Two new small books from Ten Speed Press are sweet gifts for the city cook or host who loves to entertain.
Mocha (Ten Speed Press, $9.95, paperback) is as sweet as its subject matter. Author Michael Turback, who also wrote Hot Chocolate, has made this flavor -- created by combining chocolate with coffee -- into one that can stand deliciously on its own. While many of us know mocha as a hot drink, here it is more refined, more complex and a centerpiece ingredient in cocktails, cheesecake, cookies, brownies and other desserts. Combine this small, pretty book with a half-pound of good espresso beans and a bar of the best dark chocolate you can find and let the recipient take it from there.
Hot Drinks (Ten Speed Press, $16.95, hardcover) is by Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss who together own a Massachusetts specialty food shop called Cooks Shop Here and also wrote Green Tea and The Story of Tea. This new, small volume has recipes for hot cider, coffee, hot chocolate, spiced punch, spirits as well as tea. With only 96 pages, the book is beautifully designed and filled with tempting photos that not only show the final product but also has presentations that might inspire a companion gift.
These charming small volumes would be appreciated by a city cook who likes to entertain but feels limited by having a small apartment or no dining area. Even if we're not cooking for company, it's nice to be able to make something for guests and a special beverage in a pretty cup -- perhaps served before or after a restaurant meal -- can be a gracious alternative. Either of these titles offer new ideas for how to do just that.
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