“If I weren't involved with food, I'd be working in architecture. Design is that critical to me.”

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.