Product Description
Chocolate has been one of mankind's obsessions for centuries. The history of cacao and chocolate-making leads from Mexico to Spain and then France, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium, while its consumption is universal. This collection examines chocolate's history as well as its use in literature, art, music, and folklore, as a subject for psychology and childrearing, and as an important product for business. In addition, recipes for novel and tasty uses of chocolate are provided. While chocolate may be seen as "food of the gods," it is consumed around the world by all ages and classes. This is an intriguing book for scholars in many fields and for those interested in the history of food and their favorite sweet. ... Read more

Product Description
Chocolate isn t just a guilty pleasure anymore. New research into its health benefits, and the emergence of single-origin and varietal chocolate, have lent the luscious sweet a cachet equaled only by fine wine. And as interest in fine chocolate grows, chocolate tours are also increasingly popular. For chocoholics who travel regionally or locally or just from an armchair this book is the ultimate West Coast tour, covering 13 cities and regions including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Las Vegas, Portland, Seattle, and British Columbia. Featuring more than 50 of the West Coast's top chocolate spots, The Chocolate Guide is essential reading for anyone looking for a new chocolate experience: this includes chocolate lovers (of course) but also food writers, journalists, and gift-givers looking for unique presents for their favorite cacao connoisseur. Along with informative chocolate profiles, this beautifully designed and illustrated coffee-table book includes articles on tasting, storing, dining, and cooking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Beautiful Work of Chocolate Porn
There's never been another book like this before, and it is lovely to look at. All the photographs make me want to dive into chocolate or get the web and contact the chocolatier to send me samples. The concept of making it a region by region edition is usefuly, because when you're in a certain area you know just where to go. Plus, there's no snobbery in the presentation of the chocolatiers, no ratings system, and no piece by piece deconstruction of what makes chocolate good. It's just a guide for those who love great and undiscovered chocolate.

Flawed but Useful
What frustrates me most about this book is that it's a real good idea that was poorly executed. It is poorly organized and much of the information is incomplete.

Don't expect to find contact information (e.g., phone numbers or web site addresses) for any but a small handful of featured companies. Instead, be prepared to spend some time on-line looking this information up.

Why?

It's also not clear why some companies are not only featured but are treated to multiple-page spreads of useless pictures. The room wasted on those pictures would have been more than enough to accommodate all of the information that is missing that should be there.

Notwithstanding these objections, the book does contain a list of lots of different chocolatiers and chocolate makers you should probably know about - if you like chocolate. However, the editors and publishers seem to have gone out of their way to make it difficult to use the information they do provide. ... Read more

Product Description
A new edition of the best-selling 'Fine Chocolates'. ... Read more

Product Description
The ultimate chocolate cookbook is back--completely updated, with a new look and a new title. A special treat for some, a passion for others, chocolate gets the royal treatment in this phenomenal cookbook that features over 200 heavenly, delicious desserts. Winner in the Best Dessert & Baking category of the International Association of Cooking Professionals/Seagram Cookbook Award. Over 100 full-color photographs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Very authentic yet easy Polish cooking
My parents (who emigrated from Poland) consider this the most authentic Polish cookbook they have come across. Many of the recipes in here are very similar to ones that my family uses. If you're from the north of Poland, near the Baltic coast, you'll probably feel the same. Many other Polish cookbooks use versions of recipes that are more authentic to other parts of Poland, which doesn't always taste right to us. But when my mother visits and doesn't have her recipe for something, she will often use this book instead. The recipes have also been "Americanized" somewhat to make finding ingredients easier (compared to the "truly" authentic recipes in other books), or leverage equipment found in most American kitchens. However, there are still some esoteric directions or ingredients which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. BTW, another reviewer had trouble finding "instant flour". This is easily dissolving flour such as Wondra.

Polish Cooking 2005 edition
Don't be fooled into buying this book, if you loved the older version with all the great pictures.There are no pictures in this one, unlike the older 1991 version. The book is also smaller making it difficult to keep it open when looking at a recipe.

The recipies are mostly the same, though. Too bad the author was convinced to go with a more unfriendly cookbook style than the wonderful earlier versions of this book.

Every Recipe Delicious
I bought this book ten years ago when I needed to make a dessert for a Russian club event (figuring nobody would notice if I substituted one Slavic culture for another).I have never been disappointed.Every recipe I've tried from it has been relatively easy to make and incredibly, incredibly delicious.Be warned, there's nothing quick in this book - if you're a slow cook like me, plan on a couple of hours for a main course - but the results are very worth it.We particularly enjoy the Vienna pork rolls (not sure how a recipe named after an Austrian city is Polish, but who am I to question?) and "carrots in sauce."

Excellent book
I am not from Poland, my husband is. He enjoys the recipes from this cookbook. The directions are very easy to follow. There are many photographs depicting how to create the dishes.I highly recommend thisbook- even if the ingredients are hard to find or a bit confusing (As theabove reviewer noted).

