Kyotofu: Uniquely Delicious Japanese Desserts

In this beautiful cookbook, Bermensolo, owner of New York’s Kyotofu restaurant and the pastry brand of the same name, aims to introduce readers to her approach to “familiar, Western dessert formats” with a Japanese twist. Arranged by ingredient rather than type of dessert, Bermensolo offers up such classics as chocolate chunk cookies, mont blancs, cheese cake, and chocolate tarts with distinctly Japanese ingredients like sesame, rice, and yuzu. Where the book really shines, however, is when it presents ingredients not usually thought of as being dessert friendly—think tofu and miso—and introduces them into recipes that Western readers all know and love. With helpful advice on where to shop and what to buy, this book offers a cornucopia of recipes to liven up classic Western desserts. Note that Bermensolo barely offers anything as ancient as the city for which the restaurant and book are named; those interested in classic Japanese dessert recipes are better off looking elsewhere. (Apr.)