Cecilia Chiang's Chez Panisse Connection

When Chez Panisse celebrated its 40th anniversary, Cecilia Chiang hosted a celebratory dinner. Star-studded of course, with guests including Wayne Wang (Joy Luck Club), Ruth Reichl (formerly Gourmet magazine editor), Patty Unterman (food writer), Yuan Yuan Tan (San Francisco Ballet's principal dancer), and Chef Maria Helm Sinskey (Robert Sinskey Vineyard) among others. Of course Alice Waters was present in spirit.

Once upon a time, Cecilia schooled Alice Waters in Mandarin cuisine. Their relationship began with a trip to China together with Marion Cunningham in 1983. More trips together followed, Alice attended Cecilia's classes, and Alice enjoyed meals at Cecilia's restaurant The Mandarin. Cecilia's book The Seventh Daughter pictures the two celebrating the 10th anniversary of Chez Panisse. They've been walking down this path together for many years.

Waters was awarded Best Chef in America by the James Beard Foundation in 1992 (first woman), the James Beard Humanitarian Award in 1997, and the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. In 2013, Cecilia Chiang will receive the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award, the most prestigious handed out by the Beard Foundation.