Tasting at The New York Botanical Garden

Tasting at The New York Botanical Garden, September 12th & 13th

What a weekend! This was the last weekend of the year that The New York Botanical Garden was celebrating one of their spectacular "Edible Garden" series. What could have been better than to feature two of our country's most notable culinary icons~ Emeril Lagasse on Saturday & Lydia Bastianich on Sunday?

Emeril's devoted fans weathered the cold & damp conditions we had on Saturday to first watch a live cooking demonstration (indoors) but then wait faithfully for hours in lines that were surrounding the gift shop to have the opportunity to have their cookbooks signed. Emeril's entourage was very strict about when he had to leave, but well after that deadline passed, there he sat, smiling, chatting & signing until the very last guest had left. He was charming, warm & generous with each guest- a true gentleman.

I had him sign my copy of "From Emeril's Kitchen". If you only have one of his cook book's, this is the one to consider. It's the creme de la creme of his favorite recipes from each of his restaurants. Having dined in just about all of them, this is the "must have" if you want to recreate the signature dishes featured on those menus. Lydia also brought out the crowds, and her amazing talent & Motherly warmth melted the New Yorker's hearts in droves. No matter what their true nationality, they all wanted to be Italian for a day!

Thanks to these two amazing icons, about 600 people discovered Lowcountry Produce for the first time. Nothing is more satisfying than watching people fall in love for the first time with our Sweet Potato Butter; watching their eyes grow wide with wonder at their first sight of an Artichoke Pickle; or realizing the full thrust of the power of our Red Tomato Chow Chow.

Maggie