My Nepenthe - by Romney Steele (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"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.

Review Quotes

"A very special book about a very special place." --Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food
(Michael Pollan)

"Romney Steele grew up in the lively bohemian milieu of Nepenthe on the Big Sur coast and knows all the stories worth telling. In My Nepenthe, an intimate, richly illustrated memoir with recipes culled from the restaurant's 60 years, she writes marvelously about her "crazy stew of a family" and especially her beloved grandmother, whose kindness and hospitality were legendary.
--Caroline Bates, contributing editor, Gourmet magazine
(Caroline Bates, Gourmet magazine)

"What a world Romney Steele has given us in My Nepenthe! This personal tale is as tender and bright as a bite of Nepenthe Cheese Pie and will transport me--and you--to Big Sur and the days and nights of this magical place. My Nepenthe serves a big, gorgeous slice of American culture that I loved visiting through words and memory."
--Deborah Madison, author of What We Eat When We Eat Alone and Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
(Deborah Madison)

About the Author

Romney Steele is a writer and cook, 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, located on the grounds of Nepenthe. She is the co-owner and cook of The Cook and Her Farmer, a cafe, oyster, and wine bar located in the historic Swan's Market in Oakland, California. She is also the author of Plum Gorgeous. She has two children and two grandsons.