[dmforcier]

Tonight, two American Masters shows., the first on Jacques Pepin, the second on Alice Waters, owner of Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley CA.

The Pepin show was excellent. I had no idea that he was so accomplished before he came to the US - so young - serving as the chef to the French "White House" because he was drafted. Here, after his work at Le Pavillon, he twice turned down offers to serve as the chef to the US White House stating (essentially) "been there, done that."

The Alice Waters show, OTOH, is a treasure of correctness. Whatever the success of Chez Panisse, Alice was NOT the chef, and as she states bluntly, "I haven't been in the kitchen in 19 years." Paul Aratow was co-founder and executive chef in 1971, and isn't even mentioned. Nor was Jeremiah Tower, legendary chef from 1972-78, who later founded Stars* et al. Nor was Paul Bertolli, chef from 1982-1992. Instead, Alice is honored for the idea (likely not her own ) to source locally because it's cheaper. Kudos for someone for the return to local ingredients as chic. But don't regret having missed this show.



* Been there done that. It was superb.