Cuisine of California

Encyclopedia : C : CU : CUI : Cuisine of California

This article is part
of the Cuisine series
Preparation techniques and cooking items
Techniques - Utensils
Weights and measures
Ingredients and types of food
Spices and Herbs
Sauces - Soups - Desserts
Cheese - Pasta - Bread
Other ingredients
Regional cuisines
Asia - Europe - Caribbean
South Asian - Latin America
Mideast - North America - Africa

See also:
Famous chefs - Kitchens - Meals

See California Cuisine for the style of cuisine identified with some famous Californian chefs.

The Cuisine of California is the local cuisine of California. It blends influences from Mexico, Asia, and the Pacific Islands in addition to that of the United States.

Contents

1 Ingredients
2 Burgers and fast food
3 Asian influences
4 Mexican and South American influences
5 Techniques
6 See also

Ingredients

Restaurant cuisine may make greater use of ingredients uncommon outside of California. Some locally grown produce that are less common in other parts of the country include:

In the northern coastal regions of the state, Dungeness crabs, salmon and oysters are in abundance during the season.

Burgers and fast food

California is home to fast-food chains such as Carl's Jr., Jack in the Box and Taco Bell. In-N-Out, Del Taco, Original Tommy's, McDonald's, and Fatburger are also California natives.

Asian influences

As one of the U.S. states nearest Asia, the state tends to adopt Asian foods fairly liberally. The American sushi craze no doubt began in California; the term 'California roll' was coined after Californians were hesitant to eat seaweed on the outside layer of sushi rolls, therefore chefs put it on the inside and made the outer layer out of rice instead. These days, items like mochi ice cream and boba are popular.

Mexican and South American influences

In addition to traditional and/or commercialized "Mexican" food, California restaurants serve up Honduran, Oaxacan and nearly every other variation of South American food there is. For example, Pupusarias are common in areas with a large population of Salvadorians (Pupusas are somewhat like a stuffed tortilla from El Salvador).

Of late, "Fresh Mex" or "Baja-style" Mexican food, which places an emphasis on fresh ingredients and sometimes seafood, is highly popular. For example, the El Pollo Loco ("The Crazy Chicken") fast food chain that originated in Northern Mexico, and serves marinated grilled chicken, is a common sight.

Techniques

The state's somewhat health-conscious lifestyle means that frying or battering foods is rarer in California than elsewhere, although there are exceptions: fish tacos and tempura being two examples.