What do you think?
The Golden Book of Chocolate
Book by Bardi, Carla
703 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 4, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book. It has a beautiful format with photos for every recipe, which I love. It also has some creative recipes.
However, I feel some of the recipes just take good recipes and add chocolate in order to get the number of recipes up, which doesn't always make it taste better. For example, the chocolate rice pudding tasted great until I added the chocolate at the end, which ruined it. Chocolate pancakes are also better off without the chocolate. The chocolate zabaglione also would have been much better without the chocolate. Just adding chocolate for the sake of it, without actually making good recipes.
There are also some real big errors in some of the recipes. I tried the charlotte russe, and the quantity of butter for the filling is completely wrong. After wasting lots of butter making a buttery/ sugary water mixture that I had to throw away, I looked online for similar recipes. All recipes online said it should be exactly 50% of the quantity the book said. I was so mad that they didn't double check the quantities.
Also, many of the recipes really are underwhelming. Again, I feel like they wanted to have 300+ recipes so they lower the standard of recipes they will include, just to make sure they have lots. The instructions are often lacking, and I also feel that sometimes they make you add ingredients one at a time, in a specific order, completely unnecessarily. Every time I try a recipe from this book I pray it is not one of the bad ones.
The format is awkward to read too - the whole recipe is usually just one large, dense paragraph. I will often make a recipe and it will look completely different to the picture. I don't know if the photographed version actually followed that recipe, or if they just left out necessary steps from the instruction.
Bottom line: it's nice to look at, the occasional recipe is good, but many are underwhelming or actually bad recipes. I really don't trust the author's cooking ability, or proof reading ability. The double chocolate brownie recipe is amazing though.
However, I feel some of the recipes just take good recipes and add chocolate in order to get the number of recipes up, which doesn't always make it taste better. For example, the chocolate rice pudding tasted great until I added the chocolate at the end, which ruined it. Chocolate pancakes are also better off without the chocolate. The chocolate zabaglione also would have been much better without the chocolate. Just adding chocolate for the sake of it, without actually making good recipes.
There are also some real big errors in some of the recipes. I tried the charlotte russe, and the quantity of butter for the filling is completely wrong. After wasting lots of butter making a buttery/ sugary water mixture that I had to throw away, I looked online for similar recipes. All recipes online said it should be exactly 50% of the quantity the book said. I was so mad that they didn't double check the quantities.
Also, many of the recipes really are underwhelming. Again, I feel like they wanted to have 300+ recipes so they lower the standard of recipes they will include, just to make sure they have lots. The instructions are often lacking, and I also feel that sometimes they make you add ingredients one at a time, in a specific order, completely unnecessarily. Every time I try a recipe from this book I pray it is not one of the bad ones.
The format is awkward to read too - the whole recipe is usually just one large, dense paragraph. I will often make a recipe and it will look completely different to the picture. I don't know if the photographed version actually followed that recipe, or if they just left out necessary steps from the instruction.
Bottom line: it's nice to look at, the occasional recipe is good, but many are underwhelming or actually bad recipes. I really don't trust the author's cooking ability, or proof reading ability. The double chocolate brownie recipe is amazing though.
January 25, 2016
Oh my! Where to begin, where to begin......
At the beginning: 5 Stars MINUS 1, why? The book weighs over 4 3/4 lbs, and that is a lot of book hold up and leisurely peruse through.
Nice clear recipes, lovely photographs, very easy to read font, title & ingredient lists in bold.
Contents include: Introduction, 13 sections of recipes, and Index.
Introduction: a little bit of science about cacao, history, business, & "de Gustibus..." ( "In matters of taste, there can be no disputes")
Recipes: a sampling of the over 300 in the book.....
