Pacific Northwest-Themed Cookbooks

[scarlett]

Help! My friend asked me for PNW cookbook recommendations. She wants to buy a couple books for a chef who is moving to Portland.

I'm stumped.

I've recommended the Herbfarm book, but she's looking for a couple more. What else would you suggest as a good intro to Pacific NW cuisine? And why?

[Ling]

We have the Rover's book and the Tom Douglas book up on the bookshelf somewhere, but I don't think we've cooked out of them...

I can recommend the Macrina cookbook, though. Simple, easy, and tasty recipes. I especially like the chocolate sour cherry pound cake and the buttermilk biscuits. I made the ham and romano cheese biscuits as well this week (with a few mods--lots of black pepper and herbs), and they were proclaimed a hit at a brunch potluck. (I personally much prefer the plain buttermilk biscuits, though.) Lots of brunchy items in the last section of the book too, so it's not strictly a cookie and cake book.

Edited January 17, 2007 by Ling (log)

[tsquare]

For the Portland touch - Wildwood, if you can still find it. The odd thing about it is that there are no beef recipes, but anything I have made from it has been excellent. He's the real deal.

I like Tom's first book (the only one I have cooked from.) I second Macrina (she was on TV last night, mixing up lemon chrry poundcake for Paula's sons on Road Traveled.)

[little ms foodie]

Tom Douglas' first book is fantastic! We've made at least half of the things in there and all but one has garnered rave reviews. I've given it to a few people who also love it. It's not fancy stuff- just good, hearty everyday meals.

The Rovers book is quite a bit different in feel as you can imagine- ingrediants like foie gras, caviar and the like are popular. I like the things we've made out of it too but it's not your mon-thurs cooking.

[beauxbrie]

Greg Atkinson's (former executive chef at Canlis) books are nice, with easy recipes. I think it's his book "In Season" that has the to die for strawberry shortcake recipe that my husband requests every year during strawberry season.

(and raspberry season... and peach season...)

Edited January 17, 2007 by beauxbrie (log)

[stevea]

Of the ones we have, the Wildwood book is definitely the best. We cook out of it more than the Tom Douglas book we have. Also, Caprial Pence (of Caprial's Bistro in Portland and public TV) has several books out that aren't too bad.

[dandelion]

Don't laugh, but I have a big collection of Sunset Magazine cookbooks. They do a recipe annual every year, and there's a couple "Best of Sunset" cookbooks that I like better. The books, especially the photos, might seem a little dated (I love the ones from the eighties), but they're very Northwest oriented with local ingredients, info on local producers, and historical stuff, like why we eat cedar planked salmon. Easy to find and cheap in area used bookstores.

Greg Atkinson's new West Coast Cooking is also great, and very thorough.

[syrah girl]

We like the cookbook we picked up at the Stephanie Inn by John Newman before he opened his own restaurant in Cannon Beach. Good stuff and lots of yummy recipes!

[scarlett]

These are great recommendations. In fact, I have a couple of these books myself, but haven't cooked from them. I'm glad others are enjoying them...it makes me want to take a closer look!

I was wondering....I'm not very familiar with chefs out of Portland and Vancouver, BC. Are there any cookbook authors that haven't been mentioned here yet? Is there anyone else worth looking into?

Edited January 20, 2007 by scarlett (log)

[tsquare]

Caprial Pence, Caprial and John's Kitchen

Cory Schreiber, Wildwood

Jake's Seafood Cookbook (?!)

Leif Eric Benson, The Timberline Cookbook

and, of course, anything by James Beard.

[beauxbrie]

There's the Lumiere (Vancouver) cookbook from Rob Feenie. I don't have it, but I like his food.

[Ling]

I have the Lumiere book, the Feenie's book, and the Lumiere Tasting bar book. I've cooked out of all of them, but I know some of the recipes were adapted for the home cook.

Vikram Vij just came out with a book recently, and that might be worth checking out. The recipes look promising.

Karen Barnaby also has a few popular cookbooks out, and there's the La Regalade cookbook from the popular French bistro as well. The Karen Barnaby cookbooks are filled with everyday recipes, nothing fancy...but tasty.

[it's 5 pm somewhere!]

I have made many things out of both Tom Douglas books (Seattle Kitchen and Big Dinners), and have enjoyed them. Trauntfeld's new book is especially designed for home dinners and in some ways is more accessible than his first book.

[Fat Guy]

Dungeness Crabs And Blackberry Cobblers: The Northwest Heritage Cookbook, by Janie Hibler, is part of the excellent Knopf Cooks American series. Definitely worth a look. Not particularly contemporary, but very well done.

[mamster]

Pacific Northwest: The Beautiful Cookbook is nice. Recipes by Kathy Casey, and lots of photos.

Greg Atkinson's newest book, _West Coast Cooking_ covers the whole coast from Alaska to Mexico, but I think it would be perfect for a cook new to the area and looking for inspiration.

[SeaGal]

I've also cooked out of both of Tom Douglas's cookbooks and especially love his first book. I've also used a few of Caprial's recipes and enjoyed them.

