Matiere Chocolate by Stephane Leroux

[Kerry Beal]

I know at least a couple of us have this book now. It's going to take a while to try everything in there, but I got started with the granite piece.

I'd love to try some of the rolled pieces next - but the cocoa butter I have isn't in the nice little drop form that Belcolade makes and Puratos in Canada doesn't import it. I'll have to talk to them and see if since they were willing to bring the book over for us, whether they would be willing to bring the cocoa butter over for us. In the mean time, I wonder if processing chunks of cocoa butter first into something more like a powder would work - or perhaps using mycro?

[RobertM]

Kerry

That is beautiful - I sit here in my office in awe of your skill -

[Kerry Beal]

Kerry

That is beautiful - I sit here in my office in awe of your skill -

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Thank you for that - but my only real skill is following directions.

[Lior]

fantastic! I want the book!!!! Was it difficult? Do you think it can be made somehow into a bar?Thanks for a great picture!

[Mette]

That is remarkable - how is is made (i have not got access to the book)?

[jumanggy]

Darn. That is awesome.

I'd seen the book in previews (via the eG forums also), but I can only dream of owning it (much less having the resources to actually do more than daydream with it!). Looking forward to what you guys create from it.

[adey73]

I am interested in participating, but only have the cash for one expensive Choc-book.

Could those in the know tell me this book or Ramon Morato's Chocolate?

[Lisa Shock]

I saw this demoed at the World Pastry Forum two weeks ago. Vincent Pilon showed it as a showpiece base.

It's pretty easy to make. You take some chocolate chunks or discs in several colors and toss them into a blender for just a few seconds to break them into smaller, random bits. You place them within the borders of a mold which can simply be some silicone strips laying on parchment on a sheet pan. You then pour some tempered chocolate or plain colored coca butter (we saw red cocoa butter used, this was for a showpiece) over the chunk mixture until it's covered. Allow it to cool. At this point, the melted chocolate/cocoa butter will have obscured a lot of the pattern. Then, finish the edges by rubbing lightly on a heated surface like a warm sheet pan to reveal the inside pattern.

Presumably, one could make a log or big bar of this and slice it with a hot knife or wire to make individual confections. I have not tried it, nor seen it done, so I am not certain. It does seem like a good way to use up odd bits of chocolate.

[Kerry Beal]

fantastic! I want the book!!!! Was it difficult? Do you think it can be made somehow into a bar?Thanks for a great picture!

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Might be a difficult bar - essentially you melt away the surface so I don't think it would be practical for production.

[Kerry Beal]

I am interested in participating, but only have the cash for one expensive Choc-book.

Could those in the know tell me this book or Ramon Morato's Chocolate?

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The Morato book called for a whole bunch of stuff I don't have or can't get. But it has pastry and bonbons too - this book is just info for how to make showpiece components. So depends what you want or need most I guess.

I know - I wasn't any help.

[Lisa Shock]

fantastic! I want the book!!!! Was it difficult? Do you think it can be made somehow into a bar?Thanks for a great picture!

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Might be a difficult bar - essentially you melt away the surface so I don't think it would be practical for production.

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But, you only need to melt the outer surface. I think if you had a long log of it you could just slice it with a good result.

[Kerry Beal]

That is remarkable - how is is made (i have not got access to the book)?

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Here is a link to the instructions - they are in french however.

[Kerry Beal]

fantastic! I want the book!!!! Was it difficult? Do you think it can be made somehow into a bar?Thanks for a great picture!

←

Might be a difficult bar - essentially you melt away the surface so I don't think it would be practical for production.

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But, you only need to melt the outer surface. I think if you had a long log of it you could just slice it with a good result.

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Worth a try for sure.

[schneich]

imet chef leroux on the prosweets fair in cologne, very decent and humble guy :-) one of the things i never heard is that he polishes chocolate with a damp paper towel, now i do it all the time it works just great...

cheers

t.

[Kerry Beal]

imet chef leroux on the prosweets fair in cologne, very decent and humble guy :-) one of the things i never heard is that he polishes chocolate with a damp paper towel, now i do it all the time it works just great...

cheers

t.

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I gave my granite a polish with a damp paper towel. It's not as shiny as his appears to be.