Fat of the Land: Adventures of a 21st Century Forager

Written by Langdon Cook

Narrated by Patrick Lawlor

Foraging is not just a throwback to our hunter-gatherer past; it's a way to reconnect with the landscape. And Langdon Cook is not just your typical grocery cart-toting dad. For him, gourmet delicacies abound, free for the taking if we just open our eyes. As a result, he finds himself free-diving in icy Puget Sound in hopes of spearing a snaggletooth lingcod, armed with nothing more than a "Hawaiian sling." He bushwhacks through rugged mountain forests in search of edible mushrooms. He strings up a fly rod to chase after sea-run trout. He even pulls on the gardening gloves to collect stinging nettles. In wry, detailed prose, he traces his journey from wrangler of pre-packaged calories to connoisseur of coveted wild edibles. Structured around the seasons of the year, each chapter focuses on a specific food type and concludes with a recipe featuring the author's hard-won bounty, a savory stop to each adventure-filled morsel.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Aug 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781705263723

Reviews for Fat of the Land

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Neat, very engaging handbook/memoir on foraging food in the Pacific Northwest. Includes recipes. Very fish/seafood/mushroom oriented. Author also maintainsa comprehensive blog and teaches hands-on classes locally.

[dele2451 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Can't decide whether to hug Langdon Cook for writing this fabulous book about the spectacular natural wonders (both edible and nonedible) of the Pacific Northwest or slap him for spreading the word about places I'd rather see remain untouched. I probably owe the guy five stars, but I'm one of those "fleece-clad" weekend types he sneers at so a 4 is all he's getting--unless he shares some of those huckleberries :). A terrific food read even if you can't boil water.

[satyridae · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I adored the authorial voice here. Cook was an approachable, fun friend who invited me along on his trips- that's how I felt, reading this. I enjoyed all his adventures immensely, and had vicarious fun with him. I want him to write a memoir now, please.