Category Archives: Books

The Last Barn Dance (and post?)

Greetings and Happy New Year. Perhaps it’s fitting that one of my final posts here will be about “The Last Barn Dance,” a lovely film in the making. Here’s the synopsis: “Randy Lewis knows that losing his dairy business would … Continue reading

Posted in Alamance County, Books, Media, Tennessee | Tagged | 1 Comment

‘Farm Fresh Georgia’ joins the family

I’m very excited to announce the arrival of “Farm Fresh Georgia,” another sister book, after Tennessee. This one has a North Carolina component — it was researched and written by Charlotte journalist and travel writer Jodi Helmer. Jodi is as … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Family travel, Farmers, Farmers' markets, History, Livestock, Lodging, Recipes, Road travel, U-pick farms, Wine | Leave a comment

Let ‘Chefs of the Mountains’ be your guide

First, there was the “Food Lovers’ Guide to the Triangle.” Now there’s “Chefs of the Mountains: Restaurants & Recipes from Western North Carolina” (John F. Blair, $19.95), by food critic John E. Batchelor. John doesn’t know it, but he helped … Continue reading

Posted in Ashe County, Avery County, Books, Buncombe County, Cooking, Family travel, Haywood County, Henderson County, Recipes, Road travel, Watauga County | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Southern cooking: it’s a sides show

Lina found me crying over an ugly green plastic box the other week. I was reading through my mom’s recipes (she died in 2009), on yellowed index cards in her hand-writing. Her famous salmon cakes, always served with cole slaw … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Cooking, Food, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Food Lovers’ Guide’ to the Triangle is out

My pal and busy “Durham Foodie” blogger Johanna Kramer just birthed her first book, and it’s a great one for food-minded locals and visitors to the Triangle. (And, really, who isn’t food minded?) “Food Lovers’ Guide to Raleigh, Durham & … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Dining, Durham County, Family travel, Orange County, Recipes, Wake County | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Farm Fresh NC on UNC-TV’s ‘Bookwatch’

D.G. Martin interviewed me in the summer for his author-focused show, “Bookwatch,” on UNC-TV. We had a wide-ranging talk about agritourism, farm-to-table restaurants, farmers markets, etc. It was a fun show, and I’m grateful for the opportunity! It first aired Sept. … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Charlotte area, Coastal Region-Sandhills, Dining, Farmers' markets, Food, Mountains, Triad, Triangle, Wine | Leave a comment

Can you afford fresh food? Heck, yeah

I don’t always have an answer for people who say that eating organic, seasonal meals is too expensive. From now on, I’m telling them to check out Linda Watson‘s “Wildly Affordable Organic.” The book’s subtitle is key: “Eat Fabulous Food, Get … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Dining, Environmental, Recipes, Wake County | Leave a comment

Bee there, freshest fish, food tours and more

It’s time again for Quick Bites, a harvest of Farm Fresh news. How sweet it is: TONIGHT, July 27, at 6 pm (movie at 9:15), Market Restaurant in Raleigh will host a music and movie night in its parking lot, featuring … Continue reading

Posted in Bees, Books, Dining, Durham County, Environmental, Food, Food policy, Forsyth County, Guilford County, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Asheville’s Tupelo Honey Cafe puts out cookbook

Tupelo Honey Café is one of those landmark dining spots that actually deserves its popularity. Tourists and locals alike go to the Asheville restaurant for Southern comfort food with a modern twist. It’s a high-volume place (and a second location … Continue reading

Posted in Beer, Books, Buncombe County, Cooking, Dining, Food, Recipes, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Farm Fresh’ tour visits Hendersonville and Flat Rock

Loads of fun planned in western NC, specifically Henderson County, starting  Thursday, May 19, at the cute Flat Rock Tailgate Market and ending Saturday, May 21 at the Blue Ridge Bookfest, with several stops in between. Hope you can make one … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Dining, Farm Fresh book events, Farmers' markets, Food co-ops, Henderson County, Lodging | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Andrea Reusing wins James Beard, makes NC proud

A big congrats to Andrea Reusing, chef of Lantern in Chapel Hill and author of “Cooking in the Moment” for winning a James Beard award for Best Chef of the Southeast!! Andrea is only the third North Carolinian to win … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Cooking, Dining, Durham County, Orange County | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Andrea Reusing, season by season

Andrea Reusing’s first cookbook, “Cooking in the Moment,” will make Triangle residents proud. Over the years, Andrea, chef/co-founder at the Asian-inspired Lantern in Chapel Hill, has made quite a national name for herself through her creative cooking and reliance on … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Dining, Durham County, Food, Orange County, Recipes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Farm Fresh’ bounty in Asheville this weekend!

Come support farms, farmers, and food at “Farm Fresh North Carolina” events in Asheville this weekend, March 11 and 12. (Free food at first and third! Woo-hoo!) If you can’t make these events, I’ll be back in Asheville in June. And … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Buncombe County, Dining, Farm Fresh book events | Leave a comment

‘Farm Fresh’ is coming to Asheville March 11-12

You won’t be surprised to hear that western NC has the book’s highest percentage of listings (430 total in book). I’ll kick off my western tour next weekend with, yes, yet another party! All events are in Asheville: FRIDAY, March … Continue reading

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Nice ‘Farm Fresh’ coverage in today’s Herald-Sun

Nice piece in today’s Herald Sun (my hometown paper!) on “Farm Fresh.” About this excerpt: “The Durham writer grew up in Raleigh and returned to the Triangle after several years in Florida and Boston. What she found was an area … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Durham County, Family travel, Media, Wake County | Tagged | Leave a comment

Farm Fresh public party and other Triangle farm-food events

All “Farm Fresh North Carolina” events below are free and open to the public. Bring your farm-loving friends! Monday, March 7, at 6 p.m. at Fullsteam Brewery, 726 Rigsbee Ave, Durham. “Farm Fresh North Carolina” book launch party featuring farmers … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Chatham County, Cooking, Dining, Durham County, Farm Fresh book events, Food, Orange County, Wake County | Leave a comment

Library Journal bestows kind words on ‘Farm Fresh’

I’m excited about my first official “Farm Fresh” book review. Not only is it accurate, it’s complimentary! Thank you, Library Journal! This appeared this week, written by Janet Ross.   “Rev up your transportation and head for the North Carolina countryside—this … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Goats, Henderson County, Madison County | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Farming his way from Maine to Oregon

“Farming Around the Country: An Organic Odyssey” makes a great gift for the farmer-to-be in your life. The just-published book, written by recent college grad and former high-school teacher Brian J. Bender, chronicles his 11 months of WWOOFing, i.e. doing volunteer … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Yancey County | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Meaty events in Winston-Salem and Chapel Hill

A couple meaty events are coming up Sunday and Monday from chef and writer Deborah Krasner, author of “Good Meat: The Complete Guide to Sourcing and Cooking Sustainable Meat” ($40, Stewart, Tabori & Chang). On Sunday, Dec. 5, Vermont resident … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Caswell County, Cooking, Food, Forsyth County, Livestock, Meat, Orange County | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How a garden grows a community

After reading “Growing a Garden City” you’d think community gardens and local food systems could save the world. And maybe they can. For sure, they can connect people on many levels – physical, spiritual, economical, environmental, philosophical. “Garden City” is … Continue reading

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