Pacific Grove Certified Farmers’ Market
Mondays – 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Central and Grand Ave
The Pacific Grove Certified Farmers’ Market’s new location is Central and Grand Avenue, right in front of Jewell Park, the Natural History Museum, and the Pacific Grove Library, where parking is easy.
This is where you will find native Pagrovians on Monday afternoons! At the Pacific Grove Certified Farmers’ Market, you will find fresh quality fruits and vegetables (many certified organic) from small-scale family farmers who bring you the best from their fields, their gardens, and their orchards.
When you shop at California Certified Farmers Market, you are supporting California growers and your local community, as well as doing something great for yourself and your family!
Old Monterey Marketplace
Tuesdays – 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM –Alvarado Street between Del Monte and Pearl
The Old Monterey Farmers Market, established in 1991, covers an amazing 3.5 city blocks and runs every week of the year – rain or shine. During the summer, it’s the largest gathering of people in Monterey County, attracting more that 10,000 locals and tourists in one location.
You will most certainly run into someone you know! In fact, many attend just for the social experience! You will travel the world in just three blocks, finding not only a vast array of produce, but also local arts and crafts, handmade jewelry, furniture, clothing, international food, flowers, and pastries.
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Any day of the week, Cannery Row feels like a party – but on June 3rd we make it official.
That’s when we’ll be celebrating the ninth annual Cannery Row Block party – and if you’re vacationing in the Monterey area, we sure hope you can stop on by the “Row” between 11am and 5pm.
Just look for the balloons and listen for the music: Michael Annotti & the Kings, the Chicano All-Stars Band, and Matt Masih & the Messengers.
There will be all kinds of food and family fun: live animal shows, balloon artists, games, crafts, contests and prizes. See you there!
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Thinking about a wedding at Pebble Beach, a reunion, a corporate retreat—or any event you want to make super special?
The team at
Illusions of Grandeur does more than create illusions… they
transform stuff. Need a circus big top, or a pirate ship? No problem. For over 20 years, these trend-setting event planners have been transforming spaces (from airplane hangars to aquariums) into gala event venues. With two warehouses filled with props – and over 12,000 square feet of inventory – they can pretty much turn
any fantasy into reality.
Watch this short video to see how they transformed a plain vanilla hotel ballroom into a Superhero-themed event. (Guests came dressed as their favorite hero or villain… the original Batmobile even made an appearance!)
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I mean, do squid around… cause there’s gonna be oceans of family fun at Monterey’s first annual Clam Chowder and Calamari Festival, May 26-28.
Clam Chowder and Calamari?
Yep. Let it never be said that the city of Monterey has trouble finding excuses to celebrate. This free festival at the Custom House Plaza at Fisherman’s Wharf will feature music and entertainment, arts and crafts, marine exhibits, cooking demos, and plenty of food and drink. (Besides soup and squid, there will be fish and chips, pasta, sandwiches, strawberry shortcake, caramel apples, cookies, ice cream and more.)
Beer, wine and margaritas will be available, and three live bands will play each day, including John “Broadway” Tucker, the Cachugua Playboys and Red Beans and Rice.
Hours are 11am – 7pm Saturday and Sunday and 11am – 6pm Monday.
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Just doin' our job! Photo by Interface Visual
Like Woodstock, it was held in a field. And like Woodstock, there were rockstars.
But in this case, the rockers were the stars of the cooking world—and the attendees were a joyous throng of food and wine aficionados under a giant white tent at the Pebble Beach Food & Wine’s “Grand Tasting” on April 15th.
The culmination of the four-day epicurean extravaganza, the Sunday afternoon event featured the culinary creations of celebrity chefs along with wine, beer and spirits from over 200 purveyors.
And I will testify: a fine time was had by all.
Since we were in a brunch kind of mood, we started with spicy chicken hash and a perfectly poached egg atop a sweet corn cake courtesy of the godfather of Nuevo Latino cuisine, superchef Douglas Rodriquez.
From there on it was a delicious blur of tasty bites in a sea of champagne and Chardonnays… until we graduated to the Pinots and Cabernets, that is.
