Good weather stimulates the appetite. Something magical happens when we’re immersed in sunshine, breathing fresh air and gathered with family and friends. The urge to entertain runs deep, and will often result in food and drinks served with imagination and flair. The Deep South has its own variations. Diversity is a key component of the …
The Gourmet Highway – Outdoor Feasts: An All-America Tradition Read More »
The outdoor football feast popularly known as tailgating has expanded beyond stadium parking lots and that’s a good thing. Unable to grow when 90,000-plus fans headed to the big game took up all the partying space, the big food and drink shindig morphed into something more democratic and accessible: the patio, the backyard, resorts, houseboats …
Wines and Drinks for the New Season My most recent visit to Monticello included the privilege of being alone to peruse Thomas Jefferson’s wine cellar. Variety and diversity seemed to dominate the remaining vestiges of inventory. The experience was instructive and comported with what I came to appreciate about our third president, who had a …
Despite the heat of Dog Day’s, football season is just around the corner and with that comes the joyous feast called Tailgating. Gumbo is arguably the most popular Tailgating dish and I persuaded Richard Lewis, a genuine son of the South (born in Gulfport, Mississippi and LSU alum) to share his recipe and technique for …
Deep South delicacies are closely tied to tradition and soil. Tomatoes stand almost alone as the most heralded miracle from our gardens. Thomas Jefferson is credited as America’s first pioneer of the tomato, bringing seeds over from England for Monticello’s revolutionary gardens. Tomatoes vary in appearance and taste. Industrialized supermarket tomatoes are tasteless travesties that …
Some things are truly American. Our music-gospel, blues, country, bluegrass, rock, jazz-changed the cultural landscape. Food, American-style, is a multi-cultural, ever-evolving melting pot that welcomes new recipes while honoring tradition. It’s summertime, and outdoor celebrations dot the landscape. Few compare to Independence Day. July 4 is not only the nation’s birthday, but an occasion when …
Summertime down South is a glorious season for culinary adventures. Al fresco dining with friends, a slower pace that provides more time for enjoying lunch while encouraging good conversation between bites and sips. This is no time for sparse menus: salads do have their place but are not the only options. It’s time for some …
Few pleasures are more rewarding than a flavorful cocktail or chilled light wine on a summer evening. The popularity never wanes. Ever-evolving, some become a little trendy which is healthy and normal. There are time-honored rituals that add to the enjoyment. Home entertaining, whether a casual dinner or a big barbeque, merit a bit of …
Some sandwiches qualify as a work of art. Layers of flavor and exciting texture blended with spicing magic become a composite. Memories of favorite foods harken to baby days and the joy of tasting something indescribably delicious. While there are many delights that come to mind, I often yearn for a Soft-shell Crab Sandwich. For …
Someone asked William Faulkner after he was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature why he only wrote about the South? “It’s all I know,” replied the author. Food traditions necessarily connect to place and heritage and mine is Southern. However, life has presented opportunities like travel that broadened the palate. Haute cuisine was experienced after …