La Petite Chinoise : LPC

In 1971, Alice Waters and Paul Aratow founded Chez Panisse.

Chez Panisse started off as a French restaurant. Waters had spent a year in France and Aratow had lived extensively in France and was a faculty member in Comparative Literature at UC Berkeley. These days, Chez Panisse is known as a “Californian” restaurant: fresh food cooked in a fusion of cuisine styles.

Chez Panisse is located in the “Gourmet Ghetto” on Shattuck Avenue in North Berkeley. It is housed in a converted apartment house. The restaurant is located on the ground flour and the café (more casual restaurant) is on the first floor, which offers a less expensive, a-la-carte menu. The restaurant offers a set menu, which consists of an appetizer, main dish and dessert, which also differs every night. Monday night is the “country” night, while Tuesday and Wednesday nights are more stylish dining.

There is a surprise element to dinner, as reservations are made at least 6 weeks in advance, and there is no knowing what the menu will be. The menus are posted on the Chez Panisse websiteat the beginning of each week. You should advise during the reservations if you have special dietary requirements, as all portions and food are planned ahead.

Waters is a culinary pioneer for bringing fresh food to the table and putting Californian cuisine in the spotlight. Special care is put towards getting the freshest organic ingredients from local suppliers. Waters is also highly respected for her efforts and her commitment to The Edible Schoolyard.

While waiting for dessert, I asked to see the kitchen. I wanted to see if Waters and her philosophy of good food and community is really all that, if she was real. You know, a man can talk excitedly about the fancy Shelby he bought and yet he wears a polyester tie? To me, it’s a character flaw.

Well, I confirm that Waters is all that! The kitchen at Chez Panisse is the nicest commercial kitchen I had ever seen. It doesn't look like a restaurant kitchen at all and feels more like a kitchen in the countryside. It’s an open kitchen in red brick, timber and terracotta floor tiles. The work counters are clean and spacious. Everything is neatly arranged and the lighting is mellow. Everyone is working in synchronization and has clean uniforms. There is no shouting or yelling. I almost expected to hear classical music playing in the background. I asked the dessert cook if she was happy working at Chez Panisse. Her answer: “I’m proud to be here.”

Chez Panisse is No.20 on Restaurant Magazine’s list of Top 50 Restaurants in the world.

Set Menu Dinner for US$50 on September 11, 2006 was:

Verdict: A meal not to be missed while in the Bay Area. The food is indeed very fresh and tasty. Unfussy food that looks and tastes like it should. First meal I had in the US that is well portioned; I was able to have a proper three course meal without leaving the table bloated.

Chez Panisse
1517 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
Tel: 1-510-548-5049
Click here for the Chez Panisse website
Reservations at least 6 weeks in advance