For San Diego native Samin Nosrat, the journey to culinary greatness started in the back of her parents’ car. The child of Iranian immigrants, most weekends growing up were spent trekking to the best Persian bakeries and restaurants in Southern California. “Sometimes we would make this 88-mile drive to this grocery store called Wholesome Choice that's still there in Irvine and buy the fresh breads,” she shared during her appearance on the California Now Podcast. Her path led her to the San Francisco Bay Area for school, where an eye-opening experience at Chez Panisse in Berkeley forever changed her trajectory. Later, she’d hone her skills in the very kitchen that had inspired her, learning from esteemed chefs like Alice Waters, David Tanis, and Chris Lee.
Today, it’s hard to find a culinary accolade this proud Californian has not received. She’s a New York Times bestselling author, a James Beard Award winner, and the star of a hit Netflix series based on her celebrated cookbook, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. Now a full-time East Bay resident, Nosrat dedicates her time to cooking, writing, and teaching through her food.
Where do you live? I live in Oakland.
Why there? Because there's such wonderful diversity and access to so many good ingredients. And the beach.
Who or what is your greatest California love? The beach is my greatest California love.
What is the biggest misperception about Californians? That we're snobby, I think. The “coastal elite” thing.
What is the stereotype that most holds true? The open-mindedness.
What is your favorite Golden State splurge? Harry's Berries in Oxnard. They're so expensive, but they're truly some of the best strawberries you'll ever have.
Time for a road trip—where are you going? I definitely am going to go visit my friend Laurel, who lives in Ventura, but I'll take the coastal route and stop in San Luis Obispo where there's a great sandwich shop called High Street Deli (and my dog Fava's in the back of the car). We take all the side roads. I love staying off I-5. Then we'll go to some citrus orchards, and usually I visit some of the fruit tree purveyors down there. I always buy fruit trees and bring them back and plant them in my garden.
If you could decree an official state culinary experience, what would it be? I think going to the farmers’ market, getting really good crusty bread—the tradition of bread here is so special—getting really good California cheeses, either from Bellwether or Marin French or Cowgirl Creamery, and getting wonderful produce. Probably in the summertime, I would say you have to get dry-farmed tomatoes from Dirty Girl Produce in Santa Cruz and have a picnic.
What's your favorite way to play in California? Going to the beach!
Best California song? I just watched The Last Black Man in San Francisco again, and there's a version of "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" in that movie that is so beautiful.
How would your California dream day unfold? I’d go to Sqirl in Los Angeles for breakfast and have my favorite turmeric orange juice and one of her crazy brilliant things—she makes like this fluffy French toast or these super fluffy pancakes. Then we would put together a picnic, go to the beach, spend the day at the beach, and then come home and shower and go out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in L.A., like maybe Kismet or something like that, and just hang out with my friends. That would be a really fun day.