Another emphasis in New American cooking is to prepare food quickly and efficiently and not "destroy" the natural flavor and ingredients by overcooking. Food are often grilled or quickly steamed.

In summary, New American cuisine uses only fresh ingredients in preparing imaginative and creative dishes. If you can taste the individual ingredients in your dish and your meal looks attractive - you're probably eating New American cuisine.

Basic Elements In New American Cuisine

Uses only the freshest ingredients.


Uses locally grown ingredients whenever possible.


Food is cooked quickly to preserve nutrients. Meats, seafood, and vegetables tend to be grilled over direct, high, heat for short periods.


Recipes are creative. New American chefs are not afraid to mix and combine different types of ingredients such as "adding slices of avocado or some other tasty seasonal ingredient" to your grilled fish or sandwich.


Dishes incorporate the techniques of many cultures including Chinese, Japanese, Italian, French, Mexican and other ethnic styles of preparation.


Even traditional recipes are seldom followed exactly since ingredients may change as the season dictates.


Each dish is prepared "new" each time. A dish is seldom prepared exactly the same way twice.


Fewer ingredients are used. This allows for a fresh and crisp presentation.


Many fruits and vegetables, and some types of seafood, are eaten raw, while many foods are quickly steamed or blanched.


Sauces tend to be simple. Sauces are often made from the juices released while cooking the main dish and may be combined with wine or stock and simply reduced.


Presentation is as important as taste.


Dishes will often use contrasting colors of fresh ingredients, thereby adding to the visual presentation.

The origins of New American Cuisine can be found in California Cuisine
Since California is the leading agricultural state in the nation, over half of the entire nation's fruits and vegetables are grown in California. California is the main producer of many wonderful fruits, vegetables and even nuts including: almonds, artichokes, avocados, dates, figs, kiwi fruit, lima beans, olives, pistachios, pomegranates, prunes, raisins, walnuts, strawberries and much more. California cuisine often includes avocado, artichoke or citrus fruits. Since California has a long coastline, you will also find many fish and seafood dishes served in California Cuisine.

California is also the most populous and ethnically diverse state in the nation. Combine creative and talented chefs, ethic diversity, abundance of fresh produce, and a desire for "healthy" cuisine; and we have the foundations of California Cuisine.

California Cuisine is a style of cooking marked by an interest in "fusion". California Cuisine integrates different cooking styles and ingredients. California's large Asian population has greatly influenced many dishes. Many Chefs have adopted ingredients and spices common to East Asian cuisines, such as bok choy, sesame, ginger, tofu, and curry. As in Asian cooking, California dishes are typically prepared with particularly strong attention to presentation.

Note: Alice Waters is credited with the birth of California Cuisine. In 1971 chef Alice Waters opened her now legendary Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley. She was the first restaurateur known to emphasize the cooking styles noted above.

Cooking New American Cuisine
Cooking New American cuisine does not require a set of pre-defined recipes. Chefs often take favorite dishes and exchange ingredients based on seasonal ingredients. You can combine vegetables or spices that you find tasty and define new and wonderful dishes. New American Cuisine is all about reinventing standard recipes or creating new recipes using nutritious and fresh local ingredients.

When preparing New American dishes, many chefs will cook them quickly in order to retain most of the nutrients. Meats, fruits and vegetables tend to be eaten raw or quickly steamed. Meats and seafood are grilled over high heat for a short period of time. To be New American is to be the best combination of different ethnic styles of cooking, local and fresh ingredients combined with a creative touch. New American Cuisine offers a blending of nutritious flavors, textures and aromas presented simply, but beautifully!

Note: Processed food is never used in authentic New American cuisine.