Excellent book
I am not from Poland, my husband is. He enjoys the recipes from this cookbook. The directions are very easy to follow. There are many photographs depicting how to create the dishes.I highly recommend thisbook- even if the ingredients are hard to find or a bit confusing (As theabove reviewer noted). ... Read more

Product Description
Indulge yourself with this sumptuous book of all things chocolate. ... Read more

Product Description
Beautifully produced and presented in an attractive box, this two-volume celebration of one of the world’s most beloved confections is a must for chocoholics everywhere. Its mouthwatering photographs, taken by one of France’s leading food photographers, are feasts for the eyes, making Chocolate an ideal gift. In the first volume, The History of Chocolate, chocolate lovers can discover the fascinating story behind this global favorite, and how the discovery of the cocoa bean and its subsequent transformation into a valuable commodity changed the face of history. This volume looks at the processes involved in transforming the raw bean into delectable confectionary, as well as the cultural role it played, with the establishment of Europe’s finest chocolate houses and its acceptance at all levels of society.The second volume, The Taste of Chocolate is devoted to appreciating chocolate in all its myriad guises, and includes useful tips on the optimal conditions to savor this black gold and how to find the perfect accompaniments, whether fruit, cheese, wine, or spices. It explains the terms used by the professionals—defining garniture, couverture, or ganache, for example—and the specialist techniques used in preparing the basic material into delectable confectionary. This connoisseur’s appreciation of chocolate is rounded off by a collection of irresistible chocolate recipes, including Chocolate-Cherry Mousse, Grand-Marnier Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Fondue with Fruit, and Chocolate-Praline Tart.Dare to indulge… ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Luxurius excellence.
I was pleasantly surprised when I received this book. It has 'Class' spelled all over it. It was written by the president of the ancient ( about 200 years old ) Maison Debauve & Gallais with the assistance of the staff of the chocolaterie. It is not one but two books, about one hundred pages each, in a chic case, bound by a brown ribbon. The pages are glossy and there are lots of photographs.
The first book deals with the history of chocolate in general and its introduction to France. It goes on to describe the Cocoa cultivation and production, all laced with beautiful photographs. The second part of the first tome deals with the French chocolate tradition in general and with the Debauve & Gallais chocolaterie in particular.
The second book I find even more interesting. It starts with the nutritional qualities and descriptions for each kind of chocolate. Then it lists the characteristics of chocolate beans, cocoa and chocolate from different growing regions and countries. This is followed by a guide on how to taste chocolate properly (you don't just munch it!), which is followed by the best section of all, the recipes. There are about forty recipes. Sometimes one buys a book and out of its 100-150 recipes maybe 5-10 turn out interesting or good. In this book all the recipes are handpicked. As a matter of fact I would rather have this as a recipe book than many others in the market. Recipes include:
Chocolate and hazelnut cake with kirsch
Grand Marnier cake
Walnut brownies
Chocolate and almond cake
Chocolate and praline tart
Chocolate and almond cookies
Moist chocolate spice cake
Dark chocolate mousse with goat cheese
Ganache filling
Almond and/or hazelnut praline
Truffles
Earl Grey palets
Fondant chocolate cake
Chocolate mousse
Chocolate and coffee charlotte
All recipes are in both Metric and Cups and spoons. A word of caution though: The measures in Cups and spoons are not always the same in all the recipes. For instance a stick of butter is given as 100g in some recipes and 80g in others. In other recipes 1/2 stick of butter is given as 75g which would make one stick 150g! I use Metric so I don't mind, but if you use Cups etc, maybe you should consider using Metric for these recipes, it is more accurate anyway and gives consistent results. ... Read more

Product Description
There are enough people out there obsessed with chocolate cake to warrant an official holiday, National Chocolate Cake Day, January 27th. Beloved baker Elinor Klivans, author of the best-selling Cupcakes! and Cupcake Kit, has dedicated her new cookbook to the stuff of chocoholic fantasy: chocolate cake. There's something for bakers of every skill level in the 50 recipes included here, from fast chocolate fixes like the Hot Chocolate Pudding Cake to more elaborate recipes like the Mocha Whipped Cream Truffle Cake. This book is certain to be celebrated by chocolate lovers everywhere. And how will they do that? With cake, of course! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

Plenty of Pictures
This book makes a welcome addition to anyones 'beautiful' coffee book collection. There are plenty of great full color photos that make the recipes even more enticing. The illustrations and reading/workflow are also solid.

Pro's: Weights are included for all key ingredients (like flour) which will lead to far more accurate readings.

Cons: Where this book ends up in 3 star territory however is the editing/proofing - it's simply unacceptable that there are errors or missing steps. I would also only give 4 stars for creativity - good effort but not world class.

Super Yummy Fun to Make Chocolate Cakes
I got this book because my teenage daughter loves to bake.She absolutely loved this book.The recepies aren't complicated, the photos are mouthwatering and the ones we tried tasted amazing.Chocolate lovers everywhere will enjoy these yummy cakes.

Great for chocolate fans
This cookbook would be perfect for someone with a serious chocolate jones. Most people (including me) are going to try only a couple of the recipes, but real chocolate cake fans will get a lot out of this. I've baked two recipes and they both turned out very fine.

