2 Introduction This volume collects contributions to the “Around the Kitchen” mailing list by its members from 2002 to 2004 as selected and edited by me, the list’s major domo. I have organized the collection as several sections comprising nearly 100 pages of contributed content. One section consists solely of recipes which appeared on the list and stood on their own. Another section includes selected discussion threads. Many of these threads themselves contain recipes. Others consist of only discussion topics, some of them relating anecdotes, others offering cooking tips. Lastly, there are separate sections devoted to each of the Asparagus Fests the ATK group has enjoyed. In one way or another, I have attempted to include all the recipes that the members of the mailing list have contributed. Any omissions or oversights are unintentional. However, the selection of discussion threads was solely at my discretion. I tried to select topics that I thought interesting and of some lasting value, and which represent the wide range of interests of the list’s members. I hope you enjoy this volume as much as I did organizing it and as much as I have enjoyed participating in “Around the Kitchen”. Tom Woteki Head Chef at “Around the Kitchen” December 2004 Washington, DC