Cookies: Dipped chocolate orange, Chocolate spice, Piped butter, Glazed cookie sticks, Chocolate fruit salami, Meringues, & Glazed mocha
Bars & Brownies: Double chocolate brownies, Rich chocolate liqueur bars, Cappuccino squares, Chocolate orange squares, No--bake chocolate squares, Chocolate caramel delight, & Spicy chocolate pumpkin bars
Muffins & Cupcakes: Chocolate cherry muffins, Chocolate sour-cream cupcakes, Chocolate banana cupcakes, White chocolate hazelnut cupcakes, White chocolate strawberry muffins, Chocolate rum raisin muffins, Java muffins, Chocolate chip brioche, & Chocolate zucchini muffins
Pastries: Chocolate pithivier, Chocolate & ricotta turnovers, Chocolate cherry Danish, Pain au chocolat, Pear gallettes, Plum tartlets, Pistachio & orange filo roll, & Millefeuille
Elegant Desserts: Affogato chocolate ice cream, Iced cappuccinos, White chocolate & strawberry cheesecakes, White chocolate & raspberry trifle, Profiteroles, Coffee granita w/ cream & chocolate, Chocolate & Cointreau mousse, Chocolate & sour cherry crepes, Chocolate creme brulee, & Chocolate, Bombes Alaska, Charlotte russe, Chocolate caramel puddings, Chargrilled fruits w/chocolate syrup, & mascarpone parcels
Pies & Tarts: Grand Marnier walnut tart, Chocolate almond pie, Hazelnut cream pie, White chocolate lime pie, White chocolate coconut cream pies, Rich mocha pie, & Apricot tart tatin
Puddings & Cremes: Rummy mud pudding, Chocolate Bavarian cream, Chocolate sultana mousse, Tiramisu, Chocolate mascarpone cream, Chocolate orange mousse, Pear, custard & chocolate sauce, & Baked chocolate & amaretti custards
Tea & Coffee Cakes: Chocolate carrot cake, Cinnamon marble cake, Irish cream cake, Chocolate gingerbread, Chocolate chip oatmeal cake, Chocolate raisin cake w/ rum frosting, Chocolate peanut butter cake, Chocolate applesauce cake, Pineapple chocolate snacking cake, & Golden mud cake
Layer Cakes: Black forest, Peppermint cream cake, Chocolate layer cake w/ fresh figs, Chocolate orange roulade, Almond white chocolate cake, Chocolate coffee cream roll, Opera cake, White chocolate mousse w/ lemon & kiwi, Italian riccotta cake, Chocolate dacquoise, Cappuccino layer cake, & Chocolate orange gateau
Candy: Champagne truffles, Chocolate brandy snaps, White chocolate logs, Coconut & white chocolate truffles, Pistachio logs, Panforte, Chocolate candied peel, Easter eggs w/ sprinkles, Honey nougat, Chocolate toffee, Chocolate drizzled croccant, & Chocolate orange meringue tartlets
Savory Dishes: Penne w/ chocolate, pistachios, & goat cheese, Shrimp w/ chocolate sauce, Mexican turkey mole, Chocolate mini muffins w/ robiola & salami, Beef tenderloin w/ chocolate, Gnocchi w/ golden raisins & chocolate, Chocolate fettuccine w/ butter, sage & mozzarella, & Venetian ravioli
Drinks: Brown cow, Irish chocolate, White eggnog, Bitter hot chocolate, Chocolate monkey, Mocha whirl, Chocolate banana smoothie, Chocolate martini, Creamy white chocolate, Cool chocolate coconut cream, & Hot mocha
Basic Recipes: Pastry, Ganache, Sauce, & Frosting
A chocolate addicts delight, It is ALL HERE.......
At the beginning: 5 Stars MINUS 1, why? The book weighs over 4 3/4 lbs, and that is a lot of book hold up and leisurely peruse through.
Nice clear recipes, lovely photographs, very easy to read font, title & ingredient lists in bold.
Contents include: Introduction, 13 sections of recipes, and Index.
Introduction: a little bit of science about cacao, history, business, & "de Gustibus..." ( "In matters of taste, there can be no disputes")
Recipes: a sampling of the over 300 in the book.....
