Winter Park foodies travel the state writing book

Our little corner of paradise gets millions of visitors each year, because Central Florida has so much to offer. Fortunately, for those of us who live here, that means we also have some of the world’s finest chefs creating some of the world’s finest food – for our visitors and for us – based on the fresh produce grown all around us.

The Sunshine State’s long farming history extends well beyond our famous citrus groves to include potatoes, peanuts, chestnuts, peaches and exotic tropical fruits such as lychees, mangos, and passion fruit that don’t grow anywhere else in America. Florida farmers are revolutionizing the way we eat by growing a surprising array of foods and selling them in local markets, to chefs, and directly to the home cook.

Winter Park authors Pam Brandon, Katie Farmand and Heather McPherson traveled thousands of miles around Florida, tasting those fresh crops along the way, to create “Field to Feast: Recipes Celebrating Florida Farmers, Chefs, and Artisans,” a cookbook that is a virtual celebration of Florida food. It’s also an edible roadmap filled with profiles of hardworking farmers, recipes from world-famous chefs, and photographs that highlight the produce grown in the Sunshine State.

There are myriad reasons for the eat-local effort, including concern about the use of fuel to transport food, seeking to achieve a healthier lifestyle (by eating freshly prepared fruits and vegetables at home), and concerns about the safety of corporate-farmed food. But all great chefs will tell you what Pam Brandon, Katie Farmand and Heather McPherson already know: local food tastes fresher and better.

One thing is certain: Thanks to the influx of great chefs brought here by hungry tourists, our own palates are becoming ever more sophisticated, meaning we are seeking unique and memorable culinary experiences. “Field to Feast” is the ultimate foodie guidebook, covering the entire state with listings for (and recipes from) world-class restaurants, famous chefs, important Florida farms and more.

We are invited to meet the authors of “Field to Feast”, and sample a delicious recipe from the book, on May 30 at 7 p.m. at the Winter Park Public Library. “The culinary demo is a favorite way for us to share our edible roadmap,” says Pam Brandon. “We spent a year on the road visiting 100 farms, and the book includes the stories of the farmers and their favorite recipes.”

From olive trees in the panhandle to Plant City strawberries, the abundance of Florida’s produce is the basis of a beautiful, 352-page cookbook including 150 color photos and easy-to-make recipes, all tested in the authors’ Winter Park kitchens. “We’ve heard from people who are using the book as a travel handbook for day trips,” says Brandon. “Two Central Florida women started a blog as they travel and visit farms in the book.”

The book has received high praise from cookbook pros, and the authors will be signing copies at the library event. The book is also available at fieldtofeastfl.com, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Pre-registration is recommended online for the library event by emailing [email protected] or calling 407-623-3279.