The Olives Dessert Table: Spectacular Restaurant Desserts You Can Make at Home

By Sally Sampson, Todd English, Paige Retus

Book Overview

Todd English soared to stardom in the culinary world with his distinctive style of layering flavors and textures, a style that has made his restaurants, and the cookbooks that feature his dishes, so popular. The philosophy for the desserts served at Olives is the same as that for the entr?es: "We like to pull things out of the country and dress them up," says Todd. "We take very simple things and layer them together to compose a more complex dish." The result? Desserts that are always more than the sum of their parts, combining familiar and comfortable flavors in unique and unexpected ways. Extravagant creations such as Mango Tarte Tatin with Pastry Cream and Chocolate Pastry; Apple-Topped Gingerbread with Hot Applesauce and Cinnamon Ice Cream; Butterscotch Pudding in a Chocolate Crumb Crust with Fudge-Topped Toffee Cookies and Chocolate Lace Cigarettes; Blue Cheese Danish with Port-Poached Pears; Cranberry-Lime Sorbet with Walnut Rugelach; Double Chocolate Souffl? with Deep, Dark Chocolate Ice Cream, Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Chocolate Anglaise. Best of all, each of the 43 spectacular desserts featured is made up of building block recipes (more than 145 in all), many of which can be prepared ahead of time, and many that taste great on their own. So you can wow your guests with White Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding with Caramel Semi-Freddo and Boozy Caramel Sauce. Or simply serve your family the best banana bread they'll ever have. No matter which option you choose, the results will be extraordinary.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684823357
• ISBN13: 9780684823355
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.6" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

A Winner!

This book is a real winner. It has the right combination of taste that is just right (not too sweet, nor tart) the flavors compliment each other wonderfully. I have made several of the recipes here and they have all turned out wonderful. I have my share of dessert books and not all are great, or even good. But this one... My goodness. And if you were to judge a dessert book by how well their banana bread is, this will come out on top all of the time. How they did it, I have no idea. Probably one of only a few dessert books you will ever need. The only problem I have witht this book is its structure... Not novice friendly. The recipes are kind of long but does not require superb skill... the text seems a bit mumble jumbled. But if you read carefully and plan ahead, mis en place, you will enjoy great desserts. And so will co workers as I have just witnessed today. Enjoy!

The best dessert cookbook ever

This is my FAVORITE dessert cookbook. Every single thing I have made from this cookbook has turned out amazing. I love that all the recipes have multiple parts to them so I can choose just to make Banana Bread for Breakfast or I can make White Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding with Caramel Semi Fredo and Boozy Caramel Sauce (my favorite recipie so far) for a dinner party. The cookbook also gives beautiful pictures and lots of details to make sure that you do it right. Be careful though- I am now the required to make the dessert every Thanksgiving!

Simple but great taste!

I bought this book last year,at first I did not want to try any yet because i don't see the pic how it should come out! Until couple months later, I try with the banana cake recipe which I saw the picture. And that's it, it is simple to follow the explaination and after finish---taste great. I have to try another even I don't see picture but I believe now that it will come out fine.

spectacular

I found this cookbook to be intriguing. There are recipes that are simple enough for everyday fare and then there are those that are complex and perfect for the ooh aah desserts. The pictures are wonderful and help in visualizing what the finished product will look like. The recipes are concise and easy to follow even those like the chocolate bombe and all its steps.

You can Make at Home

After eating at Olives many times, I have always wanted to know who the pasrty chef is and some of the great recipes. Now I have them! I tried the Ginger Crinkles and they were as good as I remember them when I had them at Olives. Butterscotch pudding dessert and served it last night, what a hit. Thank you for such a great book.