We made the trek to Berkeley and found the kitchen that launched the movement - slow foods that is - eat locally and sustainably, eat seasonally, shop at Farmer's Markets, plant a garden, cook simply, cook together, eat together. It's that simple.
Chef Alice Waters began the movement but to be totally honest her restaurant has not kept up with the times. It is not on the forward front of the movement, just as Restaurant Nora is no longer on the cutting edge in Washington, DC - even though Nora opened the first organic restaurant in DC in the 80's. Both are still lovely and beautifully presented, however, but they have lost their edge. Their philosophy and ingredients are still fresh and organic and local, but they seem not to have kept up with how we've now figured out how to cook these items with a third of the saturated fat and still make it delicious, lively and "clean". Lila and Pete and I sampled and paid homage. It's an institution, like Restaurant Nora is in DC but it is no Sushi Ran in Sausalito (more on that later).
