My Nepenthe: Bohemian Tales of Food, Family, and Big Sur
Where to buy My Nepenthe: Bohemian Tales of Food, Family tree, and Huge Sur books online?
Product Description
“A very special book about a very special place.” –Michael Pollan, leader of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food
“What a world Romney Steele has agreed us in My Nepenthe! This personal tale is as tender and bright as a bite of Nepenthe Cheese Pie and will transport me–and you–to Huge Sur and the days and nights of this magical place. My Nepenthe serves a huge, gorgeous slice of American culture that I loved visiting through words and memory.” –Deborah Madison, leader of What We Eat When We Eat Alone and Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
“Romney Steele grew up in the lively bohemian milieu of Nepenthe on the Huge Sur coast and knows all the tales worth telling. In My Nepenthe, an intimate, richly illustrated memoir with recipes culled from the restaurant’s 60 years, she writes wonderfully about her “crazy stew of a family tree” and especially her beloved grandmother, whose kindness and hospitality were legendary. –Caroline Bates, contributing editor, Gourmet magazine
My Nepenthe weaves together tales and tales about the legendary California restaurant perched on the majestic cliffs of Huge Sur. It celebrates the magic and history of place through food and the Fassett family tree who ongoing Nepenthe.
In 2009 Nepenthe commemorates sixty years of bringing writers, artists, dancers, travelers, actors, and cooks together around the table. Today about 250,000 people visit Nepenthe every year.
A lyrical feast written by the owners’ granddaughter, Romney Steele, who grew up at the restaurant, My Nepenthe is as much about a family tree enterprise as it is about the Fassett family tree and their legacy. It recounts tales about the family tree’s more than sixty-year history on the coast, the arts and architecture, and the colorful people who were the genesis of this legendary restaurant.
My Nepenthe inscription the restaurant’s vibrant past as a gathering place and noted bohemian haunt, and its foray into the film industry during the shooting of The Sandpiper, featuring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. It also explores the lively scene that played out into the ’70s, and onward through the current decade where it showcases Nepenthe’s unique relationship with Pisoni Vineyards, owned by the renowned winemaker family tree. My Nepenthe includes more than seventy-five special recipes from the Fassetts, the restaurant, and the cafe, along with spectacular photography that completes the tale.
Ultimately, My Nepenthe is a tale about food, family tree, and the culture of place, and how it all unfolds around the table and why that matters.
About Nepenthe
Located on the Huge Sur cliffs 808 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Nepenthe Restaurant boasts sweeping views of the rugged Santa Lucia Mountains and the wild south coast of Monterey County. Angular mountains plunge into the crashing surf not more than, and on a clear day there is no limit to the scenery, pure and immense in scenery. Opened in 1949 by the Fassett family tree, the restaurant is nestled among native oak trees and a historic log cabin (now faced by brick) that was once owned by Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth.
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STOP THE PRESSES! “Roasting whole garlic brings out its sweet flavors and mellows its spicy taste.” (P. 276) This revelation is followed by instructions on how to accomplish this miracle of cooking and, unbelievably, is really listed in the recipe pointer. While I doubt roasting garlic is news to anyone, it is mentioned here as a predictable example of this pathetic memoir with its collection of hippie-era photos and — recipes (?).
The surprising thing is that this wannabee was published by Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC, who also brought us Tessa Kiros’ gorgeous books, “Venezia” and “Falling Cloudberries” as well as Pauline Nguyen’s unforgettable “Secrets of the Red Hurricane lantern.” As a replacement for of sweet nostalgia, we’re agreed a depressing tale of inebriated guests, i.e., “Poet Dylan Thomas … too drunk to make conversation …” (Notice she makes it clear that it was the poet Dylan Thomas and not some additional Dylan Thomas.) And then there was the far side of the bar, the “Dirty Confront” where Henry Miller told bawdy tales and another poet recited dirty limericks. That must have been fun.
Back to the “recipes”: There is one for “Butter and Radish Sandwiches” (buttered bread with sliced radishes – I am not kidding), “Cole Slaw,” where the major ingredient is Best Foods Mayonnaise, “Italian Rusks” (terribly intricate: you slice bread and dry it out in the oven).
And then there are the legendary “Ambrosia Burgers”: Ground beef, cheddar cheese and a sauce consisting of mayonnaise, tomato sauce and mild green salsa. No recipes are agreed for the latter three, so we can assume they come from a jar or can.
Ms. Steele has made a nice baby book for herself and future generations of her family tree. If you delight in looking at a few photos of celebrities, such as a very tired looking Richard Burton and a bored Elizabeth Taylor on the set of the unforgettable (!) “Sand Piper”, along with hundreds of snapshots of people you don’t know, this is certainly a book you will delight in. But, if you are looking for a book filled with pictures of some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America, namely Huge Sur country, then you will be as disappointed as I.
Reader’s Rating: 2 / 5
This is a memoir of the leader’s childhood and growing up at the restaurant Nepenthe.
The book is filled generously with appealing photographs of Nepenthe, people at Nepenthe, foods and the gorgeous land surrounding the restaurant.
The book is pretty fascinating to read and you get a excellent thought of the place and the leader’s life there.
It is a gorgeous and characteristic book.
I came across one minor problem, the writing on only a few of the pages appears on darkk colored pages and I had difficulty reading these pages.
I really loved the tale and the beauty of this book.
I reflect many will adore this book and reasure it.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
Nepenthe is one of the most gorgeous places on the California coast. My Nepenthe does a fantastic job representing it and its history. This book is part memoir, part cookbook written by the granddaughter of the restaurants founders. It is filled with well-written tales, gorgeous photographs, and recipes used in the restaurant. Anyone who has had the opportunity to visit this magical place will like this title.
Highly recommended.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
Nepenthe restaurant is one of the cultural icons of Northern California. Between the gorgeous location, the celebrity clientele, the excellent food and the history, it holds a special place. If you like the ancient weird California, and if you were lucky enough to have the money and time required to get there and eat there, you probably like this place.
So what about the book? It combines history, personal memory, photography, and recipes into an original stew. You’re probably not going to make this food unless you have restaurant resources at hand- but you will get a clear picture of what Nepenthe served through its being. You will come to know more of the history and personalities behind Nepenthe, and you certainly will see (and probably envy) how gorgeous the place was and is.
This is what a gift book should be – pretty to look at, appealing to read, and probably not something the recipient has already bought for herself.
Reader’s Rating: 4 / 5
This is a gorgeous book. First, it’s heavy, because it is printed on lovely smooth paper, which shows off the photos and artwork well. It is perfectly designed and pleasing to page through. The tales are fascinating, especially for the many who have visited Huge Sur and Nepenthe. I have been there many times, and I am also a huge fan of Kaffe Fassett’s fabric designs, as I am a quiltmaker. Not until I selected up this book did I know that Kaffe Fassett’s parents built Nepenthe, and that is where he spent his youth. His extended family tree still runs the place, so it’s very much a family tree affair.
It’s fantastic fun to read about all the colorful characters who have lounged about the place, and the many recipes for their favorite dishes seem like the cherry on top of the sundae!
The best way to illustrate how much I like this book is that I bought two to give as gifts.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5