Wildwood: Cooking from the Source in the Pacific Northwest [Hardcover]

Cory Schreiber (Author), Cory Schrieber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004

Chef Cory Schreiber opened the Wildwood restaurant in Portland five years ago and has rapidly become a leading figure in the region's bustling culinary scene -- winning the James Beard Award in 1998 for Best Chef: Pacific Northwest. Schreiber emphasizes organic produce prepared in ways that allow the natural beauty and flavors of the ingredients to shine forth, unobstructed by fussy embellishments. With its lavish food and landscape photography, inspired recipes, and passionate personal narrative, Wildwood presents the dishes that have earned Mr. Schreiber national acclaim, and offers a window into the source of his creativity.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

At Wildwood, the popular Portland, Oregon, restaurant, chef Cory Schreiber cooks dishes closely tied to local foods of the Pacific Northwest. A fifth-generation Oregonian and fourth-generation restaurateur, he is devoted to the plump oysters of Yaquina Bay, wild mushrooms from the slopes of the Cascade Mountains, and juicy berries from the Willamette Valley--all recognized as world-class ingredients.

Wildwood the cookbook holds your attention in the kitchen and out. Schreiber shares his family's history, starting in 1864, when his great-grandfather settled in Oysterville. He describes his experience as a boy catching a 24-pound wild king salmon he could barely hold on the line, then explains why its firm flesh is prized and recommends poaching or grilling as the best ways to cook such firm-fleshed fish.

Through his recipes, Schreiber shows how to build on the glorious flavor found in the best-quality ingredients. His Tomato and Fennel Vinaigrette is based on Summer Tomato Sauce seasoned with garlic and fresh herbs. Olive Oil-Braised Bell Peppers use the Mediterranean technique of simmering vegetables in oil until they are meltingly tender. While Schreiber spotlights the foods of Oregon, cooks everywhere can emulate his respect for local ingredients and for the land and waters that produce them. --Dana Jacobi

From Publishers Weekly

"The quality of ingredients that you select will determine, long before you begin cooking the meal, how the flavors, textures, and overall appeal of a dish will be achieved." This is the premise of Wildwood, the restaurant located in trendy Northwest Portland, Ore. Hazelnuts, salmon, quail, wild mushrooms, Dungeness crab in winter and blackberries in summer make the Pacific Northwest a cook's paradise. And Schreiber uses this bounty to its full advantage, showcasing dishes such as Salad of Field Greens with Crispy Fried Oysters, and Aioli and Smoky Bacon on an Herbed Crepe. Still, there are few pitfalls. Some recipes overprepare: Chanterelle Soup with Dried Apples, Hazelnuts and Apple Brandy calls for fennel seeds, apple cider and a leek, none of which rescue this flavorless puree (the dried apples and hazelnuts are merely a garnish). Some dishes, including Blackberry Cobbler with Cornmeal-Biscuit Topping, are loaded with sugar and heavy cream. Local produce sometimes gets lost among such nouveau cuisine embellishments as parsnip puree. However, one can easily skip the parsnips and savor the rich entr?es. Shoulder of Lamb Braised with Pinot Noir and Raisins is complemented by a curried Carrot Puree described thus: "Stir in the curry and cook for 3 to 4 minutes to allow the flavor to bloom." (Why bother cooking when one can drool over directions like this?) Schreiber's helpful tips, homey desserts (Apple Apricot Ginger Buckle, Warm Bartlett Pear Brown Betty, etc.) and unusual combinations are coupled with gorgeous photographs to make his book a mouthwatering addition to any cook's library. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; First Edition edition (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580081428
• ISBN-13: 978-1580081429
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,013,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flavorful, earthy food, January 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Wildwood: Cooking from the Source in the Pacific Northwest (Hardcover)

This beautiful book has been the source of wonderful meals, inspired by the deep, imaginative recipes, exploring the best of the Pacific Northwest. Schreiber puts his own interesting spin on classic flavor combinations. Recipes are complex, but are easily broken down into do-able steps. They are not overly chefy, and have been well tested for home kitchens. This was one of my favorite cookbooks of the year, and I own a lot of cookbooks.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Divine Cooking with Earthy Roots, August 10, 2000

By 

Just Jayne "Escape and Learn" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wildwood: Cooking from the Source in the Pacific Northwest (Hardcover)

Many have been the times I have savored the tastes of Cory Schrieber's Pacific Northwest cooking at his top Wildwood restaurant. To see his philosophy, outlook and family enveloped in these very real recipes featuring the foods and flavors of this rich region is simply a delight! The way Cory weaves local and history into the regional introductions of sensuous, but palate-cleansing dishes is simply amazing.

This is a book to be cooked from and curled up with on a rainy afternoon for a good read, and then to be drawn from the shelf again, and again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, January 12, 2008

By 

Karyn J. Golingo "Jody" (Seattle, Washington United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wildwood: Cooking from the Source in the Pacific Northwest (Hardcover)

Fantastic cookbook. Beautiful photos and recipes that are stunning.
Local foods and people. A must for anyone who enjoys food and life!