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mimstery's review against another edition
3.0
Alice Waters' book is a very personal and humble account that retraces the events that led her to open Chez Panisse. From growing up in Chatham NJ to California, from her campus stories to her bohemian life style, meeting the most exciting people: from politicians to painters, film directors, photographers, but always around a table with a common bond of food. This is dotted with awesome
anecdotes, recipes, and even letters.
Panisse: A fried, chickpea flour cake from Provence - if you love garlic and chickpeas make some while reading the book
anecdotes, recipes, and even letters.
Panisse: A fried, chickpea flour cake from Provence - if you love garlic and chickpeas make some while reading the book
amlibera's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a long time Alice Waters fan (even making a point of reserving a table at Chez Panisse on my honeymoon). This book about her life experiences leading up to the opening of her restaurant provides a window on the aesthetics of the 60's and 70's counterculture and really just make you want to sit in a kitchen full of people who have eaten a stew made with organic vegetables and a simple salad and drink wine. So that.
courtneymminor's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
julieverive's review against another edition
4.0
Charming and intimate and what a window into the time. I want very much to eat at Chez Panisse now!
buffstbookslisa's review against another edition
5.0
The writing here starts out somewhat dry but the book gradually unfolds to reveal much of what informed and inspired Alice Waters. I very much enjoyed the insights on someone who has made such a huge contribution to how we cook and eat today.
pr727's review against another edition
2.0
I listened to the audio book, which is read by the author. I found the narration hard to understand; Ms. Waters lowers the tone and volume of her voice at the end of nearly every sentence, swallowing the last few words. The book is a collection of anecdotes and memories that generally follow her life sequentially, with a fair amount of jumping around. And lots of name dropping. Shortly after starting the book, I watched the documentary "Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent". Interesting that she mentions Tower, who worked at Chez Panisse for six years, only once. The book ends with the opening of Chez Panisse.
maryehavens's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book because it was an audiobook and I went to Chez Panisse in 2008 with my dearest friend, Tricia. Tricia knows much more than I do about the Slow Food Movement and Alice Waters. I was literally along for the ride for that entire weekend (and it was the best trip I've ever taken because, as Tricia put it, I needed it so badly).
What I remember about Chez Panisse was that the location of the restaurant was unexpected and I had the best strawberries I've ever had in my life. And probably will ever have. I remember it being expensive but my husband and I were on one smallish income so it probably is priced reasonably. I had a salad and Tricia kindly gave me a strawberry. After lunch, we were able to go through the kitchen, which I thought was interesting.
As for this book, it's o.k. I recommend it if you are realllllly interested in Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. There were times when I wasn't that interested (it gets a little too detailed) but I do like how she talks about food and the ideas that she brought to American food culture. I could do without her sexual conquests but it's her book so she can do whatever she wants.
I have another Alice Waters book in my queue but, after reading this, I might delete it. We'll see.
OH: and it was interesting to me to learn about Montessori schools.
What I remember about Chez Panisse was that the location of the restaurant was unexpected and I had the best strawberries I've ever had in my life. And probably will ever have. I remember it being expensive but my husband and I were on one smallish income so it probably is priced reasonably. I had a salad and Tricia kindly gave me a strawberry. After lunch, we were able to go through the kitchen, which I thought was interesting.
As for this book, it's o.k. I recommend it if you are realllllly interested in Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. There were times when I wasn't that interested (it gets a little too detailed) but I do like how she talks about food and the ideas that she brought to American food culture. I could do without her sexual conquests but it's her book so she can do whatever she wants.
I have another Alice Waters book in my queue but, after reading this, I might delete it. We'll see.
OH: and it was interesting to me to learn about Montessori schools.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
”People want to know how I came to open a restaurant at twenty-seven years old. I never went to culinary school, I never cooked professionally. Why a restaurant? Why this kind of restaurant? Why this kind of cooking? How did I have the courage to open it?”
If I had a bucket list, I suspect that most of the entries would be restaurants that I want to eat it. Or a list of chefs whose food I want to eat. Food is important to all of us, but excellent food is something I would happily pay for. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to travel to and eat at all the places I would like to. So, I read about food as often as possible.
Waters is definitely a chef whose food I would like to try. I have eaten at many restaurants whose food has been influenced by Waters and Chez Panisse. However, for me, I don’t expect to ever eat at this café. The way we eat in this country has been changed by this chef and she didn’t even plan to open a restaurant, let alone to change the way a nation eats.
I found this story fascinating. Waters looks back at her life and tries to answer the questions that I quote above. She knows where she is, but others do not. And many people want to know how Waters invented herself.
The hardest part about reading this memoir is that Waters only writes about her life up to the opening of her famous restaurant. I found her early life fascinating and was more than happy to learn about her growing up, her schooling and how she made her way to California. But then the book stopped. Please, Ms Waters write another book. I want to know more.
If you like to read about food, this book may or may not be for you. Waters doesn’t tell all her secrets of running Chez Panisse for all these years. However, if you like to see the inner workings of another person, I recommend this memoir to you. Waters has really considered how she came to her senses.
If I had a bucket list, I suspect that most of the entries would be restaurants that I want to eat it. Or a list of chefs whose food I want to eat. Food is important to all of us, but excellent food is something I would happily pay for. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to travel to and eat at all the places I would like to. So, I read about food as often as possible.
Waters is definitely a chef whose food I would like to try. I have eaten at many restaurants whose food has been influenced by Waters and Chez Panisse. However, for me, I don’t expect to ever eat at this café. The way we eat in this country has been changed by this chef and she didn’t even plan to open a restaurant, let alone to change the way a nation eats.
I found this story fascinating. Waters looks back at her life and tries to answer the questions that I quote above. She knows where she is, but others do not. And many people want to know how Waters invented herself.
The hardest part about reading this memoir is that Waters only writes about her life up to the opening of her famous restaurant. I found her early life fascinating and was more than happy to learn about her growing up, her schooling and how she made her way to California. But then the book stopped. Please, Ms Waters write another book. I want to know more.
If you like to read about food, this book may or may not be for you. Waters doesn’t tell all her secrets of running Chez Panisse for all these years. However, if you like to see the inner workings of another person, I recommend this memoir to you. Waters has really considered how she came to her senses.