Book excerpt: A completely revised and updated edition of the popular pickle handbook. Delicatessen and farm shop shelves are crammed with pickles, as well as salsas, vinegars, pastes, and chutneys; these spiced-up specialties are all the rage and have become the in-vogue accompaniments of the moment. It’s easy to understand their attraction: they are assertive and potent, but can also be subtle; sometimes they assault the palate, sometimes they tease with their piquancy. Cooks at home know they can add a buzz to quite ordinary food. Farmers’ markets are also a fruitful and profitable prospect for small-scale pickle and chutney makers, who are able to sell their wares without having to negotiate needless “food miles.” Legions of enthusiasts are bringing pickling back home—and they also understand how to succeed in business. The world really is our larder and pickles are back where they belong—on the front row. This much-in-demand handbook includes recipes not just for fruit and vegetable pickles, but also for pickled meats and fish.