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

An encyclopaedia of information on major aspects of Pacific life, including the physical environment, peoples, history, politics, economy, society and culture. The CD-ROM contains hyperlinks between section titles and sections, a library of all the maps in the encyclopaedia, and a photo library.

Good food can be lightweight, convenient and delicious! Feast on Adventure guides you through the world of freeze-dried, dehydrated, and instant foods. Learn how to dream up meals for your own adventures, or choose from over 40 field-tested, delectable, lightweight recipes sure to wow on your next escapade. These meals are simple to prepare, require minimal tools, and leave little to clean up. Customize any dish to manage your personal dietary requirements, whether gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, vegetarian, low sodium, and so on.

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.