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December 5, 2007
More dessert books recommended by Natalie Haughton
(This list of notable dessert books ran in the LA.com section of the Daily News with Natalie Haughton's story on Spago pastry chef Sherry Yard)
"Indulge: 100 Perfect Desserts" by Claire Clark (Whitecap Books Ltd.; $40)
Clark, head pastry chef at the French Laundry in Yountville, celebrates a career in baking that spans three decades in this, her first book. The recipes are her treasured favorites from her last 25 years as a pastry cook … and run the gamut from those of her childhood to some from top-rated London restaurants and hotels where she's worked. She's loved to bake since her youth, growing up in the suburbs of London. The ingredient amounts are in grams/ounces so if you don't have a scale, this may not be the book for you. Also, many have very lengthy directions.
"Pure Dessert: True Flavors, Inspiring Ingredients and Simple Recipes" by Alice Medrich (Artisan; $35)
The former owner of Cocolat, a dessert shop in Berkeley in the '70s, Medrich has been sharing desserts and teaching for 30 years. ``Pure desserts are for busy people who love food and care about what they eat, for people who are curious and open to new tastes, and for those who appreciate the details that make the difference between a good dessert and a great one,'' says Medrich. Included are 150 recipes (several look easy and doable), many with beautiful color photos that make you want to rush into the kitchen.
"Elizabeth Falkner's Demolition Desserts: Recipes From Citizen Cake" (Ten Speed Press; $35)
Falkner, owner of Citizen Cake, Citizen Cupcake and Orson in San Francisco, who's been called a "rock star of the pastry world," defies tradition and shares her cutting-edge desserts, including cookies, brownies, cupcakes and plated sweet creations, in this volume filled with gorgeous color photographs. All recipes have been adapted for the home kitchen.
"The Art of the Dessert" by Ann Amernick with Margie Litman (Wiley; $40)
Formerly an assistant pastry chef at the White House, Amernick is currently executive pastry chef and co-owner of Palena restaurant in Washington, D.C. Her signature style combines stylish special-occasion baking with a homemade touch in the 100 recipes in this book with 16 color photographs. Many appear complicated or have several components, but she shares her baking tricks in the first chapter.
"A Passion for Baking" by Marcy Goldman (Oxmoor House; $29.95)
This book overflows with more than 200 baked items … desserts, breads, cookies and such … from Goldman, a professional pastry chef and passionate home baker, who inspires home cooks to celebrate, nourish and have fun. Recipes run the gamut from easy to more time-consuming, and ingredient lists range from short to lengthy.
"The Pastry Queen Christmas, Big-Hearted Holiday Entertaining, Texas Style" by Rebecca Rather with Alison Oresman (Ten Speed Press; $32.50)
Native Texan and proprietor of the Rather Sweet Bakery and Cafe along with Rather restaurant in Fredericksburg, Texas, Rathershares 95 recipes for more than just desserts in this volume. Among the show-off desserts from this pastry chef are Glazed Chocolate Pave, Chocolate Cookie Crusted Eggnog Cheesecake and Aunt Milbry's Fruitcake.
Posted by Steven Rosenberg at December 5, 2007 8:05 PM
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