There's a good breakdown of cake baking practices and the various uses of chocolate in baking. The recipes are sometimes hard to read and leave steps out, but if you're an experienced or semi-experienced baker, you won't have a problem.

The book itself is beautifully set up (except for the sometimes too-small print) and the photos are very nice.

Nutshell: For the average person, 50 varieties of chocolate cakes is overkill, but this book isn't meant for the average person, really. It's for people who really want to delve deeply into one thing -- chocolate cake -- and for them, it's great. And if you're a pro baker, it might give you some great ideas to play off of.

Reads as easy as a prescription medicine bottle
This chocolate cake cookbook looks better on a coffee table than it performs in the kitchen. The villains here are DC Typography and designer Anne Donnard for producing a cookbook that is as easy to read as a prescription medicine bottle. Recipe titles are in muted colors. Detailed instructions appear to be in 9-point type, arranged in a series of long paragraphs. Striped backgrounds sit behind the ingredient lists, serving only to create a fuzzy look that makes reading a chore.

And don't get me started regarding the editing. I checked my copy twice, wondering if they slipped me an advance reader copy instead of the finished version.

I expected a color photo to accompany each recipe, considering there are only 50 contained within. No luck there either. Few of the photos "pop." For example, the Chocolate Pavola photo on page 74 shows a chocolate meringue lined with chocolate and filled with whipped cream and strawberries. The overhead photo flattens out the cake and a dusting of powdered sugar on the strawberries only dulls the contrast of colors.

I tried using the book in the kitchen. The book can stand on its spine but the awkward layout and small type prevented me from easily referring back to the recipe.

On a positive note, there are enough chocolate cake variations to satisfy everyone. The Chocolate Whiskey Cake on page 66 and the Happy Chocolate Cake on page 123 (Devil's Food cake layers and chocolate buttercream!) are next on my list.

In summary, this book suffers greatly from poor design. Cookbooks should be user friendly and this book is not with small type, muted colors and no step-by-step illustrations. Rating: two stars.

Nice and user-friendly book
I've bought this book as I've had great experiences baking from Ms Klivans' cookie book (big, fat, cookies), which might be my favorite cookie book all together.

I like the format and the quality of the book and the photographs.
The recipes are very approachable and suitable for both novice and experienced bakers, and there is a good variety, even though everything has chocolate. I love the fact that ingredients are presented in weight, as it ensures more accurate baking and succes in the outcome of recipes tried.

I've tried a few recipes: the white chocolate cake, which turned out excellent, that I used in the trifle recipe, in which I unfortunately came across an error in the recipe. The cream filling definately indicates a wrong amount of cream. I had to guess and used too much, which resulted in an almost seized filling, but I was able to rescue it and got rave reviews anyway. Liked this one a lot and the cake lends itself to many uses with fruits and fillings.

I also tried the chocolate cupcakes and the ganache from the 'master' recipes. The cupcakes turned out well enough, but the combination with the ganache made them into something truly special. We loved them. Unfortunately, I also discovered a slight error in the directions for the ganache: the recipe was correct, but in the directions you were told to 'let the ganache cool down for half an hour' until it was ready to spread on the cupcakes. My ganache only firmed up enough to spread after an overnight stay in the refrigerator, after which it was perfectly spreadable and delicious still. I knew before I started that half an hour wouldn't cut it, but I can see inexperienced bakers being misled by this. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent chocolate recipes
I bought this book for the appealing picture of a chocolate gateaux on the cover...the recipes inside are very good, especially the chocolate flan and the white chocolate and pistacio fudge. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Chocolatier magazine editors share their passion for chocolate, with recipes and techniques for creating spectacular chocolate desserts.

Blending passion with expertise, this book will become a chocolate lover's instant favorite. Fifty-four luscious new recipes developed and tested by editors at Chocolatier magazine celebrate chocolate at its best, including the whimsical Tahitian Vanilla Swirls, the elegant Milk Chocolate Mousse Roulade, and the smooth, sophisticated Black Satin Chocolate Raspberry Cake. With separate sections on white, milk, and dark chocolate, and gorgeous full-color photographs of techniques and finished desserts, Chocolate Passion makes it easy to learn and master the secrets of working with every type of chocolate.

Tish Boyle (New York, NY) is Food Editor and Timothy Moriarty (New York, NY) is Features Editor of Chocolatier and Pastry Art and Design magazines. They are the authors of Grand Finales: The Art of the Plated Dessert and A Modernist View of Plated Desserts.Amazon.com Review
To the growing cadre of books about chocolate, add Tish Boyle and TimMoriarty's Chocolate Passion. For it, the authors, both editors atChocolatier and Pastry Arts and Design magazines, havecollected more than 50 recipes celebrating chocolate--the world's favoriteflavor, as they dub it. These include formulas for cakes, cookies, mousses,tarts, and candies. If most of the recipes involve multiple preparations, asufficient number are simple enough to appeal to everyday cooks, andreaders with any interest in the subject should enjoy the book'sexploration of chocolate history and lore.

