Dinner on the Grounds

Book excerpt: The bestselling author “pairs recipes for dining al fresco—everything from church potlucks and weddings to intimate gatherings—with seasonal ingredients” (HGTV). Whatever an event’s raison d’etre, a dinner on the grounds is filled with the classic elements of Southern culture—freshly cultivated food, family tradition, heirlooms, laughter and stories, all enjoyed in an outdoor venue. Southern lifestyle guru and author James T. Farmer III presents a collection of menus with mouthwatering recipes for every occasion, from traditional country church-hosted homecomings to lavish southern weddings, while reminding us that the art of grand Southern entertaining is not that each event need be grand, but that they are all grandly presented with style and confidence rooted in a heritage of hospitality. Praise for James T. Farmer and his books “A Southern gentleman who’s just as charming in the garden as he is in the kitchen. He’s compiled all his botanical experiences into A Time to Plant.”—Harper’s Bazaar “A Time to Cook, A Time to Plant and A Time to Celebrate are titles of three of his books that inspire readers to cultivate, decorate and salivate over their own efforts in the kitchen. His books contain descriptive text combined with colorful photographs and garden-to-table recipes.”—The Virginian-Pilot