Product Description

Over the past 10 years, Elizabeth Falkner has transformed her bakery from a tiny space in San Francisco's Mission district to the country's ultimate dessert destination. In DEMOLITION DESSERTS, she presents her favorite creations, from the cookies, brownies, and cupcakes beloved by Citizen Cake regulars to the plated desserts that have made her one of the most dynamic culinary talents of her generation. Beginning with a chapter devoted entirely to chocolate chip cookies, Elizabeth breaks down classic desserts and reconstructs them flavor by flavor, with stunning results. Even her most elaborate desserts have been adapted for the home kitchen, and each recipe is equipped with a detailed make-ahead timeline and a minimalist version for those pressed for time.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42130 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

From Publishers Weekly
San Francisco chef Falkner, a former art school student, thinks of dessert as an art form. For those who don't want to wait over an hour at her famed Hayes Valley restaurant/bakery Citizen Cake for her unique dessert landscapes and stunning parfaits, Falkner has penned home-kitchen versions of her edible masterpieces. Before diving into balsamic-apple reduction, eggless lemon curd and Concord grape tapioca, Falkner primes readers on ingredients and equipment. Though most recipes include minimalist versions, this book is most geared toward seasoned bakers who won't quail at suggested time lines starting a month in advance or five-page instructions for Tiramisushi—cocoa roulade sponge cake with marsala mascarpone filling and mocha-rum dipping sauce, to be consumed via biscotti chopsticks. Amateurs may prefer to spend time at the back of the book with the somewhat more manageable recipes for cupcakes and drinks. Color photographs and anime-style drawings help capture the magic of Falkner's desserts, extravagant and emblematic of her commitment to balance and restraint. (Oct.)
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Atlanta Journal Constitution
"the book is inventive and transcendent of the norm, breaking down the classics and reconstructing them"

From the Publisher
* A debut collection of 65 signature dessert recipes from star pastry chef Elizabeth Falkner, owner of Citizen Cake, Citizen Cupcake, and Orson in San Francisco. * 50 color photos accompany the main recipes in the book, while 50 location photos capture Elizabeth at work in her bakery. * Includes 10 anime-style sequences--starring Elizabeth's alter ego, Caremi--that playfully illustrate key techniques and ingredient information throughout the book. * Elizabeth was named Bon Appétit's Pastry Chef of the Year in 2006 and was a finalist for the James Beard Foundation's pastry chef of the year in 2005.

Customer Reviews

Like Wit for Chocolate
Elizabeth Falkner is a revolutionary pastry chef. She opened her Citizen Cake in San Francisco recently,bringing her unique desserts to the Bay Area and a wider audience. Falkner deconstructs basic recipes, giving them a new form. Creativity is her strength.

In "Demolition Desserts",the desserts are not only delicious to look at--but she has amusing manga-like illustrations from her brother of her punk rock alter ego Caremi Keiki. She throws in different ingredients-like blue cheese, goat cheese,cayenne, and pomegranate. Her chocolate espresso cookies are the easiest recipes in the book. The rest are elaborate, time-consuming,and have advanced equipment. She also brings in fun anecdotes. When giving the recipe for her lemon tart muffins-Lemania-she mentions how Inge,the mother of her partner Sabrina,is a fan of lemon tarts. She gives Tennessee Williams-inspired recipe names like Chocolate Tart named Desire and Suddenly Last Summer. There's the Love-lova,a variation on the Pavlova.

Falkner writes a delicious read! It's sweet!

YUMMMMY Cookbook, Beautifully done
I really don't like to cook nor bake, but I like to study cookbook recipes. And I love to partake in the mouthwatering delicacies that fill pages in good cookbooks-and if it is only desserts, all the better!

Elizabeth Falkner's Demolition Desserts is fierce and a work of art. Falkner divulges her secrets for creating the most mouth-watering, unique desserts, and you are treated to stunning photographs (not to mention helpful) of the finished product. The only way it could be better is if she delivered the desserts themselves with each copy of the cookbook.

Falkner begins with a section that focuses on ingredients, tools and equipment. It is truly fascinating to read about what ingredients she uses and why. Who knew there were so many different sugars, and the value of good spices. It never occurred to me that the fewer the ingredients, the greater part the flavors play in a dessert.

I love all things sweet, but if it is brown (chocolate), I am in heaven. I love the Chocolate Chip Cookies Straight Up or With Nuts (page 23). And I loved the information on how long the cookies should be cooked if you want soft when cooked, flatter but chewy or flatter and crisp. My husband gravitated immediately to the Tiramisushi. This is one I will make often. My son's favorite is The Real McCoy Ice Cream Sandwich.

Some other stars are: A Chocolate Tart Named Desire (sound sinful? Oh, my!) Karrot Keiki is to die for and I am still swooning over Lovelova (Persian Strawberry and Saffron Pavlova). The Citizen Shortcake is a winner and the Spanish Quincition will make your mouth water. I could go on and on, but won't.

This cookbook is so good you MUST buy it. While you're reading it, feast on the delectable Bananas Foster Cane Split. You'll have a smile on your face.

This cookbook is on my coffee table because it is not only beautiful, but educational and so interesting. Oh, the illustrations by Falkner's brother are quirky and so much fun. The directions are concise and easily understandable. It should be in every cook's kitchen.

Armchair Interviews: Don't lend this cookbook to anyone! It won't be returned.

where is my book?
Well, how could I review the book I purchased last month (December 2007), if I have not received yet, after almost a month. Can anyone in Amazon tell me where is my book? When would I receive it? I would appreciate that.

Thank you,

Manuel Parcero.