Beginning with this investigation, the book then presents information onchocolate making; ingredient, equipment, and technique definitions;tempering instructions; and other chocolate working material. The recipes,organized by chocolate type--white, milk, and dark--follow, mostillustrated with color photos; included also are comprehensive notes onchocolate and other suppliers. If the recipe organization is puzzling (fewwould choose a chocolate recipe based on the type of chocolate it contains)and the writing often infelicitous ("Milk chocolate, America's favoritechocolate delivery system..." is an instance), the recipes are temptingand clearly presented. Among these, Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies with MilkChocolate Frosting and Black Satin Chocolate Raspberry Cake, for example,have instant appeal. White-chocolate lovers will be happy to explore anextensive chapter devoted to the likes of White Chocolate Strawberry MousseCake; ambitious cooks will want to try their hand at the GiandujaMarjolaine, a chewy meringue and chocolate mousse cake layered with mochabuttercream and topped with ganache, among other full-dress recipes. In theend, the power of chocolate is such that, once under its spell, nothingwill do but to have some. The book provides numerous delightful ways tomake that happen. --Arthur Boehm ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Chocolate Passion: Recipes and Inspiration from the Kitchens of Chocolatier Magazine (Hardcover)
It is a really good book for the new talent where one appears great desserts made of great artists.

Any Chocolate book by Tish Boyle worth having
I've found that perfection is very subjective, when it comes to both chocolates and to books, and that for me, any book by Tish Boyle on chocolate is worth having and enjoying.

VERY GOOD AND EXCELLENT BOOK
The book is good and the write up is very detail.I really like the book as the recipes are easy to follow even though some of it is very time consuming. This book suit both amateur and professional.

Spectacular!
I love this book.

That pretty much sums it up. I was looking for a book to unseat Desserts by Pierre Herme as my favourite high-end, spare no expense baking book, the kind you use for dinner parties and other events to just blow your guests away. And after being disappointed with Chocolate Desserts by Pierre Herme, I thought I would remain searching...

The search is over. The desserts in this book fall into the "enthusiast" category, so don't expect the recipes to be quick or easy. Some will be irritated by the lack of mass measurements too.

But if you're willing to put in the time and have at least a medium level of experience, these recipes are going to blow you away. The white chocolate strawberry cake, for example. Visually, it's just spectacular; every time I make the thing, people are just in awe. I've even stolen the great spiral design with the chocolate triangles for other cakes, and the results have never failed to disappoint. Oh yeah, and did I mention that these cakes taste great too? Well they do. Have you tried Pierre Herme's Meringue? This is one of the most complicated and difficult recipes I have ever done, but damn was it fun to make. Even the humble white chocolate cheesecake recipe tasted sublime, and was easy to make at that!

This is the kind of book that makes me want to get up at 6:00 a.m. and just bake for 10 or 12 hours working on the elaborate masterpieces contained within. It's the kind of book that stimulates the imagination, as well as the taste buds. I cannot recommend it enough.

Mixed Review
This book is visually stunning.However, as an avid homebaker, I encountered errors in some of their instructions.Some cakes, such as the "White Chocolate Strawberry Mousse Cake," had an assembly problem.I believe they never made the cake themselves or they would have realized that all the filling doesn't fit into the springform pan the way they have indicated.I instead used a 9 inch ring on a baking sheet lined with a 9-inch cardboard round, so I would have enough room for the cake layers and fillings.But the cake itself, when done was incredibly delicious and stunning to look at.I found the "Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Pie," contrary to another reviewer to have been an awful recipe in instructions, assembly and taste.Yuk!The "Milk Chocolate and Golden Almond Cakes," were awesome.The cover cake, "Black Satin Chocolate Raspberry Cake," is prettier to look and was uninspring in taste.I was disappointed.Most of the recipes are timeconsuming and I agree with another reviewer that they lack insight in the instructions a homebaker would need.I haven't tried any of the candy recipes and will soon be trying out the "White Chocolate Opera Cake."I will say this book allows the homebaker to dream and succeed in many recipes to create stunning preparations.I find it is unique that it gives the homebaker a chance to try some challenging recipes that are on par with those one would find in pastry shops and five-star restaurants.Most baking books I find are uninspiring, insipid and about as challenging as opening a cake mix box.I think this book is a great one to add to your collection, because there are enough keeper recipes to make it worth your while. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book and seller
Great seller and book. The expedite mail was a bit slow and probably equivalent to standard mail.

You can taste it!
You can taste and smell the chocolate as you peruse this delightful, delicious, culinary experience.Lara Brody makes it all so very real, as well as fun and educational.She is a total delight!

Almost as good as eating chocolate...
A delightful book by an author/cook who is passionate about chocolate. Found it in my library but haven't yet found a book to buy. Great recipes!! ... Read more

Product Description
From a polka-dot pie that's perfect for a party to a silly salami you can eat for dessert, this book is choc-a-block with more than forty-five tasty chocolate recipes. Includes Quick Treats, delicious chocolate ideas kids can prepare in minutes, or even seconds! Kids can make * Triple chocolate cookies * Cool shakes * S'more gorp * Candy-covered pizza * Dirt dessert ... Read more

Product Description
All the rich delights of chocolate captured in one volume of decadence.

