Since 1999, the World and National Pastry Team Championships have pitted teams of the world's best pastry chefs against each other in a competition to produce the most delectable and spectacular desserts ever imagined. Though the creations themselves may be whimsical and fun, the competition is serious, and the winning desserts are unmatched wonders of flavor and presentation.

With Plating for Gold, you can re-create these stunning masterpieces in your own kitchen¿whether you're a professional, an aspiring pastry chef, or a dedicated home baker. Pastry chef Tish Boyle presents a collection of the best plated dessert recipes from the first decade of this prestigious championship along with step-by-step guidance, helpful line drawings to illustrate plating techniques, and gorgeous full-color photographs of the finished masterpieces.

You'll find one-of-a-kind recipes created by renowned pastry chefs like Ewald Notter, Jacquy Pfeiffer, and Sébastien Canonne, as well as professional insight and advice on building flavor and plating for perfection. Recipes include delightful creations such as Team Schoenbeck's Fra?cheur de Cavaillon, an innovative combination including poached tomato and ice wine granité; Team Lhuillier's intricate Coconut Cream with Strawberry Confit and Fromage Blanc Ice Cream, featuring bright flavors and delicate filled honey tuiles; and Team China's offering of Litchi Cream with Red Fruit Compote, with unexpected floral undertones highlighting its exotic flavor profile.

While you experiment with these amazing recipes, you'll master fundamental elements of the pastry chef's art, from cakes, sorbets, and mousses to sauces, syrups, and tuiles. The book also includes practical guides to flavor pairing, essential kitchen equipment, and choosing the best ingredients, as well as expert advice on creating beautifully composed plates. Meanwhile, candid pho-tographs of pastry chefs in action give you a behind-the-scenes look at competition at the highest level.

Whether you aspire to compete with the best at next year's championships or simply want to amaze and delight guests at your next big dinner party, Plating for Gold is the absolute gold standard in dessert cookbooks.