Photos from The Herbal Kitchen
Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Today’s food photography feature will make you want to stop staring at your computer and start planning a dinner party.
The gorgeous photos you see here come courtesy of Seattle-based photographer John Granen, who was lucky enough to collaborate with chef Jerry Traunfeld on his cookbook The Herbal Kitchen: Cooking with Fragrance and Flavor.
Warm Figs Filled with Goat Cheese and Bacon
In the cookbook, Traunfeld (who left the acclaimed Herbfarm Restaurant to open Poppy) encourages everyone who loves to cook to grow their own herbs. It’s an invitation that Granen’s photographs make absolutely irresistible. Each recipe is accompanied with a full page photo that makes you wish you could reach in, fork in hand, to sample the food.
Top on my list of things to try? The Simpler Summer Rolls. The photo is just so fresh and green. It makes me certain that spring—and all the wonderful food that comes with it—is just around the corner.
Simpler Summer Rolls
Rosemary Mussel Skewers
Spicy Verbena Meatballs
Oh, beautiful! That cake is just so perfect. Might have to go find that book…
March 9th, 2009 at 10:12 pmLovely photos! I love the styling on the skewers and meatballs–what a neat idea.
March 10th, 2009 at 8:02 amgorgeous!
March 10th, 2009 at 8:35 amLove the cake and LOVE the meatballs–nice styling!
I love this cookbook. Often we make the verbena meatballs (with or without Verbena if not in season). We also make the asian slaw from the same cookbook. I heap a bowl with brown rice, topped with the slaw and topped with the meatballs. The combo is decadent.
Bad note on the book: It is poorly bound and falls apart relatively quickly. Mine is held together with rubberband after just two years of use.
And, John Grannen is fabulous to work with. I was fortunate to work with him on a piece Sunset Magazine did on me a couple of years ago. Poor John had to direct me in the garden on the day after a long family wedding event. I know I looked like a raccoon and I probably acted like a crab. Still, he found beauty through the his lens in amazing ways. Such talent!
And, don’t get me started on how often I bow down to Jerry T’s amazing culinary and herbal talents. I haven’t been to Poppy yet, but it is on the top of my “must taste” restaurant list!
March 10th, 2009 at 9:45 amWOW! that is gorgeous. I wasn’t going to buy another book……oh well. Here I go. Thanks.
March 11th, 2009 at 8:59 amYou are too cool!! I am so happy to have met you and discovered your wonderful site. I feel as if it is fate because cornbread is one of my favorite foods, and there it was as I opened the page! I believe I might need to try this book as well.
March 11th, 2009 at 10:11 amI’m so glad all you are enjoying the photos! The cookbook is wonderful. I’m actually headed out to the store right now to buy cornmeal so we can have the Cornbread with Feta and Sage (top photo) with tomato soup this evening. Yum!
March 11th, 2009 at 11:08 amWow, everything looks soooooooo amazing.
March 11th, 2009 at 8:35 pmThis all looks amazing, I esp. like the presentation of the meatballs which are usually not an elegant offering but look delightful here!
March 14th, 2009 at 9:09 pm