15 Best Ways to Taste a West Coast Summer

By Mackenzie Schieck
Chef John

Buckle up! We’re taking you on a virtual road trip to sample the best of the West Coast's summer flavors, from seafood favorites like Pacific Northwest salmon and San Francisco's famous cioppino, to iconic regional ingredients like California avocados and Oregon marionberries. And yes, we're stopping along the way for San Diego fish tacos and a Mariners post-game celebration with a Seattle Cream Cheese Dog. West Coast, best coast indeed.

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Fish Tacos

AllrecipesPhoto
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"I lived in San Diego and fish tacos are one of my favorites," says Jackie F. "I got my boyfriend hooked, too, and this is the best recipe I’ve found — tastes just like the ones I used to get from the little taco stand!"

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Easy Guacamole

Chef Mo
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There is no easier — or more delicious — way to make the most of California summer avocados than with a simple guacamole dip like this one. "Once you start making your own," says Bubba's Mom, "you’ll never buy it again!"

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Santa Maria Grilled Tri-Tip Beef

Kim Corelison
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Chef John says, "The town of Santa Maria, California, is home to one of America's most delicious barbecue specialties: black-on-the-outside, pink-on-the-inside, grilled beef tri-tip steak. The tri-tip is cut from the bottom sirloin, and if cooked properly produces a very flavorful, extremely juicy piece of beef."

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Chef John's Cioppino

Chef John
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Visitors to San Francisco flock to Fisherman's Wharf to chow down on local seafood, including this spicy fish and shellfish stew. "When you feel like splurging a little, San Francisco's famous cioppino is a great choice," says recipe creator and Bay Area resident Chef John. "Paired with a loaf of crusty sourdough bread, it's downright otherworldly."

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San Francisco Sourdough Bread

Adrian
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The perfect accompaniment to a classic San Francisco Cioppino. Alydia Friend says, "This is an excellent sourdough bread and makes wonderful croutons. I used the Sourdough Starter II recipe for a starter."

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Grilled Pork Tacos al Pastor

Chef John
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"Al Pastor is a really popular way to prepare pork, famous in San Francisco's Mission District," says Chef John. "It's a marinated roast pork. They make the most incredible tacos and burritos. This recipe is inspired by those flavors."

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Northwest Marionberry Pie

Meredith
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Oregon's official state berry is actually a sweet-tart hybrid of a blackberry, and is an especially delicious treat when baked into a pie. "I Love Oregon marionberries," says jaimekins2012, "and I am so happy to have a great recipe for it!" 

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Barbeque Halibut Steaks

Greg McDole
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Summer is peak halibut season along the West Coast, and this recipe takes it outside to the grill for a delicious dish. "This is one of my all time favorite seafood BBQ recipes," says RONAMAY. "I make extra sauce for dipping." Genius tip! 

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Panko-Breaded Fried Razor Clams

Teresa
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"I grew up on the West Coast where these tasty treats are found," says recipe creator, Danielle Harbold. "You can vary the amount of ingredients according to the number of clams you have, but be sure to use real Parmesan cheese and panko crumbs."

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Cedar Planked Salmon

KGora
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The Pacific Northwest is swimming in fresh, local salmon, as recipe submitter, Wendy Freeman-More learned. "This is a dish my brother prepared for me in Seattle. It is by far the best salmon I've ever eaten. I like to serve it with an Asian-inspired rice and roasted asparagus."

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Sweet Washington Cherry Pie

Valerie Brunmeier
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Washington State is famed for its cherry crop, and when they hit the market, everyone rushes to make the most of a good thing. "This is a recipe shared with me from a friend in eastern Washington, where they have the BEST fresh sweet cherries in the U.S," says Jill, who shared her friend's recipe with us.

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Seattle Cream Cheese Dogs

bethanyweathersby
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Recreate this Emerald City favorite wherever you are. "On the streets of Seattle, after the bars close and during sporting events, these are a local favorite — warm cream cheese spread on your favorite hotdog," says home cook Dolan A.

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Seahawk Burger

zifenoper
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"What makes a burger Seattle-style?" asks recipe submitter, Lorem Ipsum. "Flannel bun? Uh, no. Micro-brew on the side? Well, okay, probably. Espresso in the aioli? Yes! Don't knock it, it totally works! Cook the burgers in a skillet or outside on the grill."

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Nanaimo Bars III

Katie S
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One of Washington State's favorite cookies comes from its Canadian neighbor. Named for Nanaimo, British Columbia, this triple-layer no-bake bar cookie has a graham cracker and almond base slathered with vanilla custard and topped with rich chocolate. Recipe submitter Martha J Paul says, "My son is famous for making and taking these in to work. I've heard other names but here in the Northwest everyone knows them as Nanaimo bars. They are sold on British Columbia Ferries and at coffee stands. If you can't find custard powder, I've used instant pudding mix with good results."

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Starbucks® Caramel Frappuccino Copycat Recipe

Allrecipes
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Top off your virtual West Coast road trip with an extravagant coffee/whipped cream/caramel drink made famous by a local coffee brand that's bent on world-domination. "Loved this recipe!" raves Faith N. "We are over an hour away from the nearest Starbucks, between gas and the cost of the drinks themselves, it's a rare splurge for me to get one. This is my absolute favorite."

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