Matt Lewis (1)

From spying the cover on presale at Barnes and Noble's site, I've waited months to nab my copy of this book, partly hoping the content was as delectable as the photography and partly wishing the pictures were the best part so I wouldn't have to add to my abundant bakery book collection. (To ruin the surprise for you, the recipes and the pictures are pretty equal. Darn it.) I do wish there were photos for all of the recipes, even small ones. Aside from recipe notes, the writing here seems show more forced and a bit dull. Which is fine — the point of a cookbook is great recipes, right? Done and done.

Lewis crammed this book with mouthwatering recipes, tweaked just enough from the standby brownies and myriad frosted goods to inspire a new level of creative baking. He and I seem to be on par with our obsessions as well — peanut butter and chocolate receive excellent coverage here as a lickable partnership. Added to the orgy of butter-sugar couplings, Baked introduces fab new pairings malt and chocolate, lemon and almond. The recipe newcomers in this book steal the show. If the cover's Lemon and Almond Meringue Tartlets doesn't lure you in, flip forward to the Malt Ball Cake with Milk Chocolate Frosting, Sweet and Salty Cake, Chipotle Cheddar Biscuits, and the requisite Baked Brownie. Also in residence are many updated classics, like diner-worthy chocolate pie, butter-laden scones with a twist, and a variety of inspired cookies. Even if your shelf boasts 20+ baking-centric tomes, as mine does, I guarantee you have nothing like Baked. show less

I do a LOT of baking, and I bought this book after it was recommended on one of my favorite food blogs--I made the recipe that was featured on the blog and I wanted to try more.

When I first got the book, I was impressed with the pictures and some of the new ideas in the recipes. Then, as I started to really consider the book, I realized it doesn't really have as many recipes as I had hoped for. This book is good for a few unique recipes, but if you are looking for a broader baking book or show more even more of a primer to baking, try Marcy Goldman's "A Passion for Baking" (as a primer) or a Dorie Greenspan book. The recipes in this book are good, but it's just not as expansive I had hoped for--its more of a niche cookbook than an everyday one. show less

Third book from the American Bakery, "Baked". Format is unique. Chapters are grouped by central ingredients: Peanut Butter, Pumpkin, Cinnamon.. Etc. To be honest, I always get their cookbooks because of how beautiful the photos look. It pleases the food photographer in me. Their recipes are not a 100% and are always lacking... Except for the Brownie recipe in the first book. It's the best brownie I've ever had.

Written for Library Journal Oct. 29, 2010 http://bit.ly/aZ2Zyy
Lewis, Matt & Renato Poliafito (text) & Tina Rupp (photogs.). Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented. Stewart, Tabori & Chang. 2010. 208p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781584798507. $29.95. COOKING
Those who liked Lewis and Poliafito's first cookbook, Baked: New Frontiers in Baking, are going to love this one. The owners of Baked, with locations in Brooklyn, NY, and Charleston, SC, have received national media attention show more and were recently featured on Oprah and Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. This highly anticipated new compilation of favorite desserts with spins is sure to inspire both novice and old pros. Included are some of the authors' most requested recipes, which are superbly photographed with a nostalgic feel of grandma's kitchen. The authors share the social aspects of the recipes as well as geographical variations and baking notes to make this collection truly original. There's plenty of chocolate—e.g., their most requested recipe, Sweet and Salty Brownies—as well as nonchocolate creations like Orange Creamsicle Tarts, New York Style Crumb Cake, Baked French Toast, and Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie.
Verdict As enjoyable to read as it is to bake from, this will be a welcome addition to any baking section.—Jane Hebert, Orange Cty. Lib. Syst., Orlando, FL show less