Galloping gourmet is now a gardener

Published 9:00 am Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Graham Kerr first became a worldwide TV celebrity as the Galloping Gourmet, winning record numbers of viewers with his cheerful, slightly daffy persona, a light British accent and a penchant for butter.

Over the years, however, Kerr, though no less loved, has completely reinvented himself.

He and his wife, Treena, living in Mount Vernon, have become champions of health-conscious meals.

Now, inspired by the growing interest in local food and sustainable agriculture, Kerr is back with another cookbook: “Growing at the Speed of Life: A Year in the Life of My First Kitchen Garden.”

His latest book signing will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 10 at J. Matheson Gifts, Kitchen & Gourmet, 2615 Colby Avenue, Everett.

In his book, Kerr provides a whirlwind tour of his recent food gardening adventures, including digging up part of his lawn to create garden beds, planting his first seeds, building a greenhouse and harvesting and sharing his bounty.

Then he takes readers into his kitchen with recipes and tips for cooking all that homegrown goodness, including profiles 60 vegetables, fruits and herbs.

During the free event, J. Matheson store staff will cook and serve some of Kerr’s recipes from the book, which costs $27.

Call 425-258-2287 or see www.jmatheson.com for more information.