Chez Panisse: With this kind of media attention, who needs advertising?

Just how much of a big deal is it that Chez Panisse, Alice Waters’ iconic Berkeley restaurant closed by fire in March, has reopened? Judging from the dozens of print, online and television items devoted to the fire, re-construction, and now, the re-opening, the answer: a very, very big deal, apparently, to Bay Area media outlets. Inside Scoop SF, the Chronicle foodie blog, is up with a 23-photo slide show entitled: “Scenes from Chez Panisse’s first night back in business.” Most restaurants, even good ones, must struggle to get noticed; others merely exist.