ALL GOOD THINGS AROUND US: A Cookbook and Guide to Wild Plants and Herbs

Yet another British-packaged addition to the gastronome's coffee-table. With the aid of Christabel King's lovely botanical water-colors, Michael provides brief introductions to more than 100 varieties of plants and herbs, alphabetically arranged by their Latin rather than English names (the latter are listed in the table of contents). Each entry describes the appearance and salient characteristics of the plant in question, quotes entertainingly from older herbalists (""There is hardly a Disease from the Head to the Foot but it cures,"" observed William Coles of elder in 1656), and is followed (in most cases) by a handful of recipes. These are a mixed bag ranging from tisanes, lotions, salads, and homemade wines and cordials to such oddities as pickled ash keys, hawthorn-berry chutney, and roast lamb with tansy. Though not as solidly useful as one might wish at the price (the selection is catch-as-catch-can, American names are not always provided), this is a nice nosegay of information and a charming gift.