Foraged Flavor : Finding Fabulous Ingredients in Your Backyard or Farmer's Market (Hardcover)

"Now more than ever Americans want to know where their food comes from, and, foraging--once relegated to natural foods extremists--has moved into the mainstream. From food world darlings David Chang and Rene Redzepi discussing the idea of foraging in Central Park to home cooks finding purslane in their backyards or nettles at farmer's markets, the whole country is embracing this practical, delicious, back-to-the land trend, a natural extension of the locavore movement. FORAGED FLAVOR is the perfect guide for any dedicated or would-be forager, with plenty of tips for finding 100 edibles and 75 recipes for enjoying them. Tama Matsuoka Wong and Eddy Leroux are the dream team of wild food experts. Tama is the forager for Daniel and Eddy its chef de cuisine. They combine their expertise in FORAGED FLAVOR, a seasonally organized field guide and cookbook. Tama walks readers through common wild foods, describing the hidden pockets where anise hyssop grows or the best time of year to search for wild garlic. Eddy gives simple recipes for every find, including Cardamine Cress with Fennel and Orange Vinaigrette; Braised Beef with Onions and Dandelion; and Violets, Strawberries, and Creme Fraiche. With 25 botanical illustrations, 50 color photographs of foraged ingredients, and tons of field-tested know-how, FORAGED FLAVOR will be an indespensable guide for cooking enthusiasts"-- Forage for wild food and discover delicious edible plants growing everywhere--including your backyard--and how best to prepare them to highlight their unique flavors, with this seasonally organized field guide and cookbook.

While others have identified in the past which wild plants are edible, Tama Matsuoka Wong, the forager for Daniel, the flagship restaurant of renowned chef Daniel Boulud, and Eddy Leroux, its chef de cuisine, go two steps further, setting the bar much higher. First, they have carefully selected only the wild plants that are worth seeking out for their fabulous flavors. Second, after much taste-testing, they have figured out the best way to prepare each ingredient--a key in getting to know these exciting new foods. In Foraged Flavor, they reveal their seventy-one favorite plants, which are easy to identify and can be harvested sustainably across the country (including at farmers' markets for those without access to nearby fields and forests). Tama helps readers uncover bright lemony oxalis growing in patches of their lawn or creeping jenny, with its unmistakable leaves and delicate green-pea flavor. Eddy then gives simple recipes to showcase the foraged finds, including Cardamine Cress with Fennel and Orange Vinaigrette; Braised Beef, Dandelion Leaves, and Clear Noodles; and Purslane Eggplant Caponata.

With twenty-five botanical illustrations, fifty color photographs of the plants, and tons of field- and kitchen-tested know-how, Foraged Flavor will be an indispensable guide for cooking enthusiasts.