A taste of the California desert, brought home. La Copine is a destination restaurant near Joshua Tree, run by partners in business and in life Claire Wadsworth and Nikki Hill. Since opening in 2015, it has drawn diners from all over for its warm welcome, its role as a safe haven for the queer community outside Los Angeles, and its wonderful food. Written with James Beard Award–nominated food writer Ben Mims, their debut cookbook shares the stories of their life, love, and community alongside the recipes that made the restaurant worth the drive. You’ll find hearty salads, special-occasion sandwiches like the pastrami-spiced Pork Belly BLT, bold grilled meats and vegetables, plenty of plant-based options, simple no-bake desserts, and the restaurant’s famous beignets. It’s seasonal, generous California cooking with a sense of home. It’s a beautiful gift for a home cook, a Joshua Tree regular, or anyone who loves a cookbook with a story.
