Category Archives: Book Reviews

Chocolate Unwrapped, by Sarah Jane Evans

For anyone curious about the fascinating history of chocolate, or for those looking for a how-to primer on tasting, Sarah Jane Evans’ Chocolate Unwrapped is a captivating and informative read. This well-researched and beautifully illustrated book covers all aspects of chocolate. The introduction is teeming with interesting anecdotes and facts about chocolate history, geography, botany … Continue reading Chocolate Unwrapped, by Sarah Jane Evans

Macarons, by Pierre Hermé

While the popular double-sided Parisian macaron was invented back in the 1930s, Pierre Hermé is famous for taking the delicate meringue confections to a whole new level of sophistication. The celebrated Parisian pastry chef and chocolatier is known for his exotic macaron flavours, both sweet and savoury. The author of several books on French pâtisserie and … Continue reading Macarons, by Pierre Hermé

Chocolat Chaud, or 40 ways to make hot chocolate

Hernán Cortés first introduced chocolate to Europeans in 1528 when he returned to Spain from Mexico with samples of cacao beans, cultivated by the Aztecs for thousands of years and used in a ceremonial drink known as xocolatl. Not accustomed to the bitter flavour of cacao, the Spanish created their own version of the Aztecs’ traditional … Continue reading Chocolat Chaud, or 40 ways to make hot chocolate