The Cuisine of California: An Auspicious Beginning

Outtakes from the first Cuisine of California dinner.

Mark serves himself a giant scoop of penne with chicken, tomato and leek sauce: "I'm elated. The end of my Chinese diet."

Tipsy: "Owen, come to the table please."

Isabel: "I can't believe we're having strawberry sorbet tonight and not fungus!"

Tipsy: "This three lettuce salad is really good. Have some salad, Isabel."

Isabel: "Okay okay okay! You don't have to be so insistent."

Tipsy: "Owen, come to the table. I made pasta and you're not even at the table."

Owen: "I want to show you my thumb mold."

Mark: "Oh my God, I can't believe I forgot Isabel's orthodontist appointment this morning."

Tipsy: "I made too much pasta."

Mark: "How did I forget that orthodontist appointment?"

Tipsy: "Maybe if you take some for lunch in a Tupperware. . ."

Mark: "You know what's amazing, I didn't even remember about that appointment until just now."

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I bought The Cuisine of California for 50 cents at a used bookstore many years ago because it had appeared on some list of essential culinary texts. I can't remember whose and I've never cooked from it before. Published in 1983, the book shows its age. The pasta was trying too hard

in a very '80s way, with not just poached chicken breast and leeks but pancetta, thyme, heavy whipping cream, marinara sauce. Overkill! But very yummy.

The salad -- radicchio, arugula, butter lettuce and toasted hazelnuts -- was terrific. The strawberry sorbet, well, it was strawberry sorbet. Not really my thing, but a lot more enjoyable than Hunanese lotus seeds.

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