24 PREAMBLE. 



will spoil the best dish that was ever 

 invented. It is no part of our present 

 design to give special instructions in the 

 art of cooking mushrooms, but there is an 

 art in it which makes all the diif^rence. 

 Frankly, the ordinary domestic cook, without 

 special experience, never succeeds well even 

 with the Common Mushroom ; it requires 

 a kitchen genius to present them at their 

 best. We never deemed it possible for 

 Chantarelles to be so delicious as we tasted 

 them once, when manipulated by an old 

 cook from a Swiss Hotel, who changed to 

 be in the way, and volunteered to under- 

 take the task con amove. It has been said 

 that "mushrooms are the gift of Nature, 

 but a good cook is the gift of God." 



In uttering a protest against grilling, or 

 frying in an open pan, so that much of 

 the aroma and flavour disappears up the 

 chimney, we may suggest an improved 

 method, which is applicable to many kinds. 

 Lay the mushrooms, when wiped, sliced, 

 or otherwise prepared, in a shallow dish, 