Another book that's great is "West Coast Seafood: The Complete Cookbook"

by Jay Harlow. It has almost everything you'd want to know about seafood (although it's the entire west coast, not just the PNW).

[jayhay]

I bought the Junior League of Seattle book CELEBRATE THE RAIN because it was so highly touted on another web site. So far I haven't made anything from it ...has anyone else?

[petite tête de chou]

Dungeness Crabs And Blackberry Cobblers: The Northwest Heritage Cookbook, by Janie Hibler, is part of the excellent Knopf Cooks American series. Definitely worth a look. Not particularly contemporary, but very well done.

←

I second this recommendation. I have this book and especially love the historical notes included on each page.

[it's 5 pm somewhere!]

>I bought the Junior League of Seattle book CELEBRATE THE RAIN because it was so highly touted on another web site. So far I haven't made anything from it ...has anyone else?

I have not done the cooking, but my friend loves this book and so I have eaten several dishes. It's a good one, toon, much more geared to everyday cooking.

[scarlett]

These are great recommendations everyone. Thank you! I have a feeling I'm going to be doing a little cookbook shopping now too!

By the way, if any of you have the Tom Douglas "Big Dinner's" cookbook, the Chinese clams are delish. I get serious cravings for that dish. (Sadly, so far, that's the only stand out for me in that book)

I also have the Feenie's book and have really enjoyed everything I've made from it. It's the kind of book that if I lost it, I'm sure I'd buy another copy.

The Traunfeld books are real winners. I've enjoyed every recipe I've tried. Many of the recipes are so easy and yet deliver such great flavor. Amazing.

I've see several folks mentioned they liked Tom Douglas' "Seattle Kitchen." Can you point me to which recipes you enjoyed the most?

[little ms foodie]

These are great recommendations everyone.  Thank you!  I have a feeling I'm going to be doing a little cookbook shopping now too!

By the way, if any of you have the Tom Douglas "Big Dinner's" cookbook, the Chinese clams are delish.  I get serious cravings for that dish.  (Sadly, so far, that's the only stand out for me in that book)

I also have the Feenie's book and have really enjoyed everything I've made from it.  It's the kind of book that if I lost it, I'm sure I'd buy another copy.

The Traunfeld books are real winners.  I've enjoyed every recipe I've tried.  Many of the recipes are so easy and yet deliver such great flavor.  Amazing.

I've see several folks mentioned they liked Tom Douglas' "Seattle Kitchen."  Can you point me to which recipes you enjoyed the most?

←

There are so many but in Seattle Kitchen some of our favorites are (going from memory so the titles won't be exact) the corn bread pudding, the mustard prime rib, the trout with apple cider butter, the grilled bread salad, mussels with sake ginger butter, maple cured pork chops, benegal spiced lamb, short ribs, the lentils, winter salad...............................damn I really do use this book!!!

[SeaGal]

Unfortunately, I often just "refer" to the recipes, so can't say I've actually made some of them. That said, I've "made" the maple brined pork chops with the polenta side, the corn bread pudding, the sauteed lemon chard side, the mashed potatoes (sooooo good!) and the winter salad has become a staple recipe for me...love the lemony, bitter, truffley goodness!

*edited to add: Oops!, sorry, forgot to say I was referring to the Tom Douglas' Seattle Kitchen cookbook.

Edited January 23, 2007 by SeaGal (log)

[LEdlund]

I've see several folks mentioned they liked Tom Douglas' "Seattle Kitchen."  Can you point me to which recipes you enjoyed the most?

←

There are so many but in Seattle Kitchen some of our favorites are (going from memory so the titles won't be exact) the corn bread pudding, the mustard prime rib, the trout with apple cider butter, the grilled bread salad, mussels with sake ginger butter, maple cured pork chops, benegal spiced lamb, short ribs, the lentils, winter salad...............................damn I really do use this book!!!

←

Oooh, don't forget the roasted tomatillo salsa. Yum!

[mamster]

TD's Seattle Kitchen also has an incredible hot and sour soup recipe, the best I've ever made.

[22tango]

Ditto to all the rec's above, TD and Atkinson are great. I prefer John Sarich to Kathy Casey, and adore Traunfeld's "Herbfarm Cookbook", BUT I still haven't seen anyone mention one of my favorites: "Kingston Hotel Cafe Cookbook" by Judith Weinstock. Really inspring PNW recipes broken down by season -- really love her Grilled Salmon with Miso-Orange-Cilantro glaze and Hazelnut Torte with Chocolate-Rum buttercream (though I prefer to fill mine with raspberry bc and then glaze the torte with the chocolate-rum glaze.)

I also like "Northwest Food & Wine" by Dan & kathleen Taggart, my Fran Bigelow ("Pure Chocolate"), Dana Taylor Davenport ("The Dilettante Book of Chocolate and Confections"), and Cafe Flora cookbooks.

Funny...I saw a rec for "Celebrate the Rain" somewhere, bought it, and haven't cooked anything from it either!