The Endless Feast 2009

The Endless Feast travels the continent, bringing together local farmers and food artisans, food lovers and star chefs, as we explore the connection between the earth and the food we eat, one incredible feast at a time. Each episode introduces a different region and features a gorgeous feast staged in a stunning outdoor location, from farm fields to vineyards to urban community gardens, celebrating food at the source. The Foundation for the Mid South has underwritten the Endless Feast for Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. (Click here to know more about The Foundation for the Mid South)

For the past two Sundays, several of my colleagues and I have been traveling to participate in these feasts, and the third feast will be outside of New Orleans next Sunday.


Two Sunday's ago, we were in Tyronza Arkansas at the Whitton Farms owned by Jill and Keith Forresters. This past Sunday we traveled to North Mississippi to Dockery Farms in Ruleville, Mississippi.

Both of these trips were great. We met incredible people, ate wonderful food that were produced and prepared by folks in these two states and saw how good food is not just something you get in a restaurant. These folks have brought together the labor of their hands to the table for incredible dining experiences.

Here are some of the highlights from Arkansas and Mississippi.


This table was at Whitton Farms go to there website here.

This picture is of a little boy who sat across from me. He was with his grandmother and his uncle (his uncle furnished the sweet potatoes for the feast). You can tell he really enjoyed the chocolate muffin.


Here is a platter of appetizers - Spicy Dip with fresh radishes and green onions, they also had several other platters filled with crustinies topped with Bree, pear butter and roasted pecans.



The menu was filled with Pumpkin_Sweet potato soup, salad with greens from the Whitton Farm, and several other farms, as well as a local cattle farmer furnished brisket which was tender and ohhh sooo good. It was a five courses mouth watering experience. Yumm Yumm.

Below is a picture of the tables at Dockery Farms in Ruleville, Mississippi. Click here to view their website.


The day was great! Cool - blue sky and lots of food. A different state and a different menu, different people.

These two little girls were playing with their dolls underneath the prep table. I wanted to crawl under there with them and play.



Here are some of the wonderful picked relishes and vegetable tray we indulged in. The pottery was from a local potter, McCarty Pottery, which I had the delight of sitting across from, as well as the granddaughter of the Dockery's. It was like being at a large family gathering.




Now the appetizers here as Mississippi as one could find, as was the menu. Here is a picture of the Hot Tamales they served us.


Along with the tamales they served fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and duck and quail wrapped in bacon. This southern belle loves the fried green tomatoes and I had one too many but in all fairness I left the quail and duck to the others.

The menu included Molasses and Moonshine Brained Smoked Catfish - Pawns on Cheese Grits, Mustard and Turnip Greens - Sweet Potatoes. . . . Slim Fast this week, We left there with full bellies I assure you. . .

Next Sunday we go to a farm south of New Orleans, so stay tuned for more updates and pictures of our journey.

Keith Forrester from Arkansas says that if you know your farmer you know your food. Elizabeth Heiskell from Mississippi says that if you understand the land when you bring it to the table, you understand the importance of your farmer. But I especially embraced the statement Chef Mary Hoover from Mississippi made that in cooking you do it with lots of love. She is right.

As we drove back, the sun had set and the night was clear and quiet. I thought a lot about the past two weeks and the people we had met, a birds eye view of their everyday life, how those within a community came together to share with others.

For a few brief hours folks came together from all walks of life, professions, circumstances - we came together and enjoyed an afternoon of food, fellowship and each other. . . . . .

I think The Endless Feast 2009 will air sometime in April of 2010. I will keep you posted.