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...!

Sweet, Sweet Summer

Check out the new summer issue of Sweet Paul! Great recipes, crafts, inspiration... a beautiful publication and feast for your eyes!

Blackberry Peach Crumb Bars

I made these heavenly Blackberry Peach Crumb Bars for a summer gathering recently. I had a few fruit desserts to pick from, but settled on this recipe. I ended up adding white peach slices and it was delightful!

The fruit was ripe, beautiful and so sweet. My first inclination was to use nectarines, but the peaches just happen to look better at the market that day. I may try nectarines next time, but I really loved the peach version.

I love the way the dark blackberries look scattered over the juicy peach and silky white batter.

These made perfect little in-hand sweets; an alfresco must this summer!

Secret Supper Clubs

This concept is so exciting to me, it makes my knees weak. A secret dinner, attended by only a few, eaten at a communal table, at either a rotating or stationary location, sometimes in the chefs very home... speechless. I first came across this idea of a supper club in an article on The FourCoursemen and fell in love. Since then, they have been popping up every where, all cities; these intimate meals for the ultimate foodie. I have had my eye on this (quickly surfacing) SF secret, Wild Kitchen, who I previously posted about here. I look forward to partaking in this foraged feast, especially after the amazing recap of their Valentine's Day dinner.

Which brings me to my most recent discovery, HiP Paris Blog, and their post on 3 hidden Paris kitchens. OMGosh... cannot handle the excitement! Such an incredible venture, I think this is my next dream job (if you could even call it a j-o-b?!)... the wheels in my head are already spinning! It's truly the perfect fusion of love for entertaining & cooking. Oh, and their lovely post on how to purchase an apartment in Paris is so worth a peek... even if it's just a silly little dream ;)

p.s....here's another little nugget-o-love to nibble on; a rooftop dinner in Buenos Aires by this Edible Tales creator.

image found via {HiP Paris Blog}