Phuong Truong of The Ambrosia Bakery, Baton Rouge, La., was named 2008 Pillsbury Grand Champion at RBA's Eighth Annual Creative Decorating Competition held last month in Atlantic City. Phuong represented the Deep South Retail Bakers Association in the competition. Daila Siemens, representing Rick's Bakery, Fayetteville, Ark. and the Greater Southwest Retail Bakers Association, took second place, while Patricia Kalupa, representing Kalupa's Bakery in Tampa, Fla. and Southeastern Retail Bakers Association, placed third.

The intense two-day competition was held during the 2008 American Bakery Expo, Sept. 21-23 in Atlantic City. Contestants from around the country competed in six categories: flowers & sprays with borders, wedding cake, rolled fondant, custom design cake, sculpted cake and creative decorating free-style.

The highest scoring individual was determined by a panel of professional baking judges who have the Certified Decorator designation.

Individual category winners were:

Wedding Cake

Phuong Truong, CD
The Ambrosia Bakery; Baton Rouge, La.
Deep South Retail Bakers Association

Rolled Fondant

Rita Llanso
Touche Touchet Bakery; Columbia, Md.

Custom Design Cake

Daila Siemens
Rick's Bakery; Fayetteville, Ark.
Greater Southwest Retail Bakers Assoc.

Flowers & Sprays with Borders

Phuong Truong, CD

Sculpted Cake

Christel Andrew
Kirsten's Danish Bakery; Burr Ridge, Ill.
Chicago Area Retail Bakers Association

Creative Decorating Free-Style

Patricia Kalupa, CD
Kalupa's Bakery; Tampa, Fla.
Southeastern Retail Bakers Association