Synopses & Reviews
Blessed with abundant seafood, pristine produce, and bountiful vineyards, thePacific Northwest has spawned a unique culinary culture that's had a major influence on the way Americans eat, drink, and enjoy life today. Propelled by innovative chefs and winemakers and inspired by the region's rich medley of ethnic food traditionsNative American, European, Asian, Latinocontemporary Pacific Northwest cooking is "fusion" cuisine at its most excitingand enticing.
Now, in this dazzling cookbook, Braiden Rex-Johnson takes us along as she visits the region's most accomplished chefs and winemakers, showcasing the dishes and wines that have made the region a gastronomic mecca. From Washington, Oregon, and Idaho to the province of British Columbia, she takes us on a fascinating journey of culinary discovery, stopping off at restaurants and wineries, artisan cheese makers and bread bakers, bed and breakfasts, and even a winemaker/balsamic-vinegar maker to sample the fare, chat with the proprietors, and collect the Pacific Northwest's very best recipes.
Rex-Johnson shows how the region's savvy chefs transform fresh seasonal ingredients into soul-satisfying dishes that could come from nowhere elseDungeness Crab and Pine Nut Lasagne from the Willamette Valley, Wild Salmon Gravlax Salad from Vancouver, Cream of Morel Soup from the Columbia Gorge, and Idaho Lamb Medallions with Plum-Brandy Jam, to name just a few. And she discusses how the region's winesfrom world-class Oregon Pinot Noirs to mellifluous Merlots from Washington State to intoxicating British Columbia Ice Winesperfectly complement these alluring dishes.
Whether you're a longtime Pacific Northwestresident, a first-time visitor, or an armchair traveler, you'll be surprised and delighted by this evocative look at the region's special culinary character. Brimming with stories and profiles, illustrated with 140 gorgeous color photos, and featuring 88recipes and wine pairings as well as cook's hints, a wine varietal primer, and a listing of Northwest wine-and-food festivals, Pacific Northwest Wining and Dining is a wonderful tribute to this rising gastronomic destination.
Review
Rex-Johnson, a food and wine writer from Seattle, has created what she calls "a love letter" to the Pacific Northwest, riding the wave of place-based cookbooks. One may not be able to dine at the Herbfarm, in Woodinville, Wash., for instance, but Rex-Johnson allows home cooks to recreate the restaurant’s Sea Scallops with Spiced Carrot–Dill Sauce. Better still, she realizes that some of the simplest and most delicious fare is what winemakers serve to their friends and families. She calls it "vineyard cooking," and she has persuaded many of its practitioners to offer up their favorites. Most charming are her stories of leisurely and convivial meals spent at the table with her subjects, such as the hearth-baked pizza she shares with Bob Betz of Betz Family Winery. The book is organized by region, and the dishes are eclectic—don’t expect to find things according to course—and each is offered with a wine pairing, usually a varietal. Unfortunately, the recipes are laid out a bit confusingly, with ingredients in a sidebar, and often split over two pages, but the book is comprehensive, and the recipes are appealing and not overly fussy (Oct.) (Publishers Weekly, July 16, 2007)
Synopsis
"On the Northwest edge of the United States and Canada, a quiet revolution is taking place. It begins with the freshest local ingredients foraged or grown in season—morels and chanterelles, clams and mussels, crab, salmon, berries, apples, lamb, pears, lettuces, and greens. These are prepared using traditional cooking techniques, many attributed to Native Americans—smoking, grilling, broiling, and steaming. A mixture of European cuisines (Scandinavian, Mediterranean), often spiced with Pacific Rim flair (Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican), gives Northwest Cuisine its enticing top notes. These luscious foods are complemented, their simple flavors enhanced, by the products of our emerging wine industry. All of which cooks up into a distinct sense of place, a Northwest Cuisine that feeds mind, body, heart, and soul."
—From Pacific Northwest Wining and Dining
Synopsis
A beautiful cookbook and guide to the Pacific Northwest's vibrant wine and culinary scene
Blessed with abundant seafood, wonderful produce, and bountiful vineyards, the Pacific Northwest has spawned a unique culinary culture. In this dazzling cookbook, Braiden Rex-Johnson takes us along as she visits the region's most accomplished chefs and winemakers, showcasing the dishes and wines that have made the Pacific Northwest a gastronomic mecca. Brimming with stories and lore, illustrated with 186 gorgeous color photos, and featuring 113 recipes and wine pairings, Pacific Northwest Wining and Dining brilliantly brings to life this region's special culinary character.
About the Author
Braiden Rex-Johnson is the Seattle-based author of six previous books, including the bestselling Pike Place Market Cookbook, and writes a food-and-wine-pairing column for Wine Press Northwest. She served as food editor at Seattle Homes & Lifestyles for five years and has written for a wide variety of publications. Rex-Johnson has appeared on the Discovery and Travel Channels, QVC, PBS, and National Public Radio, and is an active member of the Seattle chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI). Visit her Web site at NorthwestWiningandDining.com.
Jackie Johnston is an award-winning freelance photographer and graphic and Web designer based in Pasco, Washington. Her photos have appeared in a variety of Washington State and national newspapers and on the Associated Press wire service. Since 1999, Johnston has served as principal photographer and designer for Wine Press Northwest, and has done graphic design and Web sites for a variety of Northwest wineries and businesses. Visit her Web site at WineCountryCreations.com.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
Preface.
Introduction: What Is Northwest Cuisine?
Characteristic Wine Varietal Descriptors.
Seattle and Environs.
Woodinville.
Yakima.
Walla Walla Valley.
Columbia Gorge.
Portland.
The Willamette Valley.
Rogue, Umpqua, and Applegate Valleys.
Idaho.
Vancouver and Environs.
Vancouver Island.
The Okanagan.
Techniques.
Northwest Wine and Food Festivals.
Index.