“I can remember the three restaurant experiences of my childhood. All I wanted to do on my birthday was to go to the Automat in New York... but I don't know if you consider that a real restaurant.”

American chef, restaurateur, food writer, and author

Alice Louise Waters is an American chef, restaurateur, food writer, and author. In 1971, she opened Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California, a restaurant closely associated with the rise of farm-to-table cooking and California cuisine. Her work has centered on food that reflects seasonality, local sourcing, and care in preparation. Through Chez Panisse and her writing, she became a leading figure in a way of cooking that placed ingredients, producers, and place at the center of the table.