Grilled lamb sirloin chops with charred Brussels sprouts and mint chimichurri

"Chimichurri is an Argentine condiment that they eat like Americans eat ketchup," said chef Shaun Behrens, whose minty version is a delightful accompaniment to spring lamb.

Spinach omelet with Kalamata olives

Unlike a typical omelet that's folded over at the stovetop, this one is finished off in the oven to yield a hearty, frittata-like dish. It's delicious as is or with additions such as cooked sausage or cooked, sliced potatoes.

Roasted pork loin with a garlic, rosemary and walnut crust

The tempting aromas of this pork loin won't disappoint. The dish—a longtime favorite of Paulette Bruce's family—tastes just as good as it smells.

Pancetta and fennel tart

"I like layers of flavor," says cooking school instructor Paulette Bruce, explaining her use of wine in this pastry dough. "Also, an acid makes pastry flakier. Some people add lemon zest."

Rib-eye with grilled grape sauce and garlic herb shoestring potatoes

"Why not?" Encouraging his team to ask that question is a technique chef Gabe Garcia uses to foster creative thinking. In this case, the question was, "Why not grill grapes?" The result: a delicious accompaniment to steak.

Fig and turkey sandwich

Jazz up your turkey sandwich with figs and whole grain mustard! This recipe is fresh from the kitchen of Hollywood chef Jonathan Rollo.

Cozy lentil soup with delicata squash

This hearty soup can be on the table in less than an hour. Marin County food expert Rebecca Katz says it's not necessary to soak lentils overnight; just a quick rinse will do.

Pipeline poke

Poke (pronounced poh-KAY) is a Hawaiian delicacy traditionally made with cubed ahi tuna. This recipe, created by North Shore Poke Co. of Huntington Beach, won the chefs' competition at the 2014 Orange County I Love Poke festival.

Paccheri with cherry tomatoes and fiorelli

Fans of rigatoni will appreciate these oversized pasta tubes, tossed in a light sauce created when cherry tomatoes are sautéed with garlic, red pepper flakes and olive oil.

Roasted poblano chili

Roasted poblano chilies, stuffed with cheese and fried until crispy—the Mexican version of the perfect comfort food!