Several years back, we dropped in on culinary icon Alice Waters in Berkeley to take a tour of her kitchen. The occasion? Alice’s daughter, Fanny Singer, had just launched Permanent Collection—a new line of home objects and women’s clothing and accessories—so we asked Alice and Fanny to model pieces from the collection and show us around Alice’s kitchen. The result was one of our favorite kitchen stories of all time.
Join us for a look back.
Photography by Daniel Dent for Remodelista.
![alice wears the agnes wool coat and blunk double hoop earrings, both from 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/alice-waters-in-berkeley-craftsman-kitchen-permanent-collection-jacket.jpg)
![alice\2\17;s kitchen is anchored by a vintage worktable. \2\20;i 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/green-craftsman-kitchen-berkeley-alice-waters.jpg)
![displayed on the island is a set of four white porcelain blunk cups, cast 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/blunk-cups-permanent-collection-733x489.jpg)
![alice stocks her kitchen with antique tools and serving pieces she&a 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/alice-waters-kitchen-vignette-copper-pot-herbs-oils.jpg)
![\2\20;i like to sort things according to color, and size, and use,&# 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/wood-spoons-by-range-alice-waters-kitchen-733x1100.jpg)
![\2\20;i think it\2\17;s important to have a big sink,&# 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/sink-window-alice-waters-kitchenjpg.jpg)
![even the compost bin is beautiful: alice tosses scraps in a copper pail and
23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/copper-compost-pail-in-alice-waters-copper-sink.jpg)
![fanny at the fire, in a slate sturtevant belgian linen jack 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fanny-singer-permanent-collection-jacket-by-fire.jpg)
![\2\20;this is the legendary egg spoon,\2\2\1; says fanny&#x 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/wrought-iron-handmade-spoon.jpg)
The Original Egg Spoon and Original Copper Egg Spoon are both available from Permanent Collection—and you can read much more about it in The Legendary Egg Spoon of Alice Waters and Fanny Singer.
![fanny admires alice\2\17;s vintage cranberry glass tumblers, f 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/antique-pink-glass-wine-cups.jpg)
On Fanny’s wrist: the Blunk Bangle from Permanent Collection, a limited-edition replica of a 1965 design by J. B. Blunk (sadly not currently available).
![alice picks her favorites from stacks of cafe au lait bowls sourced over the ye 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/alice-waters-fanny-singer-kitchen-cafe-au-lait-bowls-733x488.jpg)
![alice\2\17;s favorite suribachi japanese mortar and its wooden pest 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cafe-au-lait-bowls-copper-ladle-mortar-pestle-alice-waters.jpg)
Alice says the mortar is “indispensable”—it’s scored on the bottom to make quick work of garlic for vinaigrettes: She mashes the garlic with salt, adds vinegar, and lets it rest before adding olive oil. The wooden pestle was made for her by Bob Cannard, longtime farmer for Chez Panisse.
![a trick for keeping the kitchen smelling nice: alice sears a rosemary 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/herbs-in-gas-burner-beneath-copper-pot.jpg)
![alice keeps a basket of ginger root, shallots, garlic, and herbs on hand at all 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/vegetables-onions-herbs-garlic-in-fiber-bowl-alice-waters-kitchen-733x489.jpg)
![the dining room (and fireplace with pizza oven) is an extension of the kitchen. 31](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/alice-waters-dining-room-craftsman-home.jpg)
![when fanny is home, she and alice have breakfast at the cafe table overlooking 32](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/alice-waters-fanny-at-breakfast-table.jpg)
N.B.: This is a story from the Remodelista archives; the original post ran in December 2016 and has been updated with new information, links, and image captions.
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