Go Ask Alice

Alice Waters flipping through her new book, reminiscing old times... dang boom-stand in my way!

A few weekends ago I listened to Alice Waters give a little talk at the Ferry Building on her new book 40 Years of Chez Panisse: The Power of Gathering. As the owner and founder of the famed Chez Panisse, Alice has been on the forefront of the eating-local-and-sustainable movement and currently serves as the "Vice President of Slow Food International, a nonprofit organization that promotes and celebrates local artisanal food traditions and has 100,000 members in over 130 countries". She has expanded her passion for healthy eating into education, pioneering the Edible Schoolyard at Berkeley’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Middle School, an "education program that instills the knowledge and values we need to build a humane and sustainable future".

This latest Chez Panisse cookbook highlights the last 40 years of the restaurant, Alice, and all the people who have contributed to this successful endeavor over the years. Alongside Alice at the booksigning was Patricia Curtan, the gifted artist responsible for all of the restaurant's beautiful menus.

Patricia holding the book as Alice talking and laughing about this picture: as a Montessori teacher and all the kids running away from her!

To find out more about Alice, the new book, and the restaurant visit here. I have yet to enjoy a meal at Chez Panisse... it is on my to-do list... maybe for my 30th...!