I can’t think of a better way to have finished a three month long book tour.

Last Thursday, I worked with Chris Kronner (chef/owner of Oakland’s beloved Kronnerburger), and my event produce Rachael Petach, to bring together friends in food and art at a storied spot on a dead end street in the SOMA district. The place was the home, studio and kitchen of Angelo Garro, a larger than life (and molto Italiano) character and figurehead behind Omnivore Salt. Here, Angelo cures charcuterie, makes wine, green walnut liquor, dries persimmons, you name it. It’s a space of endless creativity, and maybe a little chaos — the ideal setting for one last salad party.

We received a massive shipment from Good Eggs the day before, and set to prepping our menu – peach panzanella, smoked coconut chopped salad, beef tartare sliders (he couldn’t help himself), Tartine toast with labneh, lemon and chervil, sweet potatoes with pepita fennel pesto, and vanilla ice cream with Angelo’s homemade nocino, lovage and walnuts. In the middle of the party, Madeleine Fitzpatrick, the artist and salad goddess prominently featured in my book, showed up with her fantasy salad freshly picked that morning. Of course, she was dressed head-to-toe in couture, and her salad was a mélange of over 50 herbs and greens. Guests sipped Scribe wine and Salad Garden Martinis, and went home with special gifts from Aesop.