In the winners' circle

Vegetarian Times, Oct, 2004 by Carla Davis

One of our best-loved annual events is VT's reader recipe contest. This year, we couldn't wait to see what delicious and inspired recipes you submitted using the versatile and irresistible mushroom. You didn't disappoint! More than 150 creative cooks faxed, emailed and snail-mailed their favorite recipes to us. Testing the recipes gave us all a good fork-to-mouth workout, and in the end, it was David Guimond's deceptively simple Wild Mushroom Risotto that left the VT staff speechless, then raving. We weren't surprised to learn that Guimond is an amateur mycologist--this man really loves mushrooms, and it shows. Try his risotto recipe on p. 49; we think you'll agree that it's blue-ribbon quality.

Congratulations, too, to our contest's honorable mentions: Julie DeMatteo's Smoky Mushroom Chowder; Mrs. L. Parthasarathy's Mushroom Fritters, Amy Funderburk's Champion Mushroom Marinade, and Lesa Reitz's Mushroom, Squash and Black Bean Pie. To get a copy of any or all of these four recipes, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to VT Mushroom Recipes, 301 Concourse Blvd., Suite 350, Glen Allen, VA 23059.

If you want to brush up on your mushroom know-how, we suggest an outing with "Wildman" Steve Brill (see "Trends," p. 35). A respected naturalist and forager, the gregarious Brill encourages everyone to get down and dirty with nature. "It's a lot more fun looking for things in the fields and the woods than standing in line at the checkout counter," Brill says. The foods are more nutritious and concentrated, they are a lot healthier and they are much better for you and the environment." Sounds good to us.

In honor of Earth's rich bounty, I hope you'll join VT in celebrating World Vegetarian Day, officially observed on October 1. If you're not a member of your local vegetarian association, now would be a great time to find out what events are in the works. If you're in Virginia during the last week of September, please stop by the 9th Annual Charlottesville Vegetarian Festival on September 25 and meet VT's editors. On the West Coast, San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is the place to be on September 26 for the 5th Annual World Vegetarian Day Celebration. Both events will feature speakers, music, and, of course, delicious vegetarian food.

Maybe a quiet celebration at home is more your style. Here's an idea: Invite some non-vegetarian friends over for a meal of your favorite Vegetarian Times recipes. Want inspiration? Visit www.vegetariantimes.com to search our recipe archives from the last decade. Need menu suggestions? Look no further than the Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook, available through our Web site or at your local bookseller. It has more than 600--count 'em--600 tasty and healthful recipes to help you feel great about being a vegetarian.

Feeling great--now that's something you can celebrate every day.