Chez Panisse opened its doors in 1971. Founded by Alice Waters, the
restaurant is rooted in her conviction that the best-tasting food is
organic, locally grown, and harvested in ecologically sound ways by
people who are taking care of the land for future generations. The quest
for such ingredients has always determined the restaurant's cuisine,
and, over the course of forty years, Chez Panisse has helped create a
community of local farmers and ranchers whose dedication to sustainable
agriculture assures the restaurant a steady supply of fresh and pure
ingredients.
In Forty Years of Chez Panisse: The Power of Gathering, Alice takes
readers on her journey from the humble and visionary beginnings of the
restaurant, through its rise and the acclaim, to the Café and the
influential Chez Panisse Foundation. Organized by decade, the book
includes a wealth of archival material and photographs--menus;
invitations; pictures of Alice at the restaurant and around the world,
with those who have passed through her life--and interviews from public
figures and cooks who have been inspired by or mentored at the
restaurant.
This tribute to the delicious food revolution that began with Alice
Waters and Chez Panisse is an important work for anyone who cares about
food, sustainability, and the powerful legacy that Alice has built.
