A Bohemian Affair at Sweet Elena’s Cafe des Artistes
We had a truly bohemian affair with roving, hat bedecked waiters passing mulled wine and cookies pre-dinner at Sweet Elena’s Bakery and Cafe des Artistes in Sand City over the weekend, including a sold out book sale followed by a delicious family feast ala “Lolly’s Kitchen” prepared by my sister and chef, Josie Rowe. Imagine Roast Chicken with sage stuffing, sweet potato gratin, zucchini parmesan and a winning sprout topped salad along with pumpkin spice cake and cheese pie (all but the salad are recipes in my book) on the menu.
It was another fantastic gathering of family, new and old friends in Elena’s unlikely sunny-side cafe set in an industrial strip of car repair shops in a city that has been the de-facto home of artists for decades, including my father who lived there with my mother the year I was born. My sister Sara’s paintings graced several walls, as well my own (bottom right with the insignia 1968).
My friend Doug McKechnie, once again, generously documented this affair. My son looks quite debonair (above right) if not like my dad, perhaps, and yet my little niece and nephew really take the cake. They are just too cute and their silly antics and unbridled smiles only added to the festive setting. As for me, I’m thinking I look particularly tired, and darn, if I’m not just getting started.
It was in fact a whirlwind day for me, having barely caught up after my 2 previous days and nights as the guest chef for the Nepenthe Pisoni and Francioni Families’ wine dinner event in Big Sur, where we prepared roasted suckling pig Italian style (Porchetta) for 42 guests–another story that I will tell here soon–and gave away more than 50 jars of my homemade apple butter.
You can link to more of Doug’s pictures here.
And if you happen to be in the city this Thursday night, I’ll be talking and signing books at Omnivore Books on Food at 7 pm. Bring your knitting and stories and make yourself known. I’d love to see you.
It was indeed a joyful occasion, filled with laughter, stories, beautiful people and the warm glow of family and friends, both new and old. The spirit of Nepenthe swells with renewed vigor each and every time we gather and the fellowship strengthens us all and fill us with the joy of thanksgiving and love. Thank you, Nani, for conjuring up these moments of intense wonder and delight. Only a soul as unassuming and free as yours could be a vessel for such goodness. Bless you.
Doug
beautiful day.
Dear Romney,
I was thrilled to find your comment and i wanted to let you know. I want to do a real review of your gorgeous book, but i’ve only just had it two days now. It is an absolute treasure though, I already know that, we waited 3 hours for the Phoenix to open sunday morning so I could buy a signed copy. Now I see you’ll be in Santa Barbara next month, so I’ll come and say hi and maybe have my copy signed again!
Congratulations on your very special and beautiful book.
Take good care,
lori ♥
Lori,
Thank you for writing on my blog and for waiting so diligently for the shop to open. I’ve just sent you an email. I look forward to meeting you if you drop in at Santa Barbara. Would you like me to add your blog to my running list on the right? Let me know.
Warmly, Romney
I just finished reading “My Nepenthe” It was beautiful!! It brought back so many memories of my childhood spent in Big Sur.
Thank you for sharing those momeries of your life at “Nepenthe” the recipes are wonderful! I am definitely going to try some of them for our Thanksgiving dinner. My husband and I are hoping to visit the “Nepenthe” on our trip to Santa Barbara, where our daughter lives. In fact my daughter and I are planning on going to one of Kaffe’s workshops while I am there. She is hoping to meet you at your booksigning in Santa Barbara. Her name is Stacie Bouffard and she is an artist there, and president of the “Solstice” I wish I could be there also.
I truly love and miss Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur and Santa Barbara. My heart has alwasy been one with the sea. Maybe oneday I can live there again.
Sincerely, Joan Peisley
The girl who knew Kaffe at the one room school house in Big Sur
I was just talking with my friend about this yesterday at lunch . Don’t remember how we got on the topic actually , they brought it up. I do recall having a amazing steak salad with cranberries on it. I digress…