Dessert Professional magazine named its Top Ten Chocolatiers, honoring ten North American-based artisans and Rhode Island's own Andrew Shotts is on the list.

Each of the 10 are "Chocolatiers whose confectionery craft exemplifies the use of chocolate, and whose contributions have elevated the chocolate industry," the magazine editors wrote. Awards will be presented later this month.

Each of the ten has taken a different path to cacao success. Some like Shotts who owns Garrison Confections, were pastry chefs, while others have more confection backgrounds.

Here's the list in alphabetical order:

JIN CALDWELL
Mars Retail Group, Las Vegas, NV

MARKUS CANDINAS
Candinas Chocolatier, Verona, WI

PATRICK COSTON
2 Chicks With Chocolate, Parlin, NJ

THOMAS HAAS
Thomas Haas Fine Chocolates, Vancouver, BC

NORMAN LOVE
Norman Love Confections, Ft. Myers, FL

MICHAEL RECCHIUTI
Recchuiti Confections, San Francisco, CA

JULIAN ROSE
Moonstruck Chocolate, Portland, OR

JEFF SHEPHERD
Lillie Belle Farms, Central Point, OR

ANDREW SHOTTS
Garrison Confections, Providence, RI

JACQUES TORRES
Jacques Torres Chocolate, New York, NY