Found Treasure: Monterey Bay Football Club Food

August 26, 2022 – Marina winds, azure skies and curtains of clouds collaborate on a theatrical backdrop. 

A shiny new field glows in the deepening dark. 

Most importantly, Monterey Bay Football Club, aka The Union, is undefeated.

Or, to be more precise, they are undefeated when our group attends a game at redone Cardinale Stadium on CSU Monterey Bay campus and, on behalf of the team, consumes: 

• Passionfruit juice from Barajas Fresh Fruits (of Marina);

• Crispy fish tacos from Don Beto’s (of Salinas);

• An overloaded pile of tortilla chips from Nacho Bizness (of Monterey);

• A Philly cheesesteak and crispy chicken wrap from R Truck (of South County and beyond);

• A few Monterey Bay FC-branded “Land & Sea” extra pale ales from Alvarado Street Brewery (of Monterey and Salinas).

It’s a fun scene out there at the former Fort Ord, given the crowd investment, charismatic play and, yes, solid food and drink options. 

Steb Montez might be the foremost authority on the meeting of sports and cuisine in this particular place and time. 

He’s co-owner of aforementioned Nacho Bizness, MBFC’s gameday announcer, and also an occasional cohost of the radio version of this column on KRML. (That’s Friday Found Treasures with me, brought to you by Edible Monterey Bay, airing every Friday a little after noon at 94.7FM locally and worldwide at krml.com.)

“There’s fellowship in food and drinking and sports and congregating,” he says. “That’s what makes it so special. Everyone at a sporting event wants to be there—almost everybody, anyway. And when you’re there you want things that make you feel good, and share it with the people you’re there with.”

Speaking of people that may not want to be there, part of our posse was lightly unwilling, late-onset sports fan Aimee Rowe, who has adopted the Warriors and 49ers and MBFC because I gave her no choice. She surprised herself by how much she dug it.

“I loved the community vibe and the dedication of the fans,” she says. “I liked how the players communicated with each other—the teamwork is pretty cool, and involving the spectator contests during halftime is a nice way to bring casual fans into the mix.”

Then she added the kicker: “I enjoyed watching the game, even though I don’t like sports.”

Montez observes a similar awakening when he brings people to games. 

“People are having these ‘Wow’ moments when they get to a game, saying, ‘I can’t believe this is in our backyard,’” he says. “It’s a great atmosphere and will only get better as time goes on.”

He enjoys a nice vista of the sunset from his announcer perch high above the field. (Pro tip: sitting by the booth might be the best perspective in the 5,000-seat arena.)

“The view over the ocean is pretty impressive,” he says. “The setting and the stadium can only exist the way they do on the Peninsula.”

The Union, inspired by our eating regimen, would go on to net a textbook corner kick goal and dramatic goal-saving plays from star goalie Antony Ciaha to notch a 1-0 victory over the Sacramento Republic.  

That fits into a shocking success storyline for The Union—so named for the connection of land and sea and the synergy of fans from the tri-county area—as an expansion squad with limited player access privileges. (They are the latest addition to the USL Championship league, the second tier of the American pro soccer system.)

The sudden rise of The Union began when SUMB Otter grad Walmer Martinez scored the winning goal in the 56th minute of The Union’s first home game.

“Them being successful right out of the gate and being this close to the playoffs is a surprise,” Montez says. 

Since MBFC’s stadium wasn’t yet finished when the season commenced, most of the team’s first games happened on the road. That means the tail end of its improbable run at the postseason involves a lot of home games in the coming weeks.

The heavy home schedule includes a game versus the L.A. Galaxy II 7pm tomorrow (Aug. 27); versus San Diego Loyal Sept. 3; versus Orange County Soccer Club Sept. 7; versus Indy Eleven Sept. 17; versus Phoenix Rising Football Club Sept. 21; and versus Tampa Bay Rowdies Oct. 1. 

So there’s mucho doses of the beautiful game and accompanying food to come.

After the win we attended against Sacramento, team captain, co-minister of defense and all-around ambassador of good energy Hugh Roberts took a moment to unify with fans. 

Amid the happy throng who greeted him on the southwest side of the field was the captain of our squad, season ticket holder and MegaBowl co-commisioner Joe Burnett of Marina.

Roberts didn’t thank our squad for helping eat them to victory. 

But because he helped author a shutout—a “blank sheet” in soccer speak—he did give all those attending a chance to redeem a game ticket for a free bagel (get it?!) at Bagel Station in Salinas, which is run by the family behind the R Truck and other popular area spots like Pastability’s and Angelina’s Pizzeria in Salinas, and Luigi’s Restaurant in Gonzales.  

And he did give Burnett a high-five too. 

Goal.

More at montereybayfc.com.