Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light
by Mort Rosenblum
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Description
A delectable journey into the world of chocolate--from manufacturing to marketing, French boutiques to American multinationals--by the award-winning author of Olives.Science, over recent years, has confirmed what chocolate lovers have always known: the stuff is actually good for you. It's the Valentine's Day drug of choice, has more antioxidants than red wine, and triggers the same brain responses as falling in love. Nothing, in the end, can stand up to chocolate as a basic fundament to show more human life.In this scintillating narrative, acclaimed foodie Mort Rosenblum delves into the complex world of chocolate. From the mole poblano--chile-laced chicken with chocolate--of ancient Mexico to the contemporary French chocolatiers who produce the palets d'or--bite-sized, gold-flecked bricks of dark chocolate--to the vast empires of Hershey, Godiva, and Valrhona, Rosenblum follows the chocolate trail the world over. He visits cacao plantations, meets with growers, buyers, makers, and tasters, and investigates the dark side of the chocolate trade as well as the enduring appeal of its product.Engaging, entertaining, and revealing, Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light is a fascinating foray into this "food of the gods." show lessTags
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Member Reviews
A very enjoyable history of one of my favorite things. Covers the history of chocolate, the growing of it, the manufacturing of it, the different styles of making it. Comprehensive without being heavy.
A deliciously sensual, hedonistic book, Rosenblum understands that chocolate is not only about food, about taste. It's about hedonsim, debauchery, sensory pleasure and passion. Rosenblum does tend a little towards the chocolate snobbery, but manages to step back before he reaches the offensive point with it. A scrumptiously sexy book.
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One of the strengths of this entertaining book is that the author, Mort Rosenblum -- an ex-editor of the International Herald Tribune -- follows journalistic instinct by taking the part of the general reader instead of lording over us as an expert. This is not a history of chocolate -- indeed, straight history is its weakest element -- but a series of vignettes in which we travel the globe show more meeting a wide variety of characters who are deeply immersed in chocolate (in a manner of speaking). The chapters read like a series of magazine articles or personality profiles, filled with quotes, and range from the riveting to the workaday. show less
added by John_Vaughan
Author Information
14+ Works 847 Members
Mort Rosenblum was a special correspondent to The Associated Press and a former editor of the International Herald Tribune.
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Common Knowledge
- Important places
- Paris, France
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Food & Cooking, General Nonfiction, History, Travel
- DDC/MDS
- 641.3374 — Applied Science & Technology Home economics & family management Food, Cooking & Recipes / Meals, Picnics Food Field and plantation crops Alkaloidal crops Chocolate
- LCC
- SB267 .R67 — Agriculture Horticulture. Plant propagation. Plant breeding Plant culture Field crops
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 203
- Popularity
- 160,543
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.68)
- Languages
- English, Portuguese
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 3
