In the mood for food

The term “food porn” was coined for a reason. You know, for all the flipping through cookbooks and scrolling through recipe blogs and restaurant Instagram feeds, moaning over the most mouthwateringly delicious-looking dishes.

Well, for the second year running, the CN&R brings you our very own version of that. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, what better way to get in the mood for a satisfying meal with your sweetie—or friends, or even solo—than by checking out some local chefs’ masterpieces and their thoughts on what makes food sexy?

We set out to find a mix of talented locals who put an emphasis on presentation as well as flavor on the plate. So, in the following pages, you’ll find interviews with the chefs holding down the kitchens at Wine Time, which focuses on tapas; Crush, whose forte is modern Italian fare; The Exchange, where daily specials have become a favorite in Oroville; and Old Barn Kitchen, home of decadent breakfasts.