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Chocolate: A Love Story by Max Brenner (of Chocolate by the Bald Man) is a collection of recipes from Brenner's restaurants.Every one of the 66 recipes contain chocolate. Most are desserts, but there are also some breakfast dishes and a few beverages. The vast majority of the ingredients should be easy to find for almost everyone, but a few call for specific types of chocolate or Greek yogurt or a particular liqueur.
The directions are clear and easy to follow, but most dishes are not quick to put together. Desserts run the range from banana splits and chocolate meringues to souffles and yeasted waffles.
There is no index, but each recipe is listed in the table of contents.
One of the joys of Chocolate is the incredible art by Yonatan Factor. Each recipe is accompanied by a full-page poster-like graphic. I love Factor's work!
Unfortunately, I can't say that I'm moved to make any of the recipes in this book. I'm not a huge chocolate fan (I almost always choose a fruit-based dessert or creme brulee), so that might be part of the problem. In addition, I have never been to one of Brenner's restaurants; fans of the Bald Man will probably be thrilled to make his treats at home. Finally, as much as I love the art, I would have preferred to see some of the chocolate creations in a clear photograph.
This might make a wonderful gift for the true chocolate lover in your life, but I'm more inclined to track down other examples of Factor's art.
Published by Little, Brown, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780316056625
Challenges: 100+
Source: Contest win (see review policy)
YTD: 4
Rating: C
ISBN-13: 9780316056625
Challenges: 100+
Source: Contest win (see review policy)
YTD: 4
Rating: C
I can't believe you're not a fan of chocolate! I can't imagine life without it - it is my favourite thing by a very long way!
ReplyDeleteOh, I do so love chocolate! Is it bad that I'm sitting here at 8 in the morning, fantasizing about it?
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of chocolate? No wonder you're so successful with GameOn! :--)
ReplyDeleteThe graphics in that book are gorgeous! I need to look through my copy of it.
ReplyDeleteI must say that I, unlike yourself, am a huge fan of the chocolate. Not sure that this book interests me...but chocolate sure does.
ReplyDeleteMmmmm...chocolate! I'll have to have a look at this one.
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful! I thought I'd add mine to the mix this week! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI typically try to stay away from single purpose, on ingredient cookbooks. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge chocolate fan either! We must have very similar taste! I would always get the fruit dessert over chocolate any day!
ReplyDeleteNot a chocolate fan?? This post makes me want to get out one of my dessert cookbooks and start baking - good think I'm in a hotel, lol! (traveling with Daughter #1's college basketball team)..
ReplyDeleteI love Max Brenner. Its not available in Malaysia though... so sad. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of chocolate either but my husband is. Those drawings are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNow this is my kind of cookbook! LOL
ReplyDeleteBest cookbook ever!
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few comments on this book. I love chocolate but for me, if a recipe is time consuming or complex, I generally am not going to attempt it even if the ingredients are pretty common place.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge chocolate fan either!! Like you, I would choose a fruit based dessert! I like it well enough but it doesn't tempt me either.
ReplyDeleteOhhh, I AM a chocolate fan! I would probably enjoy reading these recipes :)Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate and this book looks really intriguing. I kind of want to check it out!
ReplyDeleteI finally posted another Weekend Cooking Feature! It's a magazine but I just had to share!
ReplyDeleteI never learned the art of making a complicated dessert. I do love chocolate, but just pure chocolate, in a bar (I don't even like chocolate ice cream). Creme brulee is definitely my dish of preference, the rare times I do order a dessert out.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks, too, for the Hunger Games/Catching Fire report. I need to read these books, find out for myself what they are.
I got this book for christmas and as a chocoholic I want to make everything in it! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the illustration for "Bohemian French Toast Chocolate Sandwiches" ... and the dish sounds divine. Clearly I AM a chocolate person :)
ReplyDeleteThis book just arrived at my house today (I won it through a give-away on Dreadlock Girl's blog!)...thanks for posting your thoughts! I thumbed through the book and also just LOVE those illustrations :)
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