Derek Baxter

Author of IN PURSUIT OF JEFFERSON: TRAVELS ACROSS EUROPE WITH THE MOST PERPLEXING FOUNDER. He/him.

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

@MattCookson95 Thanks so much!

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Check out this fall deal! Half off the audiobook for In Pursuit of Jefferson: Traveling Through Europe with the Most Perplexing Founding Father https://t.co/uKyhbwLhDC

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

We had a great time this weekend in Philadelphia—and found plenty of reminders of Jefferson there.

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

“We abound in the luxury of the peach,” Jefferson wrote on this day in 1815. The orchards of Monticello were laden this time of year with TJ’s favorite fruit. We made a blueberry and peach cobbler, with fruit from Virginia’s Northern Neck.

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Check out my new blog post-- Thomas Jefferson's Guide to the Paris Olympics!

https://t.co/JzUQeJs937

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

In Massachusetts, you can cover two centuries of history in an afternoon and still have time for Sam Adams (the liquid variety). Scenes from Concord, where the wicked smart Minutemen took shots at the Redcoats. And the JFK Library, which displays his sailboat, Victura.

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Check out this offer on the audio version of In Pursuit of Jefferson! Get 60 % off here: https://t.co/JH7aidMFLr @TantorAudio

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

On this day in 1787, Jefferson arrived in Nimes in the south of France. We marked the occasion with a daube, a Provencal stew—TJ copied down a recipe for it . We paired this stew with an honest Cote du Rhone and were instantly traveling in Provence, if only in our minds.

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Happy 281st to Thomas Jefferson! His travels across Europe motivated me to hit the road myself to retrace them. I recently had the chance to explore one of his lesser-known trips, to New York City. Check out my blog post about it!
https://t.co/tTn160eGkm

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Our third annual hike in search of Virginia bluebells, a new family tradition! Each spring we hunt for these “bluish-colored, funnel-formed flowers,” as Jefferson put it, which grow along Jefferson’s Rivanna and also on the banks of Bull Run not far from where we live.

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Following Jefferson’s trail in NYC! A plaque marks where he hosted a historic dinner (in the room where it happened). Nearby Fraunces Tavern housed the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs in the 1780s. Not sure I would get much work done if my office was literally in a pub.

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Raise a glass to Jefferson this St. Patrick’s Day! TJ loved Irish music and writing and explored the origins of its food. He welcomed Irish immigrants to our land and was a passionate advocate for Irish independence, hoping the American struggle served as a “good lesson.”

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Happy second birthday to In Pursuit of Jefferson! We launched it in March, 2022 at Politics and Prose in DC. Plenty of people came to welcome it into the world despite the blustery snow that day. I loved it when the kids took the stage to describe what our journeys meant to them.

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Toasting @Barboursville's four gold medal wins at Virginia’s Governor’s Cup! I broke open their 2004 Octagon, a bottle I had been lovely taking care of for 19 years. It was worth the wait. Equally impressive was their new white blend, Nascent. They made Jefferson proud!

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Check out the latest episode of American POTUS podcast, where I talk about Jefferson's travels. I enjoyed being on it, thanks for having me, @american_potus!

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

@FrankCogliano not a perfect comp, but what about TJ as classical guitar-playing Bernie Williams?

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

@FrankCogliano I was thinking of Adams as the catcher, but I think you've got it with Washington!

https://t.co/R7diybBKm2

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

On this day in 1789, Jefferson’s protégé happily announced that he had bought him a mold for making macaroni in Naples. We commemorated the occasion with tagliatelle and ragu. And washed it all down with a Barolo, the king of wines, made from the Nebbiolo grape, another TJ fav.

[Derek Baxter @derekjbaxter]

Enjoying some of Jefferson’s favorite holiday desserts, including bread pudding and apple custard pie, from family recipes. And Marsala dessert wine, which Jefferson wrote about one Christmas Day. Happy holidays to all!