Photos courtesy of Interface Visual
Belvedere Vodka poured tempting summery cocktails, while in the Stella Artois corner, many raised the chalice in praise of their excellent brews (including our snap-and-sip photographer Wayne Capili of Interface Visual, who happily reported that Stella comes in not one, but THREE flavors).
The Patron lounge beckoned like a dangerous daydream—but knowing that someone had to drive—I resisted. (Friends reported sampling a silver tequila steeped in fresh cucumber that was to die for, though.)
Our last “main” course was fried arancini with lamb bolognese created by the chefs of REDD, the Yountville restaurant everyone’s talking about. No wonder.
And then we dove recklessly into as many mini-desserts as we could sample, like a dreamy chocolate mousse/coconut pudding/chewy almondy-roca concoction that made us want to wear disguises so we could grab a second one.
But the winner: a small-but-deadly square of exquisite chocolate ganache served on a thin cracker by Ethan Howard of Sausalito’s Murray Circle. Washed down with a velvety swish of 2006 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon, I submit: does it get any better than this?
Guess we’ll have to wait till next year to find out.
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It was wet and it was muddy.
In fact, it was extra wet and muddy. Because this year’s annual Big Sur Mud Run was held—appropriately enough—in the pouring rain.
Our intrepid reservationist Ashley Magallanes can attest to the fact: she was one of the 3,000 hearty (masochistic?) souls who showed up at Fort Ord March 24 for the five-mile gauntlet through wind and weather, mud pits, five foot-high climbing walls—and exercise stations manned by real life drill sergeants.
Individual runners showed up in tutus, tiaras, Hawaiian shirts (and in the case of one portly participant—a loin cloth over Speedos and a red cape), while teams wore tee shirts emblazoned with slogans like “Good Girls Like It Dirty” and “The Mud Studs.”
The winner made it through the crud and mud in just over 34 minutes.
Our Ashley clocked in at one hour and 19 minutes. And she cleaned up real good. The Presidio of Monterey fire truck provided cold showers after the race, and all proceeds went to support community athletic programs.
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Another cool new exhibit is opening at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The magical world of jellies—”graceful, dancing drifters that pulse and glow, flash colorful lights and often pack a powerful sting”—will come alive in a blaze of psychedelic glory when “The Jellies Experience” opens March 31.
The exhibit promises to envelop visitors in a sensory extravaganza: from a room that immerses you in a living moon jelly swarm to exhibits of jellies that pulse like living rainbows.
This 7,000 square foot, $3.5 million exhibit focuses on animals that have “no heads, hearts, brains, bones or true eyes”— yet have survived for hundreds of millions of years (and are considered among the ocean’s major predators).
“The Jellies Experience” is included with aquarium admission: $34.95 adult; $29.95 senior (over 65) and student (full-time college, with I.D.); $19.95 children and the disabled; under 3 free.
The Aquarium is open every day except Christmas, and it’s located on historic Cannery Row in Monterey, right behind our office. Stop by and say hi!
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It’s the most luscious event of the year: a weekend extravaganza of wine and food tastings, cooking demos, luxurious luncheons, decadent dinners (and golf!).
The fifth annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine celebration kicks off on April 12 with The Celebrity Chef and Winemaker Golf Tournament, followed by the Lexus Opening Night Reception and after hours party.
On Friday, April 13, the choices are gastronomical. Here’s just a taste:
- Jacques Pepin: “Six Decades of Culinary Magic”
- Todd English: “Cooking in Everyday English”
- “Pairing Cheese and Wine with the First Lady of Fromage” (Laurie Werlin)
(And we haven’t even mentioned “Cooking Beyond Fusion” with Roy Yamaguchi, “Cult Cabs in the New Millennium,” “Farewell to Foie Gras,” and “Vineyard, Farm & Sea” – a celebration of Monterey’s bounty with Restaurant 1833.)
And then there’s the Belgian Beer Lunch. Yikes. Sounds like a nap might be in order.
