Today is Groundhog Day 2012.
In too many ways, writing and producing The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown
Cookbook has felt like more than a passing resemblance to the movie, “Groundhog
Day” and its always-present/never-ending storyline.
So it seems more than fitting to pick up the thread of the
book’s storyline…
You see, last year at just about this exact time, I was
getting ready to hit the “send” button on the final Author’s Edits for the book,
when I received an email and call from my editor to hold on. Management wanted to double the size of the
book!
While exciting to get to meet a dozen more master chefs and
the artisanal growers who inspire them, I was understandably nervous and
concerned about yet another year going by without being published.
Long story short: the book started in 2003. There were some key twists and turns that is
a book in and of itself and I have written about those hurdles, including the
migration from New York City focus with Hamptons inclusion to Hamptons &
Long Island feature, to hard drive crash… All overcome and the book is stronger for it.
Nevertheless, the gauntlet was thrown down. Last year this time I was given about a three-month
deadline to identify, secure interviews, and write the profiles for a dozen
more chefs and growers. That’s roughly 24 feature profiles. Not counting husband and wife teams.
And then there is all the scheduling. Chefs are waayy too busy, as are farmers and
fisherman…
But there was no way I wasn’t going to do it and complete
the book.
I had come so far.
Not to be overlooked, I also felt such a strong obligation
to honor those chefs and growers that I had already completed and who were just
as eagerly anticipating the book as I was.
So I was back to the starting gate.
After rigorous, intense research, it wasn’t long before I
had selected the additional master chefs I wanted.
I was also keen to open up the growers to include not just
vegetable growers to include honey farmers, duck farmers, oyster growers, and
wine makers. Excellent variety that
added great stories and a compelling compliment.
Soon I was back out on the Island for photography sessions
and interviews.
I have to share one of my earliest images of getting ready
to hit the road after taking the jitney from Manhattan.
Waiting for the rental car, I was more than a bit surprised to see men with guns outside the window.
Waiting for the rental car, I was more than a bit surprised to see men with guns outside the window.
Wow. All I could
think was, we’re not in Gotham anymore, Dorothy!
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| Andrews Family Farm, Riverhead, chef Lia Fallon's inspired grower |
But the book’s photographer and I are intrepid foodies with
lots of fascinating chefs and growers to meet – so off we go. Out onto the bucolic roads lined with farms
and vineyards and waterways that is Long Island….
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| Shelter Island 18 Bay Chefs Elizabeth & Adam with Karen Lee, Sang Lee Farms |
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| Long Island vineyard |
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