"Each sugary treat has its story, and Pierre Herme? pastries untangles the history behind fifty desserts, separating legend from truth and delving into the wars, the political intrigue, the round-the-world journeys, and other surprising events that inspired the most delicious pastries. Also exploring the evolution of desserts over time, the stories that introduce each featured dessert divulge how great chefs have built upon and improved these pastries, and master pastry chef Pierre Herme? embraces this spirit of innovation in inspired recipes that follow the originals"--Dust jacket

• The Doyens of Patisserie: Blancmange
• Polish brioche
• Yule log
• Fruit cake
• Cream puffs
• King's cake
• Crepes
• Flan
• Macarons
• Oublies
• Gingerbread
• Sable diamant vanille
• Lemon tart
• Patisserie with Terroir: Bugnes
• Cheesecake
• Cookies
• Creme brulee
• Black forest cake
• Beaten cake
• Kouign-Amann
• Kugelhopf
• Linzer torte
• Muffins
• Strudel
• Tarte tropezienne
• Tiramisu
• Multi-Storied Patisserie: Rum baba
• Savoy sponge cake
• Charlotte
• Croissants
• Crumble
• Financiers
• Chocolate cake
• Ice cream
• Madeleines
• Meringues
• Frozen parfait
• Trifle
• Zuppa inglese
• La Patisserie Moderne: Eclair
• Fraisier
• Mille-feuille
• Mocha cake
• Opera
• Paris-brest
• Peach melba
• Sacher torte
• Saint-Honore cake
• Souffle
• Tarte tatin