The Urban Forager
CULINARY EXPLORING & COOKING ON L.A.’S EASTSIDE
Elisa Callow
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
ANN ELLIOTT CUTTING
Advance Praise
“Elisa Callow takes us on a stroll through her kitchen, her neighborhood, and her meandering path of learning to be a great cook—and drops a lot of knowledge along the way. I relished her discoveries and expanded my own world of food and community.” ANNA THOMAS, JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER AND AUTHOR OF THE VEGETARIAN EPICURE, LOVE SOUP, AND VEGAN VEGETARIAN OMNIVORE
“If indeed the kitchen is the heart of the home, The Urban Forager wonderfully captures this truth with warm, anecdotal stories, delicious food photographs, and charming illustrations. As a chef, I read and use lots of recipes on a daily basis, and Elisa’s recipes are manageable, smart, and well tested. The creatively selected ingredients coupled with didactic methods teach the user how to develop into a skilled cook. The Urban Forager is much more than a collection of fabulous recipes—it is a lifestyle book.” ONIL CHIBÁS, CHEF/OWNER, ONIL CHIBÁS EVENTS
“Elisa has always known the way to the hidden jewels in our culture-rich city. This stunning treasure map focuses on her friends, family, and a beautiful life as she takes us through her community, to the people and places that inspire her love of food. The book is also bursting with warm, lovingly composed photos and recipes. How lucky we all are to go with her on this journey.” CHRISTINE MOORE, AUTHOR OF LITTLE FLOWER BAKING AND LITTLE FLOWER: RECIPES FROM THE CAFÉ
“I’m untrained in the kitchen but I still like to cook. When I skeptically picked up The Urban Forager, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Elisa Callow had me covered on all my weakest fronts, from what to keep on hand to how to plan so I can actually cook as effectively as I pick up takeout. Most importantly for this Angeleno, The Urban Forager is firmly rooted in L.A.’s multicultural stew—more specifically, its Eastside mélange. This is not just a cookbook, it’s a guidebook that takes you into new markets, opens doors to new taste sensations, and introduces you to wonderful chefs representing a wide variety of cultural influences. I can’t wait to eat my way through The Urban Forager—to explore the food, the cultures, the people, and the wonderful sense of sharing that Elisa brings to these pages.” AARON PALEY, PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY ARTS RESOURCES (CARS) IN LOS ANGELES, FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CICLAVIA, AND FOUNDER OF THE L.A. NONPROFIT YIDDISHKAYT
“I only wish that I had been gifted this book sooner! The beautiful photos and simple, easy-to-follow recipes inspire me to cook and eat. My favorite parts are the concentric circles of culinary influence, encouraging each of us to explore our own neighborhoods and beyond, support small businesses, and, most importantly, explore communities outside of our own. Food and the culinary arts are the best way to get to know other people and form closer bonds, whether it be with family, a neighbor, a community member, or even a stranger. This book embodies this full spirit.” LESLIE ITO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ARMORY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, AND LIFELONG FOOD AND CULTURE ADVOCATE
“Elisa Callow offers a gorgeously inspiring collection of recipes that provides both basics for the novice and innovations for the experienced. Equal parts rustic and elegant, this book is stuffed with many delectable recipes designed to satisfy hunger pangs from simple to sophisticated. Gorge yourself on the beautiful photos and loving illustrations; devour the odes to eastside tastemakers. Then choose a dish that sings to you, roll up your sleeves, and dive in!” DÉSIRÉE ZAMORANO, AUTHOR OF THE AMADO WOMEN AND THE RESTLESS CHEF BLOG
Copyright © 2019 by Elisa Callow
Photographs © 2019 by Ann Elliott Cutting
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Published byProspect Park Books2359 Lincoln AvenueAltadena, California 91001www.prospectparkbooks.com |
Distributed by Consortium Books Sales & Distribution www.cbsd.com
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress
The following is for reference only:
Callow, Elisa
The Urban Forager: Culinary Exploring & Cooking on L.A.’s Eastside / by Elisa Callow — 1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN: 978-1-945551-42-0
1. Cooking. 2. Cooking, California. 3. Cooking, Los Angeles, CA. I. Title.
CREDITS:
EDITOR: Colleen Dunn Bates
COPY EDITOR: Anna Ganahl
DESIGN: Marika van Adelsberg
PHOTOGRAPHS: Ann Elliott Cutting
PORTRAIT OF ELISA CALLOW AND ANN ELLIOTT CUTTING: Dennis Keeley
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Grandson Anthony James Durham, line drawings pages 26, 68, 80, 106, 118, 142, 170, 198
Severin Grant, line drawings pages 17, 27, 135
Simone Rein, color illustrations pages 24, 25, 104, 105, 140, 141, 168, 169, 196, 197, 228
SERVING DISHES: Ann Elliott Cutting—cover, 29, 41, 47, 50, 55, 73, 74, 79, 120, 126, 131, 146, 172, 175, 186
First edition, first printing
Printed in China by Imago on sustainably produced, FSC-certified paper
Table of Contents
With Gratitude to My Community