Only chocolate is so rich, smooth and satisfying for so many of us. Whether bittersweet, semisweet, milk or white, there is a chocolate for everyone to love. Square or chip, grated or melted, the world's favorite baking ingredient is chocolate.

300 Best Chocolate Recipes is an outstanding collection of chocolate recipes originally published in two books, 125 Best Chocolate Chip Recipes and 125 Best Chocolate Recipes. This delicious array of recipes ranges from the traditional to the sophisticated, and from the simple to the challenging.

Featuring incredibly creative and luscious recipes for everything from cakes, cookies, pies, breads, puddings, bars, squares and muffins to hot and cold beverages and sauces, these are fail-safe recipes for a baker with any level of experience. Here is a sampling:
- Chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons
- Raspberry chocolate chip cookies
- High-octane espresso chip morning muffins
- Chocolate mousse cake
- Double chocolate cheesecake ice cream.

Every recipe is easy to follow -- and works to perfection every time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

FOR CHOCAHOLICS !!!
If your are a chocolate fan like me, you will find this book amazing.Mouth-watering recipes of all kinds are included. I feel really happy with the tips included in each recipe, that helps a lot !!! A must have for a chocaholic !!!

Unique, creative & approachable chocolate recipes for all
I came across Julie's book while researching recipes for my wine & chocolate pairing classes.Not only is it a unique and comprehensive collection of creative recipes, but it's also filled with practical information that's a value to everyone.The beauty of this particular book is that you don't have to be an accomplished Swiss chef to apply the recipes, but even if you were, your imagine would still be stretched.Cheers to Julie for her outside-the-chocolate-box contribution to recipe possibilities.Fortunately my research was accomplished as well--I found quite a number of her culinary concoctions perfect for pairing with wines!

Great Recipes
Highly recommended!! Fancy but not TOO fancy.Just great recipes and plenty varity to please any sane person or animal ;^), so get it!! ... Read more

Product Description
Chocolate. It's the craving that won't go away, the desire that can't be denied. Quick Chocolate Fixes presents 75 decadent yet decidedly fast ways to fulfill those irresistible chocolate urges. From cakes and cookies to pies, puddings, breads, brownies, sauces, tarts, and ice cream delights, it offers chocolate in all its glory. Recipes include:

Toasted almond mocha chip cookies, chocolate malt cupcakes, black forest brownies, cookies and ice cream bombe, brownie-bottom ice cream pie, irresistible chocolate peanut butter pie, chocolate praline truffles, chocolate banana shake, chocolate phyllo roll extravaganza.
... Read more

Product Description
Did you know?...Known as Mother Nature's 'food of the gods', the medicinal benefits of chocolate were recognized as far back as 4000 years ago. Eating chocolate can help boost the immune system, lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes-even obesity! - and increase lifespan. A 1.5 ounce bar of quality chocolate has as much antioxidant power as a 5 ounce glass of wine-without the side effects of alcohol. Chocolate is chock-full of mood-enhancing ingredients, including phenylethylamine (the 'love drug') and serotonin. Chocolate can relieve a host of ailments, including depression, fatigue, pain and PMS, as well as rev up your sex drive! Drawing on the latest scientific research as well as interviews with medical doctors and chocolatiers, this fascinating book reveals how to live longer and healthier while indulging in one of nature's most decadent and versatile foods. Explore real chocolate (infused with fruits, herbs, and spices), Mediterranean-style, heart-healthy recipes, plus home remedies that combat everything from acne to anxiety. You'll also discover rejuvenating beauty and anti-aging spa treatments - all made with antioxidant-rich chocolate! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Chocolate Lover
Thank you..it's been a pleasure shopping with you.Everything arrived safely and fast.Purchased more than one for gifts.Love the books and will be back to shop with you again in the future.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the phenomenal health benefits of Chocolate!
Cal Orey's book, "The Healing Powers of Chocolate", is a must read for anyone interested in the health benefits of chocolate. Her book is a wonderful journey into all things chocolate, including the reasons chocolate is a nutritional health food, where in the world to buy the best chocolate, and chocolate beauty and anti-aging spa treatments. Her reader will discover all the benefits of chocolate, from home remedies, to recipes, to medicinal benefits of living a longer, healthier life. The author has created an interesting and masterful book by incorporating her personal experiences during her research in all things chocolate.Her story and anecdotes make for a truly enjoyable book!I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to know all about chocolate, especially how chocolate can help one live an amazing, healthier life. Cal Orey has written an extremely helpful, fascinating book!

The Healing Powers of Chocolate
I just love Cal Orey's books: The Healing Powers of Olive Oil and The Healing Powers of Vinegar.I just can't wait for her new book; The Healing Powers of Chocolate to arrive in my mail.Just from reading these previous two books I know I will just love reading this one too.Every book I've read of hers is so very interesting.It is so much fun to find out all the details about the origins of each of these books titles. Plus each of them are geered towards helping me stay healthy. It's so wonderful to learn more about the benefits of the foods that I love to eat.Buying this book is something everyone should do.You won't be disappointed. She's a great writer!!!

