Eric Kayser - Maison Kayser’s French Pastry Workshop

In 1996, I opened my first boulangerie in Paris on rue Monge. Little did I know then that it would be one of the premier places in the world for great bread. It had been my desire to share these yeast-leavened breadswith their fragrance of toasted grains, and whose flavors I associate with my childhoodwith everyone. And since that first boulangerie, I have never stopped imparting my expertise for bread-making, from Paris to Tokyo, New York to Singapore, with the goal of making excellent, beautiful, and real bread accessible to all those who have an appreciation for great food.

This desire to share and teach is the raison dtre of Les Compagnons du Devoir, a centuries-old artisans guild in France to which I belong, dedicated to the sharing of ones craft through training. These principles have always stayed with me, from the boulangerie school where I was an instructor to the core values of the Maison Kayser bakeries. Learn and teach could be my motto, because I view every day as an opportunity to be either pupil or teacher.

This book is a representation of this philosophy. What I have learned I hope to pass on to the greatest number of people. Through these recipesboth simple and complexI offer passionate bakers the means to satisfy their gourmet cravings. Whether as a treat to enjoy alone or to share with others, there is something here for all tastes! Loaves, tarts, financiers, cookies, macarons, and madeleines are easy-to-make items to take with you to the office or on a picnic, while elaborate desserts such as Fraisier, Opra, Charlotte, Mille-Feuille, and Saint-Honor are elegant finishes to meals with friends and family.

My wish is that this book will serve as a simple tool that will, step by step, guide those who want to create from their own hands something sweet for sharing and out of friendship. And, so that everyone can enjoy these pleasures, I have included a chapter of gluten-free recipes.

So, for all bakersyoung or old, expert or amateurlets begin happiness awaits at the tip of your spatula!