When Shirley Chung isn’t running the kitchen at 池咖啡女士, her progressive 中国人 American restaurant in Culver City, you might find her hiking to a waterfall in 伊顿峡谷. Or exploring the sides streets in the 艺术区. 或者在纽波特海滩玩桨板. Or perhaps getting behind the wheel and driving up the 海岸, sampling every delicious bite she can find along the way.
Chung’s passion was on vivid display during season 11 of Bravo’s 顶级大厨, and it’s also evident in her questionnaire answers below. We asked her to share her Golden State favorites and she over-delivered, big time.
你住在哪里?? 洛杉矶.
为什么? 我的家人和我的餐厅， 池咖啡女士bbin游戏官网都在这里.
Who or what is your greatest California love? California is where five generations of the Chung family have called home. It’s filled with 中国人 American history, my family’s history. My great-grandmother Nellie Yee’s family came to America in the 1870s. My great-grandfather Yik Hong Chung was an herbalist; he emigrated from 中国 in 1900 during the 中国人 Exclusion Act. 他在今天的洛杉矶附近开了第一家诊所.A. 唐人街.
What is the biggest misperception about Californians? That California is warm all over and you can wear shorts and flip-flops all the time. 不正确——好吧，50%正确. When the temperature dips below 65 degrees, we all rush to put on our puffer jackers over our t-shirts to wear with shorts and flip-flops.
What is the stereotype that most holds true? bbin游戏官网喜欢牛油果. bbin游戏官网所做的! California produces 95 percent of the avocados in America and our love started way before avocado toast became trendy.
What is your favorite Golden State splurge? 北京奥运会季票 洛杉矶湖人队!
是时候自驾游了——你要去哪里? With a couple black sesame lattes from my restaurant Ms Chi and a few breakfast burritos from our neighbors Cervateca 公路方面，bbin游戏官网沿101公路向北走 卵石滩. 在路上，停在 哈利的浆果 in 奥克斯纳德 is a must before continuing on to downtown 圣芭芭拉分校, where we’ll feast on fresh sea urchin on the half shell, red abalones, and rock crab at the 圣巴巴拉贝类公司 在斯登码头.
下一个, we hop on Highway 154 for the 25-mile drive to Cachuma Lake, where we’ll keep our eyes peeled for bald eagles before tasting some wine in the 圣伊内斯谷. From there, just 12 miles down the road we’ll pull into the cutest Danish community—Solvang—and take pictures with giant wood clogs and windmills before hitting the 奥尔森丹麦乡村面包店 for Danish waffles and cheese puff pastries. 在邻国 洛斯-奥利弗斯，bbin游戏官网将参观 洛斯-奥利弗斯品酒室，然后大吃一顿海鲜饭 酒吧乐Côte. Post-meal, we’ll cover the 90 miles to the 帕索罗伯斯 wine region, arriving just as the sun is setting and visit Sensorio, one of California’s largest immersive art exhibitions. One hundred miles later, we’ll arrive at our final destination, 卵石滩’s 17英里驾驶.
If you could decree an official state culinary experience, what would it be? Our California-style tacos—any cuisine and any style of protein on tortillas. 韩国烤肉, char siu (Cantonese-style barbequed pork), 印度黄油鸡, 烟熏胸肉, 泰式炸鸡, hamachi, 生鱼片, 辣金枪鱼，bbin游戏官网甚至还有巧克力玉米饼.
What is your favorite way to play in California? My favorite way to play in California is to fully enjoy California outdoor living. Early-morning hikes with my doggie to the waterfall in 伊顿峡谷; shopping at 圣莫尼卡农贸市场 blocks away from the ocean; biking through the redwoods; eating fish tacos in 大瑟尔; driving across the 金门大桥 in the fog; playing golf in 卵石滩; late-night crabbing at Pacifica Municipal Pier; paddleboarding in 纽波特比奇; sunset hiking at Runyon Canyon with the 好莱坞标志 in the background and 洛杉矶 as the view.
Where would you go for the ultimate shopping spree in California? 我一直来洛杉矶.A. 买东西 梅尔罗斯 从我上大学开始.
最佳加州歌曲? 拉娜·德雷版的《做时间. (I love the original Sublime version as well.这里的节奏很冷，很有加州特色. The song feels like Southern California’s air—a little laid-back, 有点复杂, 有点糟糕, 许多美好的事物融合在一起.
How would your California dream day unfold? I would start with an early-morning hike to the 伊顿峡谷 waterfall with my doggie Baxter. I would have dumplings, milk tea, and a 中国人 savory donut in the San Gabriel Valley for breakfast. 下一个, I would go to the Antelope Valley to see poppies and other wildflowers. 然后我再回来 中部的城市 for day-drinking, 法国 pastries, and simple California fare at 共和广场. Then I would roam around 中部的城市 and the 艺术区 looking for street art, graffiti, and Kobe Bryant murals. 我会去几个墨西哥卷饼店 Mariscos哈利斯科 炸虾脆炸玉米饼; El Flamin ' Taco 为所有牧师; 国王塔可 对于lengua和carne asada. I would end the day by watching a concert at the 论坛, followed by late-night eating and drinking in K-town.