Wild Garlic, Gooseberries and Me

by Denis Cotter

Whether creating a restaurant masterpiece or foraging in hedgerows and woods, the author searches for a new connection between food, people, and land. Divided into four themed chapters, It's a Green Thing, Wild Pickings, Nature and Nurture, and Growing in the Dark, each include information and anecdotes about the vegetables that they feature as well as many delicious recipes. There are simple salads and soups as well as more challenging main meals and mouth-watering desserts. Recipes include: Fresh Tagliolini with Abyssinian Cabbage, Pine Nuts & Sheep's Dressing; Courgette Flower, Pea and Chive Risotto; Samphire Tempura with Coriander Dressing; Sea Spinach, Potato and Hazelnut Pancakes; Braised Celeriac Gratin of Chestnuts and Blue Cheese with Red Wine Sauce. Stunning images of the landscape, the food, and the finished recipes complete this delightful read and unique recipe book.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Zanna]

Nice creative recipes, great if you have a box scheme, allotment, garden or friend supplying you with exotic veg. Otherwise, prepare to sub-in! Pistachio and lavender brulee (easily veganised) gets 6 out of 5 stars. But the book is too wordy. I never bothered to read the 'stories' that come between recipes.

[M.A. A. Knights]

This book is about vegetables. Vegetables and the countryside. That's something that is either going to appeal to you, or it's not.
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Written by a self confessed townie who all but admits to being flat out scared of the countryside it was a unique perspective (at least for me, someone who has spent the best part of their life living in the countryside and finds the hustle and bustle of city life far more terrifying).
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He is not a grower, he has people for that, but he is very much an enthusiast and an eater. He's also a chef, and the book is littered with delicious, if a tad fiddly, looking recipes featuring the many species he covers.
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But this isn't a book that tells you how to grow vegetables. Instead it focuses on what the vegetables mean to the author. His history with them. Funny anecdotes, littered with hints on how to cook each to best effect.
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If you're looking for a how-to guide, this is not the book for you. However, if just want to spend a few hours thinking about vegetables and the part they play in our lives, then I'd definitely recommend this book.

[Ruth Brumby]

While clearly not, and not intending to be great literature, this book is excellently written as a reflection on vegetables, cooking, growing, place and the web of relationships amongst them. His voice and personality come across, the book is well structured and the ideas are interesting.

[ErinG]

Interesting book if you like vegetables [which I do}. Author is the owner of Ireland's most famous vegetarian restaurants. He explains in detail his love of vegetables, discussing some that may be difficult to find in the US. Recipes are yummy sounding. We were fortuante to stay in Ireland with his grower, who is prominantly featured in the book - He cooked us a fantastic dinner, so we are anxious to try the receipes.

[Chris]

Lovely stories, complex and intricate recipes, and a good resource for any fan of vegetables!

[Mabh]

I love the narrative style, and the mix of memories and recipes. The way the book is split into the different sections works well too. Very enjoyable.

[Jenna (Falling Letters)]

Interesting reading, but for me not very practical. A few recipes I noted, though most are not to my taste.