“The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook” by Tracey Medeiros

The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook

Tracey Medeiros
Countryman Press (2023)
ISBN: 978-1682688076
Reviewed by Leigh Kimberly Zoby for Reader Views (05/2023)

“The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook” by Tracey Medeiros celebrates the best locally inspired recipes from farmers to distilleries that honor Vermont’s heritage traditions and landscape. Few foods conjure up Vermont’s feel-good nostalgia like maple syrup or apple pie. Tracey Medeiros’s cookbook combines popular crowd-pleasing recipes with environmentally conscious producers to build a menu any family can count on. Time-tested ingredients are masterfully blended into mouth-watering perfection while remaining easy to make. Heartfelt stories fill the pages as family classics passed down through generations are modernized to add unique flavors while being sourced responsibly. No matter if it is a simple Creme Brulee French Toast breakfast or sophisticated Drumlin Whiskey Sour after-dinner drinks, tried and tasty recipes found within “The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook: Homegrown Recipes from the Green Mountain State” are sure to bring a smile to the faces of food snobs and finicky eaters alike. 

Tracey Medeiros has compiled the best of Vermont’s farmers and chefs into a well-researched and organized tourist guide for the taste buds. “The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook” is written and photographed in the stunning rolling hills of Vermont farmland. The photographs reflect the rich tradition of farm fresh real food that is full of flavor with minimally processed ingredients. Stories behind the recipe creation pair alongside easy-to-follow directions.  Credit is given to the chef, farm, co-op, and producer to highlight the simplicity of healthy, affordable ingredients and the benefits of a sustainable lifestyle. In this 10th anniversary edition, “The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook” tradition meets responsibility to define the heart and soul of Vermont’s food industry. Ms. Medeiros’ homage to the culinary world of Vermont reads like a love story. The reader will discover a beautiful landscape full of passionate artisans striving for quality foods and sustainable harvesting. Producers educate and entertain the reader with suggestions to build a healthy shopping list that supports local growers and healthy living. 

As a self-proclaimed food snob who grew up in a family that owned seven highly-rated restaurants, I could not wait to test several recipes within “The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook.” For a light lunch, I prepared Tomato Coconut Soup; delicious is an understatement. I paired the Chicken Paprika recipe with the Winter Squash with Roasted Garlic recipe for a dinner party, it was a huge success. The dishes were simple to make and consisted of a creamy sweet aftertaste that was satisfying to all our guests.

I enjoyed reading about Vermont’s history and how agritourism is being introduced as a means for food producers to supplement their income by expanding into the tourism field. I also liked having resources available such as pick-your-own fields, farmers markets, hay rides, and gift shops with online ordering capabilities noted to provide readers the opportunity to support the businesses year-round. Tracey Medeiros’s “The Vermont Farm Table Cookbook: Homegrown Recipes from the Green Mountain State” is a welcome addition to our family library of cookbooks.