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Romney Steele
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My Nepenthe: Bohemian Tales of Food, Family, and Big Sur Kindle Edition

by Romney Steele (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 155 ratings
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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

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  1. Print length
    512 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC
  5. Publication date
    May 1, 2009
  6. File size
    57383 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"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)

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

"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)

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.
 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005R0W3US
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC (May 1, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 1, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 57383 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 512 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 155 ratings

About the author

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Romney Steele

Romney Steele

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Romney Steele is a writer, cook, and food stylist, and 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, an outdoor cafe on the Nepenthe grounds, when she was twenty-six years old. She later served as a pastry chef at Sierra Mar Restaurant at neighboring Post Ranch Inn. Her writing has appeared in various print magazines, including Gourmet, and online at MSNBC. She currently lives in Oakland, California, with her two children.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
155 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Grannie Cooks
5.0 out of 5 stars great vacation memories
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2010
Verified Purchase
This book took me back to vacations when our family has stopped at Nepenthe on our trips up the coast of California. After stopping there for lunch one time, we have to stop each time we go back. The views, ambiance and food are always outstanding. The history of the restaurant is been particularly interesting. Finding and reading this book is a treasure. The background of the family behind it was fun to read. Being a quilter, I was particularly interested in the fact that Kaffe Fassett, a famous fabric and quilt designer is part of that family. The pictures capture the spectacular views perfectly. It makes me want to hop on a plane and visit again.

The book also has included recipes for various items served there. Not being much of a cook, I may or may not try them out, but someone who enjoys cooking would have a great time recreating their wonderful menu items.

Whether you know Nepenthe from personal experience or are looking for a nice "California" cookbook, this book is it. I will probably buy more copies for gifts. Thank you, Romney Steele for all of your efforts in putting this book together. The book is as beautiful as the restaurant.
3 people found this helpful
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Kathi D
5.0 out of 5 stars It's chock full of things I love
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2010
Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )Verified Purchase
This is a gorgeous book. First, it's heavy, because it is printed on lovely smooth paper, which shows off the photos and artwork well. It is beautifully designed and pleasing to page through. The stories are fascinating, especially for the many who have visited Big Sur and Nepenthe. I have been there many times, and I am also a big fan of Kaffe Fassett's fabric designs, as I am a quiltmaker. Not until I picked up this book did I know that Kaffe Fassett's parents built Nepenthe, and that is where he spent his youth. His extended family still runs the place, so it's very much a family affair.

It's great fun to read about all the colorful characters who have lounged about the place, and the many recipes for their favorite dishes seem like the cherry on top of the sundae!

The best way to illustrate how much I love this book is that I bought two to give as gifts.
One person found this helpful
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Heather L.
5.0 out of 5 stars Super pleased!
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
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The book arrived well packaged and in superb condition as stated. Thank you!
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Joshua F. Cohen
5.0 out of 5 stars Daze & Knights at Nepenthe
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2010
Verified Purchase
What a wonderful book! I spent many an afternoon sipping wine, eating this and that & enjoying the wonderful views from their patio. Had dinner there many times before going to the midnight baths at Esalen. You have got to try 'em if you have never gone. Gorgeous. Also stay at Deetjun's Big Sur Inn. It's been a while for me. My ex and I love all 3 places and others. Visit the The Henry Miller Museum. So much beauty.. So much to do. Can't wait to get back to Nepenthe. The book brought back so many fond memories. It's well written and you will want to try the recipes. Packed with inside information; things I wondered about but never knew. Buy this book if you love Big Sur and Nepenthe. And if you have never visited My Nepenthe will take you there!
3 people found this helpful
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NancyCalifornia
4.0 out of 5 stars Warm and fuzzy portrait of a legend
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2010
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The book is aptly titled. My Nepenthe is no balanced biography or institutional history. Rather, Romney Steele pulls together her considerable talents as a designer and a chef to compile what is mostly a tribute to her grandmother. Always using her own story of as a frame of reference, Steele does not pretend to make it anything else. I can see the book selling wildly at the Nepenthe gift store, but aside from that, its appeal is limited.

I was lucky enough to have visited Nepenthe in the 50s, in Lolly's glory days. My family, fresh from the Midwest, was awestruck as we drove up the road to the restaurant. We enjoyed the stunning views of the Big Sur coast as we sat on the deck freezing, and eating our hamburgers. And folk dancing! What a wild Bohemian life! Even in my twelve year old consciousness, I was captivated, and the Nepenthe myth has stayed with me all these 50+ years.

Subsequent visits have been disappointing, and now I know that everything changed when Lolly passed away, though Steele discretely left too, too many questions unanswered about Nepenthe today.

That said, the book was a delight and I read it through in two sittings. I know a little bit more about the Nepenthe story now, but this only whetted my appetite. I hope to see a more in depth biography of the Fossetts and the Big Sur scene.
8 people found this helpful
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D. Barr
5.0 out of 5 stars My Nepenthe
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2009
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Having grown up in Carmel, Nepenthe was a magical place to go as a teen ager, first with my parents and then as a young adult. This book captures the aura of this unique and special place. I have devoured every page and look forward to recreating some of the wonderful food served in those early years and since. I remember this as the place I learned to dance Greek folk dances, and was romanced by my first husband, sitting near the fire looking out over the Pacific Ocean, with the full moon shining and casting its silver glow miles out to sea. The recipes are wonderful even if you have never been to Nepenthe. A book well worth having in your private library to savour for years.
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Foodiewife
5.0 out of 5 stars My backyard restaurant in color
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2014
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I have such a history of Nepenthe's. I've been coming here for over forty years, since it's only 40 minutes away from where I live. Their Ambrosia burger is still my favorite lunch to order, with a small basket of their fries. To eat here, is outrageously expensive-- but somehow, the gorgeous view of the Big Sur Coastline makes it all worthwhile. I love this book. I love their stories. I have bookmarked many of the recipes, and I want to start with the Ambrosia burger. What is it about that burger? It's char-grilled, juicy, flavorful... gotta have my fix at least once a year. Any good cook would love this colorful book with a lot of simple, delicious and healthy recipes.
2 people found this helpful
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Nancy Counter
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2022
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I would deal again with this dealer without hesitation, It looked as if it was straight from the printers, not a mark or a turned down page.
The book came in magnificent condition, I am so delighted to now own this book about a place and an area I dearly love.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Anne Gladwell
5.0 out of 5 stars I know caffe and its fascinating to see this iconic ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2017
Verified Purchase
I know caffe and its fascinating to see this iconic place and read the recipes which my son has started experimenting with x
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