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Cocolat: Extraordinary Chocolate Desserts
James Beard Foundation 1991 Cookbook of the Year!
"Cocolat is to chocolate what Tiffany is to diamonds." — Gourmet magazine.
One of America's leading chocolatiers and the founder of the famous Cocolat shops shares the secrets behind her decadent, European-style desserts in this beautifully illustrated, easy-to-follow guide. Alice Medrich founded the first in a chain of chocolate shops in 1976, introducing legions of Americans to the joys of chocolate truffles. With the guidance of this lavish book, home cooks and budding pastry chefs can make their own renditions of the shop's sophisticated confections. Each fabulous recipe features detailed instructions that even first-time bakers can follow to create treats that are — almost — too beautiful to eat.
Alice Medrich shares her exclusive techniques for making visually stunning, professional-quality desserts, from a Christmas mousse and a child's birthday cake of miniature cupcakes to dainty macaroons and soft-centered chocolate truffles. Easy-to-follow directions, illustrated in full color, explain how to sculpt chocolate roses, ruffles, fans, shavings, and other finishing touches. This newly revised edition features a new Introduction by the author, a new Chocolate Chart with advice on ingredients, and updated Resources and Equipment sections. The ultimate chocolate dessert book, Cocolat promises to be the crowning jewel of any cookbook collection.
"Alice Medrich's groundbreaking chocolate techniques and recipes, first at her much-missed Cocolat shops and then in her books, have certainly survived the test of time. Their flavor, appearance, and elegance are every bit as fresh and delightful today as they were when they first appeared. Cocolat is a true classic." — Nick Malgieri, author of PASTRY and BAKE!
"My seduction by chocolate happened the moment I bit into my first dark chocolate truffle at Cocolat, Alice Medrich's groundbreaking shop. I've been a dedicated fan ever since and was thrilled when she shared her coveted recipes in this book. Alice has always stood on the forefront of the world of chocolate, and Cocolat is one of the most cherished books in my cookbook collection!" — David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen and The Sweet Life in Paris
"At this very moment, I have a Mocha Pecan Torte in the oven because to read Cocolat is to bake from it, and that's as true now as it was when I was nine years old, awestruck by the sea of chocolate ruffles on the cover. Like many pastry chefs, I cut my teeth on this book, and it's hard to overstate Alice's influence on dessert menus and bakery cases across the country." — Stella Parks, Senior Editor at Serious Eats and author of BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts
"The kinds and variations of chocolate available in the United States have exploded since the original Cocolat was published in 1999. But what has remained constant is Alice's expertise in sifting through all the information so home cooks can successfully create desserts with one of the best ingredients on earth. Alice's original Cocolat is a classic in many bakers' kitchens, including my own. The pages of mine are chocolate-stained and dog-eared. I know I will soon get this new, revised version as messy as I absorb and learn all Alice has to share with us on her new chocolate discoveries." — Emily Luchetti, San Francisco–based pastry chef and author of several dessert books including Stars Desserts and The Fearless Baker
"Alice Medrich is the Grande Dame Extraordinaire of everything chocolate. Her patisserie, Cocolat was revolutionary and one of the very few in the banal landscape of American bakeries at the time. I have a copy of this original book and it inspired me early on in my career to master many of the techniques in here available to anyone who submits to their love for chocolate." — Elizabeth Falkner, Chef/Author/Artist
"Cocolat is to chocolate what Tiffany is to diamonds." — Gourmet magazine.
One of America's leading chocolatiers and the founder of the famous Cocolat shops shares the secrets behind her decadent, European-style desserts in this beautifully illustrated, easy-to-follow guide. Alice Medrich founded the first in a chain of chocolate shops in 1976, introducing legions of Americans to the joys of chocolate truffles. With the guidance of this lavish book, home cooks and budding pastry chefs can make their own renditions of the shop's sophisticated confections. Each fabulous recipe features detailed instructions that even first-time bakers can follow to create treats that are — almost — too beautiful to eat.
Alice Medrich shares her exclusive techniques for making visually stunning, professional-quality desserts, from a Christmas mousse and a child's birthday cake of miniature cupcakes to dainty macaroons and soft-centered chocolate truffles. Easy-to-follow directions, illustrated in full color, explain how to sculpt chocolate roses, ruffles, fans, shavings, and other finishing touches. This newly revised edition features a new Introduction by the author, a new Chocolate Chart with advice on ingredients, and updated Resources and Equipment sections. The ultimate chocolate dessert book, Cocolat promises to be the crowning jewel of any cookbook collection.
