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A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus: Menus and Stories
Simple but elegant seafood recipes from acclaimed James Beard nominated chef and beloved Seattle restaurateur Renee Erickson One of the country's most acclaimed chefs, Renee Erickson is a James Beard nominated chef and the owner of several Seattle The Whale Wins, Boat Street Café, The Walrus and the Carpenter, and Barnacle. This luscious cookbook is perfect for anyone who loves the fresh seasonal food of the Pacific Northwest. Defined by the bounty of the Puget Sound region, as well as by French cuisine, this cookbook is filled with seasonal, personal menus like Renee’s Fourth of July Crab Feast, Wild Foods Dinner, and a fall pickling party. Home cooks will cherish Erickson’s simple yet elegant recipes such as Roasted Chicken with Fried Capers and Preserved Lemons, Harissa-Rubbed Roasted Lamb, and Molasses Spice Cake. Renee Erickson's food, casual style, and appreciation of simple beauty is an inspiration to readers and eaters in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This eBook edition includes complete navigation of recipes and ingredients with hyperlinks throughout the book in the Table of Contents, the menus, and the index.
473 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 27, 2015
I still dream about the lemon curd Eton Mess that I had for dessert at the Whale Wins (which is, by the way, one of my favorite restaurant names ever). This cookbook is a delight, especially for those of us in the Pacific Northwest that have easy access to Erickson's favored local ingredients. I have already made her pickles and plan to do a lot more cooking out of this book.
November 29, 2014
There is something bold and confident in the way the Renee Erickson writes about her passion.
The photographs have that same understated class and I think what particularly appealed to me was her acknowledging her staff,by dedicating a whole page with a write up about them.
Loved the book!
The photographs have that same understated class and I think what particularly appealed to me was her acknowledging her staff,by dedicating a whole page with a write up about them.
Loved the book!
July 17, 2017
A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky to spend an entire ten days in Seattle with some lovely creatures, a sun that woke me up around 4 every morning, and a kitchen and seafood market at my disposal.
About fifteen months ago, I had the pleasure of lunch with my sister at The Whale Wins. It was my first Erickson restaurant and when I returned home I preordered her new cookbook, which came out last fall. Though I love the physical book itself and the recipes within I haven't made many yet in part because, being centered around the culinary offerings of Seattle, seafood features heavily.
Though I visit family and favourite places in Seattle on a fairly regular basis, I'm usually a guest in my family's home or I stay in a hotel, so I've never had the ability to create my own meals while there. This time I had a lovely kitchen all to myself and took full advantage. Timing was perfect for the morel season, one of my favourite treats.
Read the rest of my review (including a recipe!) at wanderaven
About fifteen months ago, I had the pleasure of lunch with my sister at The Whale Wins. It was my first Erickson restaurant and when I returned home I preordered her new cookbook, which came out last fall. Though I love the physical book itself and the recipes within I haven't made many yet in part because, being centered around the culinary offerings of Seattle, seafood features heavily.
Though I visit family and favourite places in Seattle on a fairly regular basis, I'm usually a guest in my family's home or I stay in a hotel, so I've never had the ability to create my own meals while there. This time I had a lovely kitchen all to myself and took full advantage. Timing was perfect for the morel season, one of my favourite treats.
Read the rest of my review (including a recipe!) at wanderaven
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February 20, 2016seasonal menu offered with a lot of spice and flavor i am unfamiliar with, even though the pacific northwest is my home.
i enjoy changing my diet with the seasons, i find celebrates the year. the author breaks the book down into seasonal menus, inspired by whatever is being harvested.
book has shopping and preparation tips. so far i have only perfected kale sautéed and kale chips, but i look forward to some preserving and seafood feasts shortly.
inspiring ideas re flavors.
i enjoy changing my diet with the seasons, i find celebrates the year. the author breaks the book down into seasonal menus, inspired by whatever is being harvested.
book has shopping and preparation tips. so far i have only perfected kale sautéed and kale chips, but i look forward to some preserving and seafood feasts shortly.
inspiring ideas re flavors.
October 10, 2020
So happy I came across this absolute joy of a cookbook in a used bookstore last month. Erickson cooks exactly how I love to eat -- seasonally and with themed menus concluding with desserts with a savory bent. Despite not having access to some of the PNW products she discusses, I enjoyed reading about her access to local seafood and looking at the beautiful photos. A pleasure to read; I look forward to cooking from it.
May 30, 2018
I picked this up from the library for a look at how a French-minded chef might approach local ingredients. This provided exactly that. Arranged by season. The cover, stitching, paper choice, and photography are outstanding. Recommended.
May 3, 2019
A beautiful book, but perhaps too regional for me in the long run.
March 14, 2023
Local, lovely, and aspirational. I loved that it was stories as well as recipes. 3✨ because I haven't tried any yet! Will bump up accordingly, after sufficient taste testing 🤞
August 30, 2021
I follow creative chefs in the US (and a few in France). Collecting cookbooks is a problem. I can't necessarily recommend this cookbook, or the companion restaurants in Seattle (I haven't yet been), but what I can say is that cookbooks have changed over the years to include the author's insights, personal stories, and beautiful photographs. Sometimes the writers are really more photographers than good cooks (hello Instagram), but those who keep vibrant restaurants alive with fresh, local ingredients, spin a good tale, and test and write an excellent recipe - for example Erin French, Lost Kitchen, Maine or David Lebovitz pastry chef, France are really fun finds that I love reading for pleasure and for their recipes. It's different than the days of Betty Crocker and Julia Child (good, but purely reference guides).
This cookbook has both beautiful pictures and nice writing about the place. Recipes are straightforward with fresh, coastal ingredients.
This cookbook has both beautiful pictures and nice writing about the place. Recipes are straightforward with fresh, coastal ingredients.
September 20, 2016
Chef Renee Erickson is a mover and a shaker in the trendy Seattle restaurant scene. Her cookbook, A Boat, a Whale & A Walrus showcases the cuisines of her restaurants. In among the amazing seafood menus and recipes are fun stories of her climb up to the top as a chef, of enjoying food with friends, and of the people who sell her the super-fresh, superb-quality food that stars in her restaurants. I must admit, though, I had little sympathy for “having” to eat crab because it was so cheap where she grew up! I’ll swap you all the pork chops or poached eggs on toast you want for those childhood crabs!
As a chef she does something I’ve not read much about before–she serves many meals at room temperature. Interesting, but it sounds like it works very well. I’ve always wanted to visit Seattle and, appropriately, I found this book in the recommendations of Seattle’s fabled Elliot Bay Book Company
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Now, the food….Can you imagine swirling a glass with a martini involving preserved lemon and an anchovy stuffed olives while munching gorgeous artichoke leaves dipped in velvety mayonnaise (a passion of mine) then being called to this lovely table (left) to enjoy great conversation while indulging in a dinner of the freshest seafood, vegetables, breads and fruits available–all paired when appropriate with superb wines and prepared by someone who says: “I can cook ’til I’m blue in the face, but if no one’s around to eat it, to form a community around it, it’s just a bunch of food” (p19)? Sigh. Swoon. Foodie Heaven.
And then, there’s desert! Oh my, my, my, my, my! She does have a somewhat distressing affinity for both rhubarb and fennel, but I imagine I’d like them fine the ways she works on them! And, if not, there’s desert–right?
Seattle has moved up several notches on my Bucket List. A Boat, a Whale & A Walrus by James Beard Award Winner, Renee Erickson
As a chef she does something I’ve not read much about before–she serves many meals at room temperature. Interesting, but it sounds like it works very well. I’ve always wanted to visit Seattle and, appropriately, I found this book in the recommendations of Seattle’s fabled Elliot Bay Book Company
14344086_10157752883325643_3610551030761432169_n
Now, the food….Can you imagine swirling a glass with a martini involving preserved lemon and an anchovy stuffed olives while munching gorgeous artichoke leaves dipped in velvety mayonnaise (a passion of mine) then being called to this lovely table (left) to enjoy great conversation while indulging in a dinner of the freshest seafood, vegetables, breads and fruits available–all paired when appropriate with superb wines and prepared by someone who says: “I can cook ’til I’m blue in the face, but if no one’s around to eat it, to form a community around it, it’s just a bunch of food” (p19)? Sigh. Swoon. Foodie Heaven.
And then, there’s desert! Oh my, my, my, my, my! She does have a somewhat distressing affinity for both rhubarb and fennel, but I imagine I’d like them fine the ways she works on them! And, if not, there’s desert–right?
Seattle has moved up several notches on my Bucket List. A Boat, a Whale & A Walrus by James Beard Award Winner, Renee Erickson
February 24, 2016
Earlier this year I reviewed Summer Food: New Summer Classics (www.goodreads.com/review/show/1243982831) and complained that it was "just a cookbook". This time around I have the exact opposite reaction. Erickson's cookbook is full of all the stories a foodie could want and her recipes are chatty as well with asides and explanations. I spent HOURS reading this book. Seriously, hours. I would give this book to almost anyone who enjoys food without reservations. But - and this is a rather big but - there were very few recipes that I have any interest in attempting and I honestly haven't made a single one. Once again - 5 gold shiny stars for the layout and presentation and photographs. This time, 4 stars for all the insights and stories shared. But alas, not so shiny stars for the recipes themselves. However I'm giving this one 4 stars overall because I'm not sure it is entirely fair to only give 3 stars to the recipes when I admittedly haven't tried a single one.
August 3, 2016
Really enjoyed this cookbook, and I'm not one to sit and read a cookbook. I loved how clearly the author's voice came through, and I felt like I was having a conversation with a friend, or learning from a mentor, not reading a book. The pictures are GORGEOUS. Couldn't be any better.
I was torn between 4 and 5 stars, but for me, it's 4 just because while I enjoyed getting to know the author, and loved the pictures, it's not a cookbook I could actually use. It's definitely fancier than anything I am capable of making or would make. It uses many ingredients that are not ones I have used or would use (although she scores major points for telling you where to find them, as well as alternatives!)
She did absolutely everything right, and it's definitely a great book. (Not just a great cookbook.)
I was torn between 4 and 5 stars, but for me, it's 4 just because while I enjoyed getting to know the author, and loved the pictures, it's not a cookbook I could actually use. It's definitely fancier than anything I am capable of making or would make. It uses many ingredients that are not ones I have used or would use (although she scores major points for telling you where to find them, as well as alternatives!)
She did absolutely everything right, and it's definitely a great book. (Not just a great cookbook.)
January 14, 2015
I wonder what it says about me that so far this is my favorite read of 2015. I have always loved reading cookbooks and the past few years have yielded quite a few beautiful books. I have put up a big jar of preserved Meyer lemons and hubby made me the peach cobbler. There are so many other recipes I am looking forward to trying. Lots of pickling things, which should be fun. I love all the beautiful sepia toned photos and stories of the people who are usually more behind the scenes. I am hoping this summer to get to Seattle and eat at at least one of these fabulous sounding restaurants. The tone of this book is so friendly and comforting so while there are a few things out of my comfort zone, I am more willing to give them a shot due to the nature of this book.
June 1, 2015
We finally had our cookbook group on this book. Must say, Delicious! We made many things and they were all great.
Fava beans puree with radish on toast - boy did the radish make the bite
Pickled fennel & scapes with ricotta on toast - yummy
Chicken liver pate with pickled shallots and pickled plum jam - such fun flavors
Pacific salmon with tomato salad and walnut sauce - such a lovely combination
Asparagus salad - spring on a plate
Lamb with harissa on homemade yogurt - oh my goodness
Strawberry jam tart with an amazing, wonderful, ice cream made with creme fraische (sp?)
Not a dud in the bunch
Fava beans puree with radish on toast - boy did the radish make the bite
Pickled fennel & scapes with ricotta on toast - yummy
Chicken liver pate with pickled shallots and pickled plum jam - such fun flavors
Pacific salmon with tomato salad and walnut sauce - such a lovely combination
Asparagus salad - spring on a plate
Lamb with harissa on homemade yogurt - oh my goodness
Strawberry jam tart with an amazing, wonderful, ice cream made with creme fraische (sp?)
Not a dud in the bunch
December 7, 2015
This was an interesting cookbook. Erickson definitely has a knack for naming restaurants, as all of the 4 featured here are cleverly named and beautifully photographed. The food also sounds great. BWW is a different sort of cookbook in that it's sorted out by season and then fully fleshed party menus, rather than being an amalgamation of recipes by course. The party organization make it more fun to read but also feels less practical. Of course you can always make any of the courses on its own at any time, but they tend to feel lavish and strange on their own. Still, it was a fun read and there are lots of great ideas in here for seafood.
July 9, 2015
This is the second cookbook I've read cover-to-cover this year and I've come to realize how much I enjoy the process of getting to know a chef through their recipes and style.
Renee Erickson is a Seattle chef who cooks in a classically French style, integrating traditional ingredients in new ways. Her grilled beets rocked my world on Fathers' Day.
This is the perfect cookbook for smaller gatherings, most recipes serving 4-8 people. Think lots of olives, preserved lemon, olive oil and local vegetables. Delicious.
Renee Erickson is a Seattle chef who cooks in a classically French style, integrating traditional ingredients in new ways. Her grilled beets rocked my world on Fathers' Day.
This is the perfect cookbook for smaller gatherings, most recipes serving 4-8 people. Think lots of olives, preserved lemon, olive oil and local vegetables. Delicious.
October 10, 2015
A physically beautiful book. Loved the cover, the quality of the paper and the great variety of photos. Many appealing recipes and stories. It's a regional cookbook featuring foodstuffs of the Northwest but still accessible for those of us stationed in the Northeast and elsewhere. I took away one star because many of the recipes are HEAVY. Lots of heavy cream, créme fraîche and butter. (even her laminate kale salad has heavy cream in it!) All yummy of course but ingredients I choose to use sparingly.
Some recipes I made note of:
Roasted marrow bones
Pickled chanterelles
Roasted rhubarb
Some recipes I made note of:
Roasted marrow bones
Pickled chanterelles
Roasted rhubarb
March 27, 2015
If a genie gave me three wishes, the first would be to think in the kitchen and cook like Renee Erickson. I just finished reading through for the second time, not sure why I didn't comment the first-- I love this book. I love these recipes. Everything makes sense, sounds delicious and is simple and elegant at once. The way I wish to cook, the way I try to cook. I really need to own this one. It's gorgeous.
January 9, 2015
This book is in the mold of Amy Thielen's "Midwestern Table", in that it takes the cuisine and food of a specific place and makes it accessible to the rest of the country. Some of the ingredients might be hard to find in landlocked areas (like octopus--fresh octopus anyway!), but I loved reading her recipes and the photography is gorgeous. A feature I also liked is the "seasonal ingredients" part of each chapter.
February 12, 2017
I liked that there were intense menus but also mini recipes for a quick carrot salad or roasted vegetables. And though I first salivated about the pickle plate when I heard about it through Molly Wizenberg (whose ex-husband thought it was transcendent), I really want to try it now.
Tried the raw carrot salad with currants and olive oil in 2015, and it's so tasty. It's in a creamy curry powder-flavored sauce. Kind of unexpected, but it definitely grows on you.
Tried the raw carrot salad with currants and olive oil in 2015, and it's so tasty. It's in a creamy curry powder-flavored sauce. Kind of unexpected, but it definitely grows on you.
May 29, 2015
I love the art and design of the cover of this book, the weight of the paper, the beautiful photography, and the fact that this restaurant highlights the meat and produce people whose harvests make the meals--but I still wanted more--as in recipes I could re-create at home. I suppose the recipes were too region-specific, and even though I live in Northern California which has access to the beautiful foods of the Pacific Northwest, I didn't find this cookbook very accessible.
February 17, 2015
One of my most memorable meals in 2013 was in Seattle at The Walrus & The Carpenter. So when I discovered that Renee Erickson came out with a cookbook, I knew I had to read it. Renee's genuine love for good food and her restaurants is evident in this cookbook. I especially loved reading about the people she works with - it added a nice personal touch and you can tell she really respects them.
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December 16, 2014This book is a work of art and is currently my new favorite cookbook. The stories, recipes and photographs are all beautifully done. Normally, I wouldn't review a cookbook until I had made at least one of the recipes, but I have complete confidence in A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus.
January 20, 2015
Loved it. You get the feeling that Renee Ericksons staff, vendors and friends are a close knit family, and the love shows. Beautifully crafted book, both the paper, the layout and the quaint illustrations make it feel very personal. And I love The Boat Street Cafe. It holds many dear memories.
March 23, 2015
I'm not sure I would ever make any of the recipes in this book, but I really enjoyed Erickson's stories about the food, the important people in her life and her restaurants. This is definitely more than just a cookbook.
December 4, 2015
This was a fun read since we have recently moved to the Pacific northwest. I enjoyed reading about the area and the people in it. I also enjoyed the decadence of her recipes and the care that goes into her residents, both the food and the people.
June 18, 2016
As much food memoir as cookbook this was a fascinating read. Not sure all of her philosophies are translatable to the home cook, but some of the recipes are still inspiring and completely mouthwatering.
January 4, 2015
Combination cookbook and stories. I just might try a couple of recipes.
February 2, 2015
If you like to read cookbooks (and I do!), this was a really good read! Loved the illustrations, the recipes, and the stories. Hope to get to one of the restaurants one of these days.
September 29, 2016
Loved the layout, the stories, the information on the local restaurants I will now get over to Seattle to try.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews