Chocolate Desserts by Pierre Herme
May 26, 2011 by admin
Filed under french food cookbooks
Chocolate Desserts by Pierre Herme
In their second collaboration, Pierre Herme and Dorie Greenspan unveil the secrets of sumptuous chocolate desserts. Their book offers a delicious collection of recipes, all featuring the world’s most intoxicating ingredient: chocolate!Since Pierre Hermé is probably the best pastry chef in the world, and chocolate the best dessert flavor, it’s no surprise that this stellar combination, presented in Chocolate Desserts by Pierre Hermé is dazzling. Hermé’s beautiful recipes are written by Dorie G
List Price: $ 50.00
Price: $ 26.00
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Terrific book,
Contents. Cakes: Loaf cake,Suzy cake, St. Honore cake, eclair, black forest cake, chocolate meringue cake, puff pastry w/chocolate cream and with orange cream. Cookies: cigarette cookies, macaroons, florentines, financiers. Tarts: chocolate fig tart, nutella tart, pecan tart. Puddings: rice pudding, coffee/whisky cappuccino. Candies: regular truffles, caramel truffles, nut truffles, candied fruits, passionfruit/milk chocolate truffles. Ice cream: Different ice creams, banana splits, sherbet, ice cream sandwich with meringue. drinks: variety of hot chocolate.
I recommend this book. The pictures are beautiful (though not everything is photographed), and the recipes are well explained, Most importantly, all of the recipes work (Pierre’s recipes always work). The binding on this book is very strong, so you can actually use it as a cookbook.
One of the other reviewers said this book was for “novices”, I see the point, but do not agree. I think this book is a little harder than “Desserts by Pierre Herme”. For instance, it it asks for passion fruit pulp in one recipe (“desserts” asks for passion fruit juice, which is easier to get), some of the recipes assume you have an icecream maker, and I know of no amateur who makes St. Honore cakes. “Desserts by Pierre Herme” is organized with building blocks first, recipes second, “chocolate desserts” is the other way around. To me this assumes you know the recipes and just need to check the back for reference. ON the other hand, this book is definitely easier than his other book “The patisserie of Pierre Herme” (which also has building blocks at the end). That book assumes you have nut paste (which you can make as an amateur, but a pain), are willing to make Joconde cakes to wrap your cake around, can make chocolate ruffles, and so on. If you’re a professional, that’s the book you want.
This book definitely gets 5 stars, but keep in mind who you are first. If you are total beginner, there are some easy recipes here but some things will be too hard. IN this case I think “cocolat” by Alice Medrich is a good, easier alternative, or even “desserts by Pierre Herme” (that book has less chocolate though). I think a intermediate-advanced amateur will get the most out of this book. If you’re a pro, you won’t learn new techniques. A pro would get this book if he was a fan of Pierre and wanted to see Pierre’s thinking and the original way he puts together components (for instance his use of cinnamon in general, or pears in St. Honore cake).
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Absolument Delicieux, Decadent, Mais Non Difficile!,
While the photos in this wonderful book are enough to make your mouth water, reading the fantastic descriptions will force even the most uninventive baker to hop in his/her car down to the nearest gourmet specialty shop and purchase a supply of Valrona’s sumptuous dark chocolate, parchment paper and a fun assortment of accoutrements that would please the most well-turned out pastry chef. Those who have never used a pastry bag, need not panic; the results are well-worth the process. The recipes are fun and fantastic, the tastes, subtle and the step-by-step directions, complete with Pierre’s sidebar tips and suggestions, foolproof. The book is divided into different sections focusing on Cakes, Cookies, Tarts, Custards/Mousses, Truffles/Candies, Ice Cream/Frozen Desserts, Hot and Cold Drinks. The book is prefaced by a brief essay on what you can expect from the book and finished to perfection with Pierre’s base recipes and a dictionary of terms, techniques, equipment and ingredients with a source guide. I especially enjoyed concocting Pierre’s Chocolate Macaroons, the Financiers, and the Moist and Nutty Brownies. The total chocolate experience of the Original Hot Chocolate is Proustian, (with or without the madeleine)reminiscient of that served in a Parisian specialty shop in a tiny cup. The books presentation alone would make a lovely gift even for the coffee-table brand of patisserie chef, but for those who are a little more adventuresome, there is much pleasure to be derived from this little gem.
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Chocolate Desserts by Pierre Herme,
As with Pierre Hermes other books the photography is beautiful (not all desserts are photograped) and many of the flavor combinations are interesting to say the least. He cares a great deal about quality and choosing the correct ingredients for each formula and is specific about what to look for/purchase.
Being a professional I would have preferred more difficult formulas and ideas rather than some of the basics such as truffles or french banana split just to name a few. If you are a novice I would suggest this book as it has many interesting ideas as well as basic information. If you are a professional and are looking for a totally new book on chocolate I am not sure that this is it.
My 4 stars are for the facts that it is clear to understand, nice to look at and to say the least, has many good ideas for the novice . Some of the recipes are quite long and may not be for those individuals who want a quick easy recipe.
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