Bouchon Bakery

Baked goods that are marvels of ingenuity and simplicity from the famed Bouchon Bakery.

The tastes of childhood have always been a touchstone for Thomas Keller, and in this dazzling amalgam of American and French baked goods, you'll find recipes for the beloved TKOs and Oh Ohs (Keller's takes on Oreos and Hostess's Ho Hos) and all the French classics he fell in love with as a young chef apprenticing in Paris: the baguettes, the macarons, the mille-feuilles, the tartes aux fruits.

Co-author Sebastien Rouxel, executive pastry chef for the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, has spent years refining techniques through trial and error, and every page offers a new lesson: a trick that assures uniformity, a subtlety that makes for a professional finish, a flash of brilliance that heightens flavor and enhances texture. The deft twists, perfectly written recipes, and dazzling photographs make perfection inevitable.

"In his newest patisserie manifesto, Keller (Ad Hoc at Home) successfully takes on the world of artisan baking. Based on the recipes and experience at his Bouchon Bakery in Napa, this testament to 'pastry chefs and bread bakers' lives up to the standard set by one of America's premier chefs. Covering all areas of baking, Keller has something for anyone interested in putting something in the oven. From the simple (corn muffins and rum cake) to the complex (pate a choux and multi-grain bread), and describing multiple stages of preparation, the book rests on the premise of 'working clean.' Beautifully displayed, the clear and precise recipes are a breeze to follow. Multiple introductions by Keller and the head staff at Bouchon Bakery provide an appreciation for the art, while the many added sections on technique (e.g., how to weigh ingredients properly) and equipment (e.g., parchment paper) illuminate the science and precision necessary for delicious results. Perhaps not the best choice for those in search of quick and easy comestibles, this lovely volume is a must-have for cooks who want to take baking to the next level. 250 color photos. (Oct.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Thomas Keller, author of The French Laundry Cookbook, Bouchon, Under Pressure, Ad Hoc at Home, and Bouchon Bakery, has eleven restaurants and bakeries in the United States. His two Michelin Guide three-star-rated restaurants, The French Laundry and per se, continue to vie for best restaurant in America and for ranking among the top five eateries in the world. He has been honored with innumerable awards, from an honorary doctorate to outstanding restaurateur to chef of the year (for successive years).

Sebastien Rouxel, co-author with Thomas Keller of Bouchon Bakery, oversees all aspects of the pastry department for Bouchon Bakery, The French Laundry, and per se. In 2005, he was named a "Rising Star" by StarChefs magazine. In 2006 and again in 2008, Pastry Art & Design magazine declared him one of the "Top Ten Best Pastry Chefs in America."