I’m a 28 year-old food writer, and my boyfriend, James Briscione, is a 28 year-old chef. I consider us two deep-fried Southerners swimming against the champagne current of New York City. After three years together, our lives — and our tastes — are finally in sync.

So when we’re back in Pensacola, of course we expect their line of questioning…

The “Belle” BOOk TOUR is my moveable feast! 

Thirteen cities and countless delicious meals (thanks, in no small part, to my fabulous Scribner publicist, Molly Dorozenski)…

Tartare in New York, crabcakes in Maryland, beer-battered shrimp on Mobile Bay, Pensacola grouper, grits in Alabama, lady dips and tea sandwiches in Missississippi, Atlanta peaches and cream, rice and collards and remoulade in Charleston, slow-smoked, sweet and puckery barbecue in North Carolina…

Y’all come join me for a stop or two!

Fabulous SoHo Neighbor (decked out in his usual Paul Smith/Prada ensemble): “Your book is out so soon, darrrrling–congratulations! Tell me a little bit about it.”

Me (sporting not-so-fabulous gym gear): “Well, ‘BELLE’ is about a small town Southern girl who moves to New York City…”

Fabulous Neighbor: “Hmmm… And do you know who was the original small town southern girl who chronicled her move to New York City?

Me: (A sigh. An almost audible prayer that said girl didn’t publish a book last month…)

Fabulous Neighbor: TRUMAN CAPOTE!

Aleksandra Walker in September’s BOOKLIST says: 

“Belle has decided to leave Alabama and the family newspaper to become a ‘real’ journalist in New York City. With help from Granddad, she moves into a cozy Soho studio and nabs a job at a conservative cable news channel. While she is befriended by a female broadcaster and wined and dined by older men, she realizes something unsavory is happening at the channel. She sneaks out evidence while putting together an unassigned story on the Democratic presidential hopeful—and readies for the eventual blowup.

Although she has abandoned her red-state roots, Belle remains tied to some traditions, especially oldfashioned Southern cooking; accordingly, each chapter offers corresponding recipes. Add to that a surprising setup by her family, which leads to love with an aspiring chef who is ready to leave the South for New York’s competitive kitchens. Food, love, and politics mingle in this lively chick-lit debut.’

And a very savvy producer just emailed me this:

“Belle’s a sharply defined heroine… I loved that her bubblegum veneer conceals hidden intelligence and emotional fortitude.”

(Picture at right: As bubblegum as it gets.)

“It’s choice–not chance–that determines your destiny.”

~Jean Nidetch

When was the last time you lost yourself in a garden?

Wild flowers become squash blossoms, shiso leaves perfume the air and berry brambles share the brown earth with wild garlic. A silver pond shadows the horizon. Lost in a garden, lost in the weekend…

It was our first Hudson Valley escape and we didn’t know our roles.

But soon enough, I became head photographer, assistant cook… and professional porcelain tub goddess. Jamie and our very generous host swam with the trout, while I lay in a bath of bubbles, sipping wine, reading.

I liked to watch them float in the pond. I liked to watch them move in the garden. Idle, warm days punctuated only by meals and the next bottle of rose’…

A Few Plates:

-Roasted Chicken Stuffed with Corn, Cinque Epices
-Foie Gras and Stewed Fig Terrine
-Roasted Yellow Carrots and Onions with Honey, Lime and Habanero
-Farfalle with Squash, Eggplant, Jalapeno and Parmiggiano
-Summer Berry Compote with Toasted Pouncake

One last sunset and we returned to the city. But something in the sky told us we’d be back.