Chez Panisse Restaurant & Alice Waters have been on my mind a lot lately. Last Sunday, August 28th, the restaurant turned 40 years old! I’ve been feeling very nostalgic as the restaurant and Alice have significantly influenced who I am today… not to mention, it is my 40th year as well… which makes it even more special. I’ve been reminiscing through old flat file drawers full of various projects and menus that I have done over the years.
I came across this birthday menu that I created in 2007. There was a full moon that night and the restaurant created a feast celebrating fresh herbs. I found the full moon image in an old book of mine, the style of my calligraphy was inspired by French hand-written menus from the early 1900’s. I letterpress printed the menus and hand-painted each one!
Happy Birthday Chez Panisse…. and may there be many more ahead!
Cynthia, I was SO hoping you would be doing the menu for the 40th! I love looking at all your illustrations and this one was no exception. Beautiful work!! I also read David Lebovitz’s description of the dinner and it sounded amazing.
Thank you Victoria…. I was too! But alas, there are just too many incredibly talented artists who are connected to the restaurant! I did get to play a small part though…. my past menus were part on the “wallpaper installation”! 🙂
The full moon menu is so beautiful — is this menu available for purchase, by chance? As an Alice Waters devotee just completing a kitchen renovation, one of your menus framed would make a lovely addition to the walls of my kitchen…next to my photo of the franch chef with her staff crouched behind her handing her vairous ingredients… Let me know!
Hello Rebecca, So sorry for the delay in my response! Please contact me via email (cynthia@cwarrendesign.com) to discuss further. Thank you!