Talking Turkey (and Hogs) with the Author of The Turkey Book

Chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Jesse Griffiths is best known for his self-published works, The Hog Book (2021), winner of a 2022 James Beard Award, and The Turkey Book (2023). Both projects guide curious readers through the entire process of bringing wild game from the field to the table, combining step-by-step instruction with narrative storytelling. We sat down with Griffiths to talk about his journey into independent publishing, the surprising lessons learned from self-funded projects, and how his latest venture, The Pedernal Project, expands his field-to-table approach into an evolving multimedia platform.

The Local Palate: The Hog Book and The Turkey Book have both been really well received – The Hog Book even won a James Beard Award in 2022. What many might find surprising is that you chose to self publish. What drew you to that independent route?