From La Copine, a destination restaurant near Joshua Tree, comes a beautiful debut cookbook with stories of life in the desert and recipes that capture a unique approach to California cooking
Out in the California desert near Joshua Tree, La Copine spins its own kind of magic, powered by business and life partners Claire Wadsworth and Nikki Hill, the drama of the landscape, the eclectic local population, and of course, the irresistible food.
With celebrity clientele and glowing reviews in the New York Times, Eater, Vogue, and others, this restaurant is beloved by California visitors and locals alike. In their debut cookbook, La Copine, Wadsworth and Hill share stories of their love, life, community, and the spirit of La Copine, one delicious recipe at a time.
Dubbed the West Coast’s answer to Via Carota’s Rita and Jody, Wadsworth and Hill are passionate, community-driven, California cooks with a deep love for each other and the people around them. They welcome their guests to La Copine (which means "girlfriend" in French) with open arms, create a safe haven for the queer community outside of Los Angeles, and have a deep sense of care and pride for everything they put on the plate.
Home cooks will want to adopt the restaurant’s “California soul” style: veggie-forward, innovative yet comforting, light enough for lunch, yet substantial enough to gather around and linger over. From "hunky" salads (as described by the New York Times) to special-occasion sandwiches to summery, boldly flavored grilled meats and vegetables to simple, no-bake desserts, La Copine’s food roams far and wide but always imparts a sense of home.
More than the recipes, though, Wadsworth and Hill’s backstory as a couple, the business they’ve built together, and the community they’ve found in the desert, make for an armchair trip through the remote and spectacular setting, as well as a mission statement for creating a life on one’s own terms.
Praise
“La Copine is my favorite neighborhood restaurant, despite the fact it is in the middle of the desert, far from where I live. Claire and Nikki’s food is beyond delicious, simple in the most sophisticated ways. This book is one you will want to cook from for years to come—a brilliant tome from two of my favorite humans who make magic with their restaurant every day.”
—Andrew Zimmern, James Beard Award–winning chef and Emmy-winning television personality
“This place is a ten!”
—Natasha Lyonne, Emmy– and Golden Globe–nominated producer, actor, writer, and director
“Several people yelled at me for spreading the word about La Copine because it’s truly a secret gem. Thank God they wrote a book so I can relive my perfectly yummy experience there.”
—Olivia Wilde, writer, producer, actor, and director
“La Copine is a special place; anyone who passes through or lives in the neighborhood will tell you the same.”
—Antonia Lofaso, chef, restauranteur, and cookbook author
“I felt like a cartoon character in search of water coming across an oasis when I got to experience La Copine. The food they put together is beautiful and thoughtful, and with easy-to-follow recipes it can make your food at home that much more special.”
—Kwame Onwuachi, James Beard Award–winning chef and restauranteur
“There’s a mystery that was born in the Mojave Desert. If you’re ready, it’s time to experience it. Because you ain’t never done nothing right in your life ’til you taste La Copine. And once you do, you will be different.”
—Jeremy Kenyon Lockyer Corbell, contemporary artist, filmmaker, and ufologist
“I love Claire and Nikki! The plant-based options at La Copine are delicious.”
—Tobey Maguire, Golden Globe–nominated actor and film producer
“…La Copine manages to serve the kind of seasonal, reassuringly confident food that appeals to both brunching families and retreat-seekers on a cleanse, in an inclusive dining room run with joy and exuberance.”
—Tejal Rao, The New York Times
