This bountiful state boasts the nation’s highest per-acre yield of wild rice, an annual strawberry production that could wrap the globe 15 times, and 95 percent of the country’s avocado crop—not to mention an abundance of pecans, walnuts, dates, fish, asparagus, beef, milk, seafood, and almost everything else that flourishes in the water or under the sun.

The result is an enticing and inviting palette of fresh flavors and ingredients that are sautéed, roasted, stir-fried, simmered, braised and poached to mouth-watering life. To find out more about where to go to sample California’s flavorful and colorful cuisine, visit www.calrest.org.

bouchon

At bouchon Santa Barbara, chefs visit the local farmers’ market to personally select ingredients for featured menu items. Every dish is carefully paired with complementary wines from nearby vineyards, introducing guests to the natural splendors of California. Nearby, at the award-winning Sage and Onion, guests are welcomed like part of the family and warmly invited to sample a culinary version of the American dream. Here, fresh California bounty is artfully joined with meticulously selected international ingredients to create delectable and delightful European-American fare.

The culinary arts and the theatrical arts are a splendid combination, and no one joins the two like the Foreign Cinema in San Francisco. Serving French-inspired cuisine in a European-styled courtyard alongside some of the most beautiful movies of our time, this popular restaurant demonstrates once again that dining in California is an experience unto itself.

Dos Coyotes Border Café

For a more whimsical culinary encounter, Dos Coyotes Border Café dishes out sizzling Southwestern fare in a colorful, energetic environment. With several locations in the Sacramento area, this innovative, healthful and affordable eatery has developed a loyal foodie following from near and far.

At Gar Woods Grill & Pier Restaurant at Lake Tahoe, have the valet park your boat while you enjoy flavorful California cuisine straight off the grill. Embracing a sweeping curve of shoreline in gracious Carnelian Bay, this timeless restaurant has become a treasured institution in one of the world’s most breathtaking destinations. Home to more restaurants than all of Italy, California offers an ultimate dining experience for hungry travelers with a yen for innovative cuisine, vibrantly fresh ingredients, and an international flair. Eat well, be happy—and treat your tastebuds to the explosive flavors of California dining today.

Dine California is a new partnership between California Tourism and the California Restaurant Association designed to showcase California’s innovative cuisine and plentiful dining choices. To find a restaurant that fits your tastes, or to log on to the Dine California Internet Dining Guide, visit www.calrest.org, www.dinecalifornia.org or www.visitcalifornia.com, where you can make online reservations at your choice of more than 13,000 California restaurants, or take an online virtual tour.