Features
- Cover Type: Hard Cover with 256 pages
- Published by: DK ADULT August 21, 2006
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0756620597
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0756620592
-
Book Dimensions:
8.7 x 6.8 x 1.1 inches
- Weighs: 1.8 pounds
From Publishers Weekly
Gourmands and novices alike can cultivate their palates with this DIY guide to themed tasting parties. Seizing on a growing home entertaining trend, culinary educator Cheney offers ten different plans for tasting, including the most popular items like wine, chocolate and cheese, to more unusual tasting subjects like honey, tea, balsamic vinegar and apples. In the Basics chapter, Cheney explains how to structure your party using the book and photocopied "tasting grids" that can be distributed to each guest for exploring and recording the experience. She recommends choosing six different variations for a tasting and explains how to set up a table to accommodate the foods as well as palate cleansers and complementary accompaniments. Each of the following chapters is devoted to a single subject, with important background information, such as how and where
olive oil is made and how the product is graded in different countries. For every tasting, Cheney has included a menu and recipes for sophisticated, appropriate pairings (wines, radishes and a wild mushroom quiche for an evening French cheese tasting; antipasto platter, vin santo, red grapes and biscotti for a global extra virgin
olive oil tasting). Throughout, Cheney proves to be an great guide, making her urbane subject matter accessible and her parties both fun and informative.
(Sept.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Description
A complete guide to planning and hosting tasting parties, this book will appeal to everyone who is too busy to throw a dinner party but who loves to entertain, and foodie sophisticates searching for that best olive oil, wine, cheese, or other food and beverage. Tasting combines the growing trend for food appreciation with the popular book-group phenomenon. Introduces the 4 W's of tasting: what, where, when and why, for developing a sensitive and sophisticated palate. Offers ten different tastings, each focusing on a different food or drink, such as cheese, extra virgin
olive oil and chocolate. Each gives practical advice for savoring food in a structured way to understand your palate. A full guide for hosting easy-to-organize tasting sessions with friends, with 'cheat sheets' and taste cards. Tastings are suitable for large events, one-on-one romantic occasions or independent tasting.
Reader ReviewsDiscovering this jewel of a book is like finding buried treasure. It's filled to the brim with information presented in an entertaining and well-paced manner. I can't believe how much I didn't know -- not just about the ten food categories covered -- but about my own food preferences. Now, after hosting my own chocolate tasting, I know I'll always hold out for the Venezuelan chocolate. It's gorgeous, the price is right and will make a great gift to bring to a party. Better yet, I think it will create a fun opportunity for a book club break, especially at holiday times when everyone is busy. Having a tasting club meeting -- instead of the usual format -- is an inspired idea!
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