Food & Drink

Food & Drink

California has always been a trendsetter when it comes to the culinary arts—from its extraordinary array of global fare to its cutting-edge, vegetable-forward, local-leaning food habits—often referred to as “California cuisine.”  For foodies who plan their trips around recommendations from Eater or TripAdvisor, California offers the ultimate playground of gustatory exploration, from bucket-list restaurants to timeless drive-thru cheeseburgers, all of which create delicious memories.

Michelin Stars and Celebrity Chefs

One measure of California’s culinary prowess is found in its stars—namely, its Michelin stars. The Golden State has the  most restaurants in the United States recognized with at least one Michelin star—the most in the United States, including several three-star establishments. The destination-dining options span the state, including The French Laundry in Yountville, Aubergine in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles, and Addison in San Diego.

California has also accrued more than a dozen Green Stars for its deliciously sustainable cuisine, found at restaurants such as Harbor House in Elk and Chez Panisse in Berkeley. There are affordable luxuries too: Michelin’s Bib Gourmand designation applauds the intersection of great taste and value at spots including Tacos Oscar in Oakland or the pizzas of Grá in Los Angeles.

Given the wealth of resident movie stars, it’s no surprise that California has an array of celebrity chefs who call the state home. The lineup includes A-list names such as Curtis Stone and Joe Sasto, Top Chef champ Brooke Williamson, and Food Network star Jet Tila.

California-Grown Magic

California ‘s agricultural bounty also provides a rich foundation for Golden State cuisine. Sacramento, for instance, is not just the state capital but also the Farm-to-Fork Capital, thanks in large part to its proximity to so many local farms and ranches. In the Central Valley, the blooming trees along the Fresno Blossom Trail during the winter turn into the juicy offerings of the Fresno Fruit Trail by summer. All over the state, you can find locally sourced cuisine in restaurants, visit farms where you can pick produce yourself, or attend festivals inspired by the local crops, from artichokes to strawberries. Year-round, you can also find inspiration with California Grown recipes.

Wine, Beer, & More

In addition to generating the most wine in the United States, California is also the fourth-largest wine producer in the world. You can easily build a trip—or several—out of exploring vineyards all over the state, from the North Coast, Napa Valley, and Sonoma County down to the Central Coast and Temecula Valley. Sippers can also experience the state’s world-class craft beer scene—1,000-plus breweries strong and growing. The American craft beer movement has origins in the Golden State, in areas such as the Shasta Cascade, San Francisco, and San Diego County, but you’ll also find cutting-edge brewery scenes in Orange County, Gold Country, and the High Sierra.

Culinary Experiences Around the State

There are also plenty of culinary adventures for families and anyone with a sense of fun. California is the birthplace of several fast-food icons—such as In-N-Out—and you can taste your way through various original locations, or, say, visit the mother ship of Ghirardelli Chocolate in San Francisco. Most California cities have easy-access dining hubs, food truck parks, and food halls where you can enjoy an array of local flavors, such as the Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco, Grand Central Market in Los Angeles, the Anaheim Packing District in Orange County, and Liberty Public Market in San Diego. Or build a taste-based trip around one favorite food, from the California Cheese Trail to this road trip built around tacos.  For more culinary adventures, check out these road trip itineraries: Winding Through Wine Country, Central Valley for Foodies, and the Craft Beer Road Trip.