Chocolate Obsession: Confections and Treats to Create and Savor (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Fran Gage (Author), Maren Caruso (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

It's Chemistry 101 all over again. But never have science textbooks featured close-to-three-dimensional photographs (courtesy of pro Maren Caruso), such an elegant array of recipes (more than 60), and ideas and flavors that will bowl over every reader. Yet consider that the main author is Michael Recchiuti, a San Franciscan called the Picasso of chocolatiers, and that his cohort, Fran Gage, once owned a locally esteemed patisserie and now writes for national gourmet-type publications. That combination of expertise creates a beyond-the-novice collection of both recipes and information that chocoholic bakers will be hard-pressed to do without. Unusual flavors (for instance, key lime pears and lavender vanilla ganache) and two-page features (Michael shopping for produce at a Bay-area farm, for instance) culminate with cooking directions to produce a book that's so much more than a coffee-table object. Just adopt the chef's philosophy: Respect it and give it time. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description

Known as the "Picasso of chocolatiers," Michael Recchiuti creates confections that are every bit as daring and original as any of his namesake's artworks. But unlike the painter, the chocolate maker has made it possible for even the amateur to achieve his artistry. In Chocolate Obsession Recchiuti, owner of the famed artisanal chocolate company in San Francisco, divulges his professional secrets and techniques, allowing home cooks to reproduce his exquisite confections in their own kitchens.

Opening with a complete discussion of chocolate from bean to bar, the book goes on to offer detailed instructions for dipped chocolates, truffles, and molded chocolates, including Recchiuti's signature ganache flavors: Earl Grey tea, burnt caramel, tarragon with grapefruit. Also featured are recipes for such sinfully delicious treats as Chocolate Shortbread Cookies with Truffle Cream Filling, Double Dark Chocolate Soufflés, and Rocky Recchiuti Brownies. With more than 60 recipes in all, this book will satisfy even the most obsessive chocolate lovers among us.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: "Stewart, Tabori and Chang" (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584794577
• ISBN-13: 978-1584794578
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,042 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Selection of Advanced Tastes and Techniques., January 15, 2006

By	B. Marold "Bruce W. Marold" (Bethlehem, PA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

`Chocolate Obsession' by San Francisco chocolatier, Michael Recchiuti and San Francisco Patisser and writer, Fran Gage is a book of recipes and techniques from the point of view of the very high end chocolate candy maker. It is to chocolate and Thomas Keller's `French Laundry Cookbook' is to the recipes of American `haute cuisine'. If you wish to find an introductory book on chocolate making, get a copy of the excellent book `Bittersweet' by Alice Medrich, whiich the authors cite in their bibliography and which I have reviewed and found an excellent introduction to the subject.

The book centers around the very distinctive chocolate styles of Recchiuti Chocolates, which are distinguished by, among other things, the use of a lot of flavors one does not typically find paired with chocolate such as teas, tarragon, cardamom, and especially caramal.

The one thing which makes this book accessible to the experienced chocolate maker is the fact that it deals primarily with the very simplest forms of chocolate candy such as truffles, dipped and moulded chocolates, `snacks' such as s'mores, chocolate barks, chocolate drinks, and sauces. In all this, caramel is much more than just another ingredient for Recchiuti. It appears over and over in many different forms from caramelized nuts in the `snacks' to flavorings in ice cream.

There are things in this book for the novice who has aspirations to be a skillful chocolatier. While I'm sure I probably have them in at least one of my hundreds of cookbooks, I'm pleased to find recipes for both graham crackers and marshmallow, leading to the ability to create entirely homemade s'mores. There are a few other non-chocolate recipes such as Key Lime pears and candied citrus peel, but all of these are pressed into the service of chocolate in one way or another.

In the early sections in the `All About Chocolate' and in the section `Instructions for Tempering Chocolate' I think the authors falter a bit in their explanations of how this works and why. They cite Harold McGee's `On Food and Cooking' in their bibliography but from my reading of McGee on tempering, it seems these authors didn't consult McGee as carefully as they should when explaining these basics.

Another symptom that this is really a `graduate level' course in chocolate making is the fact that there are no diagrams illuminating the techniques. This is an expecially noisome omission, as chocolate making techniques typically don't appear in the standard cooking texts such as the works of Jacques Pepin. I even got the sense that some of their statements about chocolate composition were simply wrong, although this is largely irrelevant to why you want to read this book.

If you are already an accomplished chocolate candy maker (and not just a baker who happens to use chocolate in baked desserts), this book offers a wealth of new ideas and tastes. All others should seek out a more basic book or take a good course in chocolate working.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Delicious, October 8, 2005

By	Foodie NYC (New York, New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This is one of the most wonderful books on chocolate that I have ever read and cooked with. I had the opportunity to visit Recchiuti Confections when I was in San Francisco this spring and was thrilled when I saw this book -- Michael Recchiuti sharing his secrets to chocolate making and making wonderful chocolate desserts. I have made several of the recipes already and they are all wonderful. The Gingerbread Cupcakes with a White Chocolate Lemon Topping is marvelous and the Rocky Recchiuti Brownies are the best I've ever made. This book will make your holiday baking out of this world and the book makes a terrific gift for any food lover on your shopping list.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars uniquely well-done, July 9, 2006

By	Toni "the bookworm" (Chicago, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

My initial opinion of this book, prior to purchasing it, was that it would be a book of fancy chocolate confections that would be hard to make, and too extreme too enjoy; treats such as "Earl Grey Tea Ganache" and "Tarragon Ganache with Candied Fruit", as well as other eclectic sweetness. It seemed too sophisticated for my average jo palate.

But the name of Michael Recchiuti was the draw, and after flipping through this wonderful labor of love, I realized that I was a chocolate snob. Shame on me.

First of all, the physical book itself is glorious. It has been beautifully brought together with raised lettering on the cover, and the feel of those satin pages, along with clear, crisp photography that makes you anxious to get started!

Then there is the educational content. Michael is a Master Chocolatier, which is his hard-earned title and is very well-deserved. And despite the gamut of unusual and standard chocolate flavors and concoctions he has created, his way of talking to you is that of a good friend who wants to share his knowledge with you in the most earnest way possible.

He has covered everything and he does so in a encouraging and kindly fashion with one of his best sections being "Organizing Chocolate Work"; it was very much appreciated that he gave a timetable to help determine your level of expertise. You need to learn in steps and he graciously helps you climb that ladder of knowledge. Also, he adds wonderful stories and such to weave his history and love affair with that dark and tempting devil of sweetness.

This is a great teaching tool and chocolate creations book, as well as a coffee-table libre that you can peruse when you want to kick back and relax. The book consists of:

Acknowledgements

Introduction

All About Chocolate: the making of chocolate/ the new chocolates/ choosing chocolates/ organizing chocolate work/ tools and equipment/ weights and measures/ "a day at Recchiuti Confections" (his shop) which made for an interesting read and education.

Dipped Chocolates, Truffles, and Molded Chocolates: plus the great story of how his business went from 0-60 because of his talent.

Snacks: he includes how he was introduced to Paris society by way of chocolate

Chocolate Barks: this has the explanation of how he came about having his recipes tested to make sure that anyone could make them. (must of had me in mind with this one)

Chocolate Drinks

Sauces: with a side story of his journey to the farms for lavender and lemon verbena)

Ice Creams

A Chocolate Tasting Party (this was a blast; who knew?)

Glossary

Resources

Bibilography

Conversion Chart

Index

Enjoy the experience of this artform!! You will be quite pleased with this very creative and deliciously edible talent.