http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com collaborative book reviews about all things food and wine Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:32:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/7159_the-craft-of-baking-karen-demasco-2009-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/7159_the-craft-of-baking-karen-demasco-2009-us#comments Wed, 19 May 2010 18:17:36 +0000 Duncan Markham http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=7159 Karen DeMasco's The Craft of Baking aims to inspire the home baker to try new variations of homely desserts and sweets, and is successful at encouraging creativity to some degree. There is a wide range of recipes and some modest but interesting suggestions. However, it is lacking in helpful explanations and is too narrow in its selection of ingredients and special brands, and the use of US-centric measures and terminology may be frustrating to international readers.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/7159_the-craft-of-baking-karen-demasco-2009-us/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6815_macaron-alison-thompson-2010-au http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6815_macaron-alison-thompson-2010-au#comments Sun, 02 May 2010 22:00:41 +0000 Mark Manguerra http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=6815 Alison Thompson’s Macaron is a nicely presented book that offers 35 flavors ranging from classic to creative. However, for such a notoriously difficult petit four to make, the recipe presented is too temperamental and the information too lightweight, with little to offer in terms of troubleshooting and technique.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6815_macaron-alison-thompson-2010-au/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6916_new-release-dulce http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6916_new-release-dulce#comments Sun, 02 May 2010 21:59:07 +0000 admin http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=6916 This is the first cookbook devoted to Latin-American sweets, uncovering a whole new world of exotic flavors. The desserts presented range from baked cakes to ice cream to chocolate, with step-by-step recipes for both traditional favorites as well as original creations.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6916_new-release-dulce/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6403_okashi-keiko-ishida-2009-sg http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6403_okashi-keiko-ishida-2009-sg#comments Sun, 04 Apr 2010 04:53:59 +0000 Lemonpi http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=6403 At first glance, you may wonder what the fuss over Okashi is all about. A fairly simple book with attractive photographs, it presents appealing recipes that showcase author Ishida's particular style, incorporating numerous Japanese flavours into many familiar baked goods and dessert items. Creative and suitable for a broad audience, this book should delight many bakers.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/6403_okashi-keiko-ishida-2009-sg/feed 1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5335_artisan-breads-at-home-peter-reinhart-2009-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5335_artisan-breads-at-home-peter-reinhart-2009-us#comments Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:27:58 +0000 Gfron1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=5335 Peter Reinhart has produced another knockout bread book… but do we need it? Whereas the advanced baker may find this material redundant, those who are still rising to the occasion will find the consolidation of up-to-the-minute techniques in Artisan Breads Every Day easy to digest and incorporate. ]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/5335_artisan-breads-at-home-peter-reinhart-2009-us/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4947_tartine-elisabeth-m-prueitt-2006-us http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4947_tartine-elisabeth-m-prueitt-2006-us#comments Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:00:57 +0000 Mark Manguerra http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=4947 Tartine is a remarkable book that allows the home baker to recreate breakfast pastries, tarts, cakes, and puddings from the renowned California bakery. The authors didn't hold back anything in making the book, taking from most of their entire menu, yet the recipes are mostly accessible and the skill level required ranges from beginner to intermediate. Most importantly, many of the desserts from the book have a rustic charm but are still delicious and beautiful enough to be showstoppers. The photography of the book, taken behind the scenes at the Tartine Bakery, captures the dream-like quality of the desserts and the remarkable skill of the artisans who make them.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4947_tartine-elisabeth-m-prueitt-2006-us/feed 2 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4165_year-end-countdown-baking-and-christmas-cookbooks http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4165_year-end-countdown-baking-and-christmas-cookbooks#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:20:25 +0000 admin http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=4165 As the year draws to and end, cookbook publishers around the world bring out their big guns to take advantage of the gift-giving season. Here at The Gastronomer's Bookshelf we've compiled bucketloads of new books to help you fill out that gift-list (and maybe find a few titles you'd want to keep for yourself!). Many of these are novel or noteworthy, while some are just titles we know will be popular gifts. We'll be featuring these books over the next month. This week we start with pastry, baking, and Christmas-related titles for you to get a head start on all the seasonal treats you might want to make.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4165_year-end-countdown-baking-and-christmas-cookbooks/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4319_new-release-the-complete-magnolia-bakery-cookbook http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4319_new-release-the-complete-magnolia-bakery-cookbook#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:11:13 +0000 admin http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=4319 In honor of the 10th anniversary of the bakery's first cookbook comes The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook, a collection of recipes from New York's sweetest bakery. In these pages you'll find their much-loved recipes for cupcakes and more.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/4319_new-release-the-complete-magnolia-bakery-cookbook/feed 0 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/3752_new-release-sticky-chewy-messy-gooey-treats-for-kids http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/3752_new-release-sticky-chewy-messy-gooey-treats-for-kids#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 07:07:14 +0000 admin http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=3752 Sticky Chewy Messy Gooey Treats for Kids is bursting with 30 tasty but simple recipes for sticky sweets and gooey breakfasts. With an easy-to-clean cover and step-by-step instructions, this book gets the whole family gathered around the mixing bowl.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/3752_new-release-sticky-chewy-messy-gooey-treats-for-kids/feed 1 http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2977_new-release-mary-berrys-baking-bible http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2977_new-release-mary-berrys-baking-bible#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:24:50 +0000 admin http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/?p=2977 This definitive collection from the undisputed queen of cakes brings together all of Mary Berry’s most mouth-watering recipes in a beautifully packaged edition. Filled with 250 foolproof recipes, this is the most comprehensive baking cookbook you'll ever need.]]> http://www.thegastronomersbookshelf.com/2977_new-release-mary-berrys-baking-bible/feed 0