French chef named top chocolate maker

Frenchman Vincent Vallee has been crowned the world champion chocolate maker in Paris, beating top chocolatiers from around the globe in a three-day final late last month.

"It's the first time a French chef has won the competition," said organizers Cacao Barry, who have held the tournament finals in the French capital since 2005.

Vallee, 27, won with his "Inspired by Nature" theme, notably thanks to a chocolate sculpture of a woman with a cat's head as well as a bird cage decorated with a chocolate toad, two dragonflies and lilies.