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California Cuisine

California isn't just known for its gorgeous weather and beautiful beaches. It's also known for its cuisine. Keep reading to learn how California cuisine developed and to get some tips on how you can cook California food in your own home.

What is California Cuisine?

California cooking is known for cooking fresh, local ingredients in simple ways. Thus, the menus of restaurants that offer California food will vary from season to season and often month to month or night to night.

With its diverse population, it's no surprise that California cuisine is also known for its fusion. California food is known for mixing the culinary traditions of the following, among others:

China
Japan
Mexico
Western Europe.

The Origins of California Cooking

Many people credit Chef Alice Waters with creating California cuisine. In 1971, Waters opened the restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif. Since the restaurant's opening, it has been known for serving dishes made from only fresh ingredients provided by local ranchers and farmers.

Chef Wolfgang Puck is also credited with helping California cooking gain popularity. Puck is known for blending California ingredients with French culinary techniques.

California Cuisine and Wine

Be sure to take advantage of California's massive wine industry when cooking California cuisine. You can use wine to make a sauce for a fresh cut of beef or simply enjoy a glass of wine with your California food.

California Cuisine Ingredients

With its large agricultural industry and close proximity to the ocean, it's no wonder that California cooking is able to incorporate such a large variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood. Here are just a few ingredients you might find in California food:

abalone
almonds
artichokes
avocados
dates
chicken
citrus fruits
Dungeness crab
garlic
goat cheese
lamb
olive oil
salmon
sun-dried tomatoes.

You will see rarely see butter or lard used in authentic California cooking.

Methods of Cooking California Cuisine

Most dishes in California cuisine are cooked quickly in order for the ingredients to retain as much nutritional value as possible. Grilling and stir-frying are popular methods for cooking California food, as are blanching and steaming.

You rarely will see a chef stewing or roasting in California cooking.

Cooking California Cuisine at Home

California cuisine is all about reinventing old recipes using fresh local ingredients. Here's a simple California recipe for you to try at home:

California Cobb Salad

Makes four servings

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado, halved, pitted and diced
tomatoes, diced
hardboiled eggs, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
8 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
2 cups lobster tail, cooked and diced (You can substitute shrimp or chicken breast for the lobster, if desired.)
3 bacon slices, fried and crumbled
1/2 cup bleu cheese dressing

Directions

In a large bowl, layer the avocado, tomatoes and eggs and add salt and pepper, to taste.
Top with the Romaine lettuce and then the lobster and bacon.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to mix all the ingredients.
Serve immediately.

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