a love affair with chez panisse

While researching Chez Panisse, I discovered a heartfelt review written by blogger Adam Roberts…started back in 2004, his blog is called Amateur Gourmet and chronicles his love affair with food along with his transition from law school to professional food writer…on April 19th 2007, he visited Chez Panisse for dinner and composed a magical review…his eloquent writing takes you with him, from the fairy tale facade to the simplicity and balance of each bite, he leaves you with keys in hand, ready to catch the next flight to Berkeley California…if you are one of the lucky ones, and have eaten at Chez Panisse, then reading his post may transport you back to a much loved memory…if you are like me, yearning to experience the ultimate in farm to table perfection, then this review will take you there…Adam is a brilliant and passionate writer…I’m thrilled he has found his calling! Please enjoy!

To read Adam’s review of Chez Panisse, click here

photos by me ~ summer 2011

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happy 40th chez panisse!

On Sunday August 28th 2011, Chez Panisse, the iconic Berkeley California restaurant founded by the one and only Alice Waters, will be celebrating its 40th anniversary! The philanthropic festivities begin on Friday and run through Sunday night…highlights include a Friday “Birthday Eve” dinner with all the flourishes, hosted by Alice Waters and cooked by Jean-Pierre Moulle with Sally Clarke of London, a Saturday Provencal feast cooked by chef David Tanis honoring Nicolas Pagnol, son of French filmmaker Marcel Pagnol whose spirited cinema gave Alice Waters the name for Chez Panisse! And on Sunday, there will be a special screening of Marcel Pagnol’s film “The Baker’s Wife” with an introduction by Alice Waters and Tom Luddy, 4:00 PM at the Pacific Film Archive Theater…all of the proceeds will benefit the Edible Schoolyard Project, a pioneering organization founded by Alice Waters in 1996 which supports an educational program that uses food to nurture, educate, and empower youth…

I’m awed and amazed by what she has been able to accomplish…for me, she is a shining example of how one person can truly make a difference…may we all learn from her courage, strength and good will…

the photos in today’s post are from the Berkeley Edible Schoolyard as well as the Pittsburgh Edible Schoolyard…

“We believe every child has a right to fresh, healthy food. And we believe public school is the best place to provide it. Like physical education programs—established forty years ago in response to a presidential commission concerned about the fitness of our nation’s youth—food education and access to fresh, healthy food must become part of the public school experience. The Foundation has developed three program areas to support this vision.” ~ Alice Waters

School Lunch Reform ~ A strategy to transform the quality of school food nationwide, and a model school lunch program in the Berkeley Unified School District.

The Edible Schoolyard ~ A model garden and kitchen program on the grounds of a public school, where students learn the connections between food, health, and the environment.

The Edible Schoolyard Affiliate Network ~ A small network of model programs which demonstrate that the Edible Schoolyard can succeed in a diverse set of climates and communities, and through a variety of funding streams.

To learn more about the Edible Schoolyard, click here

below, a tomato tasting at the Berkeley Edible Schoolyard

below, students shuck corn at the Berkeley Edible Schoolyard

below, students from the Pittsburgh Edible Schoolyard

below, T-shirt designed by Alice Waters…the chef partnered with Levi’s on a limited-edition collection of T-shirts and enlisted friends Sofia Coppola,  David Byrne, Dave Eggers, and Maira Kalman to contribute a design…to see all four designs, click here

photos from Vogue.com, Foodiebia.blogspot.com, Berkeleyside.com, aboutharvest.com

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