Chocolate is NOT Evil
So wonderful the way Cal Orey allows us to embrace chocolate and stop blaming it for our weight problems.I love her quote, "Rather than running from the chocolate, we should embrace it with both arms."So true!We Americans are an overweight society, but this book really shows how chocolate is not the evil so many people make it out to be. Read and find out how much it can benefit us and you'll soon be a convert!

As appealing as chocolate itself!
I'm not sure what "OldRoses" was so bothered about (a 1 star rating) - chocolate is supposed to be fun. I think she was looking for a Ph.D. dissertation... not fun at all. Or perhaps she just had her panties in a wad.

I was impressed by both the style and content of this clever title. Yes, it followed the format of some of Cal's other works, but then what author's subsequent works don't? Do you think there are some similarities in Ayn Rand's classics "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead?'

As one who enjoys a bit of the sweet cocoa stuff, I found the information, history and healing benefits commentary quite useful and entertaining. As for the accuracy of the information, anyone who has explored ANY vitamin, nutraceutical, or natural remedies knows that there are always different and contrarian points of view. It's seldom settled science.

Now I wouldn't go to the Columbia University best seller list to find such a compendium of worthwhile knowledge and thoughts; and for those others who wouldn't do so, I think you'll find this book well worth the buying and the reading. Pick it up when you want a touch of literary comfort food - and have a nice piece of dark chocolate nearby to supplement your intellectual appetite with that of your taste buds. ... Read more

Product Description
With the mission to “lay naked before the world the true meaning of chocolate,” David Wolfe and Shazzie present a spirited and unconventional history, materia medica, and recipe book for the world’s most pleasurable food: chocolate. This book describes the wonders of cacao–where it comes from, how it is processed, its three varieties, and its origins and role in pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas. It explains the scientific properties and health benefits of chocolate, and elaborates how you will lose weight, soothe your heart, double your joy, increase your sensuality, nourish your intellect, and attract prosperity by eating it!

In contrast to most books about chocolate, this one focuses on the raw cacao bean, or “naked” chocolate. Of course, this chocolate manual wouldn’t be complete without a step-by-step guide on what to do with the cacao beans, and over sixty original and mouthwatering chocolate recipes guaranteed to enhance your life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Everything you can think of about chocolate


David Wolfe has astonishing news for chocolate lovers: Raw chocolate is actually one of the most nutritious foods on the planet! In his book with British raw food advocate Shazzie (who, like Cher and Madonna only goes by her first name), Naked Chocolate, The Astonishing Truth about The World's Greatest Foodhe documents the health benefits of chocolate, which include protection from heart disease, mood elevation, brain-boosting properties, appetite suppression and much more. Heating, processing and adding milk and sugar to raw cacao beans cause many of these benefits to be lost, but preparing the raw chocolate with stevia or raw yacon root sweetener and other raw ingredients (such as coconut butter) masks the bitter flavor while retaining the super food benefits.

The book is in magazine-thick glossy paper, with many colorful photos. It includes a thorough history of chocolate, the benefits of chocolate, and recipes. There is even a chapter called "Saving the Planet with Chocolate." OK, not only do we no longer need to feel guilty for eating chocolate--we can also congratulate ourselves for saving the planet!

Wolfe and Shazzie cite evidence that raw chocolate (cacao nibs) is one of the earth's greatest nutritional offerings. It is high in magnesium, making it a powerful brain food and natural laxative. Ten percent of its contents are antioxidants, making it a leading longevity food. Research has shown that it benefits the cardiovascular system, increases the ability of blood vessels to dilate, decreases hardening of the arteries, prevents platelet aggregation, and thins the blood. A Harvard University study of 8,000 males found that chocolate lovers lived longer.

Chocolate has earned a reputation as "Nature's Prozac." It keeps up levels of phenylethylamine (PEA), which increases the activity of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). This increases the activity of dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine, hormones that keep us feeling alert, alive, joyful and happy. Chocolate contains anandamide, a lesser-known neurotransmitter that creates bliss and a "high" feeling. High doses can mimic a cannabis high. It is believed to contain monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), which keep our neurotransmitters plentiful like those of children so that we can be as joyful, curious and excited about life as children are.

Chocolate is also known to be an aphrodisiac, hence its popularity as a Valentine's Day gift, and an appetite suppressant, which is why it is found in many weight-loss products.

According to David and Shazzie, "Cacao imparts an ennobling energetic creativity upon the consumer, allowing information to be downloaded from a higher dimensional space that surrounds us all the time. This creativity comes in a frequency that particularly suits the alchemist, astrologer, writer and orator. This property is esoteric and may never be precisely pinned down."
Cacao is not without controversy in the raw food community, however. There are those who believe it is a stimulant causing "fight or flight" syndrome and the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol.

My own experience with cacao would indicate that even if this is the case, the effects of about a tablespoon of raw cacao nibs is about ten percent, or less, the "fight or flight" of a 16-ounce coffee from Starbuck's. The only sign of addictive properties I have noticed is that I do not feel as noticeably fantastic if I take it every day as I would taking it only two or three times a week. coffee. So I would term it a rather innocuous addiction and a powerful transition food to a raw diet. Some may even choose to make it a staple in a long-term diet.

awesome
just a great read... great receipes.... .if you like chocolate... you will love it... even if you aren't raw.

The best ever!
David Wolfe is so passionate about raw foods, he make you want to become a raw foodist!! This book has enticing recpies and explanations of where cacao came from. It's interesting, educational and the recipes are good!

The Magical Chocolate Tour
This is a fun book with more historical information on chocolate than I could have expected. With a world distracted by dissent and animosity, chocolate may be the one thing that all humans, despite religion, race or sex can agree upon as being something we all absolutely love. Perhaps we can concede to agree upon that as a start to a planetary union of peace.

Reading about chocolate is difficult because the reader instantly wants some chocolate to enjoy during the passage through Wolfe's and Shazzie's progression to creating the Religion of Chocolate. Wolfe is always effective in conveying his excitement about his learnings and his personal dive into the experiential research of his current raw focus.

The dialogue was informative from an historical point of view. It gives the reader cause to pause and consider that more than one ancient civilization integrated raw food, in this case cacao, as the monetary unit and used gold or silver for decoration. Beans more valuable than gold?

The recipes are a delight as exploring the alchemical beauty of chocolate is nothing short of pure pleasure.

This is a book to be enjoyed by all, fun, delicious and timeless in topic.

The reader will learn the ancestry of cacao, the nutritional aspects of chocolate, the pleasurable benefits of eating raw chocolate and some tasty recipes to satisfy the palate. There's an enjoyable energy to these recipes that is not always found in other books offering dietary suggestions.

Raw Food Worship, But Health =/= Stimulation
I have read this book, along with Chris Kilham's entries on chocolate (theobroma cacao), and my own ethnobotanical / biochemical studies through many avenues of interest. I always enjoy learning more about the history and culture of this interesting tree. Unfortunately, my scientific disposition compels me look at the health sensationalism surrounding chocolate rather skeptically. Of course, these kinds of reviews are rarely popular (and even less so in the USA), but I feel that I do people looking for health a great disservice by not dispensing my knowledge of chocolate, a perspective which merely takes this work into account.

Theobromine - Firstly, chocolate has stimulants (most people erroneously think is has substantial caffeine, which it does not) - chocolate has an analogous alkaloid, called "theobromine" occurring predominantly. It is a strong stimulant alkaloid with an effect on the nervous system, particularly the heart. The cardiotoxicity of this alkaloid has not been established, and I will firstly press for caution here. The effect of this alkaloid is enhanced by the substantial magnesium content of the chocolate.

Tannins - Raw chocolate is rich in tannins, responsible for the bitterness of the chocolate. Tannin in high concentration is an anti-nutrient, binding up and preventing the absorption of minerals in the digestive system. It also adversely affects the kidneys. Raw chocolate has a very high tannin content, more so than some tannin-rich fruits (such as the skins of jaboticaba), which are recommended to only be eaten in small quantity. Does this rule of potential tannin toxicity not apply to chocolate? I wouldn't think so.

Surplus - Lastly, and partly from having grown cacao trees myself, is the observation that chocolate can be a surplus crop in many areas of the world. Theobroma Cacao bears continuously and prolifically from trees that are surprisingly easy to grow in appropriate climates. Commercially, raw cacao beans are available at bulk wholesale relatively cheap. (Yes, even the organic ones.) Why do we see disproportionately high prices on raw chocolate products? To me, this means the public is paying high retail prices, based on this rather aggressive "health food" marketing we see- a situation which to me suggests a veil of pretense (though perhaps inadvertent) concerning the whole ordeal. Somebody is making a very high profit off this particular commodity. Hint: it's not the Cacao farmers / growers. I think a good skeptical pause is warranted.

What is the point of this review? I have nothing against the authors, whose work I do enjoy. In fact I do eat a raw diet myself, being a tropical fruit grower and researcher. I think the lesson to learn here is we should respect certain foods for what they are, and not worship them for the energy and enthusiasm they impart. This is a key marketing strategy used pervasively nowadays- the idea that whole foods which make you 'feel good' are healthy and 'good for you.' Chocolate fits that bill indeed. Obtaining good health is, in actuality, a subtle endeavor, and "feeling good" is not a reliable or informative gauge for determining a food's overall virtues, or necessarily the state of one's health.

How many foods / substances out there make us feel good, only to burn us out faster? Thus, I stress caution, and encourage all people to research their health interests as much as possible. Hopefully, you see my point. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Chocolate Haven
This book is a compilation of recipes of the early years of Chocolatier Magazine.It is nice to have as a reference book to your magazine collection.As a cookbook in general, the recipes are very well done.My only complaint is that there are not enough photographs of the recipes. ... Read more

Product Description
When George and the man with the yellow hat stop to shop at a chocolate factory store, George becomes curious about how chocolates are made. Though he begins to follow the factory tour, George is soon off on his own to investigate. The adventures of Curious George continue in an all-new series beginning in fall 1998 with eight new stories. Written and illustrated in the style of Margret and H. A. Rey, the books will appear in paperback (8 x 8") and hardcover editions and will feature the art of Vipah Interactive, the animators of HMI's Curious George CD-ROMs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Good
Good book.This is one of the older stories and drawings, not one of the newer stories and drawings.

