Corporal Richard Heppell, who has served as a chef in the RAF for nearly ten years, is a member of the RAF Culinary Arts Team, based at RAF Halton near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
He has diplomas in Chocolate Entremets and showpieces from Belfast College and Callebaut training academy, and on Monday he will be pitting his creative talents against five of the best "Haute Couture" chocolatiers in the UK.
Cpl Heppell, 32, is looking forward to the challenge:
"I wanted to participate in The World Chocolate Masters to compete against the world's finest chocolatiers," he said. "It will be fantastic to work alongside the best of the best."
Cpl Heppell has previously won the Silver Award in the 'Cold Buffet: Sweets' category at Hotelympia 2008, and gained a Silver Award in the Combined Services Culinary Challenge in 2007. He has also won several awards from Bronze to Gold over his career.
The World Chocolate Masters aims to showcase the very best in contemporary chocolate. Now in its third year, the competition will see creative chocolate professionals battling it out to create the best "Haute Couture" chocolate creation.
During the one-day final each contestant will be asked to present a chocolate showpiece based on the Haute Couture theme, moulded and dipped pralines, a pastry, and a small showpiece from a "Mystery Box" of ingredients.
Judging the finalists on Monday will be the following masters of their art: Gary Hunter (Westminster Kingsway College), Tony Hoyle (The Grove Hotel) , Keith Hurdman (Thorntons), Thierry Dumouchel (Dumouchel), James Petrie (The Fat Duck), Andre Garrett (Galvin at Windows), Shiela Eggleston (Dewberry Redpoint), Lucas Hollweg (Sunday Times Style Magazine).
The UK Finals of the World Chocolate Masters takes place next Monday, 6 October 2008, at The Restaurant Show in the Earls Court 2 Exhibition Centre, London. Opening hours: 1000hrs - 1700hrs.
Register for free tickets via The Restaurant Show website (see Related Links>>>)