, Xavier Berger, already the French chocolate champion in 2010, won the missing star in his already brilliant career as a wizard of black gold: he won the Meilleur Ouvrier de France title.
“That’s the best part of our craft: being judged and recognized by your peers, bravely defending your work in front of a jury.”
In order to reach the top of the profession and be awarded the “Grail”, Xavier Berger prepared as a top athlete. The “only” finalist in the MOF competition in 2018, undoubtedly because the stress and the importance of the stakes overtook him, this time the chocolate maker “did everything possible to succeed, as if I had to play. for the victory in a high-level competition”.
“This competition pushes us to surpass ourselves”
“For example, he continues, I have worked with a mental coach on emotion management and sophrology. This competition pushes us to surpass ourselves, to sublimate ourselves, to look for raw materials and innovative techniques that we never use in our daily work. And because , I have full confidence in my colleagues (Editor’s note: especially Xavier and his wife Marlene, Royalty, who took over from October 1st) that I was able to dedicate myself 100% to my competition.” After at least five months of intensive training, Xavier Berger from November 1st to 4th He passed the first round in March before qualifying for the grand final in Orleans along with eight other “competitors”.
To marry the “Art Deco” theme suggested by the competition, the chocolatier from Tarb has created a great dressing table, mixing reality and grandeur with a lamp and a feathered hat, as well as many other chocolate pieces. . In the building of the apprentice training center, his works “melted” three juries of Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, who examined the method of work, from the management of raw materials to the fluidity of gesture, the aspect of taste and the artistic presentation. .
Xavier Berger is proud to have won the highest distinction in his profession in two ways: on an individual basis, this award will bring him “lifelong recognition in France and abroad, especially by forcing me to pass it on to new generations. ” and above all on a family basis.
The Bergers are the first family of artisans to win the prized title over three generations and in three different categories: chocolatier for Xavier, ice cream master for his grandfather Louis in 1982, and pastry chef for his father Patrick in 1989. .
All that remains for Xavier is to wait for the official presentation of the medal and the blue-white-red-bordered jacket by the President of the Republic at La Sorbonne in May 2023, and finally don the suit of light.
