Product Description

With over 100 detailed recipes and 260 full color photographs, this lavishly illustrated cookbook is the ultimate tribute to the world's favorite indulgence. Chocolate connoisseur and chef extraordinaire Barbara Passino is renowned for her sinfully decadent breakfasts, which she serves daily at the luxurious Oak Knoll Inn, situated in the heart of Napa Valley, California. "Chocolate for Breakfast" is a sumptuous collection of Barbara's passion-filled techniques, philosophies and anecdotes, all presented in easy-to-follow recipes and illustrated with the spectacular photography of renowned photographer Marc Hoberman. Menus with a chocolate twist inspired from cultures around the world are presented, including Italian, French, Asian, Moroccan, Spanish and American, as well as some fun surprises such as breakfast ideas for Valentines Day, the secret to making a perfect bed (who says breakfast has to be at the table?), a Chocolate-y proposal and a lot more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #121919 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

About the Author
Marc Hoberman is a photographer, designer, author and director of The Hoberman Collection, a publisher of luxury photographic coffee table books. From a young age he has travelled the world, camera in hand, capturing the striking images that have earned him his reputation. Commissioned by many prestigious organisations and publications including Vogue, Historic Royal Palaces and the Elton John Aids Foundation, he is also an official photographer for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, working with many of the world's leading movie stars. Marc lives in London with his wife Sarah. Barbara Passino is the proprietor/chef of Oak Knoll Inn, a luxurious, intimate inn nestled amidst rows of grapevines in Napa Valley, California's Wine Country. Her decadent breakfasts have become the stuff of California legend and attract people 'in the know' from all over the world. Leaving behind 15 years in the world of finance, Barbara took a break from creating the mutual fund business at Charles Schwab and studied with master chef Marcella Hazan in Venice. Hungry for learning about other cultures through the way food is incorporated into daily life, Barbara combined travel with the study of cooking and was inspired to turn her passion into a full-time dream-come-true, in the heart of Napa Valley with her husband John. All of this culminated in the greatest breakfasts imaginable.

Customer Reviews

A Sweet Way to Start the Day
Barbara Passino combines her sweet tooth and good taste in her extravagantly photographed cookbook, Chocolate for Breakfast. Passino, the chef and co-owner of the Napa Valley's Oak Knoll Inn, includes more than 100 tasty breakfast recipes, augmented by countless color photos from Marc Hoberman. Readers get to taste both the sweet nature and international of flavor of the book with the first recipe, "chocolate tacos," which are filled with fruit.

Passino borrows from a variety of cuisines, including Mexican, Asian, French and Italian, then explains how to make tasty treats her own way. Items cover the gamut from main courses such as "chocolate-filled toast pillows" to drinks like "hot chocolate for grown-ups." There is even a recipe for "mostly chocolate chip cookies" and some frozen desserts. For those who are a bit more romantic than others, there is a section on "Valentine's Day Decadence" featuring several recipes for a great start together.

Many recipes are easy for even novices to make right the first time, though "parmesan crepes with asparagus and wild mushrooms" will take plenty of practice. Chocolate for Breakfast is best suited for the living room table and is far too nice for the kitchen.

Reviewed by David Reynolds

Margarita Tapioca!!!
I came across this cookbook while visiting at my friend's house last month. She has had the opportunity to stay at this Inn many times over the years and talked glowingly of the Inn, Barbara and the food. I'm jealous! Well, I started out just casually flipping through this cookbook, but had to stop! This is not a flip-through kind of cookbook at all. You become absolutely mesmerized by each and every stunning photograph and recipe description. Barbara writes as if she were YOUR best friend. She is very honest, open and humorous -- not condescending or off-putting at all. Reading this cookbook inspires you to make these recipes yourself in order to impress the heck out of your friends - using the same presentations as Barbara does in her cookbook. I've just ordered this gorgeous cookbook to be mailed directly to my friend, hoping she will take it with her to the Inn next time -- and ask if Barbara will autograph her beautiful cookbook for me. I simply can't wait to try making the "Margarita Tapioca" (p. 47) for my friends -- using Barbara's own unique presentation of serving this dessert in a Margarita glass!!!

Great original ideas for breakfast
I may not eat much the rest of the day, but a hot filling breakfast is something I never forgo. Chocolate for breakfast has such original recipes putting together things I never would have thought of putting together but when you eat them, it's magic. Who would have thought? Every time I look through the pages I drool looking at the photographs which perfectly capture these delicious dishes. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!