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My Nepenthe: Bohemian Tales of Food, Family, and Big Sur
“Nepenthe is a wonderful and dynamic business in an extraordinary location that provides for our family, and gives us the opportunity to serve our community and guests from around the world. To be stewards to such a unique property and to be able to share it with the rest of the world for generations to come is a great honor and privilege.”
—Kirk Gafill
In celebration of Nepenthe Restaurant’s 70th year—still today a favorite tourist destination on the scenic drive along Highway 1 to Big Sur, California—comes a new edition of My Nepenthe . This revised edition includes stories that capture the interesting history and people, natural disasters, myriad wild tales, delicious recipes, stunning photography, an updated family tree and timeline, and a new essay chronicling the last decade and the start of a new era.
Written by the owners' granddaughter, Romney Steele, who grew up at the restaurant, My Nepenthe is as much about a family enterprise as it is about the Fassett family who opened Nepenthe in 1949, and their legacy as they preserve and manage it today.
Perched on the breathtaking cliffs, 808 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Nepenthe Restaurant boasts sweeping views of the rugged Santa Lucia Mountains and the wild south coast of Monterey County. This legendary location is nestled among native oak trees historic log cabins (now faced by brick) that were once owned by Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth. The vibrant seventy-year history on the coast is brought to life through achival black-and-white and contemporary color photography by Sara Remington; a collection of eighty-five recipes from the Fassett family, the restaurant, and the café; stories about the restaurant’s past as a gathering place and noted bohemian haunt 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 unique relationship with the renowned Pisoni winemaking family.
Ultimately, My Nepenthe is a story about food, family, and the culture of place, and how it all unfolds around the table and why that matters, then and now.
—Kirk Gafill
In celebration of Nepenthe Restaurant’s 70th year—still today a favorite tourist destination on the scenic drive along Highway 1 to Big Sur, California—comes a new edition of My Nepenthe . This revised edition includes stories that capture the interesting history and people, natural disasters, myriad wild tales, delicious recipes, stunning photography, an updated family tree and timeline, and a new essay chronicling the last decade and the start of a new era.
Written by the owners' granddaughter, Romney Steele, who grew up at the restaurant, My Nepenthe is as much about a family enterprise as it is about the Fassett family who opened Nepenthe in 1949, and their legacy as they preserve and manage it today.
Perched on the breathtaking cliffs, 808 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Nepenthe Restaurant boasts sweeping views of the rugged Santa Lucia Mountains and the wild south coast of Monterey County. This legendary location is nestled among native oak trees historic log cabins (now faced by brick) that were once owned by Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth. The vibrant seventy-year history on the coast is brought to life through achival black-and-white and contemporary color photography by Sara Remington; a collection of eighty-five recipes from the Fassett family, the restaurant, and the café; stories about the restaurant’s past as a gathering place and noted bohemian haunt 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 unique relationship with the renowned Pisoni winemaking family.
Ultimately, My Nepenthe is a story about food, family, and the culture of place, and how it all unfolds around the table and why that matters, then and now.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1905
25 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Romney Steele
2 books2 followersRomney 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."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 7, 2011
I love, love, LOVE this book--it is gorgeous with history and photos of a fascinating place mixed in with delicious recipes. I made six of them for my review here: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...
September 18, 2025
Ah, Nepenthe.
No doubt one of the most spectacular places on earth.
I don’t know how anyone unfamiliar with it and Big Sur would feel about this book, but it was written for people like me who have cherished memories of the place.
To visit is a slice of heaven and each time is like the first because the setting is so stunningly beautiful.
The book is a wonderful collection of history, photos, anecdotes and many, many amazing recipes.
The story told is of the extended Fassett family’s journey to create a special place for everyone to share.
The history begins with a log cabin being built in the 1920s overlooking the Pacific along California’s Big Sur coastline.
In 1944, Henry Miller lived in it when he first moved to the area.
Then Orson Welles, his then wife, Rita Hayworth and their friend, fellow actor, Joseph Cotton, were driving down Highway 1, from San Francisco (where they were selling War Bonds) to L.A.
They stopped for a picnic and spotted the cabin with its amazing view and made an offer to buy it.
They measured the windows for curtains and a new stove then left and never returned.
In 1947, Bill and Lolly Fassett and their five children discovered the place and bought it.
In 1949, they opened Nepenthe and the rest is history.
It became a Bohemian gathering place for people from all over the globe.
In 1964, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton became regulars while filming The Sandpiper, which greatly increased its popularity.
The restaurant (the word Nepenthe means “no sorrow”), with its massive terrace with cushioned stepped seating, a huge outdoor fireplace and a long continuous table along the rim for eating with the unprecedented view.
The upper terrace Cafe Kevah and the magnificent Phoenix gift shop.
It has been a gathering place for authors, artists, poets and actors with too many famous names to list.
It is truly a special place.
No doubt one of the most spectacular places on earth.
I don’t know how anyone unfamiliar with it and Big Sur would feel about this book, but it was written for people like me who have cherished memories of the place.
To visit is a slice of heaven and each time is like the first because the setting is so stunningly beautiful.
The book is a wonderful collection of history, photos, anecdotes and many, many amazing recipes.
The story told is of the extended Fassett family’s journey to create a special place for everyone to share.
The history begins with a log cabin being built in the 1920s overlooking the Pacific along California’s Big Sur coastline.
In 1944, Henry Miller lived in it when he first moved to the area.
Then Orson Welles, his then wife, Rita Hayworth and their friend, fellow actor, Joseph Cotton, were driving down Highway 1, from San Francisco (where they were selling War Bonds) to L.A.
They stopped for a picnic and spotted the cabin with its amazing view and made an offer to buy it.
They measured the windows for curtains and a new stove then left and never returned.
In 1947, Bill and Lolly Fassett and their five children discovered the place and bought it.
In 1949, they opened Nepenthe and the rest is history.
It became a Bohemian gathering place for people from all over the globe.
In 1964, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton became regulars while filming The Sandpiper, which greatly increased its popularity.
The restaurant (the word Nepenthe means “no sorrow”), with its massive terrace with cushioned stepped seating, a huge outdoor fireplace and a long continuous table along the rim for eating with the unprecedented view.
The upper terrace Cafe Kevah and the magnificent Phoenix gift shop.
It has been a gathering place for authors, artists, poets and actors with too many famous names to list.
It is truly a special place.
September 10, 2021
Who reads a cook book? This one contains gorgeous photos, family and scenery and things coupled with family memories of the creation of Nepenthe coupled with accessible recipes. This one is a must-read (especially for those enthralled with the yesteryears of Carmel, Big Sur, and its denizens)!
The heart of the book: Lolly and Bill took their brood of five to a cliff with views of Big Sur, the fog and the sky and created a bohemian hangout in a then-secluded part of the California coast. An oasis for artists and actors and those down on their luck; an extended family with once-a-week dinners in Lolly's kitchen...a seemingly idyllic life that required work and energy and invention.
The sides: the photographs; the recipes; the coming-together.
The heart of the book: Lolly and Bill took their brood of five to a cliff with views of Big Sur, the fog and the sky and created a bohemian hangout in a then-secluded part of the California coast. An oasis for artists and actors and those down on their luck; an extended family with once-a-week dinners in Lolly's kitchen...a seemingly idyllic life that required work and energy and invention.
The sides: the photographs; the recipes; the coming-together.
April 6, 2010
I loved this book so much. It's so much more than a cookbook, it's a family history and an amazing story of a magical restaurant where I spent a couple of blissful hours with my family on a trip to California ten years ago.
Nepenthe has always held a special place in my mind -- that amazing view on a warm, sunny afternoon, the perfect fruit and cheese board leisurely enjoyed while taking in the ocean view on the patio, the Phoenix shop where I wanted to just move in so I never had to leave those amazing items...
Nepenthe is truly special and I hope to make it back to "my Nepenthe" sometime in the future.
Nepenthe has always held a special place in my mind -- that amazing view on a warm, sunny afternoon, the perfect fruit and cheese board leisurely enjoyed while taking in the ocean view on the patio, the Phoenix shop where I wanted to just move in so I never had to leave those amazing items...
Nepenthe is truly special and I hope to make it back to "my Nepenthe" sometime in the future.
September 11, 2011
As beautiful as the place itself. I started coming here when I was in college and now my daughter and I take a "girls only" road trip every year to Pacific Grove and this is our favorite stop. Best grilled cheese sandwich in the entire world. The book is a combination of family history, stories, recipes, it was a delight to peruse and a great book to own.
December 28, 2010
Library copy. This is nice enough to own though.
Now I own it and some extra copies because it's nice enough to give as a present.
Now I own it and some extra copies because it's nice enough to give as a present.
October 17, 2011
Lovely and indulgent!
January 28, 2021
I enjoyed reading this book, but I found it a little disingenuous. There was a feeling of glossing over difficulties. Granted, it was meant to be a cookbook, so there's no need for it be so deep, but I felt the author touched on things and then didn't really delve into them, possibly because she was just a child when things were happening.
I guess maybe it's asking too much (after all, it is called *my* Nepenthe), but the amateur journalist in me would have liked more voices in the book—people who were there in the early years as adults.
The dessert recipes towards the end of the book look divine, however. As soon as spring comes around, I'll be making some of those fruit & berry desserts.
I guess maybe it's asking too much (after all, it is called *my* Nepenthe), but the amateur journalist in me would have liked more voices in the book—people who were there in the early years as adults.
The dessert recipes towards the end of the book look divine, however. As soon as spring comes around, I'll be making some of those fruit & berry desserts.
July 19, 2023
I think I expected something more. Maybe that's on me. So I originally thought to give this three stars, but it probably is closer to four. The recipes I have implemented are good. I will probably use this regularly for inspiration during summers, especially. The salads are simple, but fantastic just as they are or one could build upon the foundation Ms. Steele provides. It's clear this place is inspired by seasonal, high-quality local foods and I'm always interested in someone else's take on our West Coast abundance. I just have to eye roll when someone list their accomplishments as "food stylist." A more pointless position could exist, I suppose. I think I am just getting super tired of the bourgeoisie and how clearly important they all feel they are to the world. Ok.
May 17, 2025
What an incredible memoir/history/cookbook this was! I honestly bought it on a whim to learn more about one of my favorite restaurants, Nepenthe in Big Sur, and because I saw that it included the recipe for their exquisite berry pie.
I love learning about how the restaurant started, the incredible family and community the author’s grandparents built, all the interesting characters, celebrities, artists, and writers who used to hang out there in the 1960s, what it was like to visit Big Sur in it’s bohemian heyday, and of course, all of the tantalizing sounding recipes were the cherry on top. Delightful!
I love learning about how the restaurant started, the incredible family and community the author’s grandparents built, all the interesting characters, celebrities, artists, and writers who used to hang out there in the 1960s, what it was like to visit Big Sur in it’s bohemian heyday, and of course, all of the tantalizing sounding recipes were the cherry on top. Delightful!
September 15, 2024
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a cookbook cover to cover before. The story of Nepenthe is intriguing even though the writing could be better, I loved the stories and the obvious love for the place. I craved more photos specific to the stories and recipes.
March 6, 2020
Read in the hopes of getting a feel for this part of the CA coast. Interesting recipes and a tale of the author's family. Less geography than I would have liked.
July 2, 2023
My favorite place along the California Coast. I just had to order the book!
November 20, 2016
Loved this book, and loved my meal there more.
April 12, 2010
My first visit to Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur, California was in the fall of 1983. It was a hot day and we sat outside on the massive terrace with a cold drink -- in those days white wine, or possibly beer -- and looked down at the unbelievable view. A view of the Monterey coast that went on forever. I've never forgotten that first visit. Or that first view. Yes, the parking lot was full of rental cars, and yes, there were crowds of tourists snapping photos but none of that mattered. I didn't know what to expect as we climbed the winding stone steps up through a canopy of oak trees to the restaurant. But once I stepped foot onto the large terrace and saw the view, I understood the magic of Nepenthe. No matter where you are at Nepenthe, the Phoneix Shop, the Café Kevah or the restaurant itself, the view is there. Always and forever. In my memory there were hawks floating on thermals almost at eye level. That is how high up Nepenthe is. In the clouds. At the end of our drinks it was very hard to pull myself away. Over the years I have gone back to Nepenthe each time I visited the area. How can one not visit such a spectacular place?
I was thrilled when I heard that a granddaughter of the original owners had written the Nepenthe story in celebration of its' 60th anniversary. I was even more excited when the book arrived on my doorstep for review. It is everything a book like this should be: a celebration of a place and time, a memoir from someone who lived it, and a cookbook with both family and restaurant recipes. I was recently in Big Sur, and I took my boyfriend, Robert to Nepenthe for his first time. It was a joy to be back, and to see the magic at work on someone else. He was just as wowed as I was on my first visit. I love the Bohemian-hippy vibe that still exists in Big Sur and thankfully author, Romney Steele, infuses her writing with a lot of that historical detail. Nepenthe was and still is a gathering point for all sorts of interesting and unique souls. From writers, to artists and artisans, to film people, to through-voyagers. As a child Romney Steele was lucky enough to watch it all happen. From stories of her grandparents Bill and Lolly Fasset who bought the property from Orsen Welles and Rita Hayworth in 1947, to frequent visits by writers Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac, to filming of the Elizabeth Taylor-Richard Burton movie The Sandpiper, Ms. Steele was witness to it all. And a magical storyteller she is, as well as an accomplished cook.
The book is woven through with history, stories, memories, archival photos and recipes. Many of the non-archival color photos are beautifully shot by Sara Remington. The look and feel of the entire work is evocative of the free-living Bohemian lifestyle that permeates Big Sur's past and present. For me it was a fun read as I have been to Nepenthe, and to Big Sur many times over the years; it was wonderful to learn more about the history of both the restaurant and the area. Nepenthe is woven into the fabric of Big Sur and vice versa. They are a part of each other. I tried several recipes from the book and all worked very well, and were a pleasure to eat. On a recent Sunday I cooked this menu: 'Lolly's Roast Chicken with Sage Stuffing,' 'Cranberry Sauce,' 'Beet Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette' and 'Lemony Lemon Squares.' This time Robert and I were the only guests; we devoured everything, and loved it all. A few of the leftover lemon bars were passed along to family and friends -- all of whom have asked for the recipe, they were that good. What I like about the food in this book is that it fits in with the down-to-earth vibe the book embodies. Ms. Steele encourages use of local, sustainable ingredients. In fact she has a chart at the beginning of the book, 'Cooking notes,' that tells, (and suggests to), the cook the nature of each ingredient used when she developed and tested the recipes: 'Meats are prime,' 'Baking powder is aluminum-free,' 'Fruit is seasonal, organic if possible, and preferably locally grown,' and so on. This isn't fancy, five-star cuisine nor should it be. The food is earthy, hearty, filling and direct. It's food that makes sense for a restaurant and place perched high atop a hillside above the crashing surf in the wilds of Big Sur. Steele encourages the reader to find their own Nepenthe within the pages of her book. Steele is my kind of cook, this is my kind of book, I expect to pick it up often to both cook from, and to read more and again about life at Nepenthe. My Nepenthe.
I was thrilled when I heard that a granddaughter of the original owners had written the Nepenthe story in celebration of its' 60th anniversary. I was even more excited when the book arrived on my doorstep for review. It is everything a book like this should be: a celebration of a place and time, a memoir from someone who lived it, and a cookbook with both family and restaurant recipes. I was recently in Big Sur, and I took my boyfriend, Robert to Nepenthe for his first time. It was a joy to be back, and to see the magic at work on someone else. He was just as wowed as I was on my first visit. I love the Bohemian-hippy vibe that still exists in Big Sur and thankfully author, Romney Steele, infuses her writing with a lot of that historical detail. Nepenthe was and still is a gathering point for all sorts of interesting and unique souls. From writers, to artists and artisans, to film people, to through-voyagers. As a child Romney Steele was lucky enough to watch it all happen. From stories of her grandparents Bill and Lolly Fasset who bought the property from Orsen Welles and Rita Hayworth in 1947, to frequent visits by writers Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac, to filming of the Elizabeth Taylor-Richard Burton movie The Sandpiper, Ms. Steele was witness to it all. And a magical storyteller she is, as well as an accomplished cook.
The book is woven through with history, stories, memories, archival photos and recipes. Many of the non-archival color photos are beautifully shot by Sara Remington. The look and feel of the entire work is evocative of the free-living Bohemian lifestyle that permeates Big Sur's past and present. For me it was a fun read as I have been to Nepenthe, and to Big Sur many times over the years; it was wonderful to learn more about the history of both the restaurant and the area. Nepenthe is woven into the fabric of Big Sur and vice versa. They are a part of each other. I tried several recipes from the book and all worked very well, and were a pleasure to eat. On a recent Sunday I cooked this menu: 'Lolly's Roast Chicken with Sage Stuffing,' 'Cranberry Sauce,' 'Beet Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette' and 'Lemony Lemon Squares.' This time Robert and I were the only guests; we devoured everything, and loved it all. A few of the leftover lemon bars were passed along to family and friends -- all of whom have asked for the recipe, they were that good. What I like about the food in this book is that it fits in with the down-to-earth vibe the book embodies. Ms. Steele encourages use of local, sustainable ingredients. In fact she has a chart at the beginning of the book, 'Cooking notes,' that tells, (and suggests to), the cook the nature of each ingredient used when she developed and tested the recipes: 'Meats are prime,' 'Baking powder is aluminum-free,' 'Fruit is seasonal, organic if possible, and preferably locally grown,' and so on. This isn't fancy, five-star cuisine nor should it be. The food is earthy, hearty, filling and direct. It's food that makes sense for a restaurant and place perched high atop a hillside above the crashing surf in the wilds of Big Sur. Steele encourages the reader to find their own Nepenthe within the pages of her book. Steele is my kind of cook, this is my kind of book, I expect to pick it up often to both cook from, and to read more and again about life at Nepenthe. My Nepenthe.
March 22, 2011
My Nepenthe by Romney Steele is an ode to food, family and Big Sur. Steele, the granddaughter of founders Bill and Lolly Fassett, grew up amid the bohemian atmosphere of Nepenthe in the sixties and seventies and ran a café on the grounds. Her story is one of the culture of Big Sur's artistic community, of the famous visitors to the estate and of family recipes . Filled with anecdotes of the famous and ordinary, and coupled with an outstanding selection of color and black and white photographs depicting the restaurant's history, along with mouth-watering recipes, this book is a treasure. Pretty enough for a coffee table, it captivates with a personal history of the famous Fassett family from its founding to the present day.
I tried the famous Ambrosia burger, just one of Lolly's simple yet delicious creations. (The secret is the sauce!)
I learned that several drinks my parents spoke of were the creation of Nepenthe's fabulous restaurant and bar-Ramos Fizz, to name one.
Romney tells not only about the early history of Big Sur and the Fassett family, but also about the Bohemian counterculture of the sixties. There is a chapter devoted to the making of the film The Sandpiper, which starred Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, along with a recipe for Burton's favorite, calorie-laden Passion cookies.
I think the things I enjoyed most about this book were memories of my own Bay Area childhood with glimpses into details I had never studied. Not all Romney's reminisces are happy-Bill Fassett left Lolly and fathered a daughter by another woman; Lolly died of cancer; Romney herself divorced (only the fact of her marriage and that she now lives with her two children is detailed in her book)-but they bring to life one of the enduring institutions that is Big Sur, and the author shows that a family tradition lives on today at Nepenthe.
Highly recommended.
I tried the famous Ambrosia burger, just one of Lolly's simple yet delicious creations. (The secret is the sauce!)
I learned that several drinks my parents spoke of were the creation of Nepenthe's fabulous restaurant and bar-Ramos Fizz, to name one.
Romney tells not only about the early history of Big Sur and the Fassett family, but also about the Bohemian counterculture of the sixties. There is a chapter devoted to the making of the film The Sandpiper, which starred Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, along with a recipe for Burton's favorite, calorie-laden Passion cookies.
I think the things I enjoyed most about this book were memories of my own Bay Area childhood with glimpses into details I had never studied. Not all Romney's reminisces are happy-Bill Fassett left Lolly and fathered a daughter by another woman; Lolly died of cancer; Romney herself divorced (only the fact of her marriage and that she now lives with her two children is detailed in her book)-but they bring to life one of the enduring institutions that is Big Sur, and the author shows that a family tradition lives on today at Nepenthe.
Highly recommended.
March 17, 2012
I love this cookbook! Truthfully, I am biased, since I live 45 minutes away from Nepenthe's. I've been coming to this beautiful place for over 30 years. I have many, many fond memories of Nepenthe's. Last weekend, my husband and I drove to Big Sur because I was craving their Ambrosia Burger. I finally looked at a copy of the cookbook and hesitated buying it. After stopping at my local Border's store, I found a copy and perused it. I knew I had to own it! I finally ordered my own copy from Amazon and one as a gift for a friend. This cookbook is half book and half recipes. The recipes are exactly the kind of cooking that I enjoy-- organic, sustainable, fresh and pretty easy. I so look forward to making many of the recipes I've enjoyed, over the yers-- of course, the Ambrosia Burger. I want to make the Bohemian Wedding Cake (a spicy carrot cake), and the two bean salad. I have a long list of recipes I can't wait to try!
The photographs are stunning, as is the food styling. I'm a food blogger, because I am highly visual. Every photograph has been done so artfully...so simply. Big Sur, to me, is one of the most beautiful coasts in the world. I'm so thankful that I live here. This is both a coffee table book and an excellent cook. The photographer, Sara Richardson, also shot the photos for the Big Sur Bakery Cookbook-- which is equally stunning.
The photographs are stunning, as is the food styling. I'm a food blogger, because I am highly visual. Every photograph has been done so artfully...so simply. Big Sur, to me, is one of the most beautiful coasts in the world. I'm so thankful that I live here. This is both a coffee table book and an excellent cook. The photographer, Sara Richardson, also shot the photos for the Big Sur Bakery Cookbook-- which is equally stunning.
December 3, 2009
This cookbook came recommended by 101 Cookbooks blogger Heidi Swanson. Being very near the source while I was in California I thought I would easily find a copy. Wrong. Everwhere I went they had sold out all they had. I finally found the last copy at a small shop and was thrilled to get it.
Beyond the recipes (none of which I have tried yet) the story of this place and the gorgeous pictures are well worth adding this to your cooking library.
If you want to see more about this book I would go to 101 Cookbooks site and read her review. Heidi also issues lists of her favorite cookbooks and why.
Beyond the recipes (none of which I have tried yet) the story of this place and the gorgeous pictures are well worth adding this to your cooking library.
If you want to see more about this book I would go to 101 Cookbooks site and read her review. Heidi also issues lists of her favorite cookbooks and why.
April 15, 2010
The back deck at Nepenthe may be my favorite place in the world--for the view, the vibe and the overall loveliness of the place. On our almost yearly trips to Big Sur, we always have at least one dinner there. So we were excited to spot this new title at the bookstore, butI'm sorry to say that this beautiful looking book was rather a disappointment to read. It had lots of nice photographs and it was fun to look up people we knew in the index, but the text was vague, episodic, and oorly edited, with lots of meaningless repetition. The recipes (including many Nepenthe classic) were enticing, but the story itself was ultimately unsatisfying.
March 17, 2013
The reviewers who've been to Nepenthe have given this book 4 or 5 stars. I've never been there, so who am I to argue that the book captures the spirit of the restaurant? The pictures and design of the book are lovely (although some of the cursive print is hard to read), and the recipes sound pretty tasty. The author paints Nepenthe as a sort of paradise, and she seems apologetic about the changes that the second and third generation owners have made. A good companion to this book is the Henry Miller classic, "Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch."
January 21, 2010
This is a fantastic cook book for so many reasons. I love how the author merges food and story with her vision of family life and the past. When i was first given this book... i was excited to see how the restaurant of my childhood and memories merged with the author's. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was much I didn't know about Nepenthe. I loved the stories... and i can't wait to try some of the recipes!
February 25, 2015
Big Sur draws me into its quirky West Coast, isolated charm, and Nepenthe, with its fascinating history, is pretty much the center of the Big Sur World.
This book is a book of love written by a woman who was fortunate enough to spend her childhood in residence at Nepenthe, when her grandmother owned and ran the place.
There are some good recipes scattered throughout, but mostly, it's just a lovely paean to a Different World from the one we live in today.
Relax, and enjoy the ride!
This book is a book of love written by a woman who was fortunate enough to spend her childhood in residence at Nepenthe, when her grandmother owned and ran the place.
There are some good recipes scattered throughout, but mostly, it's just a lovely paean to a Different World from the one we live in today.
Relax, and enjoy the ride!
July 30, 2011
I was lucky enough to visit Nepenthe this summer and what a beautiful place it is. It was on my list of places to go for many years and while I was there I bought this book which is the family history and the recipes from Nepenthe. I enjoyed learning about this family and I am really looking forward to trying some of the recipes.
May 10, 2012
It's a beautiful book, but if you're looking for recipes, you won't find them here. The author does warn that the beauty of Nepenthe was in the setting, not necessarily the plain, hearty American food. The title tells it all--My Nepenthe is really a love song to her family (particularly her grandmother), the place, and the time.
Currently reading
December 16, 2009I keep this book on my coffee table and flip through it from time to time. It has beautiful pictures and good, simple recipes. The stories of growing up in Big Sur seem good, but I haven't really dove in yet.
Want to read
November 1, 2009living only 2 hours from this restaurant means i've been there many times in my life and have many, many happy memories associated with it. I can't wait to read this book and try the recipes!!!!
June 10, 2010
I just flipped through the recipes and copied down some of my faves. Didn't read the text. Would make a wonderful XMAS gift for someone...ME? Hint hint!
September 6, 2010
Loved this book and all of its beautiful pictures, great stories, and delicious recipes. Loved my visit to Nepenthe too and can't wait to return.
Read
August 14, 2011Had to return to library before I finished. Will borrow it again later.
November 17, 2011
The recipe for carrot cake is wonderful and chili custard with salsa fresca is to die for.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews