"Theron" > writes:


> We were here well before Chez Panisse. There wasn't anything that could be
> called California Cuisine.


You better check yourself!

California Firsts:

The Hot Fudge Sundae
(C. C. Brown's, Hollywood, 1906)

Crab Louis
(Solari's, San Francisco, c. 1914)

The Chili Dog
(Art Elkinal's pushcart, Inglewood, 1935)

Rumaki
(Don the Beachcomber's, Hollywood, 1930s)

Cobb Salad
(Brown Derby, Los Angeles, 1926)

The "Doggie Bag
(Lawry's The Prime Rib, Los Angeles, 1938)

The Mai Tai
(Trader Vic's, Oakland, 1944)

Irish Coffee
(Buena Vista Cafe, San Francisco, 1952)

Ranch Dressing
(Hidden Valley Ranch, Santa Barbara, 1950s)

The Harvey Wallbanger (Pancho's Bar, Manhattan Beach, late 1960s)

Hangtown Fry
cioppino
SF sourdough bread
Pismo clams
Green Goddess dressing
French Dip sandwich
Fortune Cookies
pan fried abalone


Sorry, but you do not pre-date California cuisine.

nb