by Alice Waters
First published 2008
David Tanis divides his time between two culinary worlds. For half the year, he serves as head chef at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California, where he has worked with Alice Waters since the 1980s to transform sustainable American dining. The remaining months find him in Paris, cooking in a cramped seventeenth-century apartment kitchen with basic equipment. Armed with only an aging stove, minimal counter space, and well-worn cookware, Tanis hosts intimate dinners for friends and guests. He champions simplicity over spectacle, believing the most rewarding meals stem from straightforward preparation rather than complex techniques or exotic ingredients. His philosophy centers on gathering people around tables to nourish both bodies and conversations. The book presents 24 seasonal menus that home cooks can recreate, spanning spring's Supper of the Lamb to winter's North African Comfort Food. Tanis guides readers through market-driven cooking that emphasizes fresh, seasonal ingredients and accessible methods, proving that any kitchen can become a welcoming space for meaningful meals.
Genres: non-fiction, cooking, 21st-century, food-and-drink, food-writing, culinary
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: Berkeley, California, Paris
Period: 1980s
305 pages · Kindle Edition · Artisan