Tewksbury Native Lauches New Culinary Show on PBS

Tewksbury native John MacPherson is producing a new culinary show, In Season, to air this fall on PBS.

He described it as a show that differs from the "sensationalized" cooking shows on the networks. Instead, it highlights people who grow the food and raise the animals, and then he demonstrates how to put it all together for a meal. His Fresh Plate Productions company produced a pilot which led to a 13 initial episode broadcasting and distribution deal by PBS.

MacPherson said he has been working on the funding for about six months, and he is talking with a number of corporate partners and sponsors. In addition to the seeking corporate funding, he will be launching a Kickstarter campaign on Wednesday, Feb. 8. MacPherson explained Kickstarter.com is a crowd funding site where people can contribute to a project and get rewards for their pledges.

Along with his wife Diane, they own the Foster Harris House bed and breakfast in Washington, Virginia, and the Tour d'Epicure Cycling tours.

Son of longtime residents Jan and Tom MacPherson, John graduated from Tewskbury High school and moved to California over 25 years ago. While there, he met his wife and settled in Laguna Beach. Disenchanted with life there, MacPherson, an industrial designer and Diane, a business consultant decided one day to give up the corporate life to buy a bed and breakfast.

"We wanted more satisfaction and more fun from life," explained John. The MacPhersons enjoy cycling, food and wine, so they looked around the globe, including Italy, France, and Napa Valley. While visiting Australia, friends suggested Virginia.

"We fell in love with Rappahannock Country with its rolling hills, 15 wineries, and organic farms," he said. Washington, VA is 65 miles southwest of D.C. and has a population of 135.

Running the bed and breakfast allows John to cook a four-course gourmet breakfast for his guests every morning, made from fresh ingredients from the local farms. It also led to their epicure cycling tour and eventually to the idea for the show. 

What started as a compilation of their recipes resulted in the publication of the Foster Harris House Cookbook in 2008, with a revision in 2010. Recipes are not restricted to breakfast items, but all meals, he explained. The MacPhersons also serve dinner once a month to some of their repeat guests. In the past seven-and-a-half years, MacPherson said he has prepared meals for roughly 12,000 people.

Not professionally trained, Chef MacPherson credits his mother Jan and his two Italian grandmothers for his love of cooking.

"I grew up in a family that was fanatical about food. We spent as much time talking about the food as preparing it," he said. 

Married eight years, the MacPhersons have a six-year-old son, Finn. This inspires his parents to visit at least once a month, he said.

Jan MacPherson who has lived 51 years in the same house on Vale Street, said she is extremely proud of her son. Although she loves to cook, she said, John gives her too much credit for his culinary talents.

"We do love visiting our grandson, and the beautiful farmland that never changes. It is just like a picture postcard," she explained.

"The show has a homegrown feel to it," MacPherson said. "i want the people who contribute to feel a part of it. It would be nice to be able to say that the show is made possible in part by people's generosity."

MacPherson cautioned that the Kickstarter campaign has a slight drawback because it is an all or nothing deal.

"You have 45 days to raise the money, and if you do not reach your goal, you do not get anything," he explained.

"Diane and John work well together," said Jan. "I hope they can raise the funds, because I know people will enjoy the show.

For more information about the In Season show or the Foster Harris House, please email John MacPherson at stay@fosterharris.com.