Coastal

As a native Californian, born and raised in Monterey, this book checks all the boxes. The cuisine in Central California is fresh, fun and not one bit fussy - just like the recipes in the book. I love that most recipes give the option to be vegetarian or not. Very fish heavy which I appreciate since that is such a big part of food culture here on the Central Coast. Overall a lovely book with fabulous recipes and gorgeous photography that captures the essence of Central Coast living.

Visually stunning, the photographs in this book are amazing. I also really enjoyed reading all about the California Coast, Scott's winding road to where he is, and was so impressed with the breadth of knowledge about food, the sea, and the coast.

The recipes are inventive, unique, and sound so good. This book would be just as at home as a coffee table book, or in the kitchen to use to cook.

Thank you Netgalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC!

Coastal is a sampler of the sights and flavors of the beautiful central coast of California. Full of photos of both food and scenery, the book is a feast for the eyes. The story follows a chef with high-end dining creds to his roadside sandwich shop that embraces local and straightforward foods and on a trip down the coast with inspired menus along the way. After an introduction where readers can learn a bit about the chef and his path, tools and pantry staples, the chapters break into menus for each stop. The first chapter, "the go-tos" are the building blocks and basics (like mayo, pickled items and spice blends) for many of the recipes. "Afternoon at dad's " takes readers into Scott Clark's luncheonette, with recipes from his menu to reproduce at home if Half Moon Bay isn't a quick drive away. And then we are off with "road trip snacks", because every road trip needs snacks between stops. "Post-break breakfast" sets out multiple ways to start a morning off right. "Visit to the seaside farmers" is a vegetarian dream and treat for omnivores as well. "Fishing and foraging" handles coastal California seafood in a way to showcase local ingredients while "after the hunting trip" highlights local meats. The menus set out for "lunch in the vineyard", "grilling on pismo beach", and "sailing to the channel islands" are well thought out dishes that compliment each other and the setting that they were made for. And finally, "back home with the kid" finishes off the trip on a high note with some treats for kids as well as adults as they unpack and unwind. Recipes throughout the book highlight the ingredients locally found but can be adapted to those found around the country. They are structured with a header brief; ingredient list, which is broken down by the component parts of a dish; instructions on how to make each component; and bullets for time, yield, and special equipment; and the occasional pro-tip. The book was a feast for the eyes and a pleasure to read and I can't wait to try several of the recipes in my own kitchen.
I received access to this ebook thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Chronicle Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Delicious, California-inspired recipes that I cannot wait to try! As a CA native-turned-southerner, some of these look so mouthwatering and yummy. Love the premise behind this book and the narratives throughout!

Coastal was an accumulation of a variety of recipes that I was not expecting! There were a huge selection of cultural recipes that I had never heard of, but am eager to try out! The book caught my interest almost immediately with a recipe for pear butter! The recipes were in depth and easy to follow and were accompanied by stunning photos!

Beautiful book full of inspiring California coastal cuisine. Very evocative of the place. What a gorgeous cookbook. I’m excited to try many of the recipes.