Voting results notwithstanding, there are several things happening around Monterey Bay that deserve an endorsement—and can keep our community stronger and more resilient no matter what’s happening in front of a national audience.
1. Community-centric food and wine: A motherlode of epicurean news accompanies every Big Sur Food & Wine, which I’ve covered since its inception, consider the region’s most memorable foodie festival, and help out these days by volunteering on logistics.
That held true this year. Santa Cruz—by way of chefs like Jessica Yarr (The Grove Cafe + Bakery, 6249 Hwy. 9, Felton) and wineries like Birichino (204 Church St., Santa Cruz)—contributed flavor and life force. The lack of cell reception renewed hope in humanity figuring out fun with face-to-face collaboration. And chef Anthony Kresge, last seen launching Pete’s Fish House (231 Esplanade #102, Capitola) with Desmond Schneider, who also cooked for the event, sounded a mindful note at the scrappy logistics lot where our unseen and unshowered team coalesced: “I want to say a million thanks for the support you provide to produce an event like this: the selflessness should never go unnoticed and should be celebrated. Nobody and nothing—the chefs, winemakers, the donors, the cause—would be feasible without it.“ Which to me registered as something we can all do for all the oft-unthanked hustlers out there, whether they’re harvesting in the field, staffing kitchens or counting votes.
2. Community-centric nature aiding and abetting: Keeping with the volunteer theme, my favorite Santa Cruz e-newsletter is called Environteers. It hits every Tuesday with a mini-avalanche of opportunities to engage directly with climate solutions, outdoor work days and social situations that ultimately connect to the health of the parks, bees, fauna and foliage that make this place special and keep the foodscape flourishing.
Two meetings are coming up. A Hike & Help effort rallies 9–11am Thursday, Nov. 7, with Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship helping lead what’s billed as “a unique combination of a social hike and trail maintenance event.” And River Health Day follows 10am-noon Saturday, Nov. 9, to maintain native seedlings along the banks of the San Lorenzo River. environteers.org.
3. Community-centric good eating: San Benito County can feel like the forgotten sister of the tri-county area, but a visit to San Juan Bautista’s tiny old-school downtown, stocked with the historic mission, ice cream shops, saloons and free-range chickens strolling the streets, rarely involves regrets.
Now a new take on an old-fashioned concept is happening in breakfast-lunch form. Watsonville’s Maria Gonzales—of Cali Dawg Vegan hot dog fame—does the cheffing while her partner in love and life Rudy Jimenez does the farming. The menu is all organic and plant-based, all satisfying, and all of three miles from the land where all the produce sprouts. instagram.com/cultiva831/
MINI MUNCHIES
Paul Stamets appears at Monterey’s Golden State Theatre on Nov. 14, riffing on the power of mushrooms: goldenstatetheatre.com/shows/paul-stamets…The annual Chili Cook-Off at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk results: San Jose-based Ric’s Righteous BBQ won first prize in both the “con carne” and vegetarian categories, with Seascape Golf Course earning second in the meaty slot and Pretty Good Advice ranking #2 for veggie. Jack O’Neill’s Restaurant and Lounge won the people’s choice award, nice to see good kitchens earn love, more at beachboardwalk.com…The prestigious national live-fire culinary experience Heritage Fire is adding a stop on the Monterey Bay: Heritage Fire x Whiskies of the World will debut Nov. 22 in and around The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, instagram.com/heritagefiretour.
