chef + the farmer

i just finished watching season one and two of OPB's "a chef's life" starring chef vivian howard.  vivian and her husband ben worked for some of the finest restaurants in new york city before her parents offered to help them start their own restaurant.  but the catch was it had to be where she grew up in north carolina.

at first, vivian wanted the farmers to grow fennel, jerusalem artichokes and other ingredients she had been used to cooking with in the big city.  eventually, however, she let the farm produce and seasons dictate what they served at chef + the farmer.

what i enjoyed about this series was how real it was: there is no sugar-coating the pressures and arguments involved in restaurant life (add to that the fact that they have twins, are building a new house, had a kitchen fire and want to start an oyster bar!)  honestly, as someone who automatically absorbs her environment, i had to take breaks from the vicarious stress at times.  i enjoy cooking and hospitality but definitely have no desire to run a food business!

when it comes to "farm to table", the howards really do know their locals; everyone from the pig guys and collard green farmers to the dairy men and grape growers.  you learn how to make recipes, too, that look amazing and have what she calls the balance of acidity, sweet and herbacious.

a chef's life is going to have a place at my table, especially when fall rolls around!