Chez Panisse Vegetables is a great companion for approaching the growing season ahead. From "A to Z" each vegetable is celebrated with a comprehensive introduction, followed by recipes that showcase the produce in its best light. Chez Panisse, for those unfamiliar with the tradition, is a restaurant founded in 1971 in Berkeley, CA. The philosophy of its founder and executive chef, Alice Waters, is to create a food experience that allows diners to "partake of the immediacy and excitement of vegetables just out of the garden, fruit right off the branch and fish straight out of the sea." Chez Panisse was an early proponent of sustainable agriculture and has been the epicenter for the trend of fresh, locally-sourced food prepared exquisitely. Chez Panisse has been the coveted training ground for many of today's chefs and the source of pride for those involved in creating and sustaining the tradition. Alice Waters is an icon in the culinary world with numerous accomplishments and achievements to her credit. Chez Panisse Vegetables is one of those books that is equally at home on the nightstand as in the kitchen. The color linocut images that illustrate the book are beautiful works of art to be savored along with the recipes.