Virtual Author Talk (FREE): Aleksandra Crapanzano, Chocolat

We're delighted to welcome Aleksandra Crapanzano for a virtual author talk to celebrate her new book Chocolat: Parisian Desserts and Other Delights on Thursday, October 16th. From the James Beard Award–winning food writer and author of Gâteau, Chocolat is a beautifully illustrated cookbook that celebrates the French love affair with chocolate, featuring over 100 elegant and user-friendly recipes. Aleksandra will be in conversation with food writer Tan Vinh of the Seattle Times and Seattle Eats podcast.

How this works:

• This event will be broadcast live on Zoom. To register for the event: simply "purchase" your free ticket by adding to cart and checking out as normal.
• Closer to the event date, we will email you an access link for the live Zoom. At the event time, click that link to watch the talk on Zoom.
• If you can't join live, you will be provided with a link to the event recording following the talk.
• During the event, feel free to submit questions using the Zoom Q&A feature!
  

This author talk is FREE, but you can support it by purchasing a signed copy of Chocolat here. 

About the book: In France, chocolate is more than a treat—it’s a daily essential, and in Paris, it’s nothing short of an obsession. At the legendary food market Épicerie Bon Marché, hundreds of square feet are dedicated to everything chocolate, from biscuits and bonbons to baking bars and luxurious tins of drinking chocolate.

At home, chocolate shines in creations like pâte à tartiner (homemade Nutella) and gâteau au chocolat, a rich, nearly flourless cake with a texture that dances between mousse and moist crumb. The recipe for this cake in Chocolat is the little black dress of desserts: simple yet irresistible. While desserts like profiteroles, éclairs, or bûches de Noël require some practice, many chocolate desserts are easy to make, thanks to chocolate’s minimal need for additional ingredients.

Alongside the user-friendly recipes are stunning illustrations by Parisian artist Cassandre Montoriol, providing a visual feast that enhances the rich flavors of the desserts described. Whether a dark chocolate mousse served whimsically in an ice cream cone or a lavender chocolate tart to delight your lunch guests, Chocolat celebrates simplicity and endless versatility—a must-have for your cookbook shelf, promising inspiration with every page.