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On the heels of “Hooks, Lies & Alibis,” Chef John Folse is readying his next tome in his Cajun and Creole series of cookbooks. The new work – “Can You Dig It!” – is expected in bookstores in December, and is dedicated to the state’s love affair with gardening.
As with the last volume, Folse is inviting gardeners to submit recipes, but more importantly, he wants photos of vegetable gardens for possible inclusion in the book.
“I want recipes that I don’t have and I want unique photographs that I don’t have,” the chef said. “I want people pictures, photos of farmers, of kids in the melon patch, of vegetable-stand signs, and young entrepreneurs selling tomatoes on the roadside.”
While full garden shots are wonderful, the greater impact photos include the gardener with hoe in hand, kids helping in the garden, an up-close shot of a corn or okra stalk, antique farming tools and even John Deere tractors. In other words, Folse is seeking “the dirt on Louisiana vegetables,” so dig deep. Treasured photos of gardens and gardeners past are especially welcome. Photos should be submitted to vegetables@jfolse.com.
Cooks and readers can expect to find chapters on the swamp floor pantry, root vegetables, leafy greens, off the vine and exotics. Recipes focus on vegetables as the primary ingredient in appetizers, soups, sides, entrees, breads, desserts, breakfasts and even drinks.
“Louisiana is blessed with fabulous gardeners who also happen to be fabulous cooks,” Folse said. “Gardens speak to our past: where we lived, what we ate, the professions we held. This vegetable cookbook will be an excellent venue to preserve heirloom family recipes and photographs.”
Folse proudly confesses that tomatoes will take center stage in the “Off the Vine” chapter. “I don’t care if everyone else in the world thinks tomatoes are fruit. In Louisiana, a tomato is a vegetable, and we will give it due homage.”
Chef John Folse is going to show his respect to the tomato in his “Off the Vine” chapter. The local famous chef said that no matter what the experts may say, he is proclaiming loud and proud that tomatoes are vegetables in the state of Louisiana.
