Chez Panisse at 40

40 Years of Chez Panisse: The Power of Gathering by Alice Waters and Friends

It is a good thing Alice Waters decided to celebrate 40 years of Chez Panisse with this beautiful book. In words and pictures, it recounts the story of how a little restaurant on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley helped change the way people eat in the United States. Before the terms ‘locavore,’ ‘artisan’ and ‘seasonal’ became staples of restaurant menus, Ms. Waters and her collaborators prepared the freshest most local food they could find with simple precision. Chez Panisse borrowed from the food culture of Provence to create a place with a sense of community. Friends could gather at the restaurant for good simple food, good wine and great conversation. They could also revel in the artistry of beautifully illustrated menus, exquisitely prepared flower arrangements, and gleaming furnishings in the Arts and Crafts style.

‘40 Year of Chez Panisse’ celebrates the restaurant, Ms. Waters and her influences, and the power of collaboration. It is amazing to see how an idea became a movement.