There is no denying Roger Pizey’s experience. He has worked with luminaries such as Albert Roux and Marco Pierre White, as well as several stints as head chef in some of the top restaurants in London. In this book, he has collected 250 of some of the greatest cakes in the world, and they are indeed from all around the world

Flicking through the pages of this book, you immediately get a sense that Pizey has collected recipes from the four corners of the globe. There are recipes from every continent. This truly is a collection of the world’s best cakes. Each recipe also includes a small introduction giving details of the recipes origin, and I am happy to note that they all feature some of the most beautiful and tantalizing pictures I have seen.

The book starts with an introduction from Pizey, followed by a useful chapter on techniques that are used throughout. The recipes themselves are grouped into 10 chapters of similar types such as Sponges & Layer cakes, Traybakes, and Pastries.

The last few chapters consist of Baking Basics which has essential recipes for Crèmes, Ganaches and Icing that you will need to decorate or fill your lovely creations. There is then a section discussing essential equipment for any budding pastry chef. The book closes with a comprehensive A-Z index which in a book this large, is essential.

The recipes themselves are clear and detailed, yet not overly wordy or as complicated as some of the cakes may suggest. Pizey expertly guides you through each stage. The level of difficulty I would say varies drastically. There are some well-known family favourites among unusual and regional cakes that most of the readers may not have heard of. One of the most wonderful things about this book is the scope of the collection.

Another highlight is the handful of mini travel guides detailing the best places to eat cake in a host of international cities across the globe.

My favourite recipes were Coffee and Walnut Cake, Bee Sting Cake, and the Tippaleipä. I have to say, this is by far the best collection of cakes I have seen. If you have this book, you can throw away all your other books of cake recipes. This is the only one you will need.