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November 19, 2019 – The location of the forthcoming Coniglio Brothers Italian Deli is about as touristy as it gets. Its DNA, meanwhile, is about as local as can be. 

Sandwiched between Monterey Bay Aquarium and Intercontinental The Clement Hotel, the space at 750 Cannery Row (formerly Shen Design Studio) enjoys as much foot traffic as any spot between Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo—and certainly as much bus traffic, as big tour liners decant their passengers right in front.

The great grandfather of namesake deli brothers Jason and John Coniglio, Pietro Ferrante, is considered one of the founders of the Monterey fishing community and honored with a statue on Fisherman’s Wharf. Their uncle Peter Congilio served as mayor of Monterey for years. More importantly—for the purposes of the … Read More

November 18, 2019 – With Thanksgiving just over the river and through the woods, we thought it would be fun to share some recommendations on wines from our local wineries. It’s a mix of wines you can find at major grocery stores and some you need to visit the winery to acquire or order online. In alphabetical order, we urge you to drink local this holiday season.

Big Basin Vineyards – 2017 Wirz Old Vine Vineyard Carignane – A gorgeous garnet hue in the glass is just the beginning of this wine’s innate charm, unfolding with vivid blueberry and pomegranate fruit. Pair with dark turkey thigh meat and cranberry-chile relish. For white wine lovers, the pristine 2017 Howard Family Chardonnay from Corralitos would be a fantastic pair with apple-quince almond … Read More

November 15, 2019 – The Food Bank for Monterey County’s expansive task of nourishing the hungry is never an easy one. One in every five county residents—a total of 10,800 people, half of them children—depend on its services every week.

It’s also a task that seems to intensify around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. 

Seasonal jobs in agriculture and hospitality fade during the winter, unemployment creeps up and the amount of recipients appearing at FBMC distribution sites triples. 

Moreover, with the holidays, thoughts turn to giving and food and family, and donors are more inclined to pay attention and do something to help, as FBMC Executive Director Melissa Kendrick observes with both thankfulness and a big asterisk.

“We’re grateful everyone thinks of us around the holidays,” she says. “But hunger … Read More

November 12, 2019 – Almost exactly 10 years after Cannery Row Brewing Company opened to great fanfare, the modern-day Cannery Row keystone has closed, with small (but real) hope of reopening. 

The enthusiasm was understandable, as CRBC tapped into something Monterey—and Northern California—hadn’t tasted previously. Seventy-five craft beers on tap was the most in any one place between Los Angeles and Oregon. The venue was historic and modern, classic but contemporary, with historic brick walls, shiny penny flooring and steampunk fixtures. The food, from the likes of founding chef Mark Ayers, longtime executive chef Daniel Furey, and local favorites Michelle Lee and Justin Robarge, was equal parts upscale execution and bar-friendly comfort. 

Veteran Monterey-based food writer Raúl Nava—who cites the “bigger-than-your-face” pretzel, sticky sweet Hawaiian huli huli chicken, and decadent … Read More

November 12, 2019 – The tables were set, the candles lit and the room crackled with anticipation as chef David Kinch offered a first taste of the Riviera-style cuisine he will serve at his highly-anticipated Mentone restaurant in Aptos.

The sneak peek—held at Manresa Bread’s all day café in Campbell last week—attracted friends and fans of the 3-Michelin starred chef, along with a smattering of folks from the local food world who, like me, were lucky enough to snag an invitation.

Mentone, currently nearing completion in the new Aptos Village complex, was expected to open this year, but it now appears an early 2020 debut is more likely, according to general manager Chris Sullivan, who is supervising the build out.

The name comes from the Italian spelling of the French … Read More