Recipes

Getting the right texture here requires a kamado-san donabe, specifically designed to make the dreamiest, fluffiest rice imaginable. Fifteen minutes may not seem like enough cooking time for short-grain rice, but trust us: This comes out perfect every time.

We thought roasting chicken in a donabe sounded a little nuts, but this is possibly the most tender, delicious chicken we’ve ever had. We cooked ours in this steamer donabe, but any medium-size (at least 1 ½ quarts) lidded clay pot - or even a dutch oven - would work.

This quick and easy version of a classic Italian wedding soup is the perfect antidote to a cold winter night. Warming and filling without weighing you down, this family-friendly one pot dinner has a little something for everyone.

Magnus Cali-fied a classic Fäviken flaxseed cracker by mixing in local almonds and red walnuts, then topped it with beautiful produce from the farmer’s market.

Equally perfect for a dinner party or a weeknight at home, this simple clam dish comes together in about 20 minutes and covers all of your food groups. Serve with a simple salad and grilled bread to dip in the fragrant broth.

Based on a comfort dish he cherished as a young kid, sweet potato tacos are a staple at Wes Avila's truck. The contrast of warm, soft potatoes with fresh, tart feta and crunchy corn nuts makes for flavor that's complex but still feels like comfort food. We love how you can feel Wes's passion for the dish even in his ingredient list.

The multiple elements of this salad make it seem difficult, but the most complicated thing you have to do is just roast the peaches (which, particularly with the addition of the tin foil, is both easy to execute and clean up). It's definitely one of those dishes you can rely on for impressing guests.

Cali and Scandi cuisine might not sound like a harmonious pair, but we loved this hybrid of classics: Tostada meets smørrebrød!

Coolhaus's signature ice cream is the perfect base for all kinds of flavors, but mint chocolate chip is one of their most famous options. The fresh mint lends a right-out-of-the-garden taste that's warmed and tempered by brown sugar.

This holiday poached pear dessert is a touch tart and not too sweet. The pear absorbs all of the flavors beautifully, and the dollop of whipped cream is dainty and decadent. (Bonus: It can be made in advance of your guests arrival.)

For a cold-weather cocktail that's warming, a little bit sweet, and pleasantly spicy, this bourbon-spiked blend does the trick. Best of all, the persimmons can be puréed ahead of time; for a larger batch, double the maple-spiced simple syrup recipe.

Roasting carrots and shallots at a super high temperature makes them sticky, sweet, and caramelized—in other words, delicious. Topping them with a pesto of cilantro, pumpkin seeds, and carrot tops (why waste all those beautiful greens?) makes them even better.