Fans of cooking shows may recognize Chris Cosentino for his many appearances on Food Network’s Iron Chef America or as the winner of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters season four. But most in the culinary space know him best for his unabashed love of offal, an often overlooked blend of organ meat. Cosentino literally wrote the book on this no-waste culinary approach: Offal Good: Cooking from the Heart with Guts, which earned him a James Beard nomination in 2017.
Most recently, Cosentino brought his talents to Nick’s Cove in Marshall, a historic seaside hotel and eatery set on the shores of Tomales Bay. Cosentino pulled from his New England and Bay Area roots to revamp the restaurant’s menu in 2023, which offers new school takes on classic seafood dishes. Cosentino took a quick break from his various culinary projects to engage with the California Questionnaire, sharing his favorite splurges, dining experiences, and ways to play around the state.
Where do you live? San Francisco.
Why there? I moved from the East Coast to San Francisco in 1996 because it was the culinary epicenter of the state. A short drive in any direction gave way to the best products the state had to offer, an amazing wine country, incredible organic farms, fresh oysters and seafood, and even dairies. I was also drawn by the rich history of cycling, art, and music that made the city an incredible place to be. San Francisco was and is an incredible mix of cultures, artists, and good food with a huge dash of creative rebellion.
Who or what is your greatest California love? Having the ability to work with the best ingredients straight from the farm, absolutely amazing weather all year round, and the ability to get to a winter wonderland in a few hours while still being able to cook outside throughout the year.
What is the biggest misperception about Californians? That everyone is always stoned.
What is the stereotype that most holds true? That everybody is getting stoned.
What is your favorite Golden State splurge? My favorite splurge is to get some all-offal tacos from El Tonayense taco truck—sesos, trippas, cabeza, lengua. It’s a splurge because I don’t always have time to cook these cuts myself.
Time for a road trip—where are you going? The coolest part of being in Northern California is that we have so many great things right up the road. Driving north is always a fantastic trip, from farm stands, cheese producers, oysters, and fun stops along Highway 1 up the coast to amazing spas, mud baths, hot springs, cedar baths, and hidden gems in Sonoma, Napa, and beyond. It lends itself to plenty of time for relaxation and recovery. There is so much to explore in my backyard. I love going to Sonoma Hills Farm to see the sun-grown produce and the duck farm at Liberty Duck Store. After that, I’d head off and up to Cowgirl Creamery or Hog Island for oysters. I’d spend the night at Nick's Cove, then wake up and start all over again.
If you could decree an official state culinary experience, what would it be? Picking just one culinary decree isn’t fair as there are so many amazing and delicious things that span the state. Each region has its wonderful and unique delicacies that people travel for or wait for every year. So for me, it’s not one, it’s all. Dungeness crab, citrus, herring and sardine when they’re in season, tomatoes, apples (especially Gravenstein), garlic, asparagus, stone fruits, local halibut, spring lamb, cherries. This list can go on forever. As a chef, I love them all, so I won’t choose just one.
What is your favorite way to play in California? I like to be outside, so I’m either cycling or telemark skiing when I am not in the kitchen. The vast options and varying terrain give me so many amazing trails and roads to play on all over the state. There are so many great mountains within a short drive from my home, so the possibilities are endless. If I chose to ride, I can leave my front door and ride to Mt. Tamalpais and beyond on my gravel bike or do so many different road bike rides that can take me to Stinson Beach, Olema, and beyond, depending on the day and how far I want to go.
Where would you go for the ultimate shopping spree in California? If I am looking for foods to cook in San Francisco I would go to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturday. If it’s for style, there isn’t just one place as I like to get different things from different places. Jeans at Self Edge. I love getting custom clothes from Al’s Attire in North Beach. They have the perfect jackets and suits. From soup to nuts, I get to pick everything down to the stitching color. Then over to Taylor Stitch for some shirts and outerwear. When it comes to kitchen equipment, I would go to Bernal Cutlery on Valencia Street. And to make sure I fill my brain with knowledge, I’d go to Green Apple Books for the best selection of new and used books.
Best California song? “California Love” by Tupac. It is a perfect example of full California love in every way.
How would your California dream day unfold? It would be a full-on powder day skiing at Mammoth Mountain with the legendary skier Glen Plake, followed by a trip to Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge to have a beverage at the cantina. Then over to watch the sunset at Venice Beach followed by dinner at Osteria Mozza with my wife.
