In Oregon, as in Washington and California, the epicure fares particularly well because the luxuries of life are as cheap as the staples and quite as abundant. Henry Fink

{HISTORY}

In the early 1950's, Helen Brown set out to write a cookbook that focused solely on the food culture of three dynamic states in the U.S.  California, Oregon and Washington  were the subjects - prized west coast states known for their variety of topography from mountains to oceans, prairie lands to woodlands, hills to valleys, big cities to wide open country landscapes that encouraged a diverse variety of local flora and fauna. She tackled this cookbook from three different angles - the history of the states and their occupants (how they got there, what recipes they brought with them, and the creative ways they adapted them into the local landscape); the abundant availability of fresh ingredients including seafood, produce and meat; and the ingenuity of each state's residents in the way in which they prepared the common foods of their local land. 

These three factors pull together a fascinating look at regional cooking from a historical perspective, a culinary perspective and a sociological perspective. Fun details include a comprehensive wine chart in the back, stories about most recipes and a chapter on foreign cookery which highlights the influence of Chinese, Mexican and Scandinavian immigrants and the impact they had particularly on the local food scene. 

Now considered a classic regional American cookbook, Helen Evans Brown (1904-1964) and her West Coast Cook Book were praised for the scholarly attention to detail, the precise recipes and the historical content that this bestselling regional cookbook offered. A well known and beloved chef and food writer, Helen was friends with all the midcentury greats - Julia Child, James Beard, Craig Claiborne, M.F.K. Fisher, etc and spent her life working in and around the food industry as a caterer, columnist, editor, writer and chef. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 437 pages 

- 25 chapters 

- Detailed Index

- Illustrated cover

- A reprint from the original 1952 edition by the Cookbook Collectors Library

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition. There are a few random light food stains on a few pages but otherwise, this book is clean, bright and well cared for. The spine is tight and all pages are intact. 

{SIZE} 

Measures 5.5" inches (width) x 8.25" inches (length) x 1.25" inches (thick) 

{WHY IT'S ESPECIALLY MARVELOUS}

For the diverse and very interesting array of recipes like Artichokes Barigoule (stuffed artichokes with bacon, mushrooms and shallots); Angels on Horseback; Almond Roca Rum Pie, New Albion Abalone Fritters (a recipe from a 1903 cookbook), Mexican Chorizo, Painted Ladies (an apple dish served with pork), Black Beans Rodriguez (a recipe from Guatemala) and Lichi Nut Salad.