I wanted to share with you my tale of the Milleniyum Chocolate Torte. In December, I was trying to decide what to bake for our company's second annual Holiday Bake-Off. Nothing in my cookbooks caught my eye (I don't cook often, so I rely heavily on cookbooks), so I turned to the Internet.

I typed in "award winning dessert" on Google. One of the many, many results (actually 69,900) was an article from Dome titled "Rich Dessert" [April 2002]. I was intrigued by [Steve Mandell's] story and adventures at the Pillsbury Bake-Off. I was also surprised (and glad) the recipe was included. At that moment, I decided your recipe was going to be my entry.

You'll be proud to know, with stiff competition-12 entries-the torte took first prize! My prize, as a non-cook, was to gloat all day in the glory of winning. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe.

Leslie J. Girard
Arlington, Va.