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Always Home: A Daughter's Recipes & Stories

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A cookbook and culinary memoir about growing up as the daughter of revered chef/restaurateur Alice Waters: a story of food, family, and the need for beauty in all aspects of life.

In this extraordinarily intimate portrait of her mother--and herself--Fanny Singer, daughter of food icon and activist Alice Waters, chronicles a unique world of food, wine, and travel; a world filled with colorful characters, mouth-watering traditions, and sumptuous feasts. Across dozens of vignettes with accompanying recipes, she shares the story of her own culinary coming of age and reveals a side of her legendary mother that has never been seen before. A charming, smart translation of Alice Waters's ideals and attitudes about food for a new generation, Always Home is a loving, often funny, unsentimental, and exquisitely written look at a life defined in so many ways by food, as well as the bond between mother and daughter.

336 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2020

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Fanny Singer

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5 stars
322 (28%)
4 stars
384 (33%)
3 stars
308 (26%)
2 stars
94 (8%)
1 star
41 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
Profile Image for Diane S ☔.
4,901 reviews14.6k followers
January 22, 2020
3.5 Hard to resist these memoirs, I'm such a foodie fan. Love looking through cookbooks, love cooking, cooking not baking. A book written by the daughter of Alice Waters is one that has much appeal. Yes, she was lucky, had a very privileged life, Fanny of course led a foodie life from birth. The places they went, the food they ate, being part of a restaurant family.

Recipes are of course included. Many simple, easy to source, but using the freshest, finest ingredients.
Her favorite food, surprisingly a salad with bold flavors and a simple dressing. No doubt, Fanny herself was lucky. Many children of the rich and famous do not lead the lives of the cherished, more the neglected. Not here though, and I very much enjoyed this memoir of food, family and fun.

ARC from Edelweiss.
Profile Image for Danielle McClellan.
787 reviews50 followers
April 7, 2021
A mostly enjoyable read written by the bright, multi-talented daughter of food heroine Alice Waters. Fanny Singer radiates the warm glow of one that has been raised as the beloved center of a deeply privileged world. This is not a criticism--I wish that all children were as loved and appreciated as she was. They would, like her, be able to see the world as largely benevolent. Singer is a gifted writer, able to beautifully describe the smells and tastes of her life near and around food.

However, there was a slight shadow for me that kept lurking behind my enjoyment of reading this book. It can best be exemplified in Singer's short section on her time at Yale. Her mother, horrified at the awful food being served in the cafeterias, petitioned the president of Yale to change the dining situation and create a sustainable food program that included organic gardens and well-trained cooks to deliver fresh, organic wholesome food to students. But here is the rub about that story. Yale is a university that quite literally and physically turns its back on the impoverished city of New Haven (despite its billions--it has a 30 billion endowment--it pays minimal taxes to the city). Most residents have little proximity to supermarkets, and those that exist are deeply lacking in fresh food of any kind. What might have been the result had Waters put her nimble mind to creating a program based on her edible schoolyard program in Berkeley for public elementary school students in New Haven? Instead, that fabulous drive and famous energy went towards feeding elite college kids, the vast majority of whose parents are paying upwards of $70,000 dollars a year to send their kids to Yale. Why? Because her daughter is there, and she hates to see her have to eat crap for four years.

