Recent Stories
Habanero’s Grill & Cantina
Habanero’s Grill & Cantina’s atypical approach works in downtown Monterey.
Sibling rivalry is nonexistent in Dennis Barwick’s family – his food and entertainment family, that is. Habanero’s Grill and Cantina, which opened on Sept. 17, joins sister establishments Bellagio Pizzeria (404 Tyler St.) and Luxe ...
Sakana Sushi Bar
Roll Play: Sakana Sushi gives downtown Monterey a cozy and creative spot for special rolls.
Good things come in threes, so they say. With International Cuisine in Pacific Grove and Dametra Cafe in Carmel well established, Monterey’s Sakana Sushi Bar now joins the Nimri family trifecta. Youngest brother Fadi Nimri ...
Happy Girl Kitchen Co.
Tickled by Pickles: Happy Girl Kitchen Co. opens in Pacific Grove.
Summer’s end always sends me into mourning. Goodbye heirloom tomatoes in all their sun-ripened goodness. Farewell ruby red strawberries with hints of honey and perfume. Adios peaches. This fall, however, I’m not hanging my head ...
Quince Quotient
Simply Quince by P.G.’s Barbara Ghazarian is a pioneering book for a pioneering fruit.
Quince may well be the most under-appreciated fruit in this country, which is surprising since the Pilgrims considered it essential enough to cultivate less than a decade after settling in Massachusetts. By 1720, quince was ...
Oh Baby
Eating out with a new little one is far from impossible. Here’s how to do it richly.
As a new mom, I’ve had to make a few lifestyle changes. I’ve convinced myself that sleep isn’t necessary. I’ve concluded that spit-up on my sleeve builds character and that my diaper bag makes a ...
Quinoa Sushi and Such
The Homesteader’s Kitchen makes healthy hippie cooking tasty and accessible.
I admit. I’m a whole foods virgin. I’ve never sprouted alfalfa seeds. I’ve never made spelt flour pie crust. Yet, I find Robin Burnside’s The Homesteader’s Kitchen (Gibbs-Smith, August 2010) intriguing. Burnside’s approach to food ...
Chopstix
Chopstix packs ’em in for bubble teas and sturdy Vietnamese at bargain prices.
You either love ’em or hate ’em. I’m talking about those chewy, coffee-colored, gelatinous orbs known as boba or pearls. I, for one, love them. So I was thrilled to find out that boba drinks ...
Baby-Making Menu
Dining while pregnant births lessons for all eaters.
As a food writer, I’ve long been conscious of what I put in my mouth – from an umami-filled bite of soy-soaked shiitakes, to caramelized pork belly and its unctuous mouthfeel, or the delicate balance ...
Dynasty Restaurant
Dim Sumpin’: Dynasty Restaurant pours good Chinese on Pacific Grove.
Having grown up in Singapore and lived for years in Seattle, I’ve been spoiled by authentic regional Chinese cuisine ranging from Sichuan and Cantonese to Hong Kong and Chiu Chow. I eschew glow-in-the-dark sweet and ...
Saigon Noodle
Grandma Sunshine: A family matriarch fills Saigon Noodle with slow-simmered flavor.
Any Vietnamese cook will tell you that a good broth is the cornerstone of pho, the ubiquitous noodle soup you’ll find at every noodle soup spot, whether in Vietnam or in the U.S. I know ...
