Episode 14 of the California Now Podcast offers a culinary history lesson of sorts as Hunter Lewis, editor in chief of Food & Wine magazine, explains what California cuisine is, how it took shape four decades ago, and where visitors can experience it today. Lewis and podcast host Soterios Johnson discuss some of the pioneering chefs who made the Golden State one of the best dining destinations on the planet—including Alice Waters, Jeremiah Tower, and Nancy Silverton—and then pivot to talk about the next generation of chefs who carry the torch for intensely local cooking.
After that, acclaimed rock climber Kevin Jorgeson checks in and shares some of his favorite things to do and places to go in his native Sonoma County, including spots in Petaluma, Sebastopol, and Santa Rosa. The episode ends with author Ann Marie Brown, who helps listeners hack their next visit to Yosemite National Park. Her best suggestion: Get out of your car and experience the park the way it was meant to be seen—on your feet.
Guests
Resources
Hunter Lewis discusses the origins of California cuisine, and how travelers can experience it today.
Kevin Jorgeson shares some of his favorite places to go and things to do in Sonoma County.
Ann Marie Brown helps listeners navigate their way around Yosemite National Park.
About the Host
Soterios Johnson, formerly the local host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition on radio station WNYC, moved from New York City to Davis, Calif., in 2016 and is just getting to know his surroundings. By combining his journalistic instincts with his personal curiosity, Johnson will use the California Now platform to develop a deeper understanding of his adopted home.