Fans of Chez Panisse, the famous Berkeley restaurant launched by Alice Waters 42 years ago, can breathe a collective sigh of relief. After a fire destroyed the electrical systems three months ago, the venerable resto will reopen on June 21- the summer solstice.
The Los Angeles Times Daily Dish reports that the original builder, Kip Mesirow, “came back to restore the Craftsman-style interior and wooden façade” of the wooden house that’s now almost a century old. This is where California cuisine was first introduced to the world, so we’re glad to hear that a team of master craftsmen will revive the ambiance: “the cozy enclosed porches, the copper lanterns, and the Japanese and Craftsman-style details.”
For the reopening, a grande soirée on June 21 will benefit Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard Project. For more information, visit www.chezpanisse.com.