My Nepenthe: Bohemian Tales of Food, Family, and Big Sur

by Romney Steele

Overview

From the family behind Big Sur’s Nepenthe, “an intimate, richly illustrated memoir with recipes culled from the restaurant's sixty years.” (Gourmet magazine)
 
In celebration of Nepenthe Restaurant’s seventieth anniversary comes a revised edition of My Nepenthe, featuring not only delicious recipes from the legendary restaurant, but stories and photographs that capture its history and people.  Written by the owners' granddaughter, Romney Steele, My Nepenthe is as much about the family enterprise as it about the Fassett family legacy.
 
Perched 808 feet above the Pacific Ocean on the breathtaking cliffs of Highway 1 in Big Sur, California, Nepenthe boasts sweeping views of the rugged Santa Lucia Mountains and the wild south coast of Monterey County. This breathtaking location is nestled among native oak trees and historic log cabins that were once owned by Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth. The vibrant history is brought to life through archival black-and-white and contemporary color photography by Sara Remington; a collection of eighty-five recipes; stories about the restaurant’s past as a gathering place for artists and writers; and special sections on the filming of The Sandpiper (1965), which featured scenes from Nepenthe’s iconic terrace, as well as Nepenthe’s  relationship with the renowned Pisoni winemaking family.  Ultimately, My Nepenthe is a story about food, family, and the culture of place.
 
“A very special book about a very special place.” —Michael Pollan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food
 
“My Nepenthe serves a big, gorgeous slice of American culture that I loved visiting through words and memory.” —Deborah Madison, James Beard award-winning author of Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780740790461
Publisher:	Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication date:	05/24/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	47 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Romney Steele is a writer and cook, the granddaughter of Bill and Lolly Fassett, creators of Nepenthe Restaurant. Nani, as she is known to family and friends, grew up at the family restaurant and opened Cafe Kevah, located on the grounds of Nepenthe. She is the co-owner and cook of The Cook and Her Farmer, a cafe, oyster, and wine bar located in the historic Swan's Market in Oakland, California. She is also the author of Plum Gorgeous. She has two children and two grandsons.

Editorial Reviews

"A very special book about a very special place." —Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food
(Michael Pollan)

"What a world Romney Steele has given 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 Big Sur and the days and nights of this magical place. My Nepenthe serves a big, gorgeous slice of American culture that I loved visiting through words and memory."
—Deborah Madison, author of What We Eat When We Eat Alone and Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
(Deborah Madison)

"Romney Steele grew up in the lively bohemian milieu of Nepenthe on the Big Sur coast and knows all the stories worth telling. In My Nepenthe, an intimate, richly illustrated memoir with recipes culled from the restaurant's 60 years, she writes marvelously about her "crazy stew of a family" and especially her beloved grandmother, whose kindness and hospitality were legendary.
—Caroline Bates, contributing editor, Gourmet magazine
(Caroline Bates, Gourmet magazine)

From the Publisher