Peeking Into New Vesuvio With Rich Pepe
The volcano is starting to smoke: Vesuvio Bistro Italiano, Rich Pepe's latest adventure, is really starting to heat up with activity. That has the Carmel icon—he of Peppoli and Little Napoli fame—bubbling like hot lava. I've seen him trade punches with a pro boxer a fraction of his age and ...
Aubergine Pastry Chef Competes for Best Dessert in the World
Here's something to chew on. There are quite a few restaurants in little Carmel, let alone California or the wider country. So when one of our own is one of only six chefs to earn the right to represent all of North and South America in Europe, you don't have ...
Andre's Bouchee Tasting Bar Teams With Tudor Wines
One of Carmel's best restaurants, one of the region's finest French destinations, and arguably the top spot-by-sea for devilishly subtle and tasty sauces, Andre's Bouchee (626-7880), is getting an added splash of flavor through a new collaboration with local winemaker Dan Tudor. The two parties are making the restaurant's under-appreciated ...
Two Tuesday Japan Benefits at CRBC, CSUMB
Grab the kimono and prepare to party with a purpose. At Cannery Row Brewing Company, a full complement of six different DJs (Hanif Wondir, Brandon Gilbert, A.J. Bee, Joey C, Scully and Tyler Jackson) will buttress live music by two groups (Band of Ninjas and Matt Masih and The Messengers) ...
Chef Shuffle: Grapes of Wrath Scores Top Talent; Todd Fisher Finds New Home
Grapes of Wrath Catering (649-3445) scored a talent in new Chef Jon Moser (above), who has most recently played chef de cuisine at Melons in South San Francisco and enjoys past credits like Chez Panisse, Manresa and even French Laundry. GM Tamie Aveves says they were able to lure Moser ...
Post No Bills Craft Beer Tasting House to Pour in Sand City
As the Brewers Association reports an 11 percent volume growth for U.S. craft brewers in 2010 and a total U.S. brewery count that has climbed to its highest level since 1900—and there's even a new iPhone case (called the iOpener) that has a beer key and a scanner that counts ...
Pebble Beach Food and Wine: Year Four
There aren't many places on the planet where one can eat caviar and sip Champagne with Jacques Pepin, quiz Ming Tsai on his cooking tips and chum with Charlie Trotter. Come the end of next month, one such almost-impossible place will be Pebble Beach: Here comes the fourth annual Pebble ...
"In Your Dish": A Video Spotlight on Rio Chef Cy Yontz
Rio Grill Exec Chef Cy Yontz is a bad-ass. There are the tattoos, the goatee, the towering presence, the steely gaze, and the fact that, when asked what three things he would take on a desert island, he doesn't hesitate long, or include a walk-in freezer or a Japanese mandolin ...
10th Annual Cooking for Solutions Goes Bigger, Better
"Spiritual experience" is right. Only Cooking for Solutions chief Ginger Hopkins wasn't talking about the incredible fennel soup, saffron toast or fresh crab louie tasters Portola Restaurant Chef Jeff Rogers just laid on us—or the signature dishes from new Aquarium culinary partner Cindy Pawlcyn to come, including Mighty Meatloaf with ...
More Doggy Spots and Top Five Animal Videos
The questions include "Why is this news story longer than that one?" and "Is your movie reviewer an angry woman?" and the classic, "Who is Squid?" They come most Mondays, during intern meetings, when I give them a chance to ask questions about the issue past to better hone their ...
New Chef Tommy Noel at Fernwood is Good
In a weekend bursting with inspired tastes, Tommy Noel's stood out. The gang and I were in Big Sur for the Big Sur Chanterelle Cook-off, grazing on everything from chanterelle mousse to chanterelle paella. Sunday took us to Fernwood for brunch and my first bout with the new master of ...
Singing French Bulldogs (And Why There Are More Dog Friendly Restaurants in Monterey County)
Last week two French bulldogs sang me an enthusiastic (and ear-splitting) National Anthem in the Weekly lobby. No way, you say. Fine, you're right. It was "Jingle Bells," but their doting owner assured me their two signature songs (the anthem and "J.B.") sound pretty damn similar. And while the third ...
'Que Syrah' Delivers Small-Batch Santa Lucia Tastes for a Song
The land of Santa Lucia does some incredible Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays with ever-increasing fame. But its Syrahs are something special themselves. A big fat assemblage of evidence to that effect will gather in one place Saturday, March 19, with the first-ever “Que Syrah” at Wrath Winery noon-4:30pm. Small-batch Syrahs ...
Eight Food Truths to Nom Nom On
Little is more noble than a nibble. Scratch that. Nothing is cuter than a nibble, as the above video demonstrates in vivid detail. Below follow more nibbles that are neither noble nor cute. They're just real, from local chowder drama to the death of a Heart Attack icon. Chowder controversy ...
Late Night Nirvana (or at Least a Killer Torta)
You could call it a savior in the dark. An oasis in the desert. A star in the night. I call it Cypress Bakery Company (394-0188) in Seaside. Seaside, Calif., bless its imminently, ethnically edible heart, falls off the face of foodie earth come, say, 10pm (if that). The bountiful ...
Dan Dunn's Advice on Charlie Sheen
Last week, after the Food Blog announced the debut of friend-of-the-Weekly Dan Dunn's new Living Loaded: Tales of Sex, Salvation and the Pursuit of the Never-Ending Happy Hour, the feedback was pretty entertaining. Some of the highlights: "I loved your commentary and observations regarding our mutual imbiber Dan Dunn. I ...
Scenic Drummond Culinary Academy Opens for Bargain Dinner
At-risk education center Rancho Cielo's Drummond Culinary Academy will start serving dinner to the public starting this week.
A Look Back at Big Sur Chanterelle Cook-Off
That incredible feeling that comes when you touch a redwood's grand trunk is the result of hundreds of gallons of water running up its stately length. That familiar feeling that comes when you commune with the redwoods and the coastline and the wild foods of Big Sur is the result ...
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