Handbook a primer for living in the South

The mystique of the South and all things Southern still allures -- even to those residing below the Mason-Dixon line. So it should come as no surprise that there is even a how-to tome on the topic: The Southerner's Handbook: A Guide to Living the Good Life.

Rebecca Darwin, president and chief executive officer of the company that owns Garden & Gun magazine, will speak Wednesday during a noon presentation in Sturgis Hall of the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock.

The free event is in partnership with nationally known gardener and designer P. Allen Smith, who resides in and operates his garden home, Moss Mountain, west of Little Rock. Reservations are required and can be made by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or calling (501) 683-5239.

Darwin's book, compiled by the editors of the award-winning Garden & Gun and published in October 2013, includes more than 100 instructional and narrative essays offering tutorials on life in the South. The wide array of topics include how to drink like a Southerner by Jonathan Miles, how to tell a great story by Roy Blount Jr., Julia Reed's advice for throwing the ultimate party and John T. Edge's account of why Southern food matters.

"The Southerner's Handbook grew out of our appreciation for the skills Southerners possess, whether that means knowing when and where to find ramps in the mountains or cooking a whole hog or how to handle yourself in a dove field," Darwin says. "There is such a great wealth of accumulated knowledge contained in everyday Southern life. We tried [to] capture it all in a fun and entertaining way."

Divided into sections such as food, style and drink, the book includes essays written by a mix of the magazine's regular contributors and staff members. Topics range from the care of cast-iron cookware and how to cook perfect fried chicken to essential Southern cookbooks, great grits and supreme sausage gravy. In the section on style, subjects such as the secrets to being a Southern hostess, how to behave, and how to party like a Cajun are also examined. Other essays address seersucker, white bucks and derby hats.

In the section on drinks, New Orleans classics and authentic Dixie lemonade are covered.

"The book is for Southerners and anyone interested in the Southern lifestyle," says Darwin, a Columbia, S.C., native who attended the University of North Carolina, and earlier lived in Charleston. She worked in New York at magazines including GQ and The New Yorker, where she was the first female publisher. She was also marketing director for Fortune, publisher of Mirabella and president and CEO of the National Association for Female Executives.

But how is being Southern defined?

"Being Southern means you know the value of traditions, stories and a connection to the land," Darwin says. "You know where your food comes from. And stories of the folks who came before you. And you understand the weight of history, both good and bad."

Darwin explains how she believes the South has evolved.

"The South is always changing and that's what constantly feeds the magazine," she says. "Old traditions interpreted in new ways, and new traditions that find solid ground."

She notes the infatuation others have with the South.

"The entire country seems to appreciate handmade goods, local food, products with a story, all of these things which have a long history in the South. After the magazine began, more and more states wanted to be covered by it," Darwin says. "First Maryland and then Texas and Oklahoma.

"And that's because 'Southern' is more than just about a particular place; instead it's more about a feeling and a state of mind."

Returning to Charleston, Darwin joined forces with Pierre Manigualt and J. Edward Bell III, who own Garden & Gun and started the magazine in spring 2007. That same year, the new publication was named the No. 2 hottest premiere among more than 700 magazines. The publication recently won a National Magazine Award in General Excellence, given by the American Society of Magazine Editors, and was named to Advertising Age's 2011 Magazine A-List, ranking fourth out of 10.

Today, Darwin lives in Charleston's downtown with her husband, Cress, the pastor of Second Presbyterian Church; daughters, Lili and SaSa; and her dog, Philip.

P. Allen Smith joined forces with the Clinton School about four years ago and has since presented half a dozen guest speakers, with one or two presentations each year.

"I've met a lot of interesting people over the course of my career and thought integrating lectures on gardens, homes and the arts would be a nice fit and blend nicely with the Clinton School's presentations on finance, economics and politics," Smith says, adding the experience has been "a joy."

"I've become friends with these people through the years and it's wonderful to expose them to Arkansas. After their visit, they speak glowingly of Arkansas and the people here."

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In addition to Darwin's noon Wednesday presentation at the Clinton School, that evening she will participate in a dinner event at Smith's Moss Mountain along with award-winning restaurateur, food writer and chef Regina Charboneau as she prepares a dinner from her latest cookbook, Mississippi Current. Charboneau, a Mississippi native, has opened numerous restaurants, including Regina's at the Regis and Biscuits & Blues, both in San Francisco. She operates the historic Twin Oaks bed and breakfast and renovated and reopened King's Tavern, a circa 1769 bar, both in Natchez, Miss. Charboneau and Darwin will sign copies of their books at the dinner. As of press time, tickets to the dinner, $120 each, were still available. For tickets or more information, email gardenhome@pallensmith.com or call Joyce at (501) 519-5793.

Style on 10/14/2014