New twists on traditional Southern favorites.

Southern food is more than cornbread, biscuits, and fried chicken. James Farmer revamps the menu with his own twists on traditional Southern dishes (ergo, Peach and Pecan Chicken Salad, Collard Cole Slaw, Plum and Persimmon Pork Tenderloin). Stitched together with a combination of tradition and nostalgia, Farmer's dishes are updated for today's lifestyle without sacrificing the scrumptious delight that is the hallmark of Southern foods, all using what is fresh and best, gleaned from the land and garden and steeped in heritage.

James T. Farmer III is president of James Farmer Designs, which specializes in residential landscape, interior and floral design. A graduate of Auburn University, James is the author of A Time to Plant, Porch Living, Sip & Savor: Drinks for Party and Porch, and Wreaths for All Seasons. He has appeared on the Today Show as well and regional television. His work has been featured in Southern Living and Traditional Home, among other magazines, and he is an editor-at-large for Southern Living. He lives in Kathleen, Georgia, just outside of Macon.