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Jesse Cool, longtime owner of Flea Street Cafe in Menlo Park, sent out an email Friday, March 22, about a recent visit to her restaurant of Oprah Winfrey and Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer at Facebook and author of the new book, “Lean In.”
Here is what Ms. Cool had to say (she refers to the organic buttermilk biscuits served at the restaurant):
“As some of you know, Oprah visited Flea Street to film an interview with our dear friend Sheryl Sandberg. The interview was about Sheryl’s new book Lean In (Knopf Publishing 2013). It was such a privilege to be there, set the table and make it comfortable for Oprah and Sheryl’s in depth conversation.
“Of course we think those biscuits just might have set the scene for the amazing interview. To say we were honored to have these two remarkable women at Flea Street would be an understatement.
“Listening to Sheryl and Oprah talk about women and their role in management helped me reflect on both the difficulties I have faced in a male dominated profession, as well as the remarkable change we are seeing as more and more young women take the helm in modern kitchens.
“Women’s place in the culinary world used to be confined to home cooking or comfort food. Entry into fine cuisine was often met with a very stern man in a toque who ignored women cooks. It was intimidating at times.
“The interview (and the biscuits!) are featured in the just-released April issue of O Magazine. (The interview was shown March 24 on OWN TV: Oprah’s Next Chapter.)
“A big thanks to Sheryl for thinking of us as one of her favorite local restaurants. And thanks to all of you, after so many years, for allowing us to set a special table for you. See you soon over a basket of biscuits and more.”
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I love this restaurant, but Ms. Cool should do herself a favor: Keep your mouth devoid of the gushing. It makes her look like an amateur instead of the seasoned professional that she is. Yeah, Oprah’s a big deal, Sandberg’s the techie gal du jour, but guess what, Ms. Cool? You’ve been an important part of a food revolution that has reached the entire country. You were doing local, sustainable, organic while Oprah was on her stupid liquid diet.
I find both Oprah Winfrey and Sheryl Sandberg to be terribly boring. Jesse Cool, on the other hand, is a very good chef.
Chacun a son gout
The editor removed my coment “To each his own taste” in French.
Why is it controversial to post this comment. Personally, I don’t care for Jesse Cool’s food…but why can’t that be expressed?
Do we really have to find something negative in every event? Jesse Cool can and should celebrate having the two high profile individuals enjoy Flea Street. I say good for Jesse in every way.
Not ‘care for the food’ at Flea Street?
That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Never been disappointed, nor have my guests. Granted, there are times I try a new dish and don’t rank it as high as some of those classic dishes they have, but that happens anywhere. I still look back at the gnocchi I ordered once and scratch my head wondering why I did it – can ANYONE make gnocchi work? I think not….
Flea St is an undervalued classic. Funky cross town location? Or maybe it’s because it’s been so consistent for sooooo long, folks take it for granted.
All 3 women are fine people. Jesse is just most cool.
Jesse Cool deserves to have the best restaurant around. She has worked hard for many years. Many notable people dine at Flea Street, unnoticed.
Dilly – you seriously have problems finding good gnocchi? You don’t even have to go as far as SF for good gnocchi.
Hmmm…. now, not that. Sorry I wasn’t more clear. Flea Street’s gnocchi is probably good, I suppose.
I just don’t *get* what the fuss is about with gnocchi!
😉
Now, something I wasn’t expecting to be any good – the halibut cheeks. Wow! Have they been on the menu recently?
Anything Jesse does is GREAT, not only her food. She started us out on our sustainable food venture and love her cookbooks. Jesse is a GREAT, creative and hardworking person who deserves anyone’s attention, including Oprah’s!
I mention this only because of the previous connection between Flea Street and the long since closed Late for the Train.
When we lived in the Willows, one our biggest pleasures was strolling down to Late for the Train for their amazing breakfast menu full of organic and vegetarian items. In fact, it was one of the selling points when we purchased our first home.
When that restaurant was forced to close down for rent reasons, the property was “upgraded” and leased to Mike’s Cafe — a horrible failure. Now the property owner is stuck with an empty property, the town lost an iconic eatery, and people who worked at that eatery, some for decades, lost their jobs. Greed is good, until it’s stupid.
Jesse, if there is a part of you that misses Late for the Train, can you please reopen? Menlo Park is thirsting for a quality breakfast establishment that isn’t the usual fare.
Dilly – good gnocchi is great; mediocre gnocchi is a turnoff! I’ve even had decent gnocchi at Amici’s. Haven’t been to Flea St. in some months, & I didn’t even know halibut had cheeks 😉 Now time to visit, your comment made me hungry.
Late for the Train – do you even know why Mike’s closed? He sold out to someone else & they’re not going to be opening anything related to food. So for now, food truck night at Willows Market is your closest bet. BTW, it wasn’t open “for decades” was it?
I was really turned off by the gushing attitude of Ms. Cool in this article, as if what she’s achieved is somehow less than Oprah or what’s-her-name. Yeah, they probably have a lot more money, but I’m betting that Ms. Cool’s legacy is more healthier than the other two.