Cookies: Dipped chocolate orange, Chocolate spice, Piped butter, Glazed cookie sticks, Chocolate fruit salami, Meringues, & Glazed mocha
Bars & Brownies: Double chocolate brownies, Rich chocolate liqueur bars, Cappuccino squares, Chocolate orange squares, No--bake chocolate squares, Chocolate caramel delight, & Spicy chocolate pumpkin bars
Muffins & Cupcakes: Chocolate cherry muffins, Chocolate sour-cream cupcakes, Chocolate banana cupcakes, White chocolate hazelnut cupcakes, White chocolate strawberry muffins, Chocolate rum raisin muffins, Java muffins, Chocolate chip brioche, & Chocolate zucchini muffins
Pastries: Chocolate pithivier, Chocolate & ricotta turnovers, Chocolate cherry Danish, Pain au chocolat, Pear gallettes, Plum tartlets, Pistachio & orange filo roll, & Millefeuille
Elegant Desserts: Affogato chocolate ice cream, Iced cappuccinos, White chocolate & strawberry cheesecakes, White chocolate & raspberry trifle, Profiteroles, Coffee granita w/ cream & chocolate, Chocolate & Cointreau mousse, Chocolate & sour cherry crepes, Chocolate creme brulee, & Chocolate, Bombes Alaska, Charlotte russe, Chocolate caramel puddings, Chargrilled fruits w/chocolate syrup, & mascarpone parcels
Pies & Tarts: Grand Marnier walnut tart, Chocolate almond pie, Hazelnut cream pie, White chocolate lime pie, White chocolate coconut cream pies, Rich mocha pie, & Apricot tart tatin
Puddings & Cremes: Rummy mud pudding, Chocolate Bavarian cream, Chocolate sultana mousse, Tiramisu, Chocolate mascarpone cream, Chocolate orange mousse, Pear, custard & chocolate sauce, & Baked chocolate & amaretti custards
Tea & Coffee Cakes: Chocolate carrot cake, Cinnamon marble cake, Irish cream cake, Chocolate gingerbread, Chocolate chip oatmeal cake, Chocolate raisin cake w/ rum frosting, Chocolate peanut butter cake, Chocolate applesauce cake, Pineapple chocolate snacking cake, & Golden mud cake
Layer Cakes: Black forest, Peppermint cream cake, Chocolate layer cake w/ fresh figs, Chocolate orange roulade, Almond white chocolate cake, Chocolate coffee cream roll, Opera cake, White chocolate mousse w/ lemon & kiwi, Italian riccotta cake, Chocolate dacquoise, Cappuccino layer cake, & Chocolate orange gateau
Candy: Champagne truffles, Chocolate brandy snaps, White chocolate logs, Coconut & white chocolate truffles, Pistachio logs, Panforte, Chocolate candied peel, Easter eggs w/ sprinkles, Honey nougat, Chocolate toffee, Chocolate drizzled croccant, & Chocolate orange meringue tartlets
Savory Dishes: Penne w/ chocolate, pistachios, & goat cheese, Shrimp w/ chocolate sauce, Mexican turkey mole, Chocolate mini muffins w/ robiola & salami, Beef tenderloin w/ chocolate, Gnocchi w/ golden raisins & chocolate, Chocolate fettuccine w/ butter, sage & mozzarella, & Venetian ravioli
Drinks: Brown cow, Irish chocolate, White eggnog, Bitter hot chocolate, Chocolate monkey, Mocha whirl, Chocolate banana smoothie, Chocolate martini, Creamy white chocolate, Cool chocolate coconut cream, & Hot mocha
Basic Recipes: Pastry, Ganache, Sauce, & Frosting
A chocolate addicts delight, It is ALL HERE.......
May 1, 2016
I have only tried three recipes; tiramisu, double chocolate brownies, and chocolate chip cookies but man have they all turned out delicious. Everyone especially loves the tiramisu recipe and have said its one of the best tiramisu's they've tried.
February 19, 2009
Visually stunning book. The pages are all edged in gold and the pictures are fabulous. I honestly only saw two recipes that I wanted to make. Very disappointed.
August 25, 2011
I think I gained three pounds just thumbing through the pages.
September 10, 2011
All the recipes are with pictures (which is important aspect for a baking book) and the recipes are OK for novice-intermediate cook. I tried some of the recipes and turn out to be good :)
September 30, 2011
Excellent book with lots of enticing recipes and great photographs. Would give it 5 stars but the binding is fragile.
July 14, 2012
Наистина много красива книга с много вкусни рецепти, които не са сложни за приготвяне.
March 4, 2014
The ultimate recipe book of chocolate based cakery and bakery. Chocolate is my favorite and this book is my favorite as well.
March 24, 2022
I don't even like chocolate in most of its forms, so a book about chocolate is far from my favourites.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews