When Wouter Tjeertes joined the Playa Family at Hyatt Ziva & Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall his official title was Head Pastry Chef. It wasn't until I met him a month later did I realize his passion was fueled by all things chocolate.
Fast forward to 2018 and he's affectionately known as the resident Chocologist, sharing his passion with guests and always thinking about what's next. We had an opportunity to sit down and talk with Chef Wouter during a recent visit to Rose Hall about his journey.
What inspired you to be a chocologist?
The title "chocologist" kind of stuck with me ever since I headed a tree to bar chocolate project in St. Lu. This is where I learned how to grow and process cocoa beans into chocolate which made my knowledge come full circle. At that moment I was the only hotel pastry chef in the world that grew and produced his own chocolate.
What are some of your favorite flavor combinations?
I love to taste and combine things that are beyond your regular flavors. Caramelized bacon and sea salt, spicy jerk and chocolate, blue cheese almond and white chocolate… it all depends on the time of day, the company you are in and the beverage that goes with it. Ruby chocolate is high on my radar right now as well as chocolate and cheese pairings.
Do you have a "signature" dish or a favorite dish?
We have just launched our new seafood menu in Calypso, one of our restaurants. The Pina Colada cheesecake is a huge hit and is my favorite at this moment. It is gluten-free, has a coconut macaroon bottom and passion fruit curd on the side. It just hits all the marks. For any guests visiting, this is a MUST try!
What is your most memorable experience since joining the team at Hyatt Ziva & Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall?
We have recreated "the Thinker" by famous sculptor Rodin by carving 60 lbs of chocolate.
Can you tell us about how the pastry team is supporting the Granville 404 project and what type of difference it has made thus far?
The pastry team was looking for our own way to support the Granville 404 project since we are not always able to physically go there ourselves. We came up with the 'Z' bar, a unique set of chocolate bars sold in the gift shops with a percentage of the proceeds going to the project. We have designed our own wrapper and created a signature Jerk chocolate bar that makes one of the 3 flavors in each set we sell. We hand mold, wrap and package each bar within our pastry shop. Everybody is involved, from our gift shop team to sales and marketing, we all try and generate funds for the school.
For guests visiting Hyatt Ziva & Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall, be sure to take Chef Wouter's Chocolate Making Class held every Monday and Thursday at Sweet Bitez in Rose Hall Village. It's a must-try activity during any visit and one you certainly won't forget.
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