Sunday, July 17, 2011

BRUNCH WITH BINGO: SWEET CHIC: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

WELCOME TO BOOKIN' WITH BINGO'S
"BRUNCH WITH BINGO DAY"
I AM EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THIS SUNDAY'S
   BRUNCH BOOK CHOICE IS.....
GIVEAWAY ENDED
SWEET CHIC
Stylish Treats to Dress Up for Any Occasion
BY RACHEL SCHIFTER THEBAULT
FOREWORD BY ISAAC MIZRAHI  

ABOUT THE BOOK:
DESSERT DRESSED TO THE NINES
 
Today’s baker faces a great challenge: With little time and a limited repertoire, she often needs to whip up a delicious dessert that’s dressed to impress. Rachel Schifter Thebault, founder and head confectioner of Tribeca Treats in New York City, knows all about making a sweet statement. Combining a confectioner’s expertise with fashion sense, she shares a scrumptious cache of popular dessert recipes that can be accessorized to fit any occasion.

What’s more, transforming a basic dessert into a masterpiece brimming with personality and flair can be easy, quick, and fun. In the same way you’d plan an outfit, Sweet Chic pieces together a Devil’s Food Cake—the little black dress of delights—with such irresistible accessories as Caramel Buttercream (think knee-high boots) for ultimate decadence, turns Vanilla Cookies (the crisp oxford shirt) into Strawberry “Shortcakes” ideal for casual or dressy occasions, and blends brownies (the cashmere sweater of confectionery) with a swirl of mint for a showstopping number.

Gorgeous and appetizing color photos throughout reveal how a change of icing here and a substitute topping there can take a simple dessert from Sunday brunch to a date-night treat. Mix and match more than seventy recipes for cookies, cakes, and confections, including Peanut Butter and Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies, Brownie Sundae Parfait, Mini S’mores Cupcakes, Wasabi-Black Sesame Truffles, and so much more.
 
Whether you’re a novice baker hoping to master the basics or an experienced one looking to add a little versatility to your existing creations, Sweet Chic is a clever and practical guide for memorable desserts, a one-sweet-fits-all way to make a tantalizing impression.
Watch "Moms & The City" NBC New York as they interview Rachel about her book at her famous Tribecca Treats shop. (please excuse brief commercial at beginning)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rachel Schifter Thebault, founder of Tribeca Treats, spent seven years as an investment banker before transforming her side hobby of making truffles for friends into a full-time career in confections.


A graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education, she opened Tribeca Treats in 2007. The bakery has won honors from American Express OPEN and entrepreneur organizations, and is a pillar of the Tribeca community.

A sought-after speaker and panelist, she has also taught cooking and baking to children. She currently lives in Tribeca (and travels the globe) with her husband and their two daughters.
Rachel Thebault writes about her life on her own website HERE and it is worth reading so please take a peek!
PRAISE FOR SWEET CHIC: 
“I’m telling you, Sweet Chic is so inspiring. It will make you want to break free of tradition and bake things you’re excited about. You don’t have to stress yourself out to make something fabulous—you have all the tools you need right here. Hooray!”
—Isaac Mizrahi, from the Foreword  

“Rachel Thebault . . . has reimagined the humble Oreo as an indulgence that is spectacular as an afternoon snack or as the end to an elegant meal.”
Food & Wine

“Thebault is on a mission to do for desserts what Coco Chanel did for the little black dress: re-create, reinvent, and pull it all together with exquisite details.”
—Leite’s Culinaria
RECIPE FROM SWEET CHIC: 
CRANBERRY BARK
Ingredients
2 cups (about 12 ounces) finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
¾ cup toasted whole almonds
¾ cup dried cranberries
Directions (Makes about 3 cups)
1. Temper the dark chocolate as directed in Basic Tempered Chocolate (page 163).
2. Once the chocolate is tempered, pour the almonds and cranberries into the chocolate and stir with a rubber spatula until the nuts and fruit are completely coated.
3. Pour the chocolate mixture onto a sheet pan lined with parchment or waxed paper. Spread it as thinly as possible (only as thick as one layer of almonds and cranberries).
4. Allow the bark to set at room temperature for 1 hour (or 30 minutes in the refrigerator).
5. Using a chef's knife, cut the bark into bite-size pieces, about 1 inch.
6. Serve the bark immediately, or keep it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 weeks.
MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW OF SWEET CHIC:
SWEET CHIC by Rachel Schifter Thebault, who is the founder of the trendy Tribeca Treats in New York City, does for cooking what a good clothing designer does for their designs. She takes her innate fashion sense and applies it in her cooking. All of us know about the "little black dress" that is said to be a must-have in any woman's wardrobe. Dress it up or down by adding the right accessories. This is what Rachel Thebault does with her recipes in SWEET CHIC. As referred to in the book, a good chocolate cake can be dessert's little black dress. As famous designer Isaack Mizrahi says in his Foreword, "Rachel teaches you not only how to master the basics of baking, but how to accessorize your treats to reflect your own personal style." Mizrahi also reminds readers that cooking this fabulous way isn't something to stress about because Thebault gives readers all they need right here in SWEET CHIC.

I especially liked the way the book is broken up into different kinds of desserts and sweets while advising to try different things together. A chocolate cake with a different kind of icing one time, becomes a totally new treat from the last time. Thebault also advocates, as she does at her Tribeca Treats, that "less is more". This means that small sized desserts can be much more appealing to a guest and so most of her recipes are proportioned that way. For instance, a cupcake is made to be one to two bites. Who can say no, diet or not, to something so petite and fabulous? Lastly, Thebault advises to use your imagination and let your own sense of style come thtough in baking. 

