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March 2005
A few years ago, baker Rebecca
Rather-aka The Pastry Queen-quit the big city,
leaving restaurant life to set up shop in Fredericksburg,
a favorite Hill Country destination for Austin foodies, B&B
fans, cyclists, oenophiles, and antique hunters. A food journalist
gave Rather the moniker of Pastry Queen because of the royally
irresistible goodies she makes and her sassy, generous native-Texan
style.
At first glance the Rather's cookbook looked like so many
others but once I took the time to give it the attention that
it deserved, it came to life. The book is filled with voluptuous,
flavor filled sweet and savory treats like Bacon-Cheddar Scones,
the Texas High Hairs Tarts, Fourth-of-July's Fried Pies, Turbo-Charged
Brownies with Praline Topping and pillowy Kolaches (yeasted
buns with savory fillings) to name but a few. The recipes
are well laid out, simple to follow and do not require the
reader to flip from one page to another to complete the task.
Photographer Laurie Smith brings the end results deliciously
to life and if your not going to be in Fredericksburg Texas
any time soon, picking up a copy of Rather's book and giving
it a test drive is going to bethe next best thing…
Review by: Jeremy Emmerson
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