Comments on: Chez Panisse with Michael Pollan

By: Anastasia Bodnar

Anastasia Bodnar — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:19:55 +0000

As I mentioned in this post, I had some olives at Chez Panisse that were absolutely amazing. So delicately flavored with rosemary, they were the best olives I’ve ever had. I haven’t been able to find anything like them, and believe me I’ve tried… until today. Target brand “Greek Olive Medley”, actually from Greece, apparently, are every bit as good as my memory of Chez Panisse olives (and a lot cheaper too!).

By: Talked with Pollan, not too much, mostly about plants.

Talked with Pollan, not too much, mostly about plants. — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:32:18 +0000

[...] was on the ball the other night with publishing her review of our evening with Michael Pollan. Mine comes a little late but not too little. We had all weekend [...]

By: Anastasia Bodnar

Anastasia Bodnar — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:30:37 +0000

Ah, we talked about so much that it’s hard to think of key things to write about. Afterward I said to Karl that we should have surreptitiously audio recorded the conversation – not for posting, of course – but just so we’d be able to play it back so we’d know what to write about! I’ll try to think about it today, while I’m doing my first immunoprecipitation ever – here’s hoping it works!

Is Alice Waters considered one of the top chefs? By whom, and by what standards? Not that I think she’s not deserving, but I always wonder how this is decided. When I watch Food Network competitions, there comes a point when all of the chefs are so good that it’s close to impossible to say which is better. I don’t even know how people compare cuisines. I mean, can you even compare Thai to Mexican?

I would probably complain more about the price if it was a different chef. I know that with Chez Panisse at least some of the cost is due to paying niche farmers to grow rare produce like those Kishu tangerines and to ensure that the produce is as fresh as possible, which I’d imagine takes a lot of effort.

Ok, off to work!

By: Ewan R

Ewan R — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:40:58 +0000

From the sounds of it, the price tag is likely warranted – My wife and I dropped a similar amount (cf the resturaunt) on a dinner in St Louis in a resturaunt run by an up and coming star of the local food scene – I can happily say that I’ve been heartily disappointed dropping $60 between the two of us for food in some places but even close to $200 was well worth it for good food prepared well.

Roll on the post about the actual discussion!

By: Liz McLellan

Liz McLellan — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:47:57 +0000

Well that was mouthwatering!
I hope we get to hear more about your discussion!
But yum…

Also as one of the top 10 Chefs in THE WORLD, I am not sure crabbing about the price is really valid…Would people do that if it were any of the top male chefs…I doubt it. And not just a chef – she is a game changer who also give on the ground in her community.

Anyway – so glad you got to have the chance to eat there and chat with Mr. Pollan. He’s pretty down to earth contrary to what some would have you believe.

By: Karl Haro von Mogel

Karl Haro von Mogel — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:47:05 +0000

When I was talking to the Ashoka Changemakers about meeting up with Michael, I expressed my opinion that I’d be happy to have a big bowl of Mac & Cheese if it meant sitting down and chatting with him. They insisted on us going to the fancy establishment, and it didn’t end up coming out of our blog grant. They are reimbursing us for 100 bucks, and Michael was very generous and offered to cover the rest!

I heard about the pizza place, and Michael pointed out the cheese store next door, too.

I was pleased that we were going to the cafe, too, although the black truffle sauce component of the single-dish restaurant sounded interesting. But being able to have some choice in what we ate was good! It also gave us a little of a start – Anastasia called the restaurant to make sure she would have a vegetarian option, and they said that there was no reservation under ours or Michael’s name. That’s when we realized the Cafe-Restaurant split.

I’d go back… but I’ll wait until my first book gets on the NY Times list so that I can afford it!

By: Anastasia Bodnar

Anastasia Bodnar — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:23:42 +0000

The Café isn’t as bad as the restaurant, especially if you choose vegetarian dishes. One person could do a 3 course with a glass of wine for about $40, which I think is pretty good for big cities on the coasts. While I wouldn’t go to a place like this all the time, it’s nice to go somewhere fancy now and then.

Thankfully, delicious local food isn’t just for $96 dinners!

I’m glad you liked the review.

It looks like The Progressive Farmer is something I should be watching. Thanks.

By: Chris Clayton

Chris Clayton — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:48:27 +0000

FYI, I cover agriculture and food policy for DTN/The Progressive Farmer, traveled to Berkeley and profiled Michael Pollan last year and passed on eating at Chez Panisse after seeing it was $96 a plate. I went to the pizza joint across the street instead.

By: Karl Haro von Mogel

Karl Haro von Mogel — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:50:42 +0000

I grew up raising a few sheep and eating them, so I guess I was expecting a more lamb-y lamb. But it might have been due to differences in breeds. Suffolk and Shropshire is what I’m familiar with. The blood orange salad was surprisingly delicious!

I still maintain that my chosen dessert was superior!

“how many times do you expect you could possibly visit Chez Panisse without filing for personal bankruptcy?”

Well, six and two-thirds of such dinners and Biofortified would be completely broke. One must be a best-selling author to eat there regularly. (And he does!)

By: Chris Clayton

Chris Clayton — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:48:06 +0000

That was a wonderful review and I’m sure you had an enjoyable time. Now, “sustainable ag” person, how much did that meal cost each person and how many times do you expect you could possibly visit Chez Panisse without filing for personal bankruptcy?