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• by:
• Cuvelier, Paule

Beautifully produced and presented in an attractive box, this two-volume celebration of one of the world’s most beloved confections is a must for chocoholics everywhere. Its mouthwatering photographs, taken by one of France’s leading food photographers, are feasts for the eyes, making Chocolate an ideal gift. In the first volume, The History of Chocolate, chocolate lovers can discover the fascinating story behind this global favorite, and how the discovery of the cocoa bean and its subsequent transformation into a valuable commodity changed the face of history. This volume looks at the processes involved in transforming the raw bean into delectable confectionary, as well as the cultural role it played, with the establishment of Europe’s finest chocolate houses and its acceptance at all levels of society.

The second volume, The Taste of Chocolate is devoted to appreciating chocolate in all its myriad guises, and includes useful tips on the optimal conditions to savor this black gold and how to find the perfect accompaniments, whether fruit, cheese, wine, or spices. It explains the terms used by the professionals—defining garniture, couverture, or ganache, for example—and the specialist techniques used in preparing the basic material into delectable confectionary. This connoisseur’s appreciation of chocolate is rounded off by a collection of irresistible chocolate recipes, including Chocolate-Cherry Mousse, Grand-Marnier Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Fondue with Fruit, and Chocolate-Praline Tart.