Tart-tober

The last month, I have been in tart heaven. Talking about tarts, reading about tarts, writing about tarts and even sampling a few tarts.

This tart-topia actually started a few months ago, when author Holly Herrick asked The Beehive to help promote her new book, Tart Love: Sassy, Savory and Sweet.

As a well-established author with two books and countless articles and reviews under her belt, I was honored.

Since then, we've had a bubbles n' biscuits book release party (I love alliteration!), heard every joke about "tarts," been on the "Tart Train" to Charlotte to promote the book, crowned Holly the "Queen of Tarts" for Charleston Magazine, and this morning, enjoyed a tart discussion on the front of the Food Section of The Post and Courier.

Photo by Grace Beahm/ The Post and Courier

It's been tart-terrific, and I've had the wonderful opportunity to spend work time reading and drooling over food, including from blogs such as Pioneer Woman and (for my vote) the best one of them all, Helene Dujardin's Tartelette. And I've had the chance to get to know Holly, who is not only a professional, but a friend.

My time in the kitchen has become more joyous, and I'm cooking more, from my first attempt at chicken and wild rice soup (made with my homemade stock from a bird I roasted) to a well-worn bean salad recipe interpreted in a new way with edamame and pork belly. It sounds fancy, but it's not -- it's just using good food, which is one of the lessons Holly has taught me.

The Tart Train rolls on to NYC in December, and then the events start afresh for Holly's next book,  Food Lovers Guide to Charleston and Savannah.

Speaking of which, I better go lace my running shoes. Looks like I'm going to need them.

A New Meaning for Eye Candy

At Lambert Gray Gallery's Grand Opening this past Friday, Holly Herrick signed her new cookbook, we poured lots of wine, ate leaf-shaped sugar cookies and coveted some amazing art. The place was packed most of the evening, Kristen of Blue Bicycle Books was selling books, and "sold" red dots were popping up everywhere.

Co-owners and artists Hilarie Lambert and Michael Gray curated an amazing food-themed show, and Lambert got into the spirit herself with great kitchen scenes inspired by her time in France.

When the Dishes Are Done, Hilarie Lambert. SOLD

What was so fun about this show is how the artists brought their own sensibilities and ideas to the table. Lambert's only parameter was "food-related," and here are some great examples of what the artists delivered:

Watermelon. Mark Horton

Chips & Beer Dear. Sheryl Stalnaker

Catch of the Day. Elizabeth Middour

Recipe for Disaster. Shannon Runquist

There's more art just waiting to be "sampled," such as Tate Nation's special take on take-out and Robert Lange's "Banana Seat", and now that the excitement of Artwalk is past us, the gallery is quietly filled with light in its second story Broad Street locale. It's the perfect time for an appetizer of art, so stop in sometime soon before that downtown lunch and get inspired by the plate.

A worthy new online magazine

You gotta love a southern food magazine if its name is OKRA. And this one is.

Launched by the Southern Food and Beverage Museum last month, OKRA is an online magazine that explores the bood, beverage and related culture of the American South. I am truly honored to be included in the first issue, which is an ambitious jump out of the gate by editor Stephanie Carter.

Read my interview with cookbook author Holly Herrick, and spend some time clicking around the magazine. There are vintage menus, discussions of libations and much more to woo you away from work on a dreary winter's afternoon.




Look for me again in OKRA in the coming months -- I am sending more ideas Carter's way and hope she likes what she reads!