Joe's Book of Mushroom Cookery

By Jack Czarnecki

Book Overview

When Joe's restaurant opened in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1916 as a working man's bar, it specialized in mushroom soup made from wild mushrooms gathered in the pine forests outside of town. Now the restaurant's former proprietor brings this sumptuous collection of more than 300 recipes, ranging from the elegantly simple to the ultimately sophisticated. All the old favorites are here, as well as exciting new recipes such as Wild Mushroom Vichyssoise, Soft-Shelled Crabs with Chanterelles, and Duck with Oyster Mushrooms and Cassis-Zinfandel Sauce. Delicious mushroomless desserts like Blueberry-Peach Trifle and Double Chocolate Souffle top off each meal. There is also detailed information on how to choose and prepare mushrooms in all forms (fresh, canned, dried), tips on the best ways to bring out their quintessential flavors, menu plans, and a list of mycological clubs: everything you need to bring the adventure of mushroom cuisine to your table. "At last we have a book that demystifies wild mushrooms and that shows us the wonderful ways to cook them. Joe's Book of Mushroom Cookery inspired me toreally get going with mushrooms. A very much needed book!" Jeremiah Tower "As a lifelong mushroom hunter and cook, I can truly vouch that this is the most interesting book written on the subject. [It is] as good for meat lovers as it is for vegetarians, and the mint of information the book contains is pure pleasure to the reader." Madeleine Kamman "Concise, well-written, imaginative, and fascinating. This is without doubt one of the most important and unusual cookbooks to be published in years." James Villas

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689114508
• ISBN13: 9780689114502
• Release Date: May 1986
• Publisher: Atheneum Books
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.96 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Information for Even a Seasoned Mushroom Chef

In Joe's Book of Mushroom Cookery, Jack Czarnecki offers the most useful collection of mushroom handling tips that I have ever seen. Coming from a family that has collected and prepared mushrooms for generations, not only is Jack a world-class chef, he is also a very accomplished mushroom collector. Jack details the unique qualities of each mushroom that he uses and details how to exploit the differences between the fresh and stored products. The recipes are wonderful (my favorite is the dried porcini risotto). Until the publication of this new edition, mushroom enthusiasts have had to resort to checking this book out of the library as no copies have been available for several years. I am very lucky to not only own a first edition hardcover copy but to be able to sample Jack's creations personally at the Joel Palmer House in Dayton, Oregon. In my business as a provider of gourmet wild mushrooms to top quality restaurants, I suggest Joe's Book of Mushroom Cookery to the chefs with whom I deal if they are interested in acquiring a broader knowledge base about my products.