3 comments about Wandering & Feasting: A Washington Cookbook.

1. Well written book with fascinating information about Washington State. The book includes recipes which highlight different regions in Washington. Ms. Caditz, a Washington native, weaves interesting stories and features throughout the book. A must have if you enjoy cooking and enjoy Northwest cuisine



2. This cook book is informative, useful, and inspiring. The recipes are yummy and well worth the effort. Be sure to try the Walnut Torte with Chocolate Glaze!

   The book is divided into regions of Washington State, with an interesting narrative about each region in each section. There are historic photos, too, so Wandering and Feasting is a book to read, in addition to cook book as reference.

   The presentation is crisp and appealing.

   A great gift for gourmets, people who cook, NWophiles, and those who like to eat others' good cooking!




3. Compiled and organized by Mary Houser Caditz, "Wandering & Feasting: A Washington Cookbook" offers more than two hundred tempting and tasty dishes reflecting the culinary heritage of Washington State. Spiral bound so as to lay flat upon the kitchen table or counter, "Wandering & Feasting is a regional collection organizing dishes from the Olympic Peninsula (Halibut with Macadamia Nut Crust; Whole Baked Salmon with Medley of Three Dill Sauces; Filet of Sole Turbans with Shrimp Sauce), Southwest Washington (Individual Salmon Wellingtons with Dijon Cream Sauce; Cream of Carrot Soup with Marsala; Chocolate Hazelnut Decadence with Rum Cream), North Puget Sound and San Juan Islands (Dungeness Crab Stuffed Mushroom Caps; Strawberries in Raspberry Sauce with Orange Cream; Easy Apple Raisin Chutney), Puget Sound (Fried Calamari in Beer Batter; Cheese Puffs with Smoked Salmon Filling; Steamed Clams with Tomatoes and Herbs), Cascades (Flank Steak with Blue Cheese, Mushroom and Sun-dried Tomato Stuffing; Baked Pears in Apple cider and Cinnamon; Trout with Chive Cream Sauce), Central Washington (Beef on Skewers with Peanut Sauce; Spinach Salad with Apples and Ginger Vinaigrette; Minted Cantaloupe Soup), and the Inland Empire (Venison with Juniper Berry Sauce; Bulgar Wheat Pilaf with Mushrooms; Asparagus napoleons with Orange Hollandaise Sauce). Occasionally illustrated with historical photography, and featuring appendices that include 'Basic Recipes', 'Low-Fat Suggestions', Glossary, 'Selected Bibliography', and an Index, "Wandering & Feasting" is an ideal and strongly recommended addition to any personal and family cookbook collection.

1 comments about Caprial Cooks for Friends.

1. Caprial has written another inspiring cookbook this time with the addition of wine suggestions and entertaining ideas. Both help to make this latest cookbook one that you will reach for again and again. This book is about using the freshest ingredients and preparing the most delicious food. The recipes will allow you and your guests to enjoy unique dishes but with a minimum of fuss. From appetizers to desserts Caprial has assembeled recipes that let you enjoy the experience of cooking but still leave you with time to enjoy your family and friends. Choose something new like the roasted pork loin with a rosemary balsamic glaze or something fun like corn dogs. It's all in this book from a chef who understands what food is meant to be. Enjoy!

4 comments about The Northwest Wine Guide: A Buyer's Handbook.

1. As a lover of northwest wines, this is the consummate sourcebook. Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia, they're all here. A perfect book to keep in your glove box so it's handy as you venture into your favorite wine store, or if you're lucky enough to be in the northwest in wine country itself. Living in Wisconsin, this guide is truly a blessing as I know beforehand which wines to buy from my favorite merchants or online wine stores. True, sipping and swirling all the wines Andy writes about would be a joy in itself, but since that is not possible for most of us, reading which merlot, cab, pinot, chard, sauv blanc, gewurtz, etc. hits the target in his expert opinion from any of the many northwest wineries makes me confident in my purchase. If Andy would like an assistant for the second edition, I gladly volunteer.



2. To paraphrase an old expression, "Go Northwest, young man and woman!" Indeed today many are turning to the Northwest, searching for and finding some of the planet's best wines. This book, authored by Andy Perdue in down-to-earth, easy-to-understand language, will entice you to trek to the Northwest or at least seek out Northwest wines at your local wine shop or market. Filled with tips and terminology, food pairings and bargains, this guide offers an extensive wealth of information on wineries located in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. Wine producers from the offbeat to the sublime will be found here. Each winery is described, along with it's best bets wines. Addresses, physical and many websites, are included. If looking for a myriad of merlots, a plethora of pinots and much more from this esteemed region, I highly recommend this book as your ultimate source.



3. Just spent a wonderful week in the Okanogan Valley of British Columbia visiting the numerous wineries of this region. We had purchased Andy's book prior to leaving. By reading about all the wineries available we were able to map out how to visit as many as possible in our short visit. This book provided us with a brief description of the winery, the varieties of wine they produce, and the ones to look for. Although there are no years listed for the different varieties, one does get a good idea of what to expect. Some of the descriptions were what led us directly to the winery...For example, we had to visit Hawthorne Vineyards to try their "knee buckling" ice wine and boy was it. Lang Vineyard's Merlot Icewine was listed as a "do not miss" and one shouldn't. The price, of the ice wine, was expensive but worth every drop! I had never heard of a variety of grapes called Kerner but when reading about Hillside Vineyards I knew I had to try...excellent choice. Andy's book gave us a much better insight on the many vineyards in the Okanogan Valley; from Oliver to Kelowna, all were listed. We kept the book with us as we visited each winery and even let the staff from the various wineries read what was written about them. Many had never heard of the book and were quite amazed to know they had been recognized. This opened the door to many a good conversation about the book and the various wineries. My only complaints about the books are that there is no room to write notes about each winery and the lack of recommended vintage years. A map of each area might also be a valuable asset. I would definitely recommend this book to others and plan on using it many, many times in the future as I visit other wineries in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho



