Rating: 
Summary: Death By Chocolate: The Last Word on a Consuming Passion
Review: I wish that I could rate this book even higher -- it is absolutely superb in its clarity, its content, and its absolute devotion to that divine thing -- chocolate. The Chocolate Chunk Pecan Pie is the best I've ever tasted. Do yourself a favor and add this book to your collection. You won't be sorry!
Rating:
Summary: Worth the Greatest Sacrifice
Review: I'm the first to admit that Desaulniers is a master of marketing. This becomes obvious if you visit his restaurant. And the series of cookbooks on the Death By theme are an example of taking the ball and running...and running... . But the truth is, these books are great, especially the first two, Death By Chocolate and Deserts to Die for. These aren't simple recipes; they require patience, attention to detail, and most of all time. But I've never had commitment so rewarded. They almost always turn out just right. And when they're a little off, no one notices or cares. I've no professional training, and I haven't been cooking all of my life. But these recipes have been so popular that I've actually made cakes for a co-worker's Uncle's birthday party, a baby shower and two wedding showers - including my own (well, my wife's actually). Every family holiday I get requests. I would test the recipes and bring the results into work, and my team was always looking for more. And people rave and rave. Over and over again, people tell me that I should do this professionally. But it isn't really me; it's these wonderful books. If you care enough about the end product and the oohs and ahs to invest lots of time and attention - these recipes pay off.
Rating:
Summary: A Book To Die For!
Review: If chocolate is your drug of choice, you simply have to add "Death By Chocolate" to your cookbook collection. As a diagnosed chocoholic, I can get high off the beautiful, enticing pictures alone. Desaulniers has compiled a collection of outstanding and unique chocolate recipes. There are some one-of-a-kind recipes here that will wow your guests. While such delights as the title dish require a great deal (two days!) of preparation, Desaulniers gives very explicit instructions for even the most difficult recipes. He has also included many recipes that a hardly-in-the-chef's-league cook like me can easily handle. From mousses to cookies, from ice cream to cakes, Desaulniers' recipes are several cuts above (you will not be able to go back to that old Toll House cookie recipe.) Desaulniers also provides advice on the types and brands of chocolate that work the best. Caution: Hide this book when you are on a diet -- the recipes are irresistible!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: If you like (LOVE) chocolate, this book will make your mouth water looking at the pages. Although the recipies appear time consuming, it pays off with the end product. Forget the calories here, just bake and enjoy. I do one killer desert a month and people whom I share with are dazed in the chocolate haze :-)
Rating: 
Summary: Oh my gosh!! A truly thought provoking book!!!
Review: If you want to be intellectually stimulated. By-golly, this is the book for you! The metaphors in this book he makes have truly put a new frontier out for the mind. How he never really says that all food is compared to life, but subtly adds it, blows my mind. Even the title, Death by chocolate, is such a deep metaphor that only people such as the weak minded won't get it.
Rating:
Summary: A great alternative if you can't go to the Trellis
Review: Lucky me, I'm an hour away from Marcel's restaurant in Williamsburg, so I've had the pleasure of enjoying some of the delicious treats in this book. Those I have made on my own (the cookies, the date cake) turned out terrific -- the recipes are easy to follow and the pictures just make your mouth water. This is a great book to have if you like to bake for special occasions, or if you just like having something chocolate around the house.
Rating:
Summary: An indulgence for the eyes and palate
Review: Marcel Desaulniers is self-described as being consumed and possibly driven by his passion for chocolate -- a trait that endears him to many. "Death By Chocolate" is an indulgence for all your senses. It's pages are filled with scintillating photographs of desserts so enticing it is difficult to decide where to begin. In addition to the beautiful photography, he has included chef's tips in sidebars to give presentation and storage helps. His recipes are indeed readable and easy to follow and once you finish a recipe, hold on for an intense chocolate experience. I got a headache after consuming one too many of "Granny Twichell's Cupcakes." If you are a true chocaholic you will understand the positive significance of that statement. This book is a necessity in my kitchen
Rating:
Summary: The best chocolate recipes ever written
Review: Marcel Desaulniers is the consumate chocolatier. In the world of chocolate cookery he has no equal. These resipes will simply send you to chocoholic heaven.
Rating: 
Summary: Great looking food
Review: Sometimes (about once or twice a decade), I decide to have the kind of dinner party where the food is Really Impressive. I usually go for a simple dessert, to balance the intricacy of the other courses. Reading this book, it occurred to me that I could do it the other way around -- a dinner party with really simple (but very tasty) courses, leading up to a blow-out dessert. I'm thinking a simple stew, pepper salad and rustic bread, followed by some kind of chocolate thing that will knock everyone's socks off. If I ever decide to do that, this is the cookbook I will use. The recipes in this book are involved. Many of them have to be made over two days. I've watched the show, and I am a fairly experienced cook, so I feel confident that I could successfully make anything in this book. But I sure would make a point of practicing first! The food styling is not as good as the recipes -- some of the dishes are not shown to their best advantage. I didn't notice this at first, because the photos are glossy and flamboyant. This is not an everyday cookbook, but it makes a beautiful coffee table book, and it's going to help me build the centerpiece of my backwards dinner party.
Rating:
Summary: Hand over all the chocolate & No One will Get Hurt!
Review: The king of gnache gives us an outstanding chocolate collection. Here are recipes which are tested and tried and made with ingredients easily obtainable for the home cook. Especially encouraging is his concern and detail in slowly, carefully, taking you through each step, not just assuming as some do that one is already familiar with the technique. There is also the first section which talks about buying the chocolate, what types they used, even the type of ovens used to create and test this cookbook. Each recipe lists equipment needed, then the details on how to make, followed at the end by my favorite standard of Marcel, "The chef's touch." Favorites from this book include "Chocolate Trinity Parfaits" "Chocolate Pecan Chocolate Chunk Pie" "Chocolate Strawberry Mousse Cake" "Chocolate Cashew Brownie Cake" and "Chocolate Raspberry Toasted Hazelnut Ice Cream." Oh, did I mention that the photos are as mouthwatering as the recipes! Long live the King of Gnache!
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