On Tuesday, May 26, 2015, Burgess Lea Press published Agricola, the first cookbook from New Jersey farm-to-table pioneers Chef Josh Thomsen of Agricola Community Eatery (11 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ) and farmer Steven Tomlinson of nearby Great Road Farm, with co-author Kate Winslow.
The book and the restaurant take their name from the Latin word for “farmer,” and Chef Thomsen’s menu proudly showcases locally grown produce, pastured chicken and eggs raised by Tomlinson at Great Road alongside other top regional producers and purveyors. Each recipe is influenced by the changing seasons and the rich agricultural bounty of the aptly named Garden State; and all were carefully vetted and tested by Winslow, an experienced editor who has worked on other best-selling cookbooks during her tenure at Gourmet magazine.
“Here in New Jersey, we’re fortunate to count a wealth of exceptional local farms among our neighbors, and Agricola – both the restaurant, and now, the book – is all about celebrating their delicious work,” notes Chef Thomsen. “Our first cookbook is filled with the incredible natural riches of our surroundings and gives new meaning to ‘farm-to-table’ cooking, literally showing our guests how to bring food home from the farm or the farmer’s market and prepare wholesome, restaurant-quality meals in the comfort of their own kitchens.”
Agricola brings the warm, stylishly retro décor of the restaurant to life with 100 inspired recipes that showcase Chef Thomsen’s deft touch with local ingredients and span all seasons for a full year’s worth of farm-focused eating. Dishes range from soups, salads, and starters to braised and roasted meats to desserts and even cocktails, all inspired by and prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients to bring an authentic taste of New Jersey to the table.
In addition to the wealth of recipes, Agricola also includes authoritative “From the Farmer” notes sprinkled throughout the book that help home cooks highlight the distinctive flavors of seasonal vegetables, including kale and turnips, and introduce them to other exceptional local growers, such as Terhune Orchards, as well as artisanal local products, such as Rojo’s Roasters coffees, and even farm-to-kitchen distribution services, such as Zone 7, a group that connects farmers and restaurants and helps them work collaboratively. The book also delves into preserving in “From Our Larder,” a section that includes watermelon rind pickles, preserved lemons, oven-dried tomatoes, daikon kimchi, and other inspired ways to make the summer harvest last all year long.
Agricola is published by Burgess Lea Press, a new traditional trade publisher specializing in books of high quality from chefs, restaurants and farms, with 100% of after-tax publishers’ profits donated to 501C organizations that address hunger, farmland preservation, culinary education, and other food-related issues, chosen in collaboration with each book’s authors.
For more information about Agricola or Burgess Lea Press, please visit www.burgessleapress.com or email Buz Teacher at buz@buzteacher.com.
Bon Appétit!
TAD
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