15 Comments
User's avatar
Stephanie Urdang's avatar

So lovely, Pat, and thank you for including Elsie, what a charming woman. I've always wanted to go to Falling Water, and now I will.

Expand full comment
Pat Willard's avatar

It's a wonder alright. I felt kind of bad for our poor guide nudging me along and asking dumb question

Expand full comment
Kate McDermott's avatar

Yes, this kitchen NEEDS to be on the tour!

Expand full comment
Pat Willard's avatar

no idea why more kitchens aren't part of tours

Expand full comment
Kate McDermott's avatar

On a family trip when I was six we went to Hearst Castle. At that time the tour included downstairs, upstairs, gardens, pools AND KITCHEN! I still remember it.

Expand full comment
Kathy Napoli's avatar

What a lovely woman Elsie was! This was terrific Pat thank you!

Expand full comment
Pat Willard's avatar

She's officially on my top 5 unsung women chefs lists

Expand full comment
Vicki Smith's avatar

A charming little tidbit about the cake. We went to Fallingwater on our way home from Pittsburgh, but didn't get tkts in advance, so we were limited to the grounds. Guess we should go back. Weren't you surprised by how off the beaten track it was? I was certain we were lost.

Expand full comment
Pat Willard's avatar

I was! It was raining when we were there and at first couldn't find the road. I wish we had paid for walking the grounds.

Expand full comment
Jolene Handy's avatar

This post made my day, Pat. Between you sneaking a peek at the kitchen while others “tripped up the stone steps” 😂 and the video of Elsie Henderson, what a story!

Expand full comment
Pat Willard's avatar

I thought about including another video of Henderson appearing on a local cooking show. The host is sort of nudging her around as they make salmon cakes. At one point he's pressing a wisk on her as she stirs a roux and she turns her back to him, continuing to use a wooden spoon. It's marvelous (also she says Wright came on to her in a car!) She needs to be a major part of the tour!

Expand full comment
Jolene Handy's avatar

Love it, she just kept making her roux with the wooden spoon. And the Wright tidbit? Wow!

Expand full comment
Pat Willard's avatar

Wouldn't b\hanging out in the kitchen with her be a sassy laughing fest?!

Expand full comment
Jolene Handy's avatar

Yes! She would spill ALL the tea! 😆 “Pat and Elsie Hang Out: A Sassy Laughing Fest” is a short story I would love to read!

Expand full comment
fran carleton's avatar

Thank you for the breathtaking tour of Fallingwater, and the introduction to Elsie. It was heartwarming to hear her story about how the Kaufman's embraced her.

Expand full comment