I have lots of gifts; most everything in here was a gift. When we don’t finish a bottle, especially of sweet wine like the Italian Barolo, I love to save it. Sometimes it can moisten fruit compote or it can be drizzled over a cake. It has lots of purposes. I just keep those in the back in case. It’s a beautiful way to keep people in your life every day.
Your refrigerator looks almost like a still life painting! Is there a purpose to the way you organize it?
It’s important that the refrigerator looks beautiful. I think about that all of the time. I don’t want any plastic in here.
What about the overturned bowls that serve as lids?
This technique—it’s desperation. I’m waiting for some glass containers, old ones; I’m waiting for them to arrive. I keep tortillas and cheese inside the bowls, as well as my salad.
What do you always have in your fridge?
I always have greens, cooking greens and other greens. Always. I always have onions, carrots, and celery too, for a mirepoix. Everything is organic. That’s very important to me.
Where do you shop?
There is a farmers market about a block from Chez Panisse and then there is shopping at Chez Panisse! On Saturdays I go to the farmers market at the San Francisco Ferry Plaza. I desperately try to not buy too much, even though it is such a temptation. But you can’t really calculate who will come to dinner. Sometimes we have unexpected dinner guests. On Sundays when I’m in town I get the food and we cook together, usually family and friends. We don’t know what we will cook until we start cooking.
Does your daughter, Fanny, live here?
She is in and out.
You have lots of Japanese condiments— do they each have a story?
We have many gifts from Japan. Some I have to taste to know what they are. I don’t even know what it is. Maybe I should taste it [she sips]. It’s sesame oil. We also have a number of hot sauces.
There is quite an important collection of little jars in here.
This is a strange one. It’s a spicy pickle. My friend’s husband David drew a picture on the front of their parrot Ortle. Even though it’s ancient—I can’t throw it out.