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Bernardus' Marinus Earns Lofty National Ranking

The other day Marinus Chef Cal Stamenov tapped me on the shoulder and told me he was going to do his best Vanna White.

I might've told him to stick to doing what he does best, namely, what earned him our readers' votes for Best Chef in Monterey County, one of 200-plus honors that appear in our annual Best Of issue, hitting streets tomorrow night. (Don't tell anyone I told you.)

But I didn't. That's because there's another thing he does impressively—nah, incredibly—which is help out with an endless amount of local charities.

The Vanna White mention came as he was preparing to help display rare bottles of wine for the 20th Annual Ted J. Balestreri Leadership Classic dinner auction to benefit The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and the Monterey Wine Educational Foundation. (As auctioneer and fellow MWEF board member Glenn Hammer introduced, say, the 3L and 6L Silver Oak 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons, which went for $2,400, Stamenov would hold them up for the audience.)

A more generous moment came when Hammer had an idea to do something with an auction item that would give eight a chance to dine with Ted and Velma Balestreri at their Pebble mansion while Stamenov cheffed and legendary master somm Fred Dame poured his own wines. Two bidders had each taken it as far as $20K. Hammer asked the donors involved if they'd be game to stage two dinners and take home $40,000 for the nonprofits.

Ted was happy to oblige. Another amazing party at his place, no problem. Dame said, Sure, likely thinking, the wine ain't cheap, but it's easy to pour, and the cause is worthy. Stamenov, though, would have to conjure a whole other life-changing meal for the generous bidders. He agreed anyway.

I agree with Opinionated About Dining, the survey-based guide that just ranked Marinus #27 in the country among restaurants. The ranking numbers 100, and is fun to compare with, say, the more expert leaning Zagat and Michelin guides. It's also fun to note how many restaurants will be repped at Pebble Beach Food & Wine (it's gotta be at least a dozen, if not more), and how strongly California shows. (BTW, Carmel's Aubergine comes in #66.)

As Stamenov's right-hand aide, Gina Martin, says, "It's quite a list."

1 Manresa, Los Gatos, CA 102.0

2 The French Laundry, Yountville, CA 101.9

3 Alinea, Chicago, IL 101.3

4 Per Se, New York, NY 101.2

5 Town House, Chilhowie, VA 100.9

6 Masa, New York, NY 100.8

7 Urasawa, Beverly Hills, CA 100.7

8 Mini-Bar, Washington, D.C. 100.5

9 Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Pocantico Hills, NY 100.1

10 McCrady's, Charleston, SC 99.4

11 Jean Georges, New York, NY 99.1

12 Sushi Yasuda, New York, NY 98.9

13 Komi, Washington, D.C. 98.7

14 Saam at the Bazaar, West Hollywood, CA 98.5

15 Kuruma Zushi, New York, NY 98.3

16 Eleven Madison Park, New York, NY 98.3

17 Le Bernardin, New York, NY 98.3

18 Coi, San Francisco, CA 98.1

19 Corton, New York, NY 97.9

20 Schwa, Chicago, IL 97.7

21 The Restaurant at Meadowood St. Helena, CA 97.5

22 Momofuku Ko New York, NY 97.1

23 Providence, Los Angeles, CA 96.7

24 Saison, San Francisco, CA 96.6

25 Cyrus, Healdsburg, CA 96.5

26 Spago, Beverly Hills, CA 96.5

27 Marinus, Carmel Valley, CA 96.4

28 Soto, New York, NY 96.4

29 Peter Luger, Williamsburg, NY 96.4

30 Bouley, New York, NY 96.3

31 L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, New York, NY 96.2

32 Commis, Oakland, CA 96.2

33 The Herbfarm, Woodinville, WA 96.1

34 Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, NV 96.0

35 Elements, Princeton, NJ 96.0

36 Sushi Taro, Washington, D.C. 95.9

37 Charlie Trotter's, Chicago, IL 95.9

38 Daniel, New York, NY 95.7

39 Quince, San Francisco, CA 95.7

40 Ubuntu, Napa, CA 95.7

41 Sugiyama, New York, NY 95.7

42 Sushi Seki, New York, NY 95.7

43 Uni. Boston, MA 95.7

44 Moto, Chicago, IL 95.6

45 Spiaggia, Chicago, IL 95.4

46 North Fork Table & Inn, Southold, NY 95.3

47 Chez Panisse, Berkeley, CA 95.1

48 O Ya, Boston, MA 95.0

49 Roberta's Pizza (Tasting Menu), Bushwick, NY 94.9

50 Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham. AL 94.8

51 Marea, New York, NY 94.8

52 Brooklyn Fare, Brooklyn, NY 94.8

53 Atelier Crenn, San Francisco, CA 94.7

54 Miyake, Portland, ME 94.6

55 Kyo Ya, New York, NY 94.6

56 Craft, New York, NY 94.6

57 American Restaurant, Kansas City, KS 94.6

58 Patina, Los Angeles, CA 94.5

59 Momofuku Ssäm Bar, New York, NY 94.5

60 Hugo's, Portland, ME 94.5

61 Morimoto, Philadelphia, PA 94.4

62 Michy's, Miami, FL 94.4

63 Citronelle, Washington, D.C. 94.4

64 Charleston, Baltimore, MD 94.3

65 Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta, GA 94.3

66 Aubergine, Carmel, CA 94.2

67 Niche, St. Louis, MO 94.2

68 wd-50, New York, NY 94.1

69 Sushi Ran, Sausalito, CA 94.2

70 Matsuhisa, West Hollywood, CA 94.1

71 Blue Hill, New York, NY 94.1

72 Volt, Frederick, MD 94.1

73 L20, Chicago, IL 94.0

74 Sawa Sushi, Sunnyvale, CA 94.0

75 Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA 94.0

76 Picasso, Las Vegas, NV 93.9

77 Benu, San Francisco, CA 93.9

78 Masa's, San Francisco, CA 93.8

79 Momofuku Noodle Bar, New York, NY 93.8

80 Vetri, Philadelphia, PA 93.8

81 Totoraku, West Los Angeles, CA 93.7

82 Canlis, Seattle, WA 93.6

83 Blackbird, Chicago, IL 93.6

84 The Bazaar, West Hollywood, CA 93.6

85 Stella!, New Orleans, LA 93.5

86 Il Grano, West Los Angeles, CA 93.5

87 Quinones Room at Bacchanalia, Atlanta, GA 93.5

88 No. 9 Park, Boston, MA 93.5

89 Inn at Little Washington, Washington, VA 93.4

90 Husk, Charleston, SC 93.2

91 Baumé: Palo Alto, CA, 93.2

92 Everest, Chicago, IL 93.2

93 Gramercy Tavern, New York, NY 93.2

94 Next, Chicago, IL 93.2

95 Red Medicine, West Hollywood, CA 93.2

96 Sanford, Milwaukee, WI 93.2

97 George's California Modern, La Jolla, CA 93.2

98 Cut, Beverly Hills, CA 93.1

99 Nishimura, West Hollywood, CA 93.1

100 Castagna, Portland, OR 93.1