Vegetables As Art: Part II

If you love the look of letterpress and you enjoy cooking

you will thoroughly enjoy 

Patrica Curtans book featuring 

the 

Menus for Chez Panisse

 The book is written in a chronological format, 

which is really interesting when you see how 

the menus, the artwork  

and the PRICES 

have evolved since 1971!

 many of the menus in the book 

were created for specific celebrations...like Birthdays,

 New Years and Bastille Day

 there are wonderful menus 

for special guests as well

Patricia shares her process of print making

 and you really can see how time consuming 

these menus were for her to create

I suppose the menus most importantly reveal the art of simple food

 and what is in the forefront 

of the slow food movement...

 the farm to table philosophy of eating well,  

supporting our local growers 

and educating children and adults alike about 

what "food" really is

Alice Waters most important project, aside from the restaurant,

has been a non profit program called 

the edible schoolyard

the project started about 17 years ago at 

Martin Luther King middle school in Berkeley California...as a way to teach children about the importance of healthy food...growing, cooking and sharing food at the table 

Chez Panisse almost was almost lost to a fire this past year 

but has since reopened 

I truly appreciate the art of letterpress and of course 

the beauty of the garden and a well cooked meal... 

Chez Panisse seems the embodiment of those things

in my own kitchen

 I have a few of Patricia Curtans prints framed 

and haphazardly placed  them on open shelves 

along with dishes and glassware

I had to take apart my cook book in order to frame these little prints

 but I love how they look 

and they remind me of the simplicity and beauty of vegetables

even if you are not a gardener...

 we can appreciate the

beauty and art 

of a ripe red tomato

Enjoy the day

!

~kelley~

Vegetables As Art: Part 1

 As you may have guessed I'm a

 "little bit of a crazy" 

when it comes to flowers...

I love all varieties, shapes and sizes

I'm not picky 

and I'll try just about anything in

 an arrangement at least once

well, maybe not poison ivy!

 This year in the vegetable garden I planted leeks...

I wanted leeks to eat and sauté 

but I was secretly hoping they would blossom

 and they did!

 These are little globes of 

oniony smelling 

leek flowers

 The flowers are pretty large actually...around 3 to 4 inches across

 tinged with a bit of purple and lime green

 I picked these just before I harvested the leeks and they have already lasted about a week 

in this arrangement of old milk bottles

The flowers that had not opened when I cut these,  

are now fully in bloom... 

which was another surprise

 I have planted Allium bulbs in the past, in my perennial beds, which are ornamental and not edible,

 but honestly, these are just as pretty 

and you get the benefit of the edible leeks as well

Two for the price of one!!!

  now onto the  

"vegetables as art"

 part of this story

 About 10 years ago I purchased this cookbook (originally publish in 1996) 

and it changed the way I look at the beauty of vegetables

I am a HUGE fan of Alice Waters 

and her cooking style

Alice and her staff have been the innovative force behind the 

"farm to table" philosophy and style of cooking 

in her landmark Berkeley California restaurant 

Chez Panisse

since 1971 

Anyone who is interested in cooking, organic farming and home gardening 

has heard of Alice Waters

She embraces the art of French cooking and was a friend and peer 

of the legendary Julia Child

She has supported her local community of farmers and growers 

from San Diego to the Oregon Border and beyond in search of 

of interesting and beautiful fresh produce, 

poultry, fish and charcuterie  

"Alice Waters and her suppliers share the belief 

that optimal flavor and environmental harmony go hand in hand"

 When I purchased this book, primarily for the recipes, it was actually the art work

that left me so in love with this cookbook 

all of the art included in this book is the work of Patricia Curtan, print maker,

 designer and long time collaborator at Chez Panisse

Patricia works with linoleum blocks or Linotype on a very old printing press.  She studied the art of printmaking and letter press early on in her collaboration with Alice 

which resulted in a collection of amazing menus 

these are just some of the beautiful interpretations of garden vegetables

 throughout this wonderful book

she manages to take the humble butternut squash 

and make it a package of gold 

and here are the simple and beautiful leek blossoms that have found their way

 into my love of

 honest and simple flower arrangements

much more to come...vegetables are beautiful !

yes indeed

Trees

 The trees on our property give us many things... 

beautiful silhouettes 

 shady spots to sit

 big branches for swings

they draw your eyes to the sun and clouds

a tall lacy country skyline 

they welcome visitors along the gravel drive

 and invite you to walk barefoot in the grass 

beside the creek

and the fruit trees give us wonderful sweet oranges and lemons

 and crunchy apples

and the peaches...yum

(I had to pick them all early because the squirrels love them too)

but the trees provide a place for animals and birds of all kinds
wrens, woodpeckers and finches
owls, hawks and orioles...are just a few of the birds we see (and hear) every day

yes...more eggs now!

the little Junco laid 4 last week

and this week we have babies

 not a cute as I thought they would be...

but I'm sure mama thinks they are just beautiful

so this is why the trees are so wonderful,

they provide so much my family and for other families too

I feel like I need to hug a tree...you too?

~*Kelley*~