Alice Waters and Chez Panisse

“Charming. . . . What [McNamee] does beautifully is capture the spirit of the restaurant and its spiritual growth, as well as its place in American culture.”
-Los Angeles Times

“McNamee, an erudite journalist, essayist, poet, and literary critic, paints a particularly vivid picture of this enfant terrible of the kitchen.”
-San Francisco Chronicle

“A wonderfully entertaining, gossipy glimpse inside a kitchen that continues to surprise and delight.”
-The Seattle Times

“A rounded and convincing portrait of a controversial figure in American cooking.”
-Saveur

“Careering, chaotic, and ultimately inspiring . . . McNamee’s clear-eyed assessment avoids the usual platitudes about California cuisine and shows how one individual with an understanding of food can carve out a personal identity and at the same time make culinary history.”
-The New York Times Book Review