The Crown Publishing Group, Random House, Inc.
»food FEASTING
176 January–February 2013
tallahasseeMagazine.com
Bramasole, a 200-year-old villa in Tuscany, and they just moved into a house built in 1806 with extensive gardens that “need revision.” “All my books about living in Tuscany focus on gardens,” Mayes said. “I love visiting gardens and also writing about them. In my book, ‘A Year in the World,’ I write about a grand trip I took around the gardens in England, Wales and Scotland. I’m very interested in seeing Goodwood.” Mayes’ visit had its genesis in the travels of another gardener/foodie/lover of historic homes, Rose Rodriguez, the information services manager at Tall Timbers Research Station & Land Conservancy. Rodriguez read the Tuscan trilogy before and during a vacation in Italy in 2011. She recognized the connections and emailed the address listed on Mayes’ blog to inquire about the possibility of a visit. It took a series of emails with Mayes and her agent over several months, but ultimately Goodwood was added as a stop on her tour to promote her latest book, “The Tuscan Sun Cookbook: Recipes From Our Italian Kitchen,” co-authored by her husband, Edward Mayes. “We’ve been fortunate to cook with Tuscan friends all these years and to pull up our chairs at their tables. We just wanted to share the bounty,” Mayes said. “I love Thai, Mexican, French, Portuguese food, but for day-to-day eating pleasure, I find the Tuscan food is my favorite.” A collection of her favorite Tuscan recipes, the cookbook includes Tuscan ribs, which she said she frequently makes for guests. She recommends the roasted veal shank for holiday feasts. Locale notwithstanding, what’s her favorite food? “I’m a true-blue Southerner and love the fresh, luscious taste of melons. When the weather is hot, there’s nothing better.” Mayes grew up at what she calls “an abundant table. Everyone was talking about the next meal as they ate the one in front of them.” Things aren’t so different in Italy, she said, where food is the culture. She shared the Tuscan expression mangia bene, stare bene, which translates to “eat well, be well.” “It’s fun to make a joyful noise in the kitchen — music, pots rattling, good talk, the cork popping open,” she said. “I hope that the ease and pleasure of the Italian kitchen reflect from the pages.” n
Frances Mayes and her husband, Edward Mayes, collaborated on “The Tuscan Sun Cookbook,” which celebrates the food and customs of the Italian region where they live part time.