In The Best of California, writers Larry and Ann Walker serve up the Golden State on a silver platter, one whose cuisine is laden with its fresh produce, interpreted by the diverse tastes of its international population, and spiced by the energy and inventiveness of what has come to be known as the California spirit. Perhaps no other place in the world has so successfully blended the best of so many culinary traditions, from French to Japanese, Italian to Mexican. Here are Asian-inspired salads and California-style sushi; tempting Mexicanin-influenced soups and salsas; Portuguese and Italian seafood stews and pastas; imaginative pizzas; and, of course, barbecues, grills, and the freshest possible vegetable and salad dishes. With something for every palate, these recipes, together with beautiful color photographs, will serve as your personal culinary guide to California. And since they all call for the unwritten main ingredient of creativity, be sure to bring along a healthy dose of imagination to do a little California dreaming of your own.