Explore the Pacific Northwest via these adventures in foraging—and discover a regional stew of food, natural history, and oddball character... read full description
reviews
Oct 10, 2010
jess
rated it: 
This book collects the adventures of a modern, Seattle-dwelling dude who chases wild food. He doesn't discuss extensively why he does it, and thus avoids endless ranting about local foods or back-to-nature smugness. Since I've been fascinated by free, public food sources lately, this quickly rose to the top of my "must read" list. The story is divided into seasons, and each season has its own bounty, complete with recipes, anecdotes and punch lines. By the end of the last mushrooming f
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Sep 16, 2009
Erica
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I really enjoyed this book. After coming back from a 120 mile backpack, the vast majority of time spent eating blueberries and huckleberries on the trail, then reading Langdon Cook's insider account of foraging in the Pacific Northwest was inspirational.
Growing up around here, it was nice to have nods to certain places, like Point Wells (I go diving there too!) the locks and other Seattle area notables.
I can't wait to start foraging on my own. The tides look great in an More...
Growing up around here, it was nice to have nods to certain places, like Point Wells (I go diving there too!) the locks and other Seattle area notables.
I can't wait to start foraging on my own. The tides look great in an More...
Jun 01, 2011
Wesley
rated it: 
I'm an outdoors kind of guy at my core. I learned to hunt, fish and even grow things at a young age. I was taught that in any situation I could go out and come back with food for myself and others. I'm the guy out of my friends that if dropped in the woods randomly in about an hour a pig would be roasting on the fire and I'd be finishing up the roof of the glorious cabin I had built, with only a leather-man tool that is. This book is about foraging in the Pacific Northwest. From Mushroom hunting
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Sep 09, 2011
Melody
rated it:
I adored the authorial voice here. Cook was an approachable, fun friend who invited me along on his trips- that's how I felt, reading this. I enjoyed all his adventures immensely, and had vicarious fun with him. I want him to write a memoir now, please.
Dec 13, 2010
Patrick
rated it:
A very fun read with a mixture of narrative and useful information. While overall I'd say this book is mostly a collection of stories about exciting outdoor adventures relating to foraging for food, there are some useful nuggets of information for the perspective forager as well.
Mar 31, 2010
Annie
rated it: 
not what I was expecting, but still pretty interesting!
The only chapter relevant for me was for dandelions, which I promptly put to use by making his dandelion petal bread. I also sauteed a few bitter greens and made a tea from the roots.
The only chapter relevant for me was for dandelions, which I promptly put to use by making his dandelion petal bread. I also sauteed a few bitter greens and made a tea from the roots.
Dec 31, 2009
Melissa
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I loved this book. It made me consider the wild edibles of the Pacific Northwest in a new way, as foods for which I could actually forage instead of merely buying them in the grocery store. Highly recommended for its imagery and wit.
Apr 26, 2010
Sheri
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A fabulous book! Funny, informative and an overall great read. Each chapter I found myself wanting to go out foraging. And we did - for nettles!
Apr 26, 2011
Jess
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This was a good romp through the wild foods of washington and oregon. I think some nettle soup and dandelion muffins are in my future.
Jul 15, 2011
Rebecca
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read my review at my food blog: http://www.potlikkery.com/2011/06/forage...
Mar 01, 2010
Monica
rated it:
It's good and interesting, but I was hoping for more instruction and instead am getting anecdotes. It's still entertaining and local for me.
Dec 10, 2009
Martha
rated it:
Great storytelling, memorable characters, and tons of info on wild foods and foraging.
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Jan 11, 2010
Amy
rated it:
Interesting to learn about all the things you can go forage for yourself in the PNW
Sep 24, 2009
Love foraging mushrooms (my newest hobby) so can't wait to read the Langdon Cook book
Sep 13, 2009
Seattle author and this got a lot of attention at the PNBA book expo this past weekend.
Dec 15, 2009
Heather
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Stellar description of modern day foraging complete with humor and recipes
Aug 06, 2011
Wendy
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After following Langdon Cook's blog for some time, I loved reading this book. It's a wonderful introduction to the complexity of foraging in Washington state, and a perfect introduction for me, a transplant to this new environment. I enjoyed the author's sense of humor, open mind, and ability to share his insights about food, ecosystems, and people. Now when I notice dandelions growing by the road, or slurp a fresh oyster at the local restaurant, I remember his adventures, and appreciate that he
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Sep 19, 2011
Jodi
rated it:
After years of seasonally harvesting nettles, berries, crab, occasional clams and salmon, my interest in foraging reached new heights after stumbling into a patch of morel mushrooms. This led to many hours spent carefully poking around the woods not far from my home where I went on to discover the golden forest flowers known as chanterelles. It was fun to read the firsthand stories of another forager, told with humility and humor, sprinkled with history and each chapter capped with a recipe.
Dec 13, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
This book was a quick, easy read, full of praise for the "eat local" concept without a lot of preachiness, and well-balanced between facts about the foods at hand and personal stories to give you a connection to the material. Bonus points for being Northwest-focused (Western Washington, particularly), since I'm a sucker for anything that personally relates to me.
Jan 16, 2011
Sheila
rated it:
Interesting book, but not quite what I'd been hoping for. Thought it would contain more how-to's and recipes. So, I confess, I only skimmed it. (More thorough readers will probably give a higher star rating.) I am looking forward to trying some of the recipes included though, like Stinging Nettle Soup (at last - a use for those nasty things!)
Jul 07, 2010
Danny
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Has some cool insight into food foraging, though it's centralized around the west coast and therefore not quite as useful as I'd hoped. It did get me to start seeing differently when walking/running around town. I know where three or four public-land apple trees are in my neighborhood, two of which I've used to make cider.
Feb 10, 2012
Jan 27, 2012
Jan 24, 2012
