Amoretti 2009 National Pastry Team Championship

Ten teams of three pastry chefs compete for 13 hours over the course of two days, creating plated desserts, entremet, entremet glace, three different bon bons, a selection of petits gateaux, a sugar showpiece, and a chocolate showpiece. The winning team receives a boatload of cash and the privilege of representing the US in the 2010 Worlds.

All while an appreciative audience (and a roving band of work judges) scrutinizes their every move.

If you love pastry and baking (and celebrity pastry chefs), and are looking for an excuse to travel to the Arizona dessert in July(?) you owe it to yourself to be a part of the crowd of scrutinizers.