Thursday, March 31, 2011

Martha Hall Foose


I found my next must-have cookbook: A Southerly Course, by Martha Hall Foose.

This is Mississippi Delta-native Foose’s second cookbook, and from what critics are saying, a wonderful follow-up to her successful Screen Doors and Sweet Tea.

Foose has an acclaimed background, as noted in her bio, available on Octavia Books’ website:

Martha Hall Foose is the James Beard Award–winning author of the bestselling cookbook Screen Doors & Sweet Tea. Born and raised in Mississippi, she attended the famed pastry school École Lenôtre in France. She returned to Mississippi and opened Bottletree Bakery—a Southern institution in Oxford—and later, with her husband, Mockingbird Bakery in Greenwood. The former executive chef of the Viking Cooking School, Martha was a food stylist for the movie “The Help,” based on the bestselling novel of the same name. She makes her home on her family’s farm in Tchula, Mississippi, with her husband and their son.

Food stylist for "The Help" - how cool is that?? (Actually, I 'm probably the only person in the northern hemisphere who hasn't read “The Help." My mom has promised to lend it to me.) And, this is one of several references I’ve seen lately to the Viking Cooking School. Have you seen this place featured in other blogs, such as Urban Grace or Kendall Boggs (who, by the way, is friends with Ms. Martha)? My gosh, what a place! For foodies looking to take a cooking class, to those wanting to browse their in-house gift shop, Viking appears to be the Valhalla for cooks.

Anyhoo, back to Martha Hall Foose. She also was featured in the most recent issue of Garden & Gun, which is what got this whole cookbook-lust started for me in the first place. Check out the article about her, her family and the farm they live on in Mississippi. Life is good down on the farm.

Hmm, I think I need to take a food tour of the South. I may come home 20 pounds heavier and in need of a visit to the cardiologist, but it would be worth it, right? Who’s with me?
Images from marthafoose.com and Octavia Books.

17 comments:

Nelle Somerville said...

So up my alley JMW! I am going to do my first giveaway soon from Eat Your Books. It is a cookbook lovers dream come true. You register all of your cookbooks and then search "chicken". Then all of the chicken dishes in all of your books pop up. You can bookmark your favorites on-line and remember what book it was in. Check back soon. xoxo

Kerr said...

I just read this article in G&G yesterday. She sounds like an amazing lady.

I am so IN on a food tour!

Tote said...

Sounds like a great cook book.
Well now maybe there are 2 people who haven't read The Help yet.
Can't seem to find time right now. I seem to read more books in the summer for some reason.

Susan

Tiffany from HOLIDAY said...

I'm in! This book sounds delightful. And Erika's post about her trip to that little MS town made me want to pack my bags and hit the road!

JulesTX said...

Love the cover shot of the peaches held in the apron.

Alexandra Bee Blog said...

southern food is the best..i am definitely going to have to look into these cook books! the help is also on my "to read" list!

the southern hostess said...

I need to check it out! I love the cover.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

There is nothing like a new cookbook to get motivated in the kitchen...do share what you make and enjoy!

Michelle said...

Screen Doors and Sweet Tea is a fabulous cookbook and I cannot wait until her new book comes available. G&G did a wonderful article on her.

kayce hughes said...

Sounds good to me! And you need to read the help this weekend! It was so good that i could not put it down.

Haven and Home said...

Oh I will have to get this. Bottletree Bakery was one of my old favorites in Oxford.

Anastasia Schembri said...

Sounds like a good one...and I just love southern food!
On my way to Amazon right now to find it!
Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Renée Finberg said...

i want to know only one thing.....
it there a peach cobbler recipe???

xx

bevy said...

How fun to be a food stylist! The only problem is that if it looked that good, it'd probably be gone if I saw it! LOL

Susan said...

wow, I'll def have to check her out...looks lovely!

pve design said...

Sounds great! We can run daily marathons in between meals!!!
Pve

Anonymous said...

I just shared Martha Hall Foose Southerly Rabbit Terrine Recipe, Slingshot Included on 'Serge the Concierge'

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