Secret Restaurant Recipes Cookbook {review and giveaway}

Cookbook Review

Secret Restaurant Recipes

I’m sure by now you have heard of this exciting new cookbook!  Leah Schapira and Victoria Dwek, authors of the “Made Easy” cookbooks are back with an exciting new cookbook concept!  Leah and Victoria go into the kitchens of more than 70 top kosher restaurants for all over the world to share the recipes behind the dishes that keep us coming back for more. Not only does this book share secret recipes, but these famous chefs share tips, tricks, and techniques that every home cook would love to learn!

What really draws me to cookbooks these days, are the photos included, and this cookbook does not disappoint.  There is  huge color photo for every recipe in this book!  I have already made a few dishes from this book, and they came out exactly as pictured!

I was expecting this gorgeous book to be filled with complicated recipes, but there is a nice range of recipes from simpler to slightly more complex.  A beginner cook will find plenty of recipes to try and can work up to more complicated recipes and techniques.  Some of the recipes require a bit of ingredient sourcing, but as a foodie, this is not a drawback!  I love learning about new ingredients and given a great recipe, I learn how to use these ingredients.  With kosher supermarkets really catering towards kosher foodies, it is not too hard to find new and interesting ingredients.

I love to cook, but as a pastry chef, I am always drawn to the dessert section of cookbooks.  While this book does not offer a huge selection of desserts, the recipes that Leah and Victoria do share look incredible.  Artscroll/Mesorah Publications has given me permission to share this decadent dairy dessert recipe for Praline Brownies from Bagels ‘N Greens.

Praline brownies

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Praline Brownies
Author: 
Serves: 24-30 bars
 
Ingredients
Brownie
  • 8 oz bittersweet chocolate
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
  • 4 eggs
  • 1⅓ cups (11 oz) sugar
  • 1 cup (5 oz) flour
  • ½ cup (2 oz) cocoa
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp nut extract (optional)
  • 2 tsp praline extract (optional)
  • 7 oz white chocolate, coarsely chopped
Chocolate Frosting
  • 10 oz milk chocolate
  • 4 Tbsp praline paste
Garnishes
  • 4 oz mixed crunchy nuts
  • chocolate and white chocolate curls
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a rimmed 9 x 13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Melt chocolate with the butter.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip eggs and sugar at high speed for 5-6 minutes.
  4. Carefully pour in melted chocolate mixture. Sift in flour, cocoa, and salt. Mix until mixture is smooth and shiny, about 4 minutes. Add in extracts, if using. Fold in white chocolate.
  5. Pour batter into prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes (the edges should be hard, top cracked, and middle soft).
  6. Prepare the frosting: Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Add praline paste and mix until combined. Gently pour over the top of the cake. Tilt the pan sideways until entire cake is fully covered. Sprinkle nuts or chocolate curls on top. Refrigerate for 15 minutes, until frosting is set. Let cool before slicing into bars.

Now for the giveway sponsored by Artscroll/Mesorah Publications!  One lucky reader will win a free copy of Secret Restaurant Recipes.  Contest open to US mailing addresses only.  One winner will be chosen at random. Giveaway ends  at 10AM EST on Wednesday, January 15, 2015 Please provide a valid email address; winner will be notified via email. Winner has 24 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Giveaway is over! Congrats to Manda!
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13 thoughts on “Secret Restaurant Recipes Cookbook {review and giveaway}”

  2. The book sounds fantastic, and I’d love to win a copy! Thank you for such an awesome giveaway!

  3. I made the eggplant garlic chicken from this cookbook and it was delicious. Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to win a copy.

  4. Where can I get praline paste and praline extract that’s kosher? P. S. I live in Florida.

    1. Try the baking aisle of any supermarket. Love N’ Bake makes a great hazelnut praline paste! If you can’t find it there, it’s on Amazon.

  6. Omg been seeing so much of this cookbook around!!! Thanks for reviewing it! Would love to win this giveaway!

  11. I don’t know what happened to my post? So I was saying on the groups I belong to everyone is talking about this cookbook “Secret Restaurant Recipes”!!! I would love to win as well as many others especially since I’ve only been to one of the restaurants! 🙂 Thanks Aviva

  12. I like the section called Celebration Cakes, especially the Express Train cake! Wish I were this talented!
    RAFFLECOPTER: CAROLSUE

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