I haven't quite finished the book but I'm amazed Chez Panisse survived and still serves meals. It definitely is the product of a group effort, a family.
The opening night in August 1971 was a disaster. There were plenty of diners but not enough food.
"There were still fifty people waiting in the street. 'I'm sorry, ' Alice called to them. 'We just don't have anymore food. Come back tomorrow.'"
It sounds like they had never cooked the duck recipe they were serving so the timing was an unknown quantity. The sauce reportedly contained cigarette ash from the chef, Victoria Kroyer, a UC Berkeley philosophy graduate who liked to cook at home. Ah-h-h the perfect person to hire for a new and ground breaking restaurant.
Even from the beginning it seems Alice Waters is picking people with skill but she will be able to call the shots, pick the menu items and have the final say.
Surprising Jeremiah Tower lasted as long as he did. I'm amazed at his ability to cook on a diet of champagne and cocaine. They must have had a lot of cooking accidents, mitts and sleeves on fire. But great food.
I'm going to read JT's book about all time called "California Dish".
More to come...
