I grew up first on a dairy farm in upstate New York, then in a walnut orchard in Davis, California. I believe that those experiences informed my cooking and my interest in plants, that plus having a botanist father and brother.
I first put my passion for cooking into motion at the San Francisco Zen Center where I was a student for eighteen years. While there I held a host of kitchen positions, from head cook to guest cook at Tassajara, to private cook for the abbot and his guests. I had other positions too.
After eating my first meal at Chez Panisse, I immediately went to work there until opening Greens Restaurant in 1979. Greens was one of the earliest Bay Area restaurants to have a farm-driven menu as our nearby farm, Green Gulch, provided beautiful, organically grown vegetables to cook with.
After leaving Greens and the Bay Area I cooked for the director of the American Academy in Rome, then later opened Café Escalera in Santa Fe with Chez Panisse chef, David Tanis. I have had a wide variety of cooking, consulting and teaching jobs over the years.
Known mainly as a chef and cooking teacher, I am also a writer whose specialties are seasonal vegetable recipes with an emphasis on farmers markets produce and heritage varieties. I am also a home gardener and a Master Gardener. I don’t see my books as vegetarian, but as recipes for the vegetables on the plate, whether they are front and center or on the side.
Connecting people to the food they eat, its source and its history, has long been my work, and writing is one way to reveal the deeper culture of food. My interests lay with issues of biodiversity, botany, seasonal and local eating, farmers markets, small and mid-scale farming, farmers and ranchers, gardens and gardeners.
I have been involved with Slow Food in various capacities from its beginning in the US, served on the board of the Seed Savers Exchange, was co-director of the Monte del Sol Edible Kitchen Garden in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and I am a long term board member of the Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance (SWGLA), among other positions. I have also mentored a young woman in cooking and I give small cooking classes for 1 or 2 people in my home.
For over thirty years I’ve lived in Northern New Mexico with my husband, painter Patrick McFarlin.
(Photo of Deborah Madison by Christopher Hirsheimer)
Hi Deborah! You’re inspiring and a rock for me. I run a school of yoga and cooking for children in Berkeley California. It’s called a Bliss Belly Kitchen. I’m working on a book for children based on the summer camps that we’ve been running here for the last five years. I absolutely love greens restaurant and would love to meet you sometime.
I am working on a CD entiltled ” Shotgun Bill with the Tango Kid” at “Madisons Square Garden”….its a tongue and cheek to Madison Square Garden, … I was wondering if I could use one of your photos of your garden for my cover? I see there are definite square gardens. Please let me know….you can also check out my music on Spotify or youtube if you would like,
Thank you so much, Deborah, for your wonderful contribution to the appreciation of food in America. I actually found Greens in the early 80’s when I kept kosher. I’d show up in a city on business and since it was really hard to find kosher restaurants, I’d look for vegetarian instead. The Greens listing in the “phone book” [what a concept!] jumped out at me and on my monthly Silicon Valley trips, I’d head into Fort Mason for a Greens fix. Of course I had to get the cookbooks and am so grateful for your pioneering.
Today on NPR I heard you on Splendid Table while driving to the SF Farmer’s Market and learned you live in Santa Fe. My former husband was from the San Luis Valley and after 30+ years of visiting family, I moved here full time 5 years ago. Do hope to run into you in town sometime.
All the best,
Sarah
Thank you so much for your email, Sarah! I love the San Luis Valley! Actually I live in Galisteo and try not to go to town too often, but maybe out here?
Best,
Deborah