Customer Reviews

Paris Boulangerie-Patisserie: Recipes from Thirteen Outstanding French Bakeries

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

`Paris Boulangerie Patisserie' by culinary journalist, Linda Dannenberg, subtitled `Recipe's from Thirteen Outstanding French Bakeries' has the look about it of being a book on the fast track to the budget book piles. This impression is reinforced by the fact that it is published by Gramercy Books, a division of Random House Value Publishing. This gives some explanation of some printing and editing gaffs such as the fact that the very first page of text is Page 9. Counting backwards, page 1 is the frontispiece. This is very, very odd by American publishing standards. Another odd symptom is that there is a reference to sources on page 00. Needless to say, the sources do not appear on the front cover. They start in the middle of page 155. One last observation I sense is that the recipes are printed in the very awkward three (3) columns per page. This means that it is very common to find lists of ingredients split across two or more columns. Adding to this test of our eyesight is the fact that many line items on the ingredient list are split into two lines. Topping of this museum of typographical errors is the fact that the steps in the procedures are not numbered. Everything is stated in a narrative style as if being recited in a Tony Bourdain novel.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, let me say that this book does have a lot to offer. While there are several books such as Dorrie Greenspan's `Paris Sweets' and `The Art of the Tart' and `Tarts With Tops On' by noted English culinary writer, Tamasin Day-Lewis which get the culinary content better, these books give you nothing of the travelogue or museum tour or sources catalog aspects of this attractive book. The art and history and photographs all contribute to a strong urge to find my passport and book passage on the QM2 to Paris. As someone who has been to Paris without the benefit of reading a book like this, I strongly suggest that you check out this volume before boarding your Air France Aerobus.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book is its explanation of the distinction between patissiers (pastry makers) and boulangers (bread bakers). The story is a cross between tales of inter-union differences on a Broadway stage job and the sneers heard between Optometrists and Ophthalmologists on professional qualifications. The bright side of this history is the fact that these two disciplines have largely been merged into dual function shops which happen to specialize a bit more on bread or a bit more on pastry. But, at least this book explains the two different counters of bread and pastry at my local Wegmans megamart that, I might add, makes some of the very best artisinal bread found in the Lehigh Valley. But back to the book.

Since my primary interest is in culinary content and, in all modesty, I suspect that is what my two review fans look for in my reviews, I have to say that the best culinary content in this book is in the appendix of sources. It tells me, for example that there is a mill producing artisinal flours just a stones throw down the Pennsylvania Turnpike from me in Great Valley. The value of the recipes is diminished by the organization, spread out across articles on the thirteen shops covered by the book.

I must say, at long last, that the recipes are of good quality. The level of detail is just enough to prevent a total amateur from committing a major gaff; however, it is not on the level of a first rate manual on pastry making. So, even though recipes recommend not overworking pastry dough, chilling it for 30 minutes before rolling, and rolling out carefully on a floured surface, this task can fail without a fair amount of practice. The long and the short of this point is that these are advanced recipes whose primary objective is to show off the products of these Paris shops, not to teach pastry making. My conclusion to all this is that if you are an experienced pastry maker, this book will give you lots of ideas. If you are a complete novice, read the interesting stories and start with something just a bit simpler. It is important to note that the author is reporting these recipes. There is little guarantee that the author checked the procedures by baking them herself. In contrast, Dorrie Greenspan can be trusted to have rolled out all her pastries herself as she puts electronic pen to paper. So, there are no guarantees that these recipes work as written and some expertise may be needed to fill in the blanks.

Note that while the picture on the cover is dominated by bread and the first of the two specialties in the title is bread baking, most of the recipes in the book are for pastries. A crude estimate would put it at 25% bread and 75% pastry. And, there is virtually nothing about artisinal bread baking techniques except for a reference to `sur poolish' described as a `turn of the century method of preparing dough using a starter...'. There is little mention of interest in or detail about this method for producing artisinal bread. If your love is bread, check out Peter Reinhart's `The Bread Baker's Apprentice'. If your love is Paris, buy this book before your next trip!

Photography is gorgeous, however, do the recipes work? I've tried the "Bouchons" (chocolate corks), a simple recipe: they were worse than mediocre and looked nothing like the photo (I am an experienced baker, BTW). At least they were edible. Which recipes have the other reviewers tried and had succes with? I would like to try more of the other recipes, however, do not want to waste my time...it is interesting that several reviewers admit to having not even tried the recipes and one reviewer pans three of them!

Do all recipes in this book work? Yes and No. I bought this book 8 years ago, every since then I tried each of the recipes to the dot. Few worked, most didn't come out close like in the pictures. The pictures are certainly pretty. BUT, the contact info regarding the locations of the pattiseries are very helpful. I didn't waste any seconds trying all the boulangeries/pattisseries while I was in Paris. And some newcomers are popping up near the address mentioned in the book. So if you fail make breads or pastries from this book, use this book as one of your 'travel guide' books when you go to France.

I really liked this cookbook. It's full of French flavor and flair and the recipes I have tried have been delicious. But I was a little disappointed to find more bread recipes than pastry recipes. Also, the recipes are often quite difficult to make. Other than that, this is fabulous book, with GREAT photography. I would recommend this to seasoned bakers (especially those interested in bread making,) and for people wanting to put a little French into their daily life. Not for people searching for lots of pastry recipes or ideas.

I have used this book for more than 5 years and take it with me on every trip to Paris. If you can't get success from these recipes then you might consider some other past time than baking. Get used to baking with weights and this book is perfect. Something as simple as a Madeleinne is created perfectly in weight measures but just a shot in the dark when using volume measurments. This book is not exactly for beginner bakers but if you have some experience it is fantastic

The order of the book flawlessly executes the author's approach: reveal Parisian culture through its bakeries and pastries. The establishments featured in the book are adroitly described, allowing the reader to appreciate their institutional status as well as the cultural significance of their recipes. I have thoroughly enjoyed preparing several of the recipes. Many of the recipes are more appropriate for those with a skilled touch; those with little experience in the French kitchen might better relegate this book to the coffee table, where many a guest of mine has relished in its exquisite photography and warm prose.

Since my last trip to Paris, I've been desperately searching for a great book on french patisseries. I remember looking through the windows of Fauchons and wondering if I could create some of these beautiful and tasty confections at home. This book offers some of those guarded recipes and I'll definately try them. My greatest search has been for the mouthwatering french macaroons in all the different flavors of raspberry, chocolate, coffee and a number of different ones that I had tried there. And also some of the unique and architecturally designed pastries that not only look good but tastes soooo delicious. We just don't have those patisserie's here. The sad story is that I found only one recipe for macaroons and it was the plain almond ones, there were no recipes provided by the variety I saw in the book. This book offers plenty of pictures, but not the recipes for some of them. I was very disappointed. I was also hoping for more pictures and recipes of the desserts I saw at Fauchons. But all in all it's a nice book and it does have some good recipes.

I've tried numerous receipes from this book, and with very few exceptions, they turned out just great. I've also visited the bakeries in Paris and tried the products and mine taste just as good, if not better.

I've tried 3 recipes out of this book and none turned out well. The book is nice to read and has outstanding pictures, but it's a lousy cookbook. Maybe the author neglected to test the recipes in a home setting?

I have been using this book for years and have made most recipes. All have been wonderful and are authentic. It is fun to read to!