GOLF IN THE KINGDOM… These are interesting times…so much craziness in the world…so much potential for massive shifts in our evolutionary development…hope I can stick around for another 50 years to see how it goes.

Played in the California Restaurant Association-Monterey Chapter 15th annual Golf Tournament. It’s a fun event that raises money for the CRA’s scholarship fund. There’s nothing quite like an area’s restaurant folks getting together for a social function…these are some certified wackos. Although this year was pretty tame.

A luncheon provided by Better Brands Foods—home of Chuck “I need to take up golf” Hunsaker—kicked off an afternoon of madcap golf. Marc “I’m really surprised, honest” Cutino’s team of PGA tour pros just squeaked out a win over Ted “Teddie Two Putts” Walter, his dad, “Teddie One Putts,” and a couple of PGA touring pros. Our team, which consisted of Estates Group’s Keith “The Stealth Bomber” Lindstrom, Matt “So Mellow” Stanton, Whole Foods’ wine buyer Alan “Filibuster” Shapiro and me (make up your own nickname), was not allowed to post our score due to the possibility of causing the Bayonet/Blackhorse public humiliation.

The good people at Bayonet/Blackhorse, especially Danny Illuscupidez and Julio Rodriguez, were very gracious. Co-chairs Cindy Walter and Ted Balestreri II are bringing the event back here next year.

LUXURY SWEET… Looking forward to eating at David and Kathleen Fink’s new joint, Auberge Carmel. I think I might book a couple of nights stay in one of the delicious rooms of this newly renovated 1920s European country-style establishment. Dinner in the intimate, 30-seat dining room, with food by the formidable Walter Manzke, in a lovely setting, will be a guaranteed joy.

The project is complete, so stop down and see what Carmelites are so excited about. Monte Verde and Seventh, Carmel-by-the-Sea.

DOWN HOME GOOD… Hey, Mom’s Kitchen, at 1988 Fremont in Seaside.

Mom is Laverne Hall. She is the queen of Southern-style down-home cooking and Texas-influenced cuisine. She is also a queen of homespun logic and good sense, as any one of her seven children, 19 grandchildren or 11 great grandchildren will tell you…at varying times they help out at the restaurant. I don’t know how she does it still, but that woman is a giant in our industry and manages to not only run her restaurant, but also a secondary business of wig-making for women, including chemotherapy patients. Check out Mom’s now…and don’t forget the Sweet Potato Pie.

Earthbound Farms is a local jewel. It is now farming organic salads, fruits and vegetables on 24,500 acres and selling in more than 70 percent of America’s supermarkets. Sweet Thing went to one in the series of Chef Walks they do at the little display farm on Carmel Valley Road. She picked vegetables with Cal Stamenov, Executive Chef of Bernardus Lodge. Afterwards, Cal cooked stuff for the folks to sample and they all got to bring home the stuff they picked…for twenty bucks—what a deal.

Miss Thing pointed out a blurb from Earthbound Farms’ promotional material—by the way, it’s their twentieth anniversary: “Embodied in the smallest act of bringing these wonderful organic salads, fruits and vegetables to you is our conscious effort to protect the things you value most—your family’s health, the air you breathe, the water you drink, and your children’s future.” Sweet Thing put it best (she usually does): “How many companies can say that in this day and age?”

LUXURY SWEET, PART II… We stopped by a home site showing at Monterra, the awesome (in the literal sense, not the overused hackneyed popular style) development in the rolling hills opposite Monterey airport, off Highway 68. Marci Bracco, the hardest working woman in PR (that’s public relations, not Puerto Rico—if she worked for the Puerto Rican tourist board it would be PRPR), put together a great little family hoedown, with food by the inimitable Todd “Hullaballoo” Fisher. There was also entertainment and much good cheer.

Sweet Thing and I strolled around beautiful home site #137, a grand lot overlooking the hills and Monterey Bay, daydreaming of a magnificent home where we could kick up our heels and just chill…ahh, the power of imagination. For those of you more immediately inclined, give Monterra a look see.

Don’t forget to go to the fund raising event at Peter B’s for Tammy Bailey, who was chosen to be on the Olympic Sports Massage Team. It is Monday, August 9th from 6 to 8pm and will be fun and helpful…call 402-5185 or email tammyandryan@comcast.net for more info. See you there.