That said, Alice Waters has made many important contributions in her long career. She has turned much of her energy to education on organic foods and sustainable lifestyles and has done a lot of good in setting up her elementary program and expanding her influence beyond her restaurant. But, I find myself feeling less patience with her daughter. It was sometimes difficult to stomach reading a memoir by a young woman who, though certainly appreciative of her fame-adjacent foodie upbringing, often seems completely tone-deaf to her own massive privilege, and in this, she can at times feel more performative than direct, something like a little girl twirling around and around in a glittering tutu. Like Gwyneth and her casual $60 cookbook brunch ingredients, Fanny does not always seem to fully grok that most people won't need four recipes for lobster.
Profile Image for Mary.
541 reviews5 followers
January 1, 2021
3.5 stars. This is truly a love letter from the author to her mom, Alice Waters. And there's nothing wrong with that. Growing up in a rarefied existence as the only child of one of the pioneers of the American farm-to-table movement and one of the best known chefs in the world has to generate some good stories, and this does for the most part. The problem is that it isn't compelling reading at all. I didn't need or want dirt or trauma or anything like that, but this floats along at such a slow pace that it makes for dull reading here and there. Singer has lived a charmed for sure, and she knows it and is grateful. I'm a Bay Area native and have lived here most of my life. I love to cook, am somewhat familiar with food scene, I've toured the Edible Schoolyard, eaten at both Chez Panisse and the Cafe several times, so the book piqued my interest. But I can see where this book would totally bug people. Singer is the poster child for a particular kind of Berkeley privileged upbringing. It's always been hard to describe what upper class artsy Berkeley folks are like to people don't who live here, but this book lays it out well. (No use for fake tans and designer clothes, but definitely a $350 spoon for cooking an egg over the custom hearth in your kitchen kind of thing.) Singer also loves a 10-cent word, making much of the prose stilted or overwritten. This puts her at an even further remove from the reader. I mean, she is extremely well educated (undergrad at Yale, PhD from Cambridge), so maybe this is just her and how she talks. But I laughed out loud at the language a few times. Again, nothing against her. She seems like a lovely person who has a wonderful relationship with her very famous mom. Now that I think about it, this book made her mom super relatable. Maybe that was the goal all along? After reading this, I feel like I would like to hang out with Alice Waters.
Profile Image for Kristina Doucet.
71 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2020
I spent the first 31 chapters thinking, "WE GET IT Fan, your life is perfect and you've spent a substantial amount of time in the South of France" but then chapter 32, the last chapter, was very sweet and endearing, and was a wonderful note to leave on. The book itself is gorgeous. Pat's Pancakes might be reason enough to read this. Looking forward to her next book, which is hopefully actually relatable.
Profile Image for Seema.
36 reviews3 followers
July 7, 2020
The author presents a very loving and very uncritical view of her mother and her life growing up with her. Don't read this book if you're looking for introspection. Everyone is perfect and everything they do is perfect. A few interesting recipes.
Profile Image for Taylor.
69 reviews21 followers
June 26, 2020
Must be exhausting to be so elitist
Profile Image for Jess.
532 reviews31 followers
August 5, 2022
This book is difficult for me to digest. I did enjoy reading it and it was interesting reading (okay, listening. The audiobook is read by Fanny and she does a wonderful job) about someone's life that is so different from my own. I get why people wouldn't like this book and I feel it is for a very narrow audience: firstly for Fanny's family and friends, secondly for anyone with an interest in her mom, Alice Waters. I don't think anyone outside of these two categories would have an interest in or appreciate this book. If you remove her mom from the picture, Fanny is a very well educated, west coast born-and-raised millennial from an affluent family. Her upbringing was so different from my own that I would have actually liked to read more about her life that didn't revolve around her mom, as almost all of the stories in this book do. The vocabulary used is quite extensive and pretentious (I'll admit I'm jealous and would have looked up several words if I was able to while listening to the audiobook). This book really felt most like something for someone looking for more insight into Alice Waters. The more I try to review the book the more I feel I should lower my rating, so I'll end with saying it is written well and mostly an enjoyable read but doesn't have much of a point for existing.
Profile Image for Margaret.
1,188 reviews6 followers
June 9, 2023
I enjoyed this memoir though I was a bit confused because the intent of the author in writing this book is unclear to me. She does state that her cooking isn't up to snuff and yet she gives the impression that it is. Perhaps I misheard (I listened to the audiobook version). I love to read cookbooks but for some reason, several of the recipes bored me and a couple were too upscale for my taste. I wonder if Fanny wanted to give people an idea what it was like to be the daughter of a well known chef, restaurant owner? Yes, that portion of the book did interest me but I think that she was "owning" the premise of something that was hidden for me, but then what do I know?

2.5 stars
Profile Image for Harper Kincaid.
Author 9 books443 followers
November 5, 2019
**I received an ARC through Bards Alley bookstore in Vienna, VA in exchange for an honest review**

If you’re lucky, at some point in your life, you’ll get to visit San Fran - even luckier if you get to live there. Spend any kind of time in the Bay Area and you will hear of Alice Waters- famed chef and owner of Chez Panisse, the pioneering home of the farm-to-table, slow food movement. I’ve eaten there two times, which means twice I’ve had a server wax poetic about how the peas on my plate 🍽were organically grown with the manure of a sacred cow, then blessed by a shaman from a now extinct tribe. 🥦🥬🥒
I’m kidding of course. All preciousness aside, this is a read with its charms-a love letter from daughter to mother, filled with personal anecdotes & recipes collected over a lifetime. Singer is a thoughtful writer and I enjoyed her threaded tales and her detailed recipes. At times her sentimentality was over the top and redundant-there’s only so much adulation one can read about...& some examples meant to delight actually rubbed me the wrong way (Waters’ need to rearrange every place she stays to her tastes, her drawing out full page diagrams for the sitter to follow when packing her daughter’s school lunch), but I could still appreciate this book for what it is and let it sit at the surface level for which it is intended. 🍰🍰🍰
I think a book like Always Home would’ve fared better about ten years ago, at the height of culinary celebrity-when going to restaurants was theater in itself. That said, if you enjoy food memoirs, Singer’s novel will not disappoint.
PS: the pretty card/bookmark is a welcome to the neighborhood note from a new friend.
Profile Image for Phyllis.
1,156 reviews62 followers
November 22, 2020
When I saw that Alice Waters' daughter had written a book, I wanted to read it just to see what she would share. Fanny Singer was raised in Berkeley, 30 minutes from where I live. I have followed the career of her mother Alice, and her iconic restaurant Chez Panisse, from its early days in the 1970s.

What I learned is that Fanny and her mom have a great relationship, and as an only child she received a lot of attention not only from her mother and father, but from all the friends and family and restaurant staff. This doesn't seem to have made her an obnoxious entitled child of a celebrity, as she candidly shares various adventures and stories, meals and gatherings that don't seem that different from what many have experienced. In fact, most of these anecdotes were not that interesting. But that could have been the way she wrote about them.

Fanny has an overly wordy writing style. Here is an example of Fanny explaining her conjecture of why Alice only had one child: "I think the familial nature of the restaurant, and the constant acquisition of young surrogates and mentees, quelled the anxiety over the eventuality of childbearing, or at least provided ample distraction from any absence of family she might have felt before she met my father." I had to "translate" this into simple English in order to make sure I understood. And I have an English Lit degree!

There are recipes, but the reason to read this book is to see an honest portrayal of Alice Waters from her daughter's perspective.
Profile Image for Morgan.
52 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2020
I mostly enjoyed this, perfect to dip in and out of throughout the week. I thought it was better than Alice Waters’ own memoir! Culinary escapism might be just the move right now, and this really is the type of book I love to read. Anyway, I am probably just deeply jealous of Fanny Singers upbringing, but I’d be lying if i said I didn’t roll my eyes straight into the back of my head a lot while reading this.
232 reviews1 follower
May 4, 2020
This memoir/cookbook was written by Alice Waters ( Chez Panisse) daughter Fanny. She writes about her growing up years, travels with her Mother, Father and family friends and also includes recipes and talks about Chez Panisse. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Jessica.
585 reviews10 followers
July 10, 2021
I enjoy the lore of Alice Waters and Chez Panisse so much that I loved this book for its glimpse into what it was like to have her as a mother. Fanny Singer is an evocative writer and a master at description - I truly felt that I was with her in her mother’s kitchen in Berkeley or on some gorgeous stone terrace in the South of France - and even though this was not a humorous book, I laughed out loud at the description of the map of France car sickness cone that Alice Waters fashioned for her during a road trip.

It is the pervasive tone of ridiculous privilege that keeps this book from being a 5-star read. Did you know that the only non-organic food that Fanny was allowed to eat in her youth was Cream of Wheat? And that her mother used to pack her a “lunchbox nosegay” in her homemade school lunches? (Fanny helpfully includes instruction on how to recreate such a garnish for this daily chore. But what other mother besides hers has this kind of time or inclination?)

Anyway, in spite of that, this book did not disappoint. The smattering of recipes that Fanny includes sound delicious, and the final chapter - a description of what her mother packed and cooked on a 2-day road trip from Telluride to Berkeley - was both utterly charming and completely over the top, in the best way.
Profile Image for Carol N.
870 reviews21 followers
February 18, 2021
“Always Home” by Fanny Singer is a combination cookbook and culinary memoir dealing with growing up as the daughter of Chez Panisse’s, Alice Waters. Alice is the owner of Berkeley’s Chez Panisse, a world famous restaurant known for its organic, locally grown ingredients and a pioneer of California cuisine. It is an intimate look at her mother and herself; it chronicles their world of food, wine, and travel. While sharing the story of her own culinary coming of age she also reveals a side of her legendary mother that has never been seen before. It cannot be easy to be the daughter of such a renowned chef, however Fanny presents a loving, often funny story of her life as defined by her mother’s ideals and attitudes about food. I found this charming book easy to read and liked it was filled with little vignettes and interesting recipes as well. "Foodies" will throughly enjoy this exquisitely written book.
Profile Image for Susan.
406 reviews4 followers
March 8, 2022
Alice Waters is famous for starting the farm to table movement in her restaurant Chez Panisse. In this memoir her daughter Fanny talks about growing up (incredibly privileged I might add) with Alice as her mother and mentor. With each little story a recipe is added, related in story form. And most of which I will never even consider making (especially the leg of lamb hanging over a fire, and egg made in a spoon...also over an open fire...). Lots of names of people I guess we are supposed to know are dropped in the slightly poncy prose, summers in the south of France romping through the vineyards, no meal too simple to not require special preparation of only the very best ingredients picked just that moment from the copious gardens. A little too special for just a regular cook such as myself.
Out of curiousity I googled Chez Panisse's menu. Yeah...no.
Profile Image for Nikita Ladd.
159 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2024
Fanny Singer has written about memory through food in a way that arrests the senses, and gives life to her whole childhood. In this book she honors her most important relationships and mentors, as well as her favorite meals and worst food memories. Hello, one plus year old piece of spat out octopus, and the lingering smell of her mother's house after the Seven Fishes dinner. Just so thoughtful and tuned in. You could smell and taste the whole book. Made me nostalgic for someone else's childhood.
Profile Image for Onceinabluemoon.
2,839 reviews54 followers
June 16, 2020
All I have to say is I was suddenly ravenous for pure simple food!
Profile Image for Nancy Reyering.
78 reviews8 followers
August 6, 2021
Beautiful, evocative writing describing a childhood and adolescence lived among incredibly gifted cooks and gentle souls. Reading it made me wistful for childhood, food, and home. And it may even inspire me to retrace my own French "roots" in the kitchen.
Profile Image for Debbie Jeske.
199 reviews6 followers
October 1, 2025
Debating between four and five stars, I could relate with some reviewers who found the book and the experiences therein quite elitist. And it's true, very few of us could enjoy the culinary and travel experiences of the author and her family. On the other hand, I enjoyed the audio book, read by the author, very much. As a bit of a foodie myself, there wasn't much not to love.
Profile Image for Diana.
60 reviews
Read
April 20, 2020
Perfect "Safe at Home" reading - glad to have both Kindle & Audible versions: love the stories, love the recipes, love how Alice Waters parents, love Fanny Singer's writing and love her reading voice! Okay, bye - I'm off to pound a large clove of garlic with a large pinch of sea salt in my mortar and pestle!
27 reviews
April 18, 2020
A delicious read

What a delightful book full of fun stories and wonderful recipes! Fanny's raising proves that real love, not perceived roles is what makes not only a good parent but a happy child.
Profile Image for Judith von Kirchbach.
968 reviews48 followers
May 7, 2020
A good memoir

The book brings you on a culinary ride through the upbringing of Alice Waters’ daughter, it is a fun ride spiked with interesting recipes - a homage to Northern California and French cooking - an enjoyable read !
134 reviews
November 26, 2019
I loved the book. The mother/daughter relationship was heartwarming. It's not very often that such a strong bond exists. There were many vignettes with accompanying recipes. I have always admired Alice Waters and have read all of her books. It would be a dream come true to one day eat in her restaurant. That said, like mother, like daughter. Fanny Singer grew up in this world of fresh organic food, has traveled all over the world and brings her stories to life in this well written book.
231 reviews
October 26, 2020
By happenstance I began reading Always Home at the same time I began another memoir written by a daughter about her mother, An Abbreviated Life by Ariel Leve. I could not help but compare the two texts since they are so diametrically opposed. I finished An Abbreviated Life much more quickly, eager to discover Leve’s secret for extracting herself from her mother’s clutches. Despite my growing up with a loving, generous mother more akin to Alice Waters than Leve’s nameless narcissist mother; I felt disdain for the narratives within Always Home. This is a story of privilege and wealth to which I could not relate: summers in France painting and cooking, recipes that require two specific types of vinegar and the foresight to soak your greens hours in advance, a tightknit community that raised Singer in the kitchens of Chez Panisse. While I long for the time to make my own anchovy dressing , and I hope that one of my sons writes as lovingly about our relationship some day (he won't), I could not appreciate this memoir free from conflict and full of privilege.
Profile Image for Wendy.
1,955 reviews7 followers
August 29, 2020
Always Home by Fanny Singer is a little bit memoir, a little bit cookbook. Singer is the daughter of chef Alice Waters. The book is an homage to Singer’s mother. She shares brief stories from their lives as well as recipes that fit the narrative.

Most of the recipes are written within the text of her vignettes, which make them a little tougher to follow than a standard form. I had to reread the strawberry gelato “recipe” three times, and I still don’t understand where the remainder of the pound of hulled strawberries are used.

Fanny Singer’s strong bond with her mother, legendary food pioneer Alice Waters, is displayed on each page. This is Singer’s first book on her own. She previously wrote a book titled My Pantry with her mother.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting August 29, 2020.

I would like to thank Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.
Profile Image for Summer.
1,614 reviews14 followers
December 21, 2020
I had thought that Alice Water's daughter might have produced an interesting read in this memoir about her growing up with her famous mother, surrounding by wonderful food, but I think I was hoping for too much.

I was completely unsatisfied with the pressured prose. It came off as trying too hard and pretentious. Even by her full admittance, "From time to time in my adulthood if a dish really does taste wrong, I send it back. Asking for my mother's forgiveness." Excellent taste in simple, fresh and beautiful food, while decadent in its own right, should never replace, but enhance, good manners. Especially, if your mother, who is famous wouldn't do it. Furthermore, the lengths that Alice goes to, to graciously eat additional "gift' dishes in restaurants is funny and at the same time grace-filled. I will never look at a female chef's purse the same way again!

I also found Fanny as a reader annoying. :/

I should know by now, with the younger written food memoirs.
134 reviews
November 26, 2019
I loved the book. The mother/daughter relationship was heartwarming. It's not very often that such a strong bond exists. There were many vignettes with accompanying recipes. I have always admired Alice Waters and have read all of her books. It would be a dream come true to one day eat in her restaurant. That said, like mother, like daughter. Fanny Singer grew up in this world of fresh organic food, has traveled all over the world and brings her stories to life in this well written book.
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