"Alice Medrich's groundbreaking chocolate techniques and recipes, first at her much-missed Cocolat shops and then in her books, have certainly survived the test of time. Their flavor, appearance, and elegance are every bit as fresh and delightful today as they were when they first appeared. Cocolat is a true classic." — Nick Malgieri, author of PASTRY and BAKE!
"My seduction by chocolate happened the moment I bit into my first dark chocolate truffle at Cocolat, Alice Medrich's groundbreaking shop. I've been a dedicated fan ever since and was thrilled when she shared her coveted recipes in this book. Alice has always stood on the forefront of the world of chocolate, and Cocolat is one of the most cherished books in my cookbook collection!" — David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen and The Sweet Life in Paris
"At this very moment, I have a Mocha Pecan Torte in the oven because to read Cocolat is to bake from it, and that's as true now as it was when I was nine years old, awestruck by the sea of chocolate ruffles on the cover. Like many pastry chefs, I cut my teeth on this book, and it's hard to overstate Alice's influence on dessert menus and bakery cases across the country." — Stella Parks, Senior Editor at Serious Eats and author of BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts
"The kinds and variations of chocolate available in the United States have exploded since the original Cocolat was published in 1999. But what has remained constant is Alice's expertise in sifting through all the information so home cooks can successfully create desserts with one of the best ingredients on earth. Alice's original Cocolat is a classic in many bakers' kitchens, including my own. The pages of mine are chocolate-stained and dog-eared. I know I will soon get this new, revised version as messy as I absorb and learn all Alice has to share with us on her new chocolate discoveries." — Emily Luchetti, San Francisco–based pastry chef and author of several dessert books including Stars Desserts and The Fearless Baker
"Alice Medrich is the Grande Dame Extraordinaire of everything chocolate. Her patisserie, Cocolat was revolutionary and one of the very few in the banal landscape of American bakeries at the time. I have a copy of this original book and it inspired me early on in my career to master many of the techniques in here available to anyone who submits to their love for chocolate." — Elizabeth Falkner, Chef/Author/Artist
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1990
13 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 7, 2011
About fifteen years ago I saw this book and knew that I had to own it. It was the first time I had spent so much money on a cookbook. I still love it to bits. It has been the inspiration for countless birthday cakes and other special occasion cakes and desserts ever since. In my view, it's a must for anyone who is serious about baking.
August 12, 2012
This is an absolutely splendid and lavish book, detailing some of the most sophisticated and decadent chocolate deserts from the groundbreaking
California chocolate store, sadly now closed. These recipes are not for the novice cook, but for someone who lives in the kitchen and has a love affair with chocolate.
Cocolat won the Cookbook of the Year and Perrier Best Food Photography awards from the James Beard Foundation, and the Julia Child Award: Best First Cookbook.
California chocolate store, sadly now closed. These recipes are not for the novice cook, but for someone who lives in the kitchen and has a love affair with chocolate.
Cocolat won the Cookbook of the Year and Perrier Best Food Photography awards from the James Beard Foundation, and the Julia Child Award: Best First Cookbook.
June 25, 2020
As a professional pastry chef, I have collected cookbooks for too many years. There are still a few authors whose every book is a must: Alice Medrich is one of them. Her instructions are clear; her recipes work. Every item I introduced to my catering menu has always been a success.
May 1, 2019
Beautiful book !
Intricately and delicately done chocolate desserts !
PS: However I don't like the letters. So tiny.
Intricately and delicately done chocolate desserts !
PS: However I don't like the letters. So tiny.
September 8, 2013
I doubt I would ever make anything in this cookbook -- well, perhaps the mousses -- but it was very interesting to read from a technical standpoint. It does not have the chatty sort of culinary history/nutritional anthropology many cookbooks I enjoy do, but it is certainly fascinating for how to make some very complex and beautiful desserts.
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September 23, 2007Many new chocolate baking books have come out since Alice Medrich, former baker for Chez Panise, came out with this collection, but few surpass it.
November 19, 2007
Everything my husband has made from this book has been amazing. The recipes are complicated but showstoppers. Be prepared to use a LOT of butter.
August 2, 2008
if you love chocolate you kneed to own this book and start cooking from it. It is not your everyday recipes. More on the advance side.
January 18, 2013
This cookbook has the most divinely delicious dessert recipes - it's beautiful to look at and everything I've made from it has been Sumptuous!!!
September 15, 2013
This is the book that convinced me I had to go to pastry school. I baked my way through the whole book with flawless recipes and beautiful results. Thoroughly delicious and beautiful writing.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews