HARD WORK… It’s a rainy morning and I’m sitting here enjoying the solemnity it brings. Simultaneously, I worry about the many businesses in town facing the harsh realities of winter on the Monterey Peninsula. Of course, I follow the restaurant scene more closely than other businesses, and there are a lot of places struggling to hang on that will probably not make it through the winter, plus others that barely will, only prolonging the inevitable.

Making a go of a restaurant is as tough a slog as there is, and when things are going badly, you can drain your savings mighty fast. In this area, with as much competition as there is and so little population to support it all, the mathematical probabilities are stacked high against success. Restaurants thrive on electromagnetic attraction caused by the energy frequencies of a synergistic, harmony-fueled love vibration. It’s that simple. Yet sustaining that energy vibe requires mastery of thousands of intricate details on a daily basis by teams of talented, resilient humans.

We have many of them in our midst.

BYE, WALTER… Unfortunately, we are losing one of the best. WALTER MANZKE is moving on. Chef Manzke, who came here from the high-profile kitchens of Patina Group in Los Angeles to open Bouchée, L’Auberge Carmel, then Cantinetta Luca, is sheathing his Japanese blades and walking off into the Carmel sunset.

Chefs are an unusual category of human. Great chefs having amazing powers of creativity, intelligence, physical strength, emotional balance, leadership, stamina, plus a host of artistic traits only known to artists of all media. Manzke is one of those guys.

With a shielding smile masking his samurai’s spirit, Manzke (or Waldo Manzini, as I affectionately began calling him after the Luca opening) provided locals and visiting devotees—who made the pilgrimage here for gastronomic divinity—a look at why the modern era has elevated cooks to celebrity status. His culinary creations consistently garnered the highest critical acclaim across the entire spectrum of the dining public. He was genuinely appreciated and respected by the restaurant community—in fact it was CAL STAMENOV, the only other local with the “juice” among real foodies on the national scene—who called me to tell me to make sure I wrote something about Walter…don’t worry Cal, even I can’t screw this one up.

Without consciously being aware of it, we all rode along on Manzke’s chariot. We all shared the satisfaction of knowing he was our national treasure, part of our little community, and like proud family, we loved to brag about his talents. Now we must watch as he moves on toward his destiny. We are sorrowful that he leaves us, yet happy and hopeful about reports of his future conquests on the culinary battlefield. Goodbye friend, good luck and good fortune. You will always be in our hearts.

SPIRITS OF ANOTHER KIND… SONYA HARAMIS is in our hearts. This little local treasure has published her second book, The Circle of Olympians. It’s a magical story about a young woman who travels on a mythical journey back into her Greek lineage, encountering Greek goddesses and gods along the way while she uncovers her destiny. Sonya, whose quiet persona camouflages a warrior’s spirit, writes of humanity’s greater struggles with good and evil, as well as our own destinies, in a manner that is easy to read, fantastical, yet down to Earth. Like her first book, Gracious Gifts…Expressions of the Divine, The Circle of Olympians is making waves throughout the genre and catching the attention of heavies like Deepak Chopra, James Redfield, and Dr. John Gray.

On Thursday, Jan. 11, at 6:30pm, Sonya will be talking, signing books and doing her thing at Pilgrim’s Way Bookstore in Carmel, on Dolores between Fifth and Sixth. Check it out, it’ll be really special. Sonya’s Web site is pieceofthedreamer.com and Pilgrim’s Way is pilgrimsway.com or 624-4955.

TWO BIG DEALS… Hey, you a wine lover? Bouchée is having its annual Cellar Sale on Jan. 13 from noon to 4pm. Stop down to see KERRY “THE ENCYCLOPEDIA” WINSLOW, he’ll turn you on to all sorts of top notch fermented beauties from across the wine world. Get the jump and do some research now, call 626-7882 or e-mail info@boucheecarmel.com.

ROBIN “THE TRUTH” FAGUNDES, one of my favorite chickies around here (there goes my membership to the Society for the Advancement of Women) told me about a fun and tasty wine dinner upcoming at Casanova on Friday, Jan. 12. Saddleback Winery, a small, hands-on Napa property run by NILS VENGE, one of the great characters and talents on the Napa scene, is pairing with CHEF DIDIER DUTUERTE’s delicious cuisine for a special evening. Nils himself will be there, regaling guests with some of his many stories from a lifetime of Napa winemaking and consulting. Call Casanova at 625-0501 for ressies.

For lovers of cult California Cabs, along with other hard-to-get-ahold-of California classics, check out Casa Palmero’s “California Dreaming,” a food and wine weekend. It takes place on Jan. 19-21 and amounts to a weekend-long culinary and wine smorgasboard. We’re talking about deeply decadent multi-course menus paired with some of the most prized wines on Earth in one of the best settings on Earth. There are stayover-at-Casa-Palmero packages as well as just-come-for-the-vittles deals. Call 866-226-5442 to find out more.

COOL NEW PLACE… Bubbly Fish is open for business in Carmel. It’s a couple of doors down from Nico on San Carlos, between Ocean and Seventh, tucked away in the courtyard. Think indulgences before and after dinner…bubblies from around the world, caviar, fine chocolates and dessert wines. Stop in and see what’s happening…see ya.