The Little Book of Chocolate

 by Katherine Khodorowsky and Hervé Robert

Reviewed by Madelyn Miller

Dark, milk, white, or filled with a savory center, chocolate has remained an indulgence for centuries.  Once a symbol of exotic pleasure, this sumptuous treat has found its way to our palates on an almost daily basis.  THE LITTLE BOOK OF CHOCOLATE traces its origins from its consumption by the Aztecs to its place in the world today.  It is the third largest commodity in the world and a staple in gourmet pleasure.

It is not known whose idea it was to roast cocoa beans and crush them into a delicious paste that has come to be known as chocolate.  However, The Story of Chocolate tells how the Aztec civilization flavored cocoa paste with spices in order to produce a nourishing and invigorating drink that was valued by King Montezuma II. It took over a century for the cocoa bean to make its way across Europe where it remained the preserve of the nobility.  The book’s easy-to-understand Alphabetical Guide discusses the best way to savor chocolate and how it became an inspiration for artists (Le Déjeuner, by François Bouches), writers (Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and designers (Paco Rabanne’s chocolate dress). You’ll discover that the last twenty years has seen the emergence of chocolate clubs in the U.S., France, Italy, Germany and Great Britain.  For example, the Heavenly Chocolate Club in the U.S. dispatches gourmet chocolate selections to members on a monthly basis. The informative Chronology details the significant events of chocolate’s journey throughout history. If you are one of the many who revel in this delightful treat, you will surely appreciate all the morsels of information this little book has to offer.

The Little Book of Chocolate
By Katherine Khodorowsky
ISBN: 2-080-10543-4
$12.95 U.S., Paperback

Published by Flammarion

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