Amazon.com
Chantal Coady is a most exemplary chocoholic. The author of
Real Chocolate and owner of Rococo, a specialty chocolate shop in London, Coady's resumé includes such enviable accomplishments as starting the Campaign for Real Chocolate and launching The Chocolate Society. Obsessed by chocolate, Coady always dreamt of opening a chocolate shop, and over the more than 20 years since she opened one she's become an expert on all things chocolate, and these days Rococo even makes its own.
Real Chocolate begins with a comprehensive history of chocolate through the ages, introduces us to Rococo, and best of all, waxes poetic about just how good for us chocolate really is. Apparently it's one of the most nutritious and easily digested foods known to man, containing a multitude of vitamins, minerals, and complex alkaloids; is an instant anti-depressant; and has antibacterial properties. Recipes in this mouthwatering volume are categorized as savory or sweet--and there are a remarkable number of savory ones, including Eggplant and Tahini Crostini, made extra-rich by the addition of cocoa powder; Chocolate Tempura with cocoa nibs in the batter; and Lacquered Duck in Chocolate Sauce. Sweet options include White Chocolate Pannacotta, Dark Chocolate and Cherry "Crème Brûlée," and a stunning Pear and Chocolate Tart. And since it's so good for us, why not start by delving into chocolate personified: a big mug of Coady's Old Fashioned Hot Chocolate--smooth, thick, rich, and absolutely delicious. --Leora Y. Bloom
From Publishers Weekly
Founder of London's Rococo chocolate shop and author of two previous chocolate books, Coady has now unleashed her inexhaustible passion for all things chocolate onto a full-scale cookbook. Coady (who co-founded the standard-bearing Chocolate Society) has made it her personal mission to keep the informed consumer away from "fast chocolate," with its hydrogenated fats and nasty byproducts. Despite its principled stance, this is a highly functional cookbook. It can be used as a chocolate primer-how to make ganache and truffles, how to temper chocolate, how to work with simple molds. But it also contains an intriguing exploration of chocolate as a savory ingredient (a gesture toward chocolate's often overlooked South American origins). Many of these depend on an unexpectedly logical invention: chocolate-balsamic vinegar, the active ingredient in Hangover Fried Eggs; Eggplant, Chocolate and Goat Cheese Pizzettes; and Quick Pan-roasted Chicken with Chocolate Vinegar. Coady also covers surer territory with Classic Mousse, old-fashioned hot cocoa, Chocolate Brownies and an assortment of the usual cakes and cookies. While ingredients can be expensive and not always easy to find (Coady has a ruinous affection for saffron and cocoa nibs, for example), the recipes are generally appealing and straightforward. The photographs are mouthwatering and the design elegant beyond belief-virtual prerequisites for chocolate books.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
