Since its first edition in 1993, this book has become Bon Vivant Press's perennial best seller, not only in gift and gourmet venues, but in bookstores as well. And yet it remains a very personal book, filled with personal choices -- of great chefs, restaurants and recipes that exemplify the best cooking in California. As with all of the Cooking Series TM books, no one paid (or was paid) to be included. Each chef was hand selected and invited to participate.Restaurants change. Chefs change. Tastes change. But one thing remains constant: good taste -- delicious taste -- with style, elegance, and, perhaps most important, ease, simplicity, health and a preparation time that respects our on the go lifestyle.Yet this is so much more than simply a California cookbook. This Publishers Marketing Association Ben Franklin Medal Winner allows you to get to know the chefs, to hear what they have to say about cooking, about ingredients, about methods, and what they like to chat about when they dine out.To put things into perspective, we have included A Culinary Tour, a section that guides you through the origins of California cooking. We take a quick tour of our favorite cities and sights to visit, and we include a listing of all the featured restaurants so you'll know where to visit our chefs and taste their creations. A map helps you to get there.