When you eat at restaurants in Carmel, you will no doubt have a chance to experience the famous culinary phenomenon known as “California Cuisine.” This form of cuisine was made popular by world famous chefs Alice Waters and Wolfgang Puck. Since California is the leading agricultural state in America, they decided to capitalize on the fruits, vegetables and seafood that is available. As a result, Carmel California restaurants are some of the few places in the world where your dining experiences can be described as both delicious and healthy. California cuisine integrates a number of cooking styles and ingredients. Out of reverence for California's healthy traditions, it creates delicious entrees that are fresh and lean as opposed to fatty and fried.

Many restaurants in Carmel will prepare dishes that use locally-grown ingredients, such as artichoke, avocado, mushrooms, citrus fruits, figs, dates, persimmons, pistachios, prunes, lima beans, kiwi fruit, pomegranates, raisins and almonds. Of course, due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, you will always find superb seafood selections in Carmel California restaurants. Many Restaurants in Carmel serve sourdough bread to accompany your meal. Of course, fine California wine will always be an essential part of your Carmel dining experience.

The Mexican influence when combined with the traditional style of California Cuisine has been responsible for the Fresh-Mex or Baja-style of Mexican food. This is not your mother's Mexican food! The emphasis in these restaurants is on the use of fresh ingredients and lighter cooking methods.

The Asian population in California has had a significant influence on California's cuisine. As a result, many of the dishes in the restaurants in Carmel are prepared with soy, bok choy, sesame, ginger, tofu and curry. Much of the food served in the Carmel California restaurants is prepared by fast cooking methods such as grilling, steaming and blanching. Fruits and vegetables are often eaten raw. In many Carmel dining venues, rice and pasta replace the typically American corn and potatoes. While wood fired grills are very popular, barbequing, stewing and roasting are far less common.

However, in your Monterey Carmel dining experience, you will probably enjoy the scrumptious simplicity of California's sauces. These often combine the juices that are released with a cooking wine. Butter and other fats are used less frequently. Perhaps this is why Californians look so great. Speaking of looking great, the food at Carmel California restaurants is always prepared with appearance in mind. Entrees, appetizers and deserts are often works of art in themselves. Creative chefs will often design these items in intricate pattern. As a result, they are both feasts for the eyes and feasts for the taste buds.

So what type of feasts should you expect to find when you set out to explore Monterey Carmel dining? Brick-oven pizzas on hand-tossed crusts, mesclun salads with herbs and toasted goat cheese, delicious breads, fresh from the local bakeries, broiled Black Mission figs with locally made honey, sandwiches prepared with sliced avocado and juicy tomatoes and grilled fresh fish and poultry with prepared with a freshly-made piquant citrus salsa. Are you hungry? Let's Go!