M.F.K. Fisher's Last House

M.F.K. Fisher lived in Last House on David Pleydell-Bouverie's Glen Ellen, CA ranch from 1971 until her death in 1992.  She treasured her two-room palazzino, which featured a simple design, her signature Chinese red walls, built-in bookcases for over 2,000 books, and arched porches that look west to Sonoma Mountain and east to the ranch's 535 acres. It was here that she welcomed friends such as Julia Child, James Beard, and Maya Angelou for conversations around her table.

When Bouverie passed away in 1994, ownership of the property was transferred to Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR) and it became the Bouverie Preserve. For many years, Last House served as the residence of the preserve's land manager.

In 2016, with support from Fisher's family and others, ACR began restoring Last House to capture the spirit and the flavor of M.F.K. Fisher's life on the preserve and as an exclusive destination honoring her love of food, wine, literature, and nature. Complementing the renovation were paintings, furnishings, and memorabilia donated back to the house by family and friends. 

“Reaching out to family and friends who have lovingly shared items, memories, and stories has been rich,” said Kennedy Golden, Fisher’s daughter and an advisor on the project. 

Formally beginning with the "First Meal at Last House" celebration, Last House spent the next eight years open to guests from around the world who wished to tour the space and learn more about Fisher, her work, and her time on the land.

Unfortunately, in early 2025, ACR, stewards of the extraordinary Bouverie Preserve, and the treasured Last House, reached the difficult decision to discontinue programming related to M.F.K Fisher. ACR’s mission is nature education and conservation science. The devasting fires that swept through the Sonoma Valley in recent years claimed all but two structures on the preserve, making facilities scarce. That loss, combined with current and proposed changes to government funding and resources, necessitate a strategic refocus on ACR’s core mission. Programming for Last House unfortunately, but understandably, does not fit within that core mission. 

The M.F.K. Fisher Literary Trust and Fisher's family and friends are disappointed, of course, but fully support this decision and look forward to an ongoing relationship with ACR. We are profoundly grateful to ACR and its leadership for being excellent caretakers of her home and for making possible eight years of tours and programming. 

Over the years, many paintings, furnishings and memorabilia were donated back to the house by family and friends. Upon closure of programming, three generations of M.F.K. Fisher's family carefully packed and archived all donated items, returning many to their donors, and entrusting the remainder to the M.F.K. Fisher Literary Trust for the next exciting chapter of her story!

First Meal at Last House and the project origins

On June 11, 2017 - Kennedy Golden, M.F.K.'s daughter, was the source of information for this article written by Luncheon Magazine about Last House:

​"​I do not know if I have mentioned to you that M.F.K. Fisher’s Last House is being restored as a venue where people will be able to gather to celebrate her life and literary contributions, as well as her love of good food, writing, people and the nature that surrounds her house on the Audubon Canyon Ranch(ACR)/Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen. ACR's hope is that the house will become a gathering place for chef lunches and dinners, presentations, gatherings around the many things important to her, meetings, and perhaps in the future, even writers’ retreats and other events connecting her to the work of Audubon Canyon Ranch. It is a very exciting venture and we are hoping to raise adequate funding so that it will be possible to maintain the house and create programming of interest to fans, friends, and community members long into the future. There was an initial fundraising event, First Meal LAST HOUSE, in June, curated by Sheana Davis of the Epicurean Connection in Sonoma, where about 100 guests, including a group of amazing chefs, gathered to enjoy good food and wine in the house in its current early stage of restoration. Although there is no desire or plan for Last House to be a museum, many of M.F.K. FIsher’s books, pieces of art and other personal possessions, including her recognizable Rattan Queen Chair, her typewriter and typing table, and her dining table at which she both prepared and enjoyed meals with many people over her 20 years in the house, have returned to the house to give a sense of her presence in the space. First Meal was a wonderful start to what is hoped to be a long list of great events both in and in support of the Last House Project. More events are planned for this fall. If you have any interest in learning more, there is some good information available on the ACR website at www.egret.org​".​

The chefs for First Meal at Last House included:

Sheana Davis, The Epicurean Connection: Caviar, chef-made creme Fraiche in Sonoma potato cup; Orange zest poached scallops; Cheese Bar including: Delice de la Vallee, served with spring pea shoot and mint pesto; Creme de fromage, served with raspberry rose petal jam; and P-1 double brie, served with Glen Ellen honey and meyer lemon.

Scott Worsham/Sari Zernich Worsham/Jeremy Leven, mfk. restaurant, Chicago: Boquerones, piquillo pepper-fenel slaw, baguette; Cantabrian Salt-cured anchovy, buttered toast, lemon zest​.

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Joanne & Keith Filipello/Wild Thyme: Mary Frances’ legendary ratatouille from her book With Bold Knife and Fork.

Justin Wangler/ Jackson Family Wines: Smoked Liberty Duck, roasted beets, strawberries, shiso.

Mathew Elias/ The Bodega: Hog Island sweet water oyster on the half shell, smoked oyster mayonnaise, herbed oyster cracker.

Jodie Rubin/ Chef: Chef-cured Bodega salmon with creme de fromage & puff pastry pillows.

Thomas Keller Restaurant Group/Bouchon Bakery: Delicious short bread

Cherlene & Alex Wright (M.F.K. Fisher's grandson)/Crack’d Toffee: Semi-sweet, dark and white chocolate toffee selection in gift bags for guests and chefs.

The Return of M.F.K. Fisher's Last House

An article by Lisa Armand, a San Francisco-based freelance writer, and a video of Last House featuring Kennedy Golden. (San Francisco Chronicle is pay-to-read site.)