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Chocolate Obsession: Confections and Treats to Create and Savor [Hardcover]

Michael Recchiuti (Author), Fran Gage (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews) |
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Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005
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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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

About the Author

Michael Recchiuti started his chocolate business in San Francisco in 1997 after a successful career at some of the top restaurants in Philadelphia. His chocolates were soon recognized for their sophistication and originality, and they have been featured in the New York Times, Food & Wine, and many other publications. He lives in San Francisco.

Fran Gage owned the award-winning Fran Gage Patisserie Française in San Francisco for ten years. She now writes about food for the San Francisco Chronicle, Saveur, and Fine Cooking, among other publications, and has published several books, including Bread and Chocolate and A Sweet Quartet. Gage lives in San Francisco.

Maren Caruso is a San Francisco-based photographer who specializes in food photography. Her work has appeared in Wine and Spirits, Chocolatier, and Taste magazines, and in the STC books Grilling and Barbecuing and Great Grilled Cheese.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 200 pages
  • Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang; First Edition edition (September 1, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1584794577
  • ISBN-13: 978-1584794578
  • Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,140 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

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Michael Recchiuti
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
`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.
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29 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Simply Delicious October 8, 2005
Format:Hardcover
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.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
uniquely well-done July 9, 2006
Format:Hardcover
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Better technique and instructions than the Andrew Shotts Book
I've been making artisan chocolates for family and friends ever since I purchased the "Making Artisan Chocolates" book by Andrew Garrison Shotts back in 2008. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Gregory W. Hart
Easy to Follow
I love the simplicity of this book's recipes, and the room they leave for experimentation. There are many kinds of desserts and several kinds of chocolate included in the... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Cherokee Purple
Excellent book! Melt in your mouth/to die for!
This book is to die for! Love the contents. Its a wonderful book, everything and more than we expected. My daughter loves it! Great gift for any female!
Published on March 27, 2010 by Melody
Great gift for the more adventurous baker
I got this as a gift to go along with a chocolate lover's basket of gourmet cooking goodies. The book is definately for someone more advanced, has great ideas. Read more
Published on March 22, 2010 by Jen Y.
Great Stuff
I always wanted to make some kind if chocolates and this is the book that inspired me! His directions connected with me instantly. Giving me the confidence I needed. Read more
Published on October 4, 2007 by S. Posner
Professional recipes, must have for serious chocolatier
Contents of book: About 25 chocolate candy recipes (1/2 the book), Snacks (brownies, cookies, cupcakes, souflees), chocolate drinks, and ice creams. Read more
Published on March 30, 2007 by Eric J. Wu
A Chocolate Lover's Dream
A very well written and thought out book, beautiful photographs and excellent recipes that are easy to follow. A must have for chocoholics.
Published on January 15, 2007 by G. M. Rodriguez
chocolate obsession book
I was more than pleased with my purchase. Transaction was very simple and quick. Delivery was incredible fast. Could not believe that I received my book as quick as I did. Read more
Published on January 15, 2007 by Ann Huybrecht
My start!
Chocolate Obsession has started my new career. I am a trained chef and this book has put me over the moon about making chocolates. I now have a side business selling truffles. Read more
Published on December 9, 2006 by R. Anthony
Not so much...
I'm a pastry student and I didn't like this book so much. I bought it because of the reviews on this page, and I'm disappointed with it. Read more
Published on December 1, 2006 by Sandra
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