The Great Book of Chocolate
The Chocolate Lover's Guide with Recipes
Ratings1
Average rating4
A compact connoisseur's guide, with recipes, to today's cutting-edge array of chocolates and chocolate makers from former Chez Panisse pastry chef David Lebovitz. In this compact volume, David Lebovitz gives a succinct cacao botany lesson, explains the process of chocolate making, runs through chocolate terminology and types, presents information on health benefits, offers an evaluating and buying primer, profiles the world's top chocolate makers and chocolatiers (with a whole chapter dedicated to Paris alone!), and shares dozens of little-known factoids in sidebars throughout the book. The Great Book of Chocolate includes more than 50 location and food photographs, and features more than 30 of Lebovitz's favorite chocolate recipes‚ from Black-Bottom Cupcakes to Homemade Rocky Road Candy, Orange and Rum Chocolate Mousse Cake to Double Chocolate Chip Espresso Cookies. His extensive resource section (with websites for international ordering) can bring the world's best chocolate to every door. A self-avowed chocoholic, Lebovitz nibbles chocolate every day‚ and with The Great Book of Chocolate in hand, he figures the rest of us will too.
Reviews
Popular Reviews
Reviews with the most likes.
This book was a fun read. I liked it much more than Lebovitz's Sweet Life in Paris book; its tone is much, much more positive. Considering that this book is about ten years old, some of the info is now outdated, but since the best chocolatiers in the world clearly have staying power, it's not too much of an issue. Still, a refresh would be great since the last ten years must have seen new chocolatiers and one can't have too many favorite chocolate shops.
I'd say this book delivers exactly what one would anticipate from a book about chocolate: background on production, an extensive shop list, and luscious recipes. I very much appreciate it as an addition to my growing collection of resources on indulgences.