Alice Waters Comes to Town

If the slow-food movement, the local-food movement, and the farm-to-table movement had a patron saint, it would likely be Alice Waters. Her legendary Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse is a mecca for those who dine for sport; its focus on beautiful, delicious dishes that feature fresh, organic, seasonal, and area ingredients was ahead of its time and has not only caught on but also (happily) inspired a million imitators, while her program, the Edible Schoolyard, teaches kids how to grow, prepare, and appreciate food. The iconic Waters is taking a break from her busy schedule — made busier by the construction on Chez Panisse to repair the damage from a fire that’s had the restaurant shuttered since March 8, and the shooting of a Japanese TV show—to swing down to our area for two events. On Friday, April 26, she’ll be at Ojai’s Topa Topa Elementary School, 4-7 p.m., to celebrate Food for Thought’s 10-year anniversary. Then she’ll return to UCSB (she logged some time as a Gaucho back in the day) on Saturday, April 27, 8 p.m., at Campbell Hall. For info, visit foodforthoughtojai.org and artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu.