Ripe for Dessert

A former pastry chef at Berkeley's famed Chez Panisse restaurant, David Lebovitz is renowned for his easy-to-prepare yet spectacular desserts, and his devotion to seasonal ingredients. This enticing collection of more than 100 recipes is both varied and distinctive. For home cooks who crave down-to-earth desserts with a kick, Lebovitz offers such favorites as Berry Cobbler and Apple Cranberry Crisp. For chocolate lovers, he provides such rich indulgences as a Chocolate Cream Cake with Wine-Poached Pears and Dark Chocolate Souffle with Orange Sorbet. In keeping with his guiding philosophy that desserts should be based on honest, unfettered flavors rather than fancy techniques or showy presentation, all of the recipes are simple and uncomplicated to prepare, even for the novice cook. Lebovitz also offers helpful advice on finding and selecting the very best seasonal fruits and other ingredients, helping home cooks ensure that their desserts are successful every single time. Lebovitz is not just a talented and innovative pastry chef--he is a gifted teacher who will inspire every reader with his clarity, insight, and passion for great desserts.