The book opens with THE BASICS and it is a fountain of background information from Major Ingredients, Essential Equipment, Basic Techniques, and Making It Last. The rest of the book then goes into different kinds of sweets starting with Section One which is Cookies (and it includes Brownies), to Section Two that is Cakes (and includes cupcakes and icings), to the last, Section Three, which is Confections. I have to say SWEET CHIC is one of the most delicious and useful cookbooks I have reviewed in a long time. The gorgeous photography alone almost made me gain weight!  It is really an imaginative cookbook that is built around sweets that everyone has in the back of their closet, er, I mean..that everyone can prepare! Highly recommend SWEET CHIC by Rachel  Schifter Thebault!
GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO RUBY WITH MY GREAT
FRIENDS AT FSB ASSOCIATES, I HAVE
ONE COPY OF SWEET CHIC TO GIVE AWAY
  
--U.S. AND CANADIAN RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
 

COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU READ AND WATCHED ABOVE ABOUT SWEET CHIC AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING ABOUT AUTHOR RACHEL THEBAULT'S WEBSITE BY VISITING HERE

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK, PLEASE

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, COMMENT ON EACH WAY SEPARATELY.

GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, AUGUST 5

74 comments:

Literary Chanteuse said...

I would love to have this book! From the description it sounds like a it's got some great recipes. Unfortunately the video just kept playing the commercial. Hope to win! Thanks!

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I liked the author's site especially the recipes and tips

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I'm a GFC follower

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I follow by email

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

I also follow by RSS

Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com

mamabunny13 said...

Sounds like some great ideas in this book.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

Something I found interesting on the author's website was her blog post "I Lost on Jeopardy"
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

I follow via gfc
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email subscriber
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I follow on twitter @mamabunny13
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I follow on FB-mamabunny shelor
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I follow on networked blogs-mamabunny shelor
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Mippy said...

hi
the review definitely convinced me i need to invest in the baking equipment ive put off getting,esp if i win the book!
bunnysmip(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mippy said...

hi
the review definitely convinced me i need to invest in the baking equipment ive put off getting,esp if i win the book!
bunnysmip(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mippy said...

hi
i found it interestingthat she was an investment banker for seven years
bunnysmip(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mippy said...

hi
i follow via GFC
bunnysmip(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mippy said...

hi
i follow via fb
bunnysmip(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mippy said...

hi
i subscribe via email
bunnysmip(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mippy said...

hi
i subscribe via rss
bunnysmip(at)yahoo(dot)com

debbie said...

I love cookbooks. I like the idea of dressing up the regular dessert, to make it something special.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

On her site, I liked her chocolate dipped frozen banana idea.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Kitty said...

I like that it states that creations can be done w/o stress.

maynekitty [at] live [dot] com

bermudaonion said...

That book looks gorgeous! I learned that Reachel's kids love hanging out at her business. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I learned that Rachel has traveled extensively on every continent except Antarctica. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

bermudaonion said...

I follow you by subscribing via RSS feed in Google Reader. milou2ster(at)gmail.com

Ricki said...

Those cupcakes look delicious. And thanks for sharing the bark recipe.
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com

Ricki said...

I am a GFC follower.
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com

petite said...

A perfectly delightful book which I would treasure. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

The author's website is filled with lovely information and recipes. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

Great book which would be invaluable. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I am interested in this change of careers for the author. Talented. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Suburban prep said...

What a great book this seems like.
The bark recipe sounds like one that would be popular as a gift at the holidays.
msgb245 at gmail dot com

Suburban prep said...

Chocolate chip cookies are big in my family the recipe she has on her site looks like a good one.

msgb245 at gmail dot com

Suburban prep said...

I follow via GFC

PoCoKat said...

Love the Cranberry Bark recipe!

littleone AT shaw DoT ca

PoCoKat said...

GFC follower

littleone AT shaw DoT ca

PoCoKat said...

Email subscriber

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

holdenj said...

I think this book looks wonderful! I like the idea of mix and match recipes and also that there is a Basics section to help us out!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I found Rachel's website and blog to be very interesting. From investment banker to baker! Wow. And I love that she was on a Collegiate Jeopardy tournament. My dad's cousin was on a senior one and I heard a lot about those darn buzzers.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am an email subscriber.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I subscribe via RSS feed.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I love the treats. Looks like alot of good recipes. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

captainliss40 said...

I find it interesting to mix fashion concepts with dessert. captainliss40(at)gmail(dot)com

lag123 said...

I can't wait to try that Cranberry Bark.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I like the Red Velvet, White and Blue recipe. Red velvet is my favorite! Cant' wait to try it.

lag110@mchsi.com

lag123 said...

Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/lag32583/status/92730041510793216

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Email subscriber.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I subscribe via google reader.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I follow via GFC.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I followed via networked blogs.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I follow via twitter: @lag32583

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Facebook fan: Lisa Holmes Garrett

lag110 at mchsi dot com

ann said...

the book sounds great! and what I was reading made me so hungry for some of those delicious goodies mentioned.

amhengstATverizonDOTnet

ann said...

i follow by email subscribing


amhengstATverizonDOTnet

ann said...

She watches alot of TV
runs a specialty bakery and has traveled alot to


amhengstATverizonDOTnet

Linda Kish said...

What a change...investment banker to baker. Baker seems more fulfilling.
I'm going to do the cranberry bark this winter but with white chocolate. I never thought of adding cranberries before.


lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an email subscriber

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

She loves football and basketball.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Reading said...

This does look like it would be inspiring. I would love to give this a try.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

bison61 said...

sounds like a great cookbook, I like the color photos

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

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