Review by Booklist Review
Ko puts art back in tart. Her popular Instagram account @lokokitchen shows off her prowess at turning fruit and savory tarts and pies into vividly colored geometric wonders. Now this single volume documents her skill, with detailed pictures that will surely challenge home cooks. Simple fruit tarts don't just lay berries atop pastry cream. Ko slices three different colors of pear and stacks the different colors in undulating waves as lovely as any seascape. But that's just her starting point. She delves into all sorts of exotic fruits, taking advantage of each one's uniqueness. Slicing dragon fruit into precise geometric parallelograms, she arranges them atop raspberry curd. On another pie, Ko cleverly recreates Earth's geologic strata. For savory tarts, she offers herb and garlic crusts. Vegetables take a leading role here, both to flavor crusts and to boldly tint fillings for stunning presentation. Ko takes quiche in utterly new directions. Her ability to mix and match flavors puts her into the same category as molecular chefs/wizards. Home pastry chefs will find much inspiration here, and even if her visual artistry intimidates, Ko's flavor combinations can still unleash a creative spirit in the kitchen.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Ko earned Instagram fame for her gorgeously crafted pies, and in this pun-heavy guide ("Let's get this tarty started") she generously shares her tricks. "Spoke Signals" (with spiraling strips of dough that form a hub at the center) was Ko's Instagram breakout and is typical of her geometric genius. Crusts range from basic to options that incorporate Oreos and sprinkles and a blue version colored with butterfly pea flower. Some combinations are surprising--"Block and Awe" pairs cherry filling with two doughs, one marbled with Nutella and the other made with beets--but the visual effects are always brilliant. In "Pink Out Loud," dragon fruit powder turns a lime-curd filling a bright magenta that contrasts with geometric speckled dragon fruit-flesh tiles; in "Floral of the Story," each hexagon in a clever honeycomb design of dough encases an edible flower. Savory options include a miso and carrot pie topped with banana-shaped dough curls. The instructions for more ambitious woven crusts, including a three-tone Aztec-style design, are precise and accompanied by helpful photos. This is a no-brainer for Ko's many fans who are eager to learn the secrets behind her show-stopping work, or any baker looking to add some confectionery flash to their repertoire. (Oct.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Ko, creator of the popular blog and Instagram Lokokitchen, has brought her creative and unique recipes and ideas into this debut, which offers stunning photographs, along with tips on how to transform tarts and pies into works of art. In addition to sweet pies and tarts, the collection offers a variety of savory recipes. The first part offers recommendations for preferred ingredients and necessary equipment; some of the tips include making sure butter is cold and being careful not to overwork dough. While the recipes and art may initially seem intimidating, Ko encourages readers to be creative and mix and match many of the tart shells and pie crusts. She also gives substitutions for each recipe, along with advice on how to develop patience. For those who are new to making tarts or pies, Ko suggests starting with truth or square, a relatively simple ice cream tart. VERDICT A funny, well-written collection of recipes suited for bakers of all levels.--Holly Skir, Broward Cty. Lib., FL
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