4. This petite paperback easily fits into a purse or on the car dashboard for wine-tasting trips, and just as easily on the bookshelf for quick reference. It's concise and informative, including addresses and phone numbers of wineries - great for when you're lost on a wine country road, searching for a hidden tasting room, or when you just need to find out the winery's hours of operation. It also offers a quick glance at specific, highly rated wines and specialties from each winery. The book's only unavoidable fault is that it's slightly outdated. Since it was published in 2003, hundreds of new wineries have popped up around the Northwest, and some older ones have moved, closed or changed phone numbers. Overall, though, it's an excellent guide, especially to the older, more established wineries of the Pacific Northwest.

No comments about Savor Seattle: Recipes From 25 Of Seattle's Top Restaurants Accompanied By Wines From Northwest's Best Wineries (Savor Series).

No comments about The Alaska Homegrown Cookbook: The Best Recipes from the Last Frontier.

2 comments about Fresh from the Valley.

1. Celebrate Highlands: Recipes And Remembrance combines recipe contribution from members of the Laurel Garden Club of Highlands, North Carolina with anecdotal memories and stories that make Celebrate Highlands a quite unique and very enthusiastically recommended cookbook. From Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms; Southwestern Bean Salad; and Exotic Chicken with Thai Sauce; to Lemon Ice Cream; Cheddar Chili Cheesecake; and Blue Cheese Torte with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Pesto; Celebrate Highlands offers a wonderfully diversified compilation of "kitchen friendly" recipes that even the most novice of family cooks can accomplish with confidence.



2. Fresh From The Valley: A Harvest Of Recipes From The Junior League Of Yakima is a splendidly organized and presented book of recipes that will grace family dining all year long. With recipes divided into Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter sections, Fresh From The Valley is enhanced with special sections on Washington Apples; Herbs and Spices; Wines and Cheeses; Sponsors; Contributors; and an Index. From Fresh Tomato and Sweet Onion Salsa; Spinach and Artichoke Dip in Bread Bowl; and Mexican Appetizer Cheese Cake; to Marinated Mushrooms; Eastern Washington Rack of Lamb; Hawaiian Chicken and Pears; and Hot Apple Tea; are a brief introductory sampling of what Fresh From The Valley has to offer the family chef!

No comments about The Best Places Northwest Desserts Cookbook (Best Places).

3 comments about The Northwest Essentials Cookbook: Cooking With the Ingredients That Define a Regional Cuisine.

1. - - - -In my heart, my palate, my stomach, memories of home and thoughts of wanting to visit the Seattle area! I really feel good about the support Greg Atkinson gives his recipes in the way of stories, personal experiences and appreciation of the people, places and tastes in his life. This book is a great experience before, during and after meals, for singles and families alike! I'm giving it to my friends!



2. I live on the northern california coast and we share many of the same wonderful foods that create the northwest flavor. This is a great cookbook, the recipes are simple and tasty. The book is broken down into chapters like salmon, prawns and crab, wild mushrooms, herbs, lentils split peas & chickapeas, and apples & pears. These are a few, but certainly not all. This is a book full of recipes at their best when you use the freshest of ingredients. I recommend!



3. The Northwest Essentials Cookbook is a superbly produced regional cookbook that offers a culinary wealth of more than 150 recipes representing a delicious spectrum of flavors and tastes. From Warm Duck and Apple Salad, Poached Salmon with Tarragon, and Chocolate Almond Apricot Cake, to Oysters Mignonette, Savory Stuffed Mushroom Caps, and Simple Rockfish Stew, The Northwest Essentials Cookbook is a welcome addition to any kitchen cookbook shelf.

2 comments about Wild Mushrooms (Northwest Homegrown Cookbook Series).

1. This tasty book covers wild mushrooms from Apps to Entrees. Cynthia's passion for local ingredients and fun recipes comes through in every word. If your a mushroom lover this book is a "must add" to your cookbook collection.



2. I love this little cookbook- and not only for the wild mushroom recipes, but also for Cynthia Nims care and delicacy in food handling and preparation. I seldom find recipe books that take 'delicacy' into consideration-- she notes the ways that the mushrooms interlace with other ingredients, like the way that brie slices are infused with the taste of the truffle slices. I particularly love the Buckwheat Crepes with Wild Mushrooms, Ham and Gruyere.
   
   The whole book is beautiful- it may sound odd, but the paper quality is excellent. The cover has that high quality paperback flap that fold over, making the cover thicker and more durable than regular soft cover books. The illustrations are beautiful.
   
   There is great information on finding societies that take you on wild mushroom hunts, buying wild mushrooms, and care and handling of wild mushrooms.

1 comments about Savour the Pacific: A Discovery of Taste.

1. I have too many cookbooks, and I come back to this one very often. It's crammed with delicious, original and doable recipes. In fact, the recipes are not always exact pacific recipes but rather the author's approach of creating modern recipes with typical pacific flavours. Simply the titles of some recipes should convince you: "Prawns with chili mango sauce", "coconut passion cake", "grilled scallop salad with citrus chili dressing", "kokoda: coconut ceviche", "lemongrass and chili risotto", "duck and mango salad" etc. Langbein's recipes are very convincing and never intimidating to make. Her salad dressings are incredible. Of note: there are plenty of nice photographs about the pacific in the book. In short, a strongly recommended book!
   
   PS I also recommend Langbein's "Cooking to impress".