California Bountiful

Vegan falafel burgers: This main dish gives vegans, or anybody, a burger experience bursting with flavor.

Pork chops with grilled fruit: This recipe can be modified to fit your mood and the season. For example, other fruits such as apples, persimmons, pears or cherries also pair well with the pork.

Sumac roasted chicken with honey-glazed quince

Although sumac is more commonly associated with Middle Eastern cuisine, it grows wild and quite readily in the United States. "With its bright and citrusy notes, sumac should definitely become a part of every kitchen's spice arsenal," chef Jammir Gray says.

Chef Jammir Gray
Compline Restaurant and Wine Bar, Napa

Tomato pasta with gremolata: Sacramento chef Patrick Mulvaney is a fan of canned tomatoes "because there's so much variety in what you can get out of it." Here's a delicious example.

Five mac and cheese: Make it loaded! Add shredded, smoked pork shoulder and Calabrian chiles to the finished dish.

Seared halibut with peas, peas and peas and grapefruit: Halibut is a mild fish that pairs beautifully with seasonal sweet peas and an acidic ingredient like grapefruit!

Calabacitas (Pork-zucchini stew): There are many variations to this dish; however, squash is the one ingredient always present. "This is how I remember my mom's calabacitas, along with beans and fresh, homemade flour tortillas," chef David Gomez said. "I easily return to that moment of my life."

Mt. Lassen trout ceviche with melon and mint: A surprising combination of savory, sweet and tart come together in this fresh summer dish. Featuring fish from Mt. Lassen Trout, it's the recipe that helped chef Reilly Meehan win "The U.S.A.'s Chef of the Year" title in 2019.

Chipotle chicken tacos: "One of my favorite dishes that my mom makes" is how Hank Guerrero categorizes this versatile chicken recipe, which can be served in tacos or over rice or nachos. "It's not overly spicy. It's a little smoky."

Carne asada tacos: Skirt steak is Hank Guerrero's preferred cut for these tacos: "It's very tender and a little more forgiving if you overcook it. Remember to cut it against the grain."