In an authorized biography-the story of Alice Waters, Chez Panisse, and the San Francisco 1970s counterculture food revolution that invented "American cuisine" Not so long ago it was nearly impossible to find a cappuccino or a croissant in this country, and goat cheese and mesclun lettuce were virtually unheard of. Most people had no i... more »dea what "organic" food was, and even fewer thought about "sustainable farming." But in 1971, in a corner of Berkeley, California, a young Francophile named Alice Waters opened a small counterculture restaurant for her friends called Chez Panisse and launched an entirely new way of thinking about and serving food in America. Without an ounce of business sense or financial discipline, Alice relied on the coterie of devoted friends and followers who developed around her and on her strong principles of, among other things, using only locally grown and organic ingredients at the peak of their seasons, to keep her restaurant afloat. It was a reckless, extravagant, inexperienced venture that would have failed at any other time and place, but that instead-somehow-turned into a food revolution. Today, Alice Waters may be the most important figure in the culinary history of North America. Chez Panisse revolutionized what it means to eat out and gave birth to a new nationwide cuisine-the first in this country not associated with a single region or ethnic group, the first "American" cuisine. Gourmet's 2002 appraisal ranked Chez Panisse as the best restaurant in America, and The New York Times has called Alice "the mother of American cooking." Alice has become a public figure, revered and idolized by many. The first "foodie," she has become a famous chef, activist, advocate, and spokeswoman whose personal beliefs have become the values of an entire food movement. But her complex personal character is hardly known at all. Thomas McNamee was selected by Alice to document her story and was given exclusive access to her and her closest friends, to the Chez Panisse archives, and to private collections and memorabilia. As the story unfolds over the decades, we learn of her many passionate loves, her marriage, her divorce, the birth of her daughter Fanny, her failures, her critics. We come to know the extraordinary cast of characters who have formed the ever-shifting Chez Panisse community-a make-shift family with complex relationships, competing interests, and a strange, almost cultish, devotion to each other and to their work.

The Market's bargain prices are even better for Paperbackswap club members! Retail Price: ~~$16.00~~ Buy New (Paperback): $12.29 (save 23%) or Become a PBS member and pay $8.39+1 PBS book credit (save 47%)
ISBN-13: 9780143113089 ISBN-10: 0143113089 Publication Date: 2/26/2008 Pages: 400 Rating: Currently 3.6/5 Stars. 7 3.6 stars, based on 7 ratings	Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) Book Type: Paperback Other Versions: Hardcover Members Wishing: 0 Reviews: Member \| Amazon \| Write a Review

Similar books to this author and title:

Vegetable Harvest: Vegetables at the Center of the Plate

The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution

Members who requested this book also requested:

Fresh from the Garden : Cooking and Gardening Throughout the Seasons with 250 Recipes

$Turning the Tables: The Insider\'s Guide to Eating Out$

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

Currently 5/5 Stars.

Lynn F. (Art4Sale) reviewed Alice Waters and Chez Panisse on 9/17/2011 + 2 more book reviews

If you are a foodie, this book is for you!

Currently 4.5/5 Stars.

Cathy G. (cplizza) reviewed Alice Waters and Chez Panisse on 3/29/2011 + 10 more book reviews

I found this quite interesting as I am in food service and have eaten at Chez Panisse.I think anyone in food service and that loves to cook will enjoy this.

Currently 3.5/5 Stars.

Dee C. (rmanchego) - Martinez, CA reviewed Alice Waters and Chez Panisse on 9/15/2010

This is an interesting look into a culinary icon (which is pretty much what Alice has become). It echoes other things I've read about Alice, particularly her manipulations and passive-aggressive traits. Without the many people who supported, financed and put up with her, I seriously doubt she would be the "institution" she is today. A good read!

Read All Book Reviews of "Alice Waters and Chez Panisse"

Genres:

Biographies & Memoirs >> Specific Groups >> Women
Biographies & Memoirs >> General
Cookbooks, Food & Wine >> Gastronomy >> History

My Account
Post Books
Wish List
Bookshelf
Member Tools
Under the Hood
Newsletter Archive

Search for a Book
Browse My Favorite Genres
Advanced Book Search
Book Browser
Club Tag Cloud
NYT Best Sellers
Newbery Medal Winners
Pulitzer Prize Winners
Books Posted Today
Award Winning Books
Mobile / PDAs

Help Center
How to Swap Books
Ask the Librarian
Live Help
Browser Test
Feature List
Amazon Search

Community
Spread the Word
Widgets & APIs
Feeds RSS/XML
Box-O-Books
Discussion Forums
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Company
Press & Media
Pulse of PBS
Contact Us
Careers
Privacy & Security

Sister Sites
SwapaDVD.com
SwapaCD.com

Back to the Top ↑

Tell a friend about this book...

Search - Alice Waters and Chez Panisse

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews