White Oak Plantation Hosts
Third Annual Tomato & Herb Fest

Nearly four hundred enthusiastic gardeners and food lovers of all ages gathered on the grounds of Chef John Folse’s White Oak Plantation on Sunday, June 11, for the third annual Tomato and Herb Fest.  Vendors and chefs preparing for the cook-off that was a highlight of the day’s festivities began arriving at 7:00 AM.  By 9:00 AM, official opening time, crowds were all over the property, enjoying the extensive gardens and shopping for everything from tomato sandwiches and homegrown tomatoes to a variety of honeys and a wide array of plants offered by gardening societies and nurseries. 

Local and out-of-state gardening experts presented seminars on growing gingers, selecting quality produce, the appeal of heirloom tomatoes and when to harvest vegetables.  A plant display showcased Scented Geraniums, Herb of the Year 2006, and Chef Folse introduced White Oak’s newest feature, the Fountain Pond and Water Garden.

Following lunch and an awards ceremony honoring winners in the Fest’s four competitions, Chef Folse demonstrated the preparation of meatballs and spaghetti as he had learned to make the classic dish while studying cheese-making in Italy. 

As the afternoon drew to a close, Folse treated guests to an Ice Cream Social featuring two specially prepared flavors of his new line of gelatos, created just for the occasion: Lemon Rose Geranium Strawberry Gelato and Pistachio Basil Gelato.  Then he led a tour through the gardens, explaining their history and his plans for future development of White Oak as a culinary living history museum.

With a broad base of volunteer support from the gardening community, LSU Ag Center, and Folse’s colleagues in the American Culinary Federation, the Fest has built a family of distinguished Partners that includes Provimi Foods, Louisiana Cookin’ magazine, Whole Foods Market, The Plum Group, ZingZang, Glazer’s Companies of Louisiana, Louisiana Nursery, The Landscape Lot, Harb’s Oasis, The Tomato King, Mitsubishi International Food Ingredients, Cintas, HERBS by Sarah, River Road Coffee Company and Tomato Growers Supply Company of Florida.