2008 GOLDEN SCOOP AWARDS

Monday, May 12th – Application Deadline
Thursday, June 19th – Judging for Finalists
Monday, June 23rd – Awards Ceremony

Now in its fifth year, PastryScoop.com's Golden Scoop Awards celebrate innovation, creativity, and excellence in the pastry arts. The awards attract applications from top pastry chefs, bakers, and confectioners from around the country, including those commended by the James Beard Foundation Awards, StarChefs.com Rising Stars Revue, and Pastry Art & Design's 10 Best Pastry Chefs in America. In addition to being featured on PastryScoop.com and in Food Arts magazine, each winner receives a prize of $1,000.

Professional chefs, bakers, and confectioners are invited to submit entries in any of the five award categories:

• E. Guittard Chocolate Best Dessert Menu – creativity, originality, balance, and overall appeal of menu concepts
   
• Grand Marnier Most Innovative Dessert – innovative use of flavor, ingredients, or technique in a plated dessert
   
• Best Dessert Revival – adaptation of a classic or nostalgic dessert from the past in a plated dessert
   
• Best Confection – overall execution and flavor of a candy or confection
   
• Best Bakery Recipe – overall execution and flavor of a baked good

The top contenders in each category, as selected by PastryScoop.com, will be invited to present their creations in a blind tasting to a distinguished panel of pastry chefs and food industry professionals on June 19th. The winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony attended by pastry chefs and press at The French Culinary Institute in New York City on June 23rd.

• Click here to read the contest rules and to download an application form.
• Read about winners from previous years: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004