Re: pastry books

Posted by Mark G on March 03, 1999 at 20:46:57:

In Reply to: pastry books posted by Gerard on March 03, 1999 at 19:11:04:

: Just recieved 3 books.
: Charlie Trotters desserts.
: Desserts circus.
: Philipe Durrands "signature desserts".

: Trotters desserts are not pastry,they look idiotic , un-artistic, convoluted and pretentious. Don't even THINK of wasting your money on this.

: Dessert Circus by Jacques Torres , geared mostly toward home quantity is a good read, unpretentious and instructive. You WOULD want to actually EAT his desserts.
: See Steves review at Pastryarts.com

: Designer desserts is a puzzling book, I don't know why a french patissier would bother to try American style plated dessert, theres a lot of technique clearly demonstrated but a lot of the plating is poorly done, a stand alone pastry on one side of the big plate with a splattering of sauce on the other side of the plate. It just doesn't work.
: A smaller plate would do wonders.

: I spent $100 for the 3 and the only klunker is Trotters.
: Has anyone else seen it?

Luckily, a friend bought a copy for me. Nice photographs as in his past books but I'm amused with how he names his "creations," mentioning almost every ingredient in the title. I don't think he could make an apple pie without calling it a "Sliced Granny Smith Apple, White and Brown Sugar, Butter Dotted, Flour Dusted, Filled Short Dough." There are books that teach you to bake and there are books that teach you how great the baker thinks he is. He does, however, have one of the hottest and most expensive restaurants in Chicago.

Follow Ups:

• Re: pastry books Pierre 08:20:16 3/04/99 (4)
  • Re: pastry books michelle 16:29:44 3/09/99 (3)
    • Re: pastry books Gerard 07:14:07 3/12/99 (2)
      • Re: pastry books Steve Klc 09:53:06 3/12/99 (1)
        • Re: pastry books Gerard 15:52:18 3/12/99 (0)