Photo by Sara Remington.

I’ve been meaning to send out a spring recipe, and yet today it is raining and hardly feels sunny and hopeful like it has been, or like this delicious rhubarb crisp from My Nepenthe is. But perhaps that is even more of a reason for me to send it out, and for you to make it. It just might be that the tart, rosy-colored rhubarb is the perfect antidote to this dark, wintery kind of day.

Rhubarb is just beginning to arrive in the markets, so grab it while you can. I recently demoed this same recipe at the SF Ferry Plaza farmers market–and what’s so great about it is that you can easily substitute other seasonal fruit, like strawberries, a classic pairing. and it’s just as delicious.

Rhubarb Plum Crisp

The bright taste of plums complements the tartness of rhubarb in this luscious fruit crisp. Crisps are a cinch to put together and can easily give or take a cup or so of fruit. Substitute strawberries in the spring for the plums, or apples in the fall, if you wish.

Serves 8

Streusel Topping
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup flour
½ cup whole oats
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
Pinch salt
6 tablespoons cold butter

Filling
4 heaping cups chopped rhubarb
2 heaping cups sliced plums (about 6 plums)
½ cup turbinado or firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 or 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 357°F.

For the streusel, combine the brown sugar, flour, oats, orange zest, and salt in
the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter in pieces, pulsing until it becomes
coarse crumbs.

For the filling, toss the rhubarb and plums with the turbinado sugar, flour, orange juice, and cinnamon in a large bowl, mixing well. Pour into a medium ceramic or glass casserole. Top with the streusel. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until bubbling and nicely browned on top. Let cool slightly. Serve with scoops of Honey Vanilla Ice Cream.

—From My Nepenthe: Bohemian Tales of Food, Family, and Big Sur by Romney Steele/Andrews McMeel Publishing

“If you wisely invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life.”
— Frank Lloyd Wright

Last night I presented at Linden Tree, an uber cool event series held at Sagan Piechota Architecture, an equally fabulous space in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley. Linden Tree was conceived a few years ago, as an opportunity for creatives to share their work and ideas, and has since blossomed into a monthly series with wine and pizza (in last night’s case, a beautiful spread of food).

Engaging and lively, this informal and open program features painters, writers, architects, sculptors, designers, and even coffee roasters (Blue Bottle Coffee has a kiosk on site), and as of last night, yours truly.

Presenting there was particularly special for me, as Daniel Piechota, co-owner with artist Loring Sagan, is an old friend who lived in Big Sur around the time I opened Cafe Kevah. He worked on the design of the Post Ranch Inn, and became my number one taste tester at the cafe’s start, as well helped craft its cement tables and countertop. I later became his first client–of a house, that never fully got finished and one I sadly never got to live in (another story, that we only get to laugh about now).

After Daniel’s lovely introduction, I joked that some things don’t and never will change–that I’ll always be his first client, and he’ll always be mine. It’s likely that I’ll forever show up in a dirty car and be racing to arrive on time–all the same, I will forever bring a good bottle of wine and food to share. Last night was no different.

Sipping a 2008 Pisoni Santa Lucia pinot noir, donated by the vineyard and family (and worthy of a forthcoming post), I presented on Nepenthe’s architecture, showing never before seen images of its inception taken by artist Marion Seawell in 1948. Back then, Marion lived with my grandparents, and was just a young, shy, know nothing gal from the mid west, as she put it when we met for the first time last year. (More on Marion and how she help build Nepenthe’s outdoor fireplace here).

Nepenthe was always much more than a restaurant–it’s history as a place for artists to gather and share ideas is widely known and revered. I am blessed to be a part of that history, as I now feel about being a part of Linden Tree, and its larger discourse around creativity and what enthuses people. That there is such a space for ideas, for fellowship and food via art and architecture is a rare and beautiful thing. .

Find Sagan Piechota Architecture on Facebook.

Find My Nepenthe on Facebook.

Middle photo of me with Timothy Maiden, son of the late Rowan Maiden, Taliesen fellow and Nepenthe’s architect.

More photos of the event by my friend Doug McKechnie here.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake. ~Wallace Stevens

After what seems like weeks of intermittent rain storms, gray weather, and spotty sunshine it is a pleasure to wake to the subtle warmth and promise of spring. There is much going on in my world–no surprise–and as the legacy of Nepenthe continues to shine its light, my book and heritage guides me forward. Admittedly, I don’t always know where I’m going, and at times that feels unsettling, but I’ve got on a good pair of walking shoes, none-the-less, and feel ready to go.

As it is on the home front, my desk remains covered with bits and pieces of paper, notes, business cards, and more. My book files are still within arms reach, as the need to peruse, pull out information, or photos is still valid. My son just turned 19 adding a new spin to my story and his own, propelling me back in memory and forward at the same time. My daughter is attending her first prom.

Who knew that I would be giving a talk at a women’s literary conference this many years later, or cooking my way through my own book at a farmers market, or speaking about Nepenthe’s architecture in the big city. Nineteen years ago, I was married and living in a one room cabin on top of a mountain 150 miles down the coast–the view was stupendous, daily life challenging–dreaming about books, food and living a passionate, creative life. Soon after I was running a cafe, a household of 6, and slowly fading inside.

It’s all in time that we become ourselves–someone once said to me, and yet it’s only now that I understand it, and am learning to live it.

Here’s to a walk around the lake. I hope you will join me along the way.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, April 9th @11 am: Cooking demo at Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

April 14th @ 7pm: Linden Tree Presentation, Sagan Piechota Architecture, SF.

April 17th: Literary Women at the Bay Area Blue Stocking Festival

May 1st: Book signing at Nathan and Co., 4025 Piedmont Ave in Oakland

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