Life List Item #48 Completed: Eat at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California

Chez Panisse and it's co-founder, Alice Waters, are associated with the creation of California cuisine. This type of cuisine is marked by a strong emphasis on presentation and the use of the freshest, organic, local food available. The restaurant is located in Berkeley, CA, which as a city has a reputation for liberalism and a sort of low-key hippie aesthetic.

I wouldn't recommend Chez Panisse for the service (and before you protest, I'm not saying the service is bad). It's just that the previously mentioned hippie aesthetic shines through at this restaurant. Although the restaurant is serving up a fine dining prix fixe menu, the casual attitude underlying the service was very obvious to me. Jackets are not required for men, and a few patrons were even wearing jeans. And I'm saying all this as a terrible food snob; if you choose to eat here, this little nuance will probably go totally unnoticed.

That all being said, the food itself was outstanding. The waitstaff was very knowledgeable about exactly when and where everything on the plate had come from. I can honestly say that I had the best tomatoes and the best duck breast I've ever eaten in my life here. For fine dining, the portions were generous, and the presentation immaculate. I also must mention that we probably had the best table in the house, which overlooks the main drag in Berkeley.

If you're looking for an even more casual (and cheaper) meal, Chez Panisse also features an upstairs cafe that just serves entrees.

One cute thing they do at the restaurant is to print up the days menu on nice paper, which you get to take as a souvenir when you leave. Here's mine:

Aperitif

***

Heirloom tomato salad with sheep's milk ricotta and green olive toast

***

Pan-seared sea scallops with corn and basil

***

Spiced Sonoma Liberty duck breast with apricot chutney, haricot verts, and fresh flageolet beans

***

Rose-scented meringue with raspberry ice cream and summer berries