The Country song, “Crowded Table” recorded by The Highway Women is one of many featured in the new cookbook, Gatherings and Guitars: Making Memories One Meal and Song at a Time by Sherman’s own, Jennifer Taylor. It’s the perfect correlation of the spirit felt at Old Quail Run Farm during their many dinner concert events. Those memories and experiences are what inspired Jennifer to create the book.
As briefly spotlighted in Texoma Lifestyle’s January 2024 issue, Jennifer Taylor is the owner of Old Quail Run Farm in Sherman. Jennifer and her husband, Rick, purchased the home in the Spring of 2016. After renovation, they hosted their inaugural dinner, followed by another focusing on Jennifer’s love for Spanish Tapas. She quickly realized the only thing missing was music. Having a rich musical background, she organized the next event with Texas’s own, Jack Ingram, for the farm’s first concert dinner. Since then, Old Quail Run Farm has hosted numerous dinners featuring country artists like Lee Roy Parnell, Radney Foster, Darryl Worley, and Suzy Boggus.
Jennifer Taylor realized these captivating experiences should be documented in a cookbook. And while it is a book full of recipes, it is exceedingly more than just a cookbook. Pretty enough to be a coffee table book, Jennifer describes it as a “table book of stories with recipes.” It took Jennifer five years to complete this labor of love. “I wanted people outside of our little farm to have a glimpse to see what we have here”. Jennifer continues, “After every dinner, people remark the event was magical, a word used regularly. It isn’t just the music, the food, or the farm. It’s the spirit of it all.” By documenting the gatherings, Jennifer hopes everyone will read the stories from the artists, prepare the menus, plus listen to the music associated with each dinner.
It's the reason Jennifer titled her books Gatherings and Guitars, note the first word, gatherings. Jennifer believes the world needs to “gather” back together, talking face-to-face over a homemade meal and listening to great songs in a personal setting. “People yearn for this more than they know,” states Jennifer. Creating a beautiful table, amazing music, and phenomenal food in an intimate setting results in a magical occasion.
In fact, the Gatherings and Guitar books are a series of five commemorating the memories, recipes, and stories from the past and upcoming dinners at Old Quail Run Farm. Each book includes stunning photography, recipes from the event, and memorable tales from the artists. Some of the artists include their own recipes as well. Jennifer wants you to relieve these moments, so she included a QR Code (quick response bar code) to a musical playlist complementing each recipe and story.
Furthermore, soon you will be able to learn more about the dinners and artists via the “Gatherings and Guitars” Podcast streaming on most major platforms. There are fifteen podcasts recorded to date airing this fall hosted by Jennifer Taylor.
The remaining 2024 dinner concert schedule includes concerts from artists such as The Texas Playboys, Mike McClure, and Grady Spencer to name a few, with more announcing soon. Jennifer Taylor hopes the cookbook will encourage people to come to the farm and experience the dinners live and possibly be featured in future books.
Gatherings and Guitars: Making Memories One Meal and Song at a Time is available now via Old Quail Run Farm’s website. The book will transport you back to memorable moments but also inspire you to attend a dinner on the farm. Join The Taylors at the next gathering of guitars, incredible food, and new friends.
OldQuailRunFarm.com