Confections of a Closet Master Baker

July 13, 2009
In this terrifically lively account chockfull of elegant, Old World recipes, Bullock-Prado, a former Hollywood film developer and sister to actress Sandra Bullock, recounts the joys and heartbreaks of running her own patisserie in Montpelier, Vt. Having fled the “soul-sucking” routine in Los Angeles with her husband, Ray, for the simpler pleasures of a small town near the Green Mountains, the author opened her own bake shop, Gesine Confectionary, in 2004, mostly on the fame of the macaroons she refashioned from her German mother's favorite almond treat, mandelhoernchen
(and the casual mention in an interview her sister did for In Style
). Although a law school graduate, Bullock-Prado always relished “playing with sugar, butter, and flour” and concocts an affectionate homage to her mother, who recently died from colon cancer, and grandmother. Her memoir follows one day in a busy baker's life, from waking at three a.m. to prepare the batter (croissants, scones, sticky buns) and bake before opening shop at seven; through the hectic lunch (focaccia); and the three p.m. tea time. In subtly compelling prose, the master baker conveys her touching sense of responsibility for the “emotional needs of patrons,” and offers mouthwatering recipes.

Starred review from August 15, 2009
Bullock-Prado chronicles her career change from schmoozing Hollywood production company executive to running a bakery in Montpelier, VT. Living in the shadow of her famous older sister, Sandy, and working with "fame-hungry bores," Bullock-Prado eventually discovered that sugar, butter, and flour could help make her happier. And so she secretly began to bake, eventually opening her own bakery in the Green Mountain State. Between hilarious descriptions of a childhood virtually free of sugar and junk food and biting contempt for the shine of Hollywood, Bullock-Prado writes touchingly of the death of her mother and her relationship with her father. Recipes are a blend of her heritageGerman and Americanand include German classics such as Mandelhoernchen (almond cookies), American standards, and her own creationsGolden Eggs, a kind of baked doughnut, and Starry Starry Nights, a deep bittersweet chocolate cookie. VERDICT Memoir lovers will find this a lighthearted, entertaining read filled with humor and acerbic wit; foodies will enjoy the insider's view of running a bakery. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 5/15/09; a pick at BEA's Librarian's Book Shout and Share program.Ed.]Pauline Baughman, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2009
On first face, Bullock-Prados life seems wildly improbable. Born to an opera-singer mother and government-worker father, she toured the worlds cultural capitals as her mothers career advanced. She eventually became an attorney and a Hollywood producer. Tiring of that life and happily married, she started a bakery in Vermont. Despite slim profit margins and long hours, she found herself completely content. She glories in the day-to-day creativity of the pastry chef and loves both her local staff and the customers who crowd into her shop every day for a cup of coffee and a croissant, a piece of cake, or one of her celebrated macaroons. Life is not always tranquil, especially when crews show up for food television tapings, or when her movie-star sister visits and does a turn as a salesgirl. Recipes for many of the confectionerys offerings appear, the most appealing featuring Vermont maple syrup.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)