Curious George
Both my boys love curious george. And you can never go wrong with a book.

not good
My daughter got tired of this book while reading it. If you're looking for a book about a chocolate factory, then this is it. If however you're looking for a fun book about a mischievous monkey, then this is not it.

Great Classic Gift
My 5 year old daughter just loves Curious George.Ever since the new movie came out she has been hooked on the older adventures of George.She is easily able to listen to the tape on her personal tape player and read along with the book. With the tapes I don't have to worry about her scratching themor ruining them after just a few uses.I would recommend this to anyone considering it for their child.

My Favorite Curious George Book Thus Far
Written in the spirit of the classic books by Margaret and H.A. Rey, Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory features the clean, simple illustrations of Vipah Interactive. (Other George stories are written/illustrated by Mary Weston, who gets enthusiastic with the black charcoal--resulting in dirty looking illustrations.)

One day, the man with the yellow hat and George go to tour a chocolate factory. George is enthralled to learn that there is a special coding system used to indicate various types of chocolate or fillings. For example, the chocolate with a squiggle is a truffle, the one with a little swirl on top is fudge, and the one with the N on it is for nougat.

In a scene reminiscent of the classic I Love Lucy episode, George accidentally turns a machine on "very fast"--sending chocolates speeding down a conveyor belt. He then helps the workers box up the chocolates (eating while he works!), and ends up saving the day.

George doesn't even accept a box of chocolates as a reward--because he has a tummy ache!

This delightful book also has a neat game on the back, with the different chocolates as game squares. All you need is two coins to play the simple game--three if you're playing with a friend.

Maybe it's because I'm a chocolate lover, but this is my favorite Curious George book! My son seems to love it, too. ... Read more

Product Description
There’s a difference between a chocoholic and a chocophile, and Clay Gordon is decidedly in the latter category. It’s not enough for him to simply love this rich indulgence; he is equally addicted to the finer points of choosing it, just as a wine aficionado enjoys researching different varietals and developing a taste for particularly fine ones.

In Discover Chocolate, Gordon opens a world that extends far beyond cookbooks and coffee-table books that feature assorted gooey shots. Yes, his primer is packed with more than a hundred gorgeous photographs of chocolate and truffles, but this is a guide that also includes a handy rating system, a field guide for discerning among different types and styles of chocolates, an overview of how cacao becomes chocolate (including maps of where cacao is grown), advice for pairing chocolate and wine, and, perhaps most important of all, how and where to shop for the best chocolate in the world.

A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, and Clay Gordon is there to help you relish every drop of it, discerning why you like certain types but not others and generating a personal list of favorites. This is the book every true chocolate enthusiast has been craving. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

The discovery of fine chocolate
Clay Gordon is a self-taught expert and dedicated chocophile from the US. This book sets out what he has learned about fine chocolate in the 15 years since he began his mission to become an expert. The book is split into four main sections covering how to taste chocolate, the story of chocolate from bean to bar (including a look at the genetics of cacao), how to judge and buy quality chocolate, and pairing chocolate with wine and other alcoholic drinks. Gordon writes with all the passion of an enthusiast and his style is both easy to read and quite winning. I think the sections of the book on how to taste chocolate and from bean to bar are particularly well written and laid out and worth the price of the book alone. The section on buying quality chocolate is interesting, while I could live without the section on pairings with alcohol. Another big plus for the book is that it contains an excellent glossary of terms used in the chocolate world, which will be very helpful to both beginners and keen amateurs alike. There are relatively few books on chocolate as a subject, as opposed to recipes using chocolate, and even fewer that seek to explore the world of high cocoa content, quality bean, fine chocolate. We are therefore lucky that the books that do exist are all complementary to each other and well written and/or inspirational. If I was advising a fine chocolate novice on getting started I might suggest first reading Chloe Doutre-Roussel's short and sweet "The Chocolate Connoiseur", then following up with this book, which is much more in depth, and then rounding off with Sarah Jane Evans's "Chocolate Unwrapped", which looks in detail at the leading 80 fine chocolate manufacturer's around the world and their bars.

the best chocolate book ever
This is so fascinating my boyfriend wants to read it too. Really an essential book if you work with chocolate or if you're a chocolate lover.

Discovering Chocolate
I am very pleased with the time frame of shipping and the book is in excellent condition and this is exactly the book I was looking for.

hits the mark
If you take chocolate seriously, this book is a good overview to understand it better. Loved the price on Amazon - the author sells it for $75 a copy on his web site!

A ton of info packed into a 2 hour read
A ton of info packed into a 2 hour read.Thorough groundwork for the chocolate novice.Straight to the point and worthwhile. ... Read more