February 14, 2025 – The bakers, chocolatiers, winemakers and brewers participating in the 20th annual Chocolate & Wine provide more than enough motivation to get in on the benefit event happening Feb. 22 from 4-7pm.
Then additional details sweeten the situation substantially.
But first the flavor makers donating their time and tastiness: On the treats are Alta Bakery and Ad Astra, Lula’s and Parker Lusseau, Quoign and The C Restaurant, each with a gifted pastry pro getting creative. On the liquids we’re talking Scheid Vineyards, Sovino Wine Bar, Riboli Family Wines, Flywheel Wines, Bernardus, Holman Ranch, Folktale Winery & Vineyards and Alvarado Street Brewery.
So yes, that would be enough to sell out the 300+ spots, which is on its way to happening (move quick if inspired to attend).
Only there are other elements that merit celebrating too.
Here appear a few, from most obvious to less so:
• You’re in the library!
Monterey Public Library, which just turned 175, is the oldest in the state of California, which is cool. So is the space itself, upstairs and down, fiction and nonfiction. “You can meander the whole library!” says staffer Francesca Garibaldi. And when the eye-popping chocolate displays inspire “Wows” and the wines evoke “Yums” there will be no librarian “Shhhs.”
• You’re supporting the library!
Funds from ticket sales go directly to Monterey Public Library Friends & Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. MPLFF, in turn, invests in all sorts of uplift, like updating the kid’s section, underwriting materials, repairing book shelves, replacing furniture and—as part of a new initiative—highlighting the California History Room with fresh signage and services to help people contribute and/or digitize their own family memories. (See below for more on the History Room.)
• Monterey Bay has an incredible pastry chef society.
When Alta Bakery and Cella Restaurant chef/owner Ben Spungin first attended the event, he saw an opportunity to reunite an alliance of local pastry toques who have long loved to collaborate, stretching way back to their series Dessert First!
“It was an easy sell to everyone,” Spungin says. “We all love supporting the library, we’ve all done a lot of stuff together and we like doing it.”
What was already successful, if more homey and cute, took an evolutionary leap, per MPLFF board president Allie Ladio. “It’s really been elevated by local chefs and bakers,” she says. “People don’t expect to arrive in the library and have professional and elaborate displays greet them!”
• The library has a Found Treasure of its own!
Not many locals know about the semi-secret California History Room, stocked with century-old newspaper articles on everything from the Battle of Natividad to bull and bear fights where the Monterey Transit Plaza now stands.
Spungin, in fact, tucked into the room frequently when planning Alta and Cella in the Cooper Molera adobe, absorbing all sorts of tales about the historic space and the family who built it. David Schmalz, senior staff writer at Monterey County Weekly, considers the cache of books and documents “invaluable.”
“Some of my favorite stories I’ve ever reported, I couldn’t have made them what they were without what I found in the history room,” he says. “I especially love access to the old newspaper articles that go back more than 100 years, and books you can’t find anywhere else.”
• There will be more than desserts and wine!
A chocolate fountain, a throwback itself, proves a crowd favorite every year. But it’s not all sweets for Chocolate & Wine. David Holodiloff and Juno Rowe will play mandolin and piano, respectively, and stalwart community supporter Chris Shake has made a tradition of contributing memorable savory bites with help from his Fisherman’s Grotto team.
• The silent auction will include a walking Found Treasure tour led by…me!
This idea has been incubating for years now, and it’s finally ready to plate. I’m donating a five- or six-stop epicurean tasting tour of downtown Monterey in support of the MPLFF. The walking jaunt will involve wine tasting, under-appreciated oceanfront restaurants, a dash or two of history, several surprises and collaboration with the winning bidder on their dietary desires.
Access tickets ($75) and more via the Monterey Public Library Friends & Foundation event page on its website.
About the author
Mark C. Anderson, Edible Monterey Bay's managing editor, appears on "Friday Found Treasures" via KRML 94.7 every week, a little after 12pm noon. Reach him via mark@ediblemontereybay.com.
