Reason to Live… Just want to say that I’m thinking of having my remains (don’t get excited, I’m not dead yet) in the form of ashes shmeared into the carpet at Pacific’s Edge. Or maybe rubbed into some of the beautiful wooden beams there, or some such thing. I know that hanging out in that place for the rest of time would have to be great. I know hanging out there while still upright certainly is.

Like the two events last week: First was the last in the latest Cheese and Wine Series presented by Kent Torrey and the Cheese Shop in conjunction with the great Pacific’s Edge staff. Special guest Laura Werlin, fresh off the James Beard Award for her All American Cheese and Wine Book, enjoyed some of her recipes prepared by Pacific Edge’s wonderful chef, Mark Ayers, in conjunction with a slew of great wines chosen by the indefatigable Bernabe DeLuna, wine director.

Two nights later, it’s back there for Mark Ayers cutting loose with a special 5-course dinner to match the incomparable Champagnes of Krug, arguable the greatest producer on Earth. Oh yeah, Olivier Krug just happened to be there to present five of his best offerings.

The room was studded with local industry titans (I was there to polish the commemorative Champagne stoppers) along with discriminating fans of both Pacific’s Edge and Krug Champagne.

To say that these two events were the epitome of elegant dining, service, ambience, style and grace would be understating reality. Food and Beverage Manager Rob Weakley, along with Hotel GM Andrew Davidson and a wonderfully professional staff have honed this piece of Heaven into as smooth an operation as there is.

Stay on top of upcoming events here—there are many more coming—to get a chance to experience the full expression of this special place. Log onto highlandsinn.hyatt.com or call 620-1234 and get on the mailing list.

Wine and Veggies… Bunch of stuff coming up and going on. First of all, on Friday, June 25th, winos and foodies alike will get the chance to enjoy the culinary creations of Montrio Bistro’s award winning Executive Chef, Tony Baker, along with the wines of Caymus. For $95 per person, plus tax and gratuity, you can enjoy a six-course feast, each course paired with a different Caymus-produced wine.

Montrio, which is coming up on its ten-year anniversary, has been aggressively tweaking its game, adding a strong happy hour, revising the menu to include more small plates and more springtime dishes, doing wine dinners…it’s nice to see.

Get down there to check things out and call 648-0880 for info or rezzies to the wine dinner, or anything else for that matter.

Meanwhile, learn the right way to live a healthy lifestyle. Vege2U, the cool vegetarian deli on 1126 Del Monte Avenue in Monterey, is having a talk on Saturday, June 26th at 1pm. The featured speaker is Michele Reese, a local guru for good living, who will discuss things like the nutrition necessary to revitalize health and recharge your immune system; the links to radiant health, including the role of enzymes, phytonutrients and antioxidants for energy, disease prevention and healing; plus understanding the difference between fragmented vitamin supplements and cellular nutrition from fresh, raw foods.

Learn how to get yourself new again, and get to know about Vege2U. It’s a cool little shop run by a delightfully nice person…call Nina at 375-8343 to find out directions and to book a free reservation to Michele Reese’s talk. You can also book it by calling toll free, 866-305-2421. Admission is $5 at the door, so plan ahead.

Shotgun Style… Great event at Peppoli in Spanish Bay coming up on July 5th and 6th with Marchesi Piero Antinori, legendary Italian wine baron. All types of food and wine pairings in a great setting. Call 647-7500 for more info; I’ll explain it more fully next week…JR Brewski’s first annual “Drive For Life” Golf Tournament coming up July 4th in Gilroy. Call Brendan at 408-847-9024, more next week…Passionfish has announced it’s going to be open 7 days a week, beginning July first. It’s about time those lazybones started putting in a full week’s work, they were starting to get soft…Kimo and Venus Watari opening Thaiwaiian Bistro in PG’s Forest Avenue shopping center where Fifi’s is, 658-0134…so much more…next week.