Alice Waters, born on this day in 1944, grew up in New Jersey, where she "never tasted a perfectly ripe tomato". On a trip to France in her early twenties, she experienced for the first time food straight from the garden or farm, simply prepared and eaten at rustic country tables. It changed her life.
She adopted that cooking style as her own, and the friends who gathered at her house in Berkeley often urged her to open a restaurant. The result was Chez Panisse, which opened its doors in 1971. She imagined it as a place where straightforward food prepared with fresh ingredients would be served in an atmosphere of true hospitality. This was a simple idea, bull simplifications are astounding.
Over the years, her enthusiasm, energy, and insistence on perfection changed the face of American dining, first at her own restaurant and then through the chefs who worked with her, adopted her creed and opened their own restaurants across the country.
An early advocate of organic food, she developed a network of more than sixty farmers and ranchers who supply ingredients to Chez Panisse. She has even created a special position at the restaurant, the forager, whose job is to make the rounds of suppliers and to seek out new ones. Rather than deciding on what will be served and then shopping for the food, the menu is determined each day based on the best ingredients that have been found.
She believes people need to renew a lost connection to the land. In line with this idea was the Garden project: inmates at the san Francisco County Jail growing organic greens. Alice was a huge supporter and bought the produce for Chez Panisse. She herself started the Edible Schoolyard, where kids grow, harvest, cook and eat their own food. She believes in starting early to teach children not only the wisdom but also the pleasure of eating healthful food. A close friend of hers always pauses guiltily before entering a fast-food restaurant. "Don't tell Alice", she says.
Chez Panisse, 1517 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
Reprinted from "Life is Meals" by James and Kay Salter.
Now for me. I have been working a lot this month to make up for my "sad" paycheck in April (due to my trip to Bangkok in March-don't feel sorry for me yet). So I finally have 6 days off at the end of April/May and I think "I'll go somewhere fun". I need a break, I'm tired. So I consider going to visit my grandchildren or maybe Hawaii. Next thing you know, my tote bag luggage tag hits me in the eye and now I have a black eye. At first I think I can't go anywhere with a black eye, but then I get over it-that's what makeup is for. So the next day I start planning again, a simple trip somewhere fun. And then I slice my arm open-okay I get it! The fates are telling me to stay home-why I don't know, but I'm listening already! It's funny how life talks to you sometimes.
Metro Pizza
There are numerous cooking schools in Las Vegas, but I am interested in short-term fun classes. I would like to try Metro Pizza, which has a pizza cooking class on the 2nd Tuesday and the last Tuesday of each month-this is for adults and costs $24.95. Go to www.metropizza.com for more information. Weekly they have free classes for kids to learn how to make pizzas-not fair!
The Cooking Experience at Mise En Place
And due to a recent birthday gift certificate from my sister Donna, I will be taking a Mexican cooking class on May 8th at "The Cooking Experience at Mise En Place" in Henderson. Will let you know how it goes.
Sur La Table
There is also Sur La Table in Summerlin, Las Vegas with daily, cooking classes. Which seems to be focusing on more demonstrating cooking than actually learning on my own. But I might be wrong. I will be signing up for a class there soon too and will let you know.
In the meanwhile, Happy Cooking!
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