"Cocolat is to chocolate what Tiffany is to diamonds." - Gourmet magazine. One of America's leading chocolatiers shares the secrets behind her decadent, European-style desserts in this elegant hardcover volume. Alice Medrich founded Cocolat, the first in a chain of chocolate shops in 1976, introducing legions of Americans to the joys of chocolate truffles. With this beautifully illustrated, easy-to-follow guide, home cooks and budding pastry chefs can make their own renditions of the shop's sophisticated confections. Each fabulous recipe features detailed instructions that even first-time bakers can follow to create treats that are - almost - too beautiful to eat. AUTHOR: Author, pastry chef, and teacher Alice Medrich has written several award-winning cookbooks and ranks among the foremost experts on chocolate and chocolate desserts. In 1976 she founded Cocolat, a California-based chain of chocolate stores, and she is credited with introducing and popularizing chocolate truffles in the United States.