Pierre Herme's latest cookbook 'Pastries' is set to release March 1. ©All Rights Reserved

French pastry chef Pierre Hermé is set to release a new cookbook filled with some of the recipes and pastries that have made his name a powerful brand around the world, drawing legions of fans and tourists to his boutiques in Tokyo, Paris and London.

In his latest English-language cookbook Pastries, Hermé gives readers a hundred recipes that reinvent classic French cakes and desserts into innovative new flavor combinations, like croissants filled with rose-scented almond paste and a raspberry and lychee compote.

The Saint Honoré cake, traditionally made out of cream puffs akin to profiteroles and named after France’s patron saint of bakers, is reinvented with green tea, chestnuts and passionfruit, while a ‘foie gras’ crème brûlée is adorned with caramelized mango.

The book is co-written by French food writer Eve-Marie Zizza-Lalu, who provides the back stories on the history behind 50 iconic desserts, and photos are shot by Laurent Fau.

Hermé’s latest cookbook goes up against pastry boutique Ladurée, which released two volumes last year entitled The Sweet Recipes and The Savory Recipes, a rivalry that, in France, can stoke heated discussion among pastry loyalists and cause stark divisions.

Pastries, published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang, is set for a March 1 release in the US, Canada and the UK.- Relaxnews

Published 09.01.2012