My Own French Laundry

This photo is from Woodland Gardens' booth at the Morningside Farmers Market. I took it Memorial Day Weekend, which is the last time I was at that farmers market (it is a good half hour away and I have a closer farmers market). Although I didn't know it, it was also the last time I would see Tucker Taylor, Woodland Gardens's head farmer (along with Celia Barss).

Turns out Tucker Taylor has been hired by Thomas Keller, the famous chef, to run his organic gardens, which supply his California restaurants, The French Laundry and others, with fresh produce. This is a watershed moment--a Georgia organic farmer being recruited by Napa Valley. Big news. Good news, for Tucker, for Thomas, and for the growing reputation of Georgia organic farmers.

So Tucker is off to help create dishes such as glazed Belgian endive leaves (sauteeed King Richard leeks, poached Royal Blenheim apricot, watercress and Riesling butter), fricassee of hand-rolled gnocchi (stinging nettles, golden chanterelle mushrooms, mustard blossoms and mustard seed emulsion), and more imagination-defying creations.

And I pick a simple delicata squash, slice it, bake it, salt and butter it, and eat it, perhaps while a load of whites tosses in the washing machine, as I create my own French Laundry. If Napa can have a little bit of Georgia, Georgia can have a little bit of Napa.

My Own French Laundry