CLICK HERE to download a sample recipe from Pacific Feast * Features more than 60 recipes from some of the Pacific Coast's best chefs, including David Tanis, Maria Hines, Dustin Clark, Kirsten Dixon, and Tom Douglas * Accessible and inspiring, Pacific Feast will appeal to home cooks and nature lovers alike * Conveys a strong conservation and sustainability message throughout the recipes and stories Once thought to be the stuff of back-to-the-landers, foraging has become a gourmet pastime, and there are a growing number of wild-food classes in which experts teach hungry folks how to spot the "food at our feet." Especially fortunate are those of us who live along the Pacific Coast -- from Southern California to Puget Sound to Anchorage -- where the climate provides many a delicacy in our wild (and not so wild) spaces. Pacific Feast shares expert advice on how to identify the good eats, harvest responsibly, and create delicious meals with your finds. Author Jennifer Hahn provides detailed field notes on more than 40 species, including where to find them, which parts are edible, and their best culinary uses. In addition to the delectable recipes from well-known coastal chefs, readers will also appreciate Hahn's intimate stories of reveling in nature's bounty and Mac Smith's lush identification photographs. With more than 25 years of wilderness travel under her boots and kayak hull--including thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from northern California to Canada and kayaking solo from Ketchikan, Alaska to Washington--writer Jennifer Hahn relies on wild harvesting to keep her pack and kayak light. Jennifer's favorite foraged lunch is sea urchin, nori seaweed, and "goose tongue" leaves. She lives in Bellingham, Washington with her potter husband, Chris Moench. To learn more, visit the authors website at www.pacificfeast.com

The food traditions of North America's indigenous peoples are centuries-old and endure to this day. Feasts that include a bounty of land and sea are the focal point of celebrations and ceremonies; for many, food is what connects them to family, community, and the afterlife. Where People Feast, one of the few indigenous cookbooks available, focuses on Canadian west coast Native cuisine, which takes advantage of the area's abundant seafood, game, fruits, and vegetables - with ingredients both exotic (oolichan, venison, grouse) and common (salmon, crab, berries). Dolly Watts and her daughter Annie are from the Gitk'san First Nation in British Columbia, and are the proprietors of the Liliget Feast House in Vancouver, the only First Nations fine dining establishment of its kind. For almost two decades, Dolly and (later) Annie have focused on serving Native cuisine that is both traditional and modern; while many recipes are steeped in history, others are contemporary takes that acknowledge other cuisines both near and far. The book includes 16 full-colour photographs, and 120 delectable dishes that can be easily replicated by chefs at home; the authors also offer plenty of handy suggestions and substitution ideas. For Dolly and Annie, Where People Feast is the culmination of a lifetime's work dedicated to introducing people to the extraordinary foods that are truly North American. Recipes include Smoked Salmon Mousse, Indian Tacos, Venison Meatballs, Alder-Grilled Breast of Pheasant, Blackberry-Glazed Beets, Wild Rice Pancakes, Seaweed and Salmon Roe Soup, and Wild Blueberry Cobbler.

The food culture of the Pacific Islands has been determined by isolation from the rest of the world. Original immigrants from Asia brought their foods, animals, and culinary skills with them, then for several thousand years, they were largely uninfluenced by outsiders. The tropical climate of much of the region, unique island geology and environmental factors also played a role in the evolution of islander cuisine, which is based on unique ingredients. The staples of breadfruit, yams, taro, coconut, sweet potato, and cassava are incorporated into a cuisine that uses cooking and preservation techniques unique to Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. Today, food culture in the Pacific is largely one of extremes. Although traditional foods and cookery survive and are highly valued, Westernization has meant that the overall diet of islanders has been negatively transformed and that islands are net importers of unhealthful foods. Ironically, the tourism industry has re-engaged islander people in food production and boosted their sense of identity. Students, food mavens, and travellers will find this to be a stellar introduction to the current culture of the Pacific Islands, with discussion of Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand included. Chapter 1, Historical Overview, offers a fascinating chronicle of the evolution of a food culture of extremes, of isolation, climate, environment, and Western influences. Chapter 2, Major Foods and Ingredients, introduces a host of traditional tropical manna as well as imported products. The Cooking chapter discusses the truly unique cooking styles of the islands, such as steam-baking in the ground in an umu (oven). Chapter 4, Typical Meals, largely explores the emphasis on the ubiquitous processed foods. A Regional Specialties chapter reveals both pan-regional dishes and the noted local dishes. Chapter 6's Eating Out discussion shows the new acceptance of the individualist, recreational ritual of eating away from the community. The typical life-cycle food rituals are covered in the Special Occasions chapter. A final chapter on Diet and Health highlights the increase in Western diseases arising from diet and lifestyle changes and discusses timely food security issues as well. Recipes are interspersed throughout, and a timeline, glossary, selected bibliography, and photos round out the coverage.