Farm to Fork

April 19, 2010
Ignore the labored title and forgive his first sentence, “I have had a connection with the soil since I was a young boy.” This is simply another of Lagasse's highly competent creations, full of flavorful recipes presented with simplicity and minimal chitchat. The third in a 10-book series ordered up by Harper Studio back in 2008, the celebrity chef this time goes green, with a focus on using fresh, local ingredients. This collection focuses on fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and seafood, with just a little poultry and pork thrown in for good measure. Chapters are broken out as if dividing up a garden. Corn, beans, and squash over here; broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower over there. Leafy greens, root vegetables, and orchard fruits all get their due, with space left for winter fruits and nightshades. Among the 152 offerings, one can dish up lemon-scented blueberry pancakes for breakfast; Emeril's roasted beet salad, along with perhaps an eggplant relish crostini for lunch; and a dinner of, say, creamy turnip soup, braised broccoli rabe, and gumbo with smoked ham and wild rice. Dessert choices include pumpkin custard pie and apricot clafouti. Wash it all down with some watermelon limeade or enjoy a nightcap after the nightshades, like a pink lady apple martini.

May 15, 2010
Lagasse's contribution to the recent spate of cookbooks celebrating locally produced American foods illustrates his genius for amping up the flavor in foods. Recipes such as Bay, Thyme, and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes; Creamy Spiced Rice Pudding; Curry-Scented Roasted Cauliflower; and the Pink Lady Apple Martini are imbued with fresh, vibrant, and balanced flavors. Readers should be warned that these recipes, while they use lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, are not light. Also, some don't seem to have been tested thoroughly. The Braised Pinto Beans, for instance, were still quite hard after the one hour of cooking specified in the instructions. These minor caveats aside, the recipes tend to be easy and delicious. VERDICT Highly recommended for those looking for inventive ideas for using local ingredients.Jane la Plante, Minot State Univ. Lib., ND

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