“The Little Book Of Chocolate” by Joanne Harris & Fran Warde

One of my very favourite cookery writers, Fran Warde, has co-authored a book with Joanne Harris, the author of 16 novels, among them “Chocolat”,  a novel that became an international hit and part of a trilogy {Chocolate, The Lollipop Shoes, Peaches for Monsieur le Cure}. The book was made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp.

She writes the introduction to the book, and tells the reader of her visits to France during the school holidays. Despite being born in a sweet shop in Barnsley, she did not know what high quality chocolate tasted of until she went to visit a French family in the school holidays. She is a very talented story-teller and transports you all over the world, round the extraordinary journey that took her from Yorkshire to global fame. Chocolate’s origins, 2500 years ago in Latin America are fascinating ~ an ingredient that we now consider a larder staple, was once considered treasure.

Published by Doubleday, “The Little Book of Chocolate” has fifty recipes that include chocolate in all its guises, many recipes completely unknown to me, and I have a wide chocolate repertoire. They range from cakes, to biscuits, tarts, pastries, puddings, jellies, brioche, sauces, spreads, hot drinks and truffles.

Blackberry brownies, marbled mendicants, chocolate trifle, Conquistador orange pudding, macarons St. Francis, Gateau Manon Blanc, Maya gold chocolate popcorn ~ all luxurious and delicious but simple to prepare.

Fran Warde is a highly accomplished cook and writer, author of nine cookbooks and an acclaimed Chef and caterer too. She has certainly researched the topic in great depth and unearthed very interesting flavour combinations.

Priced at just £12.99 this is a beautifully presented and photographed book {photography by Philip Webb and Simon Reed} ~ ideal for the gift market, or for the chocaholic cook and baker who want to widen their repertoire.

Further Information

Joanne Harris: www.joanne-harris.co.uk    @joannechocolat

Fran Warde: @franwarde

Publishers: www.transworld-publishers.co.uk    @TransworldBooks