About Professional Baking: The Essentials (Trade Version) [Hardcover]

Gail Sokol (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1418051438 | ISBN-13: 978-1418051433 | Publication Date: September 15, 2006 | Edition: 1

About Professional Baking provides a unique presentation of the principles of baking for the culinary enthusiast. Each of the 14 chapters covers one or a group of related concepts and contains introductory narrative and background information; an exemplary recipe; and a series of culinary lessons. Additional recipes are presented in each chapter, and a step-by-step, full-color series of photos accompanies each culinary lesson. The special features of this text include discussions of science-related topics; pastry history; Professional Profiles that highlight important culinary figures; and numerous tables, charts, and photographs designed to explain the principles in recipes. The unique presentation of material, the authorÂ's accessible writing style, and the numerous recipes provided makes this the most appropriate baking book on the market.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gail D. Sokol is an award-winning professional in the culinary arts industry with demonstrated success in baking and pastry arts, supervision and training, and classical cuisine. In addition, she has been featured on many weekly radio and television programs. Chef Sokol is currently an Instructor of Baking at Schenectady County Community College in Schenectady, New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Delmar Cengage Learning; 1 edition (September 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1418051438
• ISBN-13: 978-1418051433
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,039,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chef Gail Sokol is an award-winning professional baker and baking instructor in the culinary arts industry with demonstrated success in baking and pastry arts, supervision and training, and classical cuisine. In addition, she has been featured on many weekly radio and television programs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!, January 28, 2007

By 

Silverstreak "Silverstreak" (Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: About Professional Baking: The Essentials (Trade Version) (Hardcover)

If you've ever baked, want to learn to bake or have an interest in baking, this is the book for you. About Professional Baking: The Essentials contains over 700 detailed full-color photographs throughout of both the process and the finished product, as well as diagrams and charts.

Gail Sokol is an award-winning professional baker and baking instructor in the culinary arts industry. She definitely brings her expertise into full play in this must-have book which features 125 fully kitchen-tested recipes written in an easy-to-comprehend format and clearly stated objectives.
I consider myself to be an experienced and competent baker but I can't begin to tell you how much knowledge I've realized from this book.
About Professional Baking: The Essentials gives you the very basic principals and fundamentals of working with yeast, straight and laminated doughs, pies and tarts, quick breads, cakes, frostings, frozen desserts and dessert sauces, cookies, chocolate, and even healthy baking which will have you baking like a true professional.

Each recipe is written with explanations of how the ingredients should look at each stage of preparation. Measurements are given in U.S., Metric and Baker's percentages. There is a chapter is a troubleshooting chapter. General problems are identified and addressed, followed by reasons for the problems and, if applicable, solutions to those problems. Appendix chapters include baking tools and proper preparation of cake pans, all with explanatory photographs.

About Professional Baking: The Essentials will become your bible of baking.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best baking book out there, September 22, 2006

By 

Leigh Jeffries (Manhasset, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: About Professional Baking: The Essentials (Trade Version) (Hardcover)

This is the best book on baking I've seen. It is easy to understand and has so many glossy photos and step by step instructions. I'm a pretty bad cook, and I was able to make all of the recipes I tried -- first time! I also really like the professional profile section, and reading about the different pastry chefs. All-in-all, this is a great book. It actually rivals my favorite cookbook of all time, by none other than Julia Child herself. Her's is my favorite cookbook, and now this one is my favorite baking book. Gail Sokol must be the Julia of our generation. And I'm not exaggerating... this really is a great read, and extremely helpful. I have learned so much from it, and have learned that baking is not as scary as I used to think it was. And it actually can be fun! Now that I'm learning how to bake properly, I find it is really quite relaxing. All of the shows on TV make baking seem too sciency and complicated, but Sokol does not. I'd recommend this book to everyone!

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, June 28, 2011

By 

islandgirl74 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: About Professional Baking: The Essentials (Trade Version) (Hardcover)

This is a great baking book and reference. Can be a bit overwhelming for those who are not versed in baking but overall a great book.