An episode of TLC’s Chocolate Wars, filmed at the Santa Barbara Zoo in March, will debut tonight, May 10, at 10:00 p.m. The series documents three of the nation’s top chocolatiers as they fight for bragging rights and a winning $5,000 prize.
This particular episode features three chefs as they compete to build the ultimate chocolate showpiece for display at an upcoming private celebration at the zoo. Estelle Sandhaus, the zoo’s director of conservation and research, was able to guest judge on the episode, thus combining her passion for the institution and for chocolate. Accompanying her in judging was renowned pastry chef Andrew Shotts and celebrity chocolatier Hasty Torres.
“I usually spend my days tromping through poison oak to monitor nests of endangered California condors. On this day, I indulged in my other passion… eating chocolate” said Sandhaus.