Dine Local Guide

All of these restaurants emphasize local ingredients, and they also advertise in Edible Monterey Bay! Stop by for a free issue, and thank them with your business!

APTOS

Carried Away

7564 Soquel Drive • 831.685.3926 www.carriedawayfoods.com A cozy, green-certified take-out or eat-in café, Carried Away has a menu that changes weekly and features primarily organic, locally sourced ingredients. Owner/chef Tom McNary worked for many years at Chez Panisse and his dishes reflect the seasons. Soups, salads, entrees and desserts are all made fresh daily. Thin-crust pizzas available on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Open M–F 11am–7pm, Sa 11am–5pm, closed Su.

Sanderlings/Seascape Beach Resort

1 Seascape Resort Drive • 831.662.7120 www.sanderlingsrestaurant.com With magnificent panoramic views of the ocean and the manicured grounds of Seascape Beach Resort, Sanderlings is a good choice for a daytime meal. Their wide selection of salads and seafood dishes features locally grown produce and fish that meets the Seafood Watch guidelines. Santa Cruz County wines are highlighted on the beverage list and Happy Hour on the patio from 3–7pm is an excellