The Forest Feast Gatherings: Simple Vegetarian Menus for Hosting Friends & Family

by Erin Gleeson

New York Times bestselling author Erin Gleeson celebrates the art of vegetarian entertaining with The Forest Feast Gatherings , a gorgeously illustrated cookbook packed with 100 brand-new simple vegetarian recipes designed for relaxed entertaining.

When food photographer and stylist Erin Gleeson left New York City to live in a cabin in the woods of Northern California, she started the blog The Forest Feast to document her vegetable-centric, seasonal approach to cooking. Her readers are drawn to her healthy recipes that anyone can make—dishes that are easy enough to prepare after a long day at work, yet impressive enough for a party—as well as to her visually stunning photography and watercolors.

The book offers 100 new, innovative vegetarian recipes, along with some fan favorites from the blog, arranged in a series of artfully designed menus that are tailored around specific occasions and seasons—whether a summer dinner party, a laid-back brunch, a vegan and gluten-free gathering, or holiday cocktails. Sample recipes Gleeson handwrites each recipe over her photos to create diagram-like, step-by-step instructions that are vibrant, unique, and most importantly, easy to cook from. Gleeson’s recipes have always been ideal for entertaining, but now in The Forest Feast Gatherings she offers detailed guidance on hosting casual, yet thoughtful, get-togethers from start to finish with recipes that serve six to eight.

Menus feature recipes for drinks, appetizers, entrees, side dishes, and desserts, accented by quick decorating ideas for flower arrangements, signage, and table settings. Lushly illustrated with hundreds of watercolor drawings and photographs, this is an inspiring reference for anyone who wants to share good food with good friends, simply, easily, and beautifully.

The Forest Feast
The Forest Feast
The Forest Feast for Kids
The Forest Feast Gatherings
The Forest Feast Mediterranean
The Forest Feast Road Trip

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction, Vegetarian, Food and Wine, Food and Drink

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2016

About the author

Erin Gleeson is the New York Times best-selling author of The Forest Feast, a vegetarian cookbook based on her blog of the same name, www.theforestfeast.com. Erin worked as a food photographer in New York City for several years before moving to a cabin in the woods near San Francisco in 2011 which inspired her blog and books. The Forest Feast is a unique cookbook/art book blend, featuring simple, colorful, vegetable based recipes that are presented visually, with minimal text. Erin's own photography, watercolor illustration and hand-lettering guide you through the steps to make each dish. The Forest Feast noterie line was released in 2015 with stationery items like journals and art prints (available on Amazon), featuring Erin's watercolors and photography. She is currently creating two more cookbooks that come out in 2016, The Forest Feast for Kids and The Forest Feast Gatherings. Erin also teaches photography at the college level and works as a freelance food photographer and illustrator.
Follow her @theforestfeast and at www.theforestfeast.com.

Reviews

[Karen R · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recipes, drawings, and all but a few photos are by author Erin Gleeson, who once worked in NYC as a professional food photographer. The recipe summary at the start of each chapter and on the dedicated recipe pages is written in Erin’s handwriting with her hand-painted highlights, making this book feel wonderfully personal and visually stunning. Every ingredient is photographed and included on the creatively organized recipe page.

Erin started a blog after she left her job in NYC to move to Northern California with her husband. She caught a lucky break when the blog caught someone’s interest in the industry. Within a year she signed a contract to create her first cookbook, 'The Forest Feast’.

Erin’s goal was to make her book “entertaining, approachable and fun”. She has accomplished her goal. The recipes are simple, contain easily obtainable ingredients and none look intimidating or time consuming. I have already made 10 of her recipes in the short time I’ve had the book, all of which were tasty.

There are 100 recipes and the author has tested them all. Chapters include Wine & Cheese Party, Lunch Gathering, Cocktail Party, Salad Buffet, Vegan & Gluten Free and seasonal ‘feast’ chapters (summer, winter, spring, fall). ‘Do aheads’ and serving suggestions complement the recipes. Her common-sense advice includes purchasing locally fresh when possible and tips to simplify efforts. For me, planning a dinner party menu when there are vegetarians or other food restrictions has always been stressful. Appeasing the carnivores and vegetarians for a full meal is so tricky. Thank you Erin for coming to my rescue.

Thanks to ABRAMS Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Pamela (Here to Read Books and Chew Gum) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just everything about The Forest Feast Gatherings is beautiful. The photography is stunning (can I move in with you please Erin Gleeson?) and the recipes on the artistically decorated watercolour pages are just such a beautiful touch. The ingredients are accessible, the recipes simple, and from the one or two I've tried, absolutely delicious (although my heart did sink a little at the fact that she used tea bags for iced tea instead of loose leaf...).

That said, I did find a lot of the prose a bit grating as it was almost painfully middle class. It spoke of a level of lifestyle almost unattainable to the average citizen, which belies the availability and attainability of the ingredients. I think this might put off a lot of people who would have a lot to gain from a cookbook like this.

Still, the positives far outweighed that one negative, so I certainly won't hold that against it. It's a great addition to any kitchen, and makes vegetarian entertaining simple and a joy.

View the review at my blog: I Blame Wizards

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book with yummy, original, easy recipes. Lots of inspiration!

[Sharah McConville · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book full of delicious Vegetarian food and pretty watercolour paintings and photographs by the author. There's also lots of great sounding cocktails recipes throughout this book!

[Brindi Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, do I want this one!!!!! Christmas list, YESSSS!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book is simply beautiful. I already added the others to my Amazon list to purchase.

[Kati Polodna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm seriously tempted to buy this.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author moved from Brooklyn to a cabin in the Santa Cruz mountains and she and her husband use local produce creating a community through cooking healthy food.
This book has some wonderful recipes and advice for specific parties and the photography is beautiful.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be great once we can have parties again 😂

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tricky book to rate.

It is absolutely gorgeous, colorful, and has incredible pictures. Would I make the recipes from it? Maybe one or two.

I like the concept and I like the ideas. The book is broken down by occasion such as brunch or winter get together. It includes drink recipes, appetizers, mains, and more. There are even instructions on making edible table runners. Basically everything in this book looks incredible but doesn't feel super practical. There are a couple recipes that don't seem too time intensive I may try, but a lot of these seem like more work than I'm interested in doing for what is a pretty straightforward vegetarian meal.

It's nice to browse through though.

[Juli Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is another beautiful, but lackluster cookbook from Erin Gleeson. Too bad, I really wanted to like these! There are a few worthwhile recipes in here, and lots of entertaining tips, but for the most part I wouldn't use this book. Some of the recipes sound downright unappetizing (I'm looking at you, Zucchini Frittata Loaf and Puff Pastry-Wrapped Olives). As with her other books, Gleeson is often guilty of under-seasoning her ingredients, and of being too reliant on store-bought ingredients for the recipes to feel fresh.

[Heather Alderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful cookbook and entertaining guide! The photos and layout are amazing and I can't wait to start making some of the recipes.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin Gleeson is the author of this book, not Blaine Brownell.

[Sara]

Hard to rate. This is beautiful eye candy and I am sooo stoked about the idea of having a whole menu laid out. AND I love the no fuss recipes, no weird ingredients, not a ton of work, often rely on things like store bought pesto. This is definitely not an Ottolenghi cookbook...in a good way.

And I've already ordered a few others just for the joy of looking at them.

But - I can't help feeling that at one of my kinds of gatherings, you'd serve the whole menu in the book (think, like, a skewer of cucumber and cheese), and then someone would say, "So, when do we eat?"

In some of the pictures they were staged and if you looked close, the people's plates were empty, and I was like, "That is the perfect metaphor." This is not the book for people who really like food.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this cookbook! The photos are incredibly beautiful and I love the way the author presents the recipes with colorful photos of all of the ingredients. This will be my go-to cookbook when I need ideas for dinner parties and potlucks. In fact, I used her "Grilled Cheese Party" idea for a family gathering yesterday and it was a big hit! I also tried the "Zucchini Flatbread", paired with some Pinot Grigio, and it was fantastic!

She even includes some décor ideas which are simple enough even for those who aren't crafty!

I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who loves to host parties or is looking for easy ideas for dishes to take to parties or potlucks.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing cookbook - I was awed by it actually. It is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Many of the recipe suggestions use few, simple ingredients and are so appealing. I liked the formatting of grouping recipes by season to take advantage of the freshest products available.

The illustrations and photos were lush. I could see framing some of them. The cookbook made me feel happy reading it.

Do yourself and favor and look for a copy - I think you will enjoy it. I borrowed it from the library but will probably buy a copy. Would make a great gift too I think if a foodie friend is celebrating a special occasion or to say a special thanks to someone.

[nevrstopsmilin · Rating 5 out of 5]

again...amazingly gorgeous pics!!! can’t wait to try some of these recipes!

want to try...
pg 30 parmesan snap peas
pg 32 asparagus pistachio pizza
pg 42 zucchini flatbread
pg 48 apple & cheddar
pg 58 zucchini noodle salad
pg 60 apple matchstick salad
pg 68 berry iced tea, orange iced tea, lemon iced tea
pg 70 tea sandwiches
pg 72 hummus tomato deviled eggs
pg 88 portobello & chimichurri
pg 116 pesto cucumber wraps
pg 126 arugula niçoise salad
pg 172 butternut hummus
pg 186 baked garlic with brie
pg 206 cheese board
pg 232 rice noodle bar

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is beautiful to flip through! The pictures are gorgeous along with the typography. I was honestly surprised by how many recipes I wanted to try. This book is great for those who are vegetarian or looking into eating less meat and incorporating this into their entertaining. There are a lot of great entertaining tips too. I'm a novice hostess but this book makes me feel more confident in throwing my next party!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fabulous book. I really liked the way the ingredients were set up. There were pictures with everything and all of it looked so beautiful. I did find a few things in this that I would love to make, but even better 99.9999999 of the items in this book I would totally eat. I would also buy this book for myself too. This book was a hit.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful & visually inspiring/unique cookbook. It would make a lovely coffee table book. I would like to note that it has a lot of alcohol drink recipes (maybe 1/3 of them?), and for a family that doesn't drink much, there was a lot that wasn't interesting/applicable to us. I found around 8 recipes that I want to try and I think I'm most looking forward to making the lentil tacos.

[Sarah Furan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures alone are gorgeous, but I also really liked how recipes were grouped into meals, and not organized by types (appetizers, desserts, etc). Plus, the recipes had short ingredient lists, so the prep time is minimal!

[Renel Ralston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. It has really great vegetarian menu options but mostly I love it for the outdoor party photos. The layout is lovely, the watercolor art around the edges is a unique touch....It's a beautiful book.

[Whitney Pittsenbarger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is visually one of the most beautiful books I've ever picked up. And definetely the loveliest cook book ever. There are quite a few recipes I cant wait to try. My favorite section is the back with the buffet style meals.

[Monica Brizzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carino e pratico come il precedente. Le ricette sono utili per feste, aperitivi e cene con amici e parenti, meno per la cucina di tutti i giorni, d'altronde è stato scritto apposta! Ideale per chi ha spesso ospiti a casa!

[Pt Bunch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find this comfort reading. When I feel the world is evil and dreary, I pick up Forest Feast Gatherings to remind myself people care about one another and create beauty in things as simple and necessary as eating.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are the most gorgeous cookbooks. I love the themed meal ideas. The recipes and ingredients are simple; even my husband has been obsessed with a few of them. We like the fresh ingredients and ideas. This is another cookbook I read like a novel.

[Chrisa Burkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great vegetarian recipes and nice ideas for putting together a small gathering with friends. I especially enjoyed the salad buffet section. The recipes are not just lists of ingredients as in most cookbooks but are shown in an “as you go” style with pictures which worked nicely for me.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Forest Feast Gatherings is a very pretty book. There are many illustrations and pictures including of ways to decorate your table. I love the unique ideas for a full meal, drinks and décor for getting together with friends.

[Flalalaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this so much

the book is really pleasant to look through -and apart from the recipes, Gleeson offers some great ideas for hosting (ie: grilled cheese bar which I will definitely be trying this summer)

Makes for a great coffee table book too

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh yes! Erin Gleeson does not disappoint with this book. Again, the artwork is incredible and make the cookbook a joy to look through. Her recipes are easy, quick, and use items that are available in most supermarkets. This has some really great ideas for hosting friends and family for dinner.