"The Cottage exudes the upmarket serenity of old LaJolla. Sunlight streaming in the windows makes pale yellows glow; mellow jazz recordings waft through the dining room and into the palm-shaded patio; pretty waitresses in short shorts carry fruit-garnished dinners of salubrious California food," says author Michael Stern.

Southern California Cooking from The Cottage captures the romance, the relaxation, and the good life of The Cottage itself. Included are the recipes that have made The Cottage one of Southern California's most beloved restaurants with breakfast items such as muffins, coffee cakes, Greek, Italian, and seafood omelets, Belgian waffles, and oatmeal pancakes. From the lunch and dinner menu there are light Southern California seafood and pasta dishes, signature soups and salads, as well as traditional American classics. The book includes an eight-page color insert.

The Cottage is the ninth restaurant to be chosen by Jane and Michael Stern for their Roadfood cookbook series, which celebrates the finest regional restaurants in the United States.