On my birthday, lunch at Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley renown for using local, organic foods and credited as the inspiration for the style of cooking known as California cuisine. Restauranteur, author, and food activist Alice Waters co-founded Chez Panisse in 1971 with film producer Paul Aratow, then professor of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley.

The menu for October 9th. Began with our favorite from our many trips to France–kir royals. Then Gypsy salad for me and Goat Cheese salad for my daughter. We both had the duck confit with squash gratin. Then I had the Apple & quiince galette and she had the bittersweet chocolate pave. Click on photo for next week’s menus.

Dessert pour moi

Dessert pour ma fille

The next morning. Simpler fare back at Chez Karen

And then a walk with the granddaughters to burn off all those calories. Looking back up from where we came from.

Having a rest and a snack half-way down.

Looking down at our long way to go. Our Upper Rockridge neighborhood is filled with these “paths” of concrete steps that take you from one street to another.

On night two, a surprise dinner cooked by my expert chef son-in-law of lamb shanks, polenta, and broccolini and carrots. As wonderful as any restaurant.

The chef and his wife! And all enjoyed al fresco in our backyard.

After!

Ooops! Not to be forgotten dinner on the birthday night with a dear friend at the newly opened Neopolitan restaurant in Danville CA called Laconda Ravello. Absolutely delicious lasagna. Ending with a martini glass filled with doughnut holes covered with sugar and drenched in chocolate. Best new restaurant in town.