The West Coast - from sunny San Diego up to the lush pastures of Vancouver - is a culinary Garden of Eden. Produce from all over the world, introduced by immigrants past and present who brought their native foods and cuisines with them, flourishes in the West's nourishing climates. Out of this rich melange has grown a New West Coast Cuisine. Its character? Robust yet sophisticated, bold and nontraditional: a blend of classic French, Italian, and Chinese cooking techniques, Japanese, Middle Eastern, and Mexican influences, and fresh, natural ingredients. Its flavor? Excitingly varied, refreshingly unusual, and unforgettably delicious.