Product Description

Countess Cristina de Vogüé invites us into the splendor of her home at Château Vaux-le-Vicomte and divulges sixty-three recipes from her exclusive collection. Personally selected from family recipe books, passed along by close friends, or inspired by her international travels, these decadent desserts are the perfect finale to any meal. From Lady Cawdor’s Orange Soufflé to Floating Island with Pink Pralines and Green Tea Custard, they are suited for every occasion, from afternoon tea to holiday feasts.The book opens with the history of the château, whose striking architecture and idyllic gardens were the inspiration for Versailles. Stunning original photography showcases the finished desserts in the atmospheric interiors and shaded gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte, featuring the rich details that define French style—brocade upholstery, crisp linens, crystal tableware, and silver place settings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #172445 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-09
• Released on: 2008-09-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Review
"Even if I can't live like a countess, at least with these recipes, I can entertain like one." --Southern Accents

"The arresting photographs, both historic and current, make this a coffee-table book to be gazed at and admired. Most of the recipes have fewer than six ingredients and come together in minutes." ~United Media

"...just turning the pages of this book feels like an indulgence." ~Southern Accents "...a stunningly designed large-format book that showcases luscious cakes, tarts, and other sweets." ~France Today

"Thomas Dhellemmes’ lavish photographs show off the spectacular château, and the heavenly cakes, tarts, pies and soufflés, presented on chairs and other antiques, make you want to eat the pages." ~Edible Aspen

About the Author
Countess Cristina de Vogüé is the daughter of an Italian diplomat and a Russian mother. When she married the heir to Vaux-le-Vicomte, she applied her talent as a hostess not only to family receptions, but also to the château’s restaurant and gift shop. Thomas Dhellemmes’ photographs were featured in The Seven Sins of Chocolate, which won the 2004 Gourmand Cookbook Award. Delphine de Montalier, food stylist, has written several recipe books and contributes to Elle à Table, Saveur, and Glamour. Véronique Villaret, a photo stylist for interiors magazines, also designs fabrics. Château Vaux-le-Vicomte was the setting for films including Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and the James Bond Moonraker.

Customer Reviews

big disappoointment
Decadent Desserts by Countess de Vogue is a beautiful oversized coffee table book which is too cumbersome for practical use. I tried one recipe and it was truly awful. After reading some articles, it is very possible that the difference in flours between Europe and America could account for this. But it is not worth the effort it takes to follow a recipe - one would have to copy the recipe in order for it to be read during the process of making it. This book was a prize I won and I'm certainly glad I didn't pay for it.

Yum Yum Yum
The illustrations alert the imagination even more than the text. The books is hand to hand battle with the taste buds and the body. The recipes are seductive, complex and of a nature that requires complete attention. Yet, they promise.