In a nutshell
Chez Panisse alumna and food stylist Ptak is a freewheeling Californian pastry chef who, after stints at London’s Moro and St John, set up shop in Hackney at the Violet Bakery. This is her fourth cookbook.
What does it cover?
Reading like a day in the life of the Violet kitchen, it covers baked treats, both savoury and sweet, for breakfast and elevenses, lunch and teatime, dinners and parties.
What’s so special?
The old-school dust jacket paired with the bright yellow bookcloth of the cover set the tone perfectly – in the book, as in her baking, Ptak combines timeless elegance with a modern approach to flavours.
Who would like it?
West Coast sun-lovers and east London foodies alike, as would any budding baker looking to score brownie points with a smattering of salted caramel or a dollop of quince jelly.
Who wouldn’t like it?
Those who like their cakes smoothly iced – Ptak goes about baking with a freer hand than a traditional patissier, which makes her recipes more accessible.
Best entry?
The banana buttermilk bread – a steadfast item on the Violet menu and a winner in any home kitchen. And since you have your apron on, please do have a go at the butterscotch blondies.
Anything else?
Ptak is highly sought-after for her food-styling skills, and that sense of beauty is part of what makes it so hard to find a seat in Violet: hence everything looks as beautiful as it tastes.
We say
This book is a timeless classic in the offing.
The Violet Bakery Cookbook is published on 12 March. To preorder it for £16 (RRP £20) visit bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846.