Because that evening there’s an Iron Chef Dinner, plus tributes to winemaker Jess Jackson and chef Thomas Keller – followed by another after hours party.
On Saturday you’ll have to choose between “Cook Like a Rockstar!” with Anne Burrell and the “Ultimate Indulgence: Chocolate & Wine.” Learn how the pros hunt for wine treasures, and watch top sommeliers do a blind tasting of white wines.
The Lexus Grand Tasting, featuring celeb chef Guy Fieri, will be under the big tent from noon to 3 pm. Fieri’s dinner that night is sold out, but you can still get tickets to Food & Wine Magazine’s “Best New Chefs” Alumni dinner or “The Grand Finale” dinner sponsored by Dom Perignon.
(We like anything sponsored by Dom Perignon.)
Sunday morning Tyler Florence presents “Ultimate Dining” while Veuve Cliquot pours champagne. Or you can sip sparkling rose’s from around the world at “Pretty in Pink” … either way you’ll be ready for another Grand Tasting by Lexus from noon to 3 pm.
Packages start at $995 and tickets to individual events are available.
We have a very tasty family home available in Pebble Beach over this special weekend.
It’s close to the ocean, in the Country Club area: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a carpeted converted garage with a big leather sofa and a 60″ flat screen TV… a great place to host your “own little food and wine event” (or recuperate from the big one.)
Contact Debra@MontereyRentals.com
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We like any excuse to celebrate, and one of the “big ones” is right around the corner. (No, we don’t know who the guy is in the photo; we just like his hair.)
Now, there are plenty ‘o pubs in Monterey, and since it’s St. Patrick’s Day we’ll overlook the fact that many of them are British. Toast the Blarney Stone at the Britannia Arms, the Crown & Anchor, the Mucky Duck, Bullwacker’s, or Duffy’s Tavern.
If you’re in Carmel, Flanagan’s Pub in the Barnyard will surely have the spirit (starting at 9am), not to mention Guinness on tap. (As a matter of fact, Flanagan’s is hosting a “St. Practice Day,” on the 16th.)
One of our favorite restaurants—Tarpy’s Roadhouse—will serve corned beef and cabbage for lunch and dinner (washed down with green beer, of course). For a truly elegant Irish meal, head to Edgar’s at Quail Lodge: smoked salmon potato cake, Guinness & onion soup, corned beef and cabbage, apple oatmeal crisp for dessert trouve ici. Served from 5-8pm, the four course prix fixe menu is $28 per person acheter levitra.
If you’re in the mood for some rock ’em, sock ’em entertainment, the Monterey Bay Derby Dames—specifically the “Babes of Wrath” and the “Steinwreckers“—will battle it out at 7:30pm at the Water City Sports Center, 2800 2nd Ave. in Marina. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door (kids 5 and under are free.)
And finally, for some Irish music with a tie-dye twist, check out “A Celtic Tribute to the Grateful Dead” by the WAKE THE DEAD band (rock grooves to hot Irish reels). The venue—the Turf Club at the Monterey Fairgrounds—has a huge stone fireplace and an open patio with heaters. They’re promising St. Patrick’s Day drinks (and surprises) at this benefit for the Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation. It starts at 7pm and admission is $20/adult and $15/military, students over 21, seniors 60#.
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Maybe it’s sipping a latte from a real china cup. Or the tall terracotta pots spilling with brilliant flowers, or the bubbling fountain that reminds me of a Roman piazza.
Maybe it’s the way the sea rushes right under the pilings, swirling shades of emerald and jade.
Maybe it’s the large patio with tables and umbrellas overlooking Monterey Bay and the whole coastline.
Some people still swear by Starbucks, but Cafe La Strada at 400 Cannery Row is hands down my favorite place for coffee on the Peninsula. They brew Peet’s coffee, the service is great, and they have a good selection of panini, pastries, quiche and salads.
The cozy interior makes it a great place to hang out when it’s cold outside. But on a good day…. it’s all about the sea and the sunlight. Soak in the sunshine, listen to the waves crash: it doesn’t get any better than this.
Believe me, you don’t even have to drink coffee to love Cafe La Strada.
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