Caught on Tape: Pastry Queen & Cookbook Author Alice Medrich

The doyenne of chocolate pastries–cakes, cookies, truffles, souffles–is in town this week, teaching secrets from her just-released cookbook to dozens of students who signed up for her two-hour classes at area Central Markets.

At her Monday night class at the Dallas Central Market, she revealed why she thinks the most important part of any cookbook is at the very front of the book.

Here’s why:

“Almost anybody can follow a recipe,” said Medrich, “but if you want to learn why an author or chef cooks or bakes with certain ingredients or techniques, the front of the book is where she spells it all out.”