Gourmandistan:
Gourmandistan—where food and the people involved in bringing it to a plate are celebrated. Its people enjoy discovering, procuring and preparing food almost as much as they enjoy eating it. Those entering Gourmandistan should be prepared to endure tales of farmers, farm shares, fancy and not so fancy restaurants and features of a good kitchen—as well as recipes, amateur food porn and scathing contempt for industrial “food.”
Michelle:
Reads cookbooks like novels, has purchased more than she can remember, and currently owns too many to easily count. Follows chefs the way others follow celebrities. Loathes pesticides, factory farming and processed corporate products. Enjoys food, photography, cooking and travel, and (only a bit guiltily) trashy celebrity gossip. Likes dessert, embraces garlic, and seeks variety on every plate. A practicing attorney, Michelle currently lives on about 14 acres of former Kentucky tobacco farm, along with Steve, some cats, numerous chickens and an impressive assortment of kitchen gadgets.
Steve:
Likes gadgets, games and good food. “Nose to tail” approach to meat-eating often results in eating actual noses and/or tails. Will eat almost anything and try anything at least once, yet cannot develop a liking for liver. Would like to stay in every Relais & Chateaux lodging on the globe, but will currently settle for returning to the Prieuré d’Orsan. A writer and brand consultant, Steve lives in Kentucky with Michelle, reviews restaurants for Louisville Magazine, tends chickens, shops for groceries/fetches CSA shares, spoils cats and helps Michelle cook.
Love it …….
Thanks for sharing all your talents .
Beautiful blog! I love your country of food! Are the elegantly coifed chickens residents of Gourmandistan?
Thanks, Debra! They are in residence. Sadly, though, they have turned into a batch of peckers and the beautiful coifs are no more. We believe that soon they will be dinner.
This site is spectacular!! When’s the movie coming out?
Oh, any day now. Ha!
Michelle and Steve: Thank you for the work you do to produce this BEAUTIFUL site. I’ve just found it, thanks to a mutual friend who knows of our shared interests. Gourmandistan has already jumped into my list of favorite blogs. I am excited about what is happening with Kentucky food and food writing/media. You two are making a huge contribution. I look forward to meeting you, something I am told may happen as soon as this weekend!
Thank you so much. Look forward to meeting you, too, and looking at your site!
I’ve come home from the annual Turner Christmas gathering with many tidbits over the years…..homemade fudge, great laughs, happy memories, and even the chicken pox. Today I was delighted to bring home your URL…along with everything else (except the chicken pox)! Lovely and delightful!!
Oh, thank you! Sorry we couldn’t make it this year…
I love your approach to food. Gorgeous photos too!
Thanks so much! Come again sometime.
Your cat is awesome. So are your photos.
Thanks so much! Oh, that’s Jeeves. His brother, Bertie, was probably doing something wicked outside the frame.
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for the comment about the Canal du Midi on our blog – and turning us on to your recipes!
You’re so welcome! I look forward to reading/seeing more of one of my favorite parts of the world.
What a pleasure to discover this blog! And I *love* the title.
Many thanks—come again soon.
What a fabulous site – and thanks for subscribing to mine! Now I just need some chickies like yours, they´re gorgeous
Thanks … uhm, I mean gracias! Yes, these little French girls were beautiful. But so very dumb they spent their days banging into the doors of the coop. We’re sticking with slightly more peasant-y breeds now.
I love your blog too! I tape a passion for food photography and get so inspired by sites like yours! I am new at blogging and need to learn more about linking etc. I will make sure I link to your blog from Myfrenchheaven. Maybe you’ll return the favor? :0)
All the very best for 2012!
Merci, Stéphane!
Kudos to you two for such a beautiful site! Really enjoying both the writing and the photography.
Thanks so much, Jayne!
Great blog title, writing and recipes! Glad to have found you. Who takes the pics? (They’re great.) Ken
Thanks so much! I do most of the photos. Steve does most of the writing (though I play at editor, as it’s much more fun than lawyering).
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – I’ve directed Bob to your site as he researches developing his own real estate/home improvement blog. Now if we can only inspire him to cook…
Tell him to go to wordpress.com and look around. Lots of great templates. There’s a little learning curve, but it doesn’t take long. But, sorry I can’t help with the cooking issue! I guess it will just have to fall to you!
Just found your blog – I’m excited for what I’ll find if I continue to poke around. Beautiful photos! Thank you!
Thanks so much, Julia. Come again!
I don’t think I’ve commented before on your blog, but it is a wonderful place to visit and read. Just to let you know, I’ve nominated you for Food Stories Award for Excellence in Storytelling for your very tasty-looking and wry blog.
(http://foodstoriesblog.com/food-stories-award/).
Oh, thanks so much! That’s definitely Steve: wry. (I love that word, too.)