Paris Patisseries: History, Shops, Recipes [Hardcover]

Ghislaine Bavoillot (Editor), Christian Sarramon (Photographer), Pierre Herme (Foreword)

Book Description

Release date: January 5, 2010

An exquisitely photographed introduction to the great French tradition of baking—from the simple croissant to the light and flaky millefeuilles, drawn from the best pastry chefs in Paris. Temptations abound for the sweet tooth in Paris, from the hottest culinary trends to time-honored classics. Pâtisserie is an integral part of the city’s culinary tradition and the source of countless delectable creations that combine fruit, cream fillings, icings, frostings, mousses, and pastry. Readers will yield to sweet temptation as they discover the best pastries and cakes the city has to offer, including macarons, éclairs, baba au rum, tarts, mont blanc, polonaises, and oriental cakes. Twenty pastry chefs show off their artful creations and share their signature recipes, which are described in the context of their historical tradition, composition, and gastronomic properties. The evolution of the pastry art is also explained, focusing in particular on the new generation of Parisian pâtissiers and chocolatiers, buzzing with the creativity and ingenuity that are redefining their craft. The book includes an address book of the best pâtisseries and tea rooms in Paris along with twenty recipes from the city’s most respected pastry chefs.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Pierre Hermé, leading French pastry chef, is internationally renowned for the quality and creativity of his pastries. Christian Sarramon is a distinguished lifestyle photographer. His work has been featured in Axel Vervoordt: Timeless Interiors, Provence Style, Living in Paris, Living in Provence, Gourmet Shops of Paris, Gourmet Bistros and Restaurants of Paris, and Yquem. Julia Hung is a journalist for a number of culinary publications in France.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Flammarion (January 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2080300814
• ISBN-13: 978-2080300812
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 0.9 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 68 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastique! An Exquisite Confection of a Pastry Book, even Romantic (yeah, that's possible) January 5, 2010

By J. Al-hashimi VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

A book like this does a critically important service. One could imagine oneself dithering at the Arnaud Larher counter and not knowing what to order. Important life decisions like this need planning. Might I suggest a patisserie tour, rotating hotels so that you would be a decent walk from several in any given timespan?

This book is something else. You will not find pictues of bowls of batter or baking pans this book. It is way too fine for that. No prep work is shown at all. Every photo of a pastry or pasteries is to its' best advantage. And the 160 page main-part-of-the-book is loaded with pictures. No pages are all text, but plenty of pages are all pictures. It is pretty big book which I didn't expect when I pre-ordered it. I've never seen anything like this and I don't say that lightly as I have over a thousand cookbooks. In a sense it is a deep insider book, a book which seeks perfection of art on so many levels, including the incredible photography. This is the culmination of centuries of thinking, perceiving and adjusting. That's the thing about dessert creation at this level... so many senses are involved, some of them barely recognized, leaving one inarticulate. It reminds me a bit of an episode of Julia Child's cooking show I saw when I was a kid. Another woman was there and she ate some dessert Julia Child made and she started to weep. On TV! No words. And Julia Child said reassuringly, "I know, that happens to me with desserts sometimes." That unexpected bit-of-life stuck with me, made me wonder if there was more to dessert than Midwestern cakes, cookies and pies, which, no matter how perfect have never made me want to weep. Sure, I've a bit dumbstruck and inarticulate when the taste of something is beyond words, but weep? Made me wonder.... I think there is a clue in this book.

And the book doesn't just include pictures of a perfect and bright confection on a plate, it also contains groups of them, muliples of them, and fabulous patisserie counters and surrounding architecture, inside and out.

The discussion is easy to read, and full of history, the stuff that us cooks like to know. You may think, as did I, that they forgot the recipes, but 25 of them are tucked in the back of the book. The recipes and other information in the back of the book are printed cunningly done on heavy pinky-lilac paper, a color associated with old-fashioned bakery tradiitonal wrapping paper. The dust jacket is heavily glossed, a Parisian peachy pink. so you can see where this is going color-wise. It is all on the exquisite plane of life. (Sigh)

Invaluable information on the best pastry shops and what to look for in each is also indexed in the back. Not simply a list with addresses, but rather intense descriptions of what each place does best, when to buy (what time of day, what days of the week, what season), and so on. One could become an expert with this kind of insider stuff. (I know, I know... "Yes Madam, those stretchy pants are adorable on you.") For people who don't get layered dessert flavors and textures confections like these may look overwrought, but they are works of art to be appreciated on so many levels. For those with simpler tastes, there are stunning rolls, croissants, and bread in the last grouping. The thing is that the photography is really something. Everything catches your interest and it's all "suitable for framing" quality pictures.

Section-wise you are looking at:
-Forward by Pierre Herme
-Cakes from our Childhood: i.e., eclairs, meringues, tartes
-Chocolate Magic: i.e., cakes and gateaux that are works of art
-Contmporary Creations: i.e., macaroons, shot glass desserts
-Viennoiseries and Treats to go: i.e., croissants, brioches, turnovers, cookies

And, in case anyone wonders, the recipe for Pierre Herme's Ispahan macaroons-using an Italian meringue preparation-is included.

So, if you are blowing your life on the likes of Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin Robbin's ice cream cakes, and the grocery store bakery all of whom are reliant on the thrifty combination of white mystery fat scooped out of a tub and whipped with sugar, remember that you only go around once. Think about perusing this book about perfect acheivements, an oh-so-elegant saunter through the pictureseque pinnacle of centuries of mankind's work in the art of patisserie. Think about cashing in the retirement fund (OK, only part of it) and get yourself on a plane to enjoy it for yourself. Evidently, desserts are baking, whipping, glazing, and being arranged perfectly in extraordinarily fetching Parisian settings, patisserie productions for which words of enjoyment have not yet been invented and for which, perhaps, the only response will be to weep. Read more ›

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique and helpful March 28, 2010

By J. Marrow

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the first book I have seen where the art of pastry is given its true place. Rather than being a recipe book (some are included, but this is not the point) this is a book which celebrates the beauty of what is currently being done with flour, sugar, butter, chocolate and fruit. There is some history included, but mostly to help place in context what is being shown. Here is a book which celebrates and inspires; art for art's sake.

Some will be looking for a cook book - look elsewhere.

Some will be looking for a history book - look elsewhere.

Some will want to have every detail dissected and investigated and analyzed - look elsewhere.

Some will want Paris and france placed into the context of 'Top Chef' or 'Ace of Cakes' - look elsewhere.

For those who appreciate the true visual beauty of pastry, here is an uncompromising book about what is currently the pinnacle of the form.

Top recommendation - no one else, to my knowledge, has made such a book - one dedicated to the visual beauty of pastry, the purity of this French art form. It is loving and comprehensive; I have been to most places and eaten many of the examples in the book - and the author clearly understands beauty as it exists in the daily life of Parisians; something lacking in daily American life.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous find! January 26, 2010

By ParisBreakfast

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The recipes in this gorgeous hunk of a book many be limited to SEVEN pages,as another reviewer complains, but they are from the creme de la creme of Parisien pastry chefs and should not be discounted. Where else can you find recipes for Angelina's Mont Blanc, Fauchon's eclairs, Pierre Herme's Ispahan plus Gerard Mulot, Ble Sucre, Jean-Paul Hevin etc. translated into US measurements.
The book is one of a series put out by an expert team at Flammarion on gourmet shops in Paris. And it truly is a veritable feast for the eyes - the photography allows you to see detailed closeups the naked eye cannot take in.
Anyone who does not love this book, does not love Paris.

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb ! January 8, 2010

By K. ludwig

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

UPS dropped this book off at my home late yesterday afternoon...I read it last night and this morning can not fit into my jeans ! All I can say is "WOW", it is a true feast for the eyes. If you ever went to France and wished you had taken photos of some of the spectacular pastries that you ate in that fabulous little patisserie, well fret no more. This is a beautifully photographed book and worthy of coffee table status as well as in the kitchen.
If it had been scratch and sniff I wouldnt be writing this right now, I would of maxed out my credit cards and been on the next plane to France. I am however starting a batch of my warm chocolate croissants and will sit down ( in two days, after they have proofed,risen and baked to their delightfully crisp, buttery , melt in your mouth I can't stop at just one, oh God I hope nobody stops by and expects me to share)and read thru this book again, the second of what will be many ,many times I'm sure. Life is fleeting, have less so you can enjoy the best, nobody ever said on their death bed "Thank God I shopped at Walmart all of these years".

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Beware - Few Recipes January 23, 2010

By Richard

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

First of all I must agree this is a beautiful coffee table book of pastry shops in Paris. Several of which I visited on my trip there several years ago. In particular Fauchon is wonderful and worth a trip.

Unfortunately, as another reviewer stated there are very few actual recipes included. According to my count there are only twenty five included and those do not have corresponding photos. I personally need a photo to give me inspiration to undertake a project.

Lovely none the less and cannot wait to read it cover to cover.