The Charming Mr. Lee Bailey

Allow me to introduce

the charming

Lee Bailey.

I had the pleasure of spending some time

with this gentleman many years ago,

when I coordinated a book signing

for him at Williams-Sonoma.

I am not exaggerating when I tell you

the ladies were

swooning!

In his book

Southern Food and

Plantation Houses,

he slows the pace and in no time

you find yourself on a porch

beneath moss-hung live oaks,

enjoying berry sherbet on a balmy

southern afternoon.

Lee Bailey takes us to

Natchez, Mississippi,

the home of his favorite Aunt Freddie.

It is also where Mr. Bailey pays tribute

to the memory of a small band

of purposeful ladies who began the

Natchez Pilgrimage almost a half-century ago.

He enlisted the help of the

Pilgrimage Garden Club,

which has been organizing tours of these homes

since 1932.

The result is a glorious celebration

of Natchez and it’s long tradition of great

American cooking!

A festive supper at

Twin Oaks.

Elegant & unpretentious from 1810

& listed in the National Register of

Historic Places.

Pickled okra & butter beans at

Hope Farm.

It’s modest & austere beginnings

proudly displayed.

It was a farm, not a mansion,

and therein lies the charm!

Pie on the back screened gallery

built in 1775.

Or enjoy peach & meringue shortcake

and breathtaking views of gardens

at Dunleith,

the quintessential southern mansion,

as seen through the branches of the

great oaks planted over a century ago.

Pineapple & Lemon Mousse

would be perfect!

You would most likely find me at

Lansdowne.

Built in 1852,

a country house in the sense that it is

situated in splendid isolation outside of

the city limits.

Approaching it through dense, cool trees,

I would enjoy a relaxing supper on the patio

with

Clara Nell Adams

and her fabulous white chocolate cake.

If this doesn’t have you humming

Dixie, I don’t know what will.

Enjoy!

My dear friend Coty Farquhar has added...

"It's a very small world. I worked with Lee Bailey when he came to Australia in the '80s and he did some stories for Australian Vogue Entertaining Guide. I was of course on the editorial team and spent many hours running around town collecting props for him and being on the photoshoots for Vogue back then. His photographer back then was Joshua Greene from memory, another talented American. Lee is charming and I have always loved his work, his books and his wonderful styling in amazing old established homes around the US. xxx Coty"

All photos Tom Eckerle via Southern Food & Plantation Houses

Original comments & post, sans photos published May 12, 2009.

Sorry for any confusion.