24.- BEST CHOCOLATE BOOK

Chocolate demand is rising everywhere. What is most unusual, is the shift by consumers to quality. While the media and the industry thought that consumers would go for substitutes and sugar, the demand is going, slowly but surely, the other way to quality real chocolate. This is parallel to the demand in serious chocolate books.

2000 France – Christian Constant (Ramsay)

2001 US – Pierre Herme (Little Brown)

2002 France – Trish Deseine (Marabout)

2003 UK – Green and Black – C.Jeremy (Kyle Cathie)

2004 France – Laurent Schott (Hachette)

2005 Belgium – Jean Pierre Wybaum (Lannoo)

BEST IN THE WORLD

April 7, 2007

FINALISTS

1.- BELGIUM

Decors en Chocolat

 Jean Pierre Wybauw

 Photographe: Frank Croes

 (Lannoo-Belgium)

The winner of the Best in the World Chocolate Book of 2005 is back with a sumptuous book by Lannoo, the food art book publisher of Belgium.

2.- CHINA

Chocolate Fantasia

 Joanne Poon

 (Shanghai World Books Publishing Co.)

 Chocolate is now in fashion in China, and most of Asia.

 It is a strong fantasy, which brings beautiful images to all.

3.-FRANCE

In Close Complicity with Cakes

 Le Chocolat – Complice en Patisserie

 Michel Cluizel, Philippe Parc

 (Michel Cluizel)

Michel Cluizel publishes his own books, at least once a year, sometimes two, like Alain Ducasse. His book is available in French and English, and deserves to be read by all serious chocolate professionals and eaters. His company is now present in many countries, including China.

4.- GERMANY

Schokolade – Ein Genuss

 Jutta Gay

 Alejandro und Christopher Wilbrand

 Fotografie: Jörg Lehmann

 (GU)

Gräfe und Unzer keeps publishing beautiful books. The photography of Jörg Lehmann is the key to the value of this book. The treat here is the photography.

5.-INDIA

Learn to Cook Chocolate – Step by Step

 Nita Mehta

 (Snab)

Cooking chocolate is now a big trend in India. It shows the interest in chocolate in India, and Asia. You have to have seen the chocolate fountains in the big luxury hotels in Asia to understand the strong increase in the chocolate passion in Asia.

6.- SPAIN

Placer Adulto – Pasión al Chocolate Valor

 125 Aniversario

 (Valor)

Spain brought chocolate to the other continents. There are very few Spanish chocolate companies left today. Valor is one of the best.

7.- UK

For Chocolate Lovers

 From Truffles to Tiramisu

 The Tanner Brothers

 Photography: Peter Cassidy

 (Jacqui Small)

Chocolate has been quite different in the UK than on the continent, rather industrial. However, there are some true artists, such as this excellent book shows.

8.- VENEZUELA

El Arte de Tomar el Chocolate

 Historia del Coco Chocolatero en Venezuela

 Carlos F.Duarte

 (Chocolates El Rey – Venezuela)

Chocolate from Venezuela is among the best in the world, which this passionate book shows. It takes the point of view of the consumer, with a clear understanding and explanation of the manufacturer point of view. It provides a rare view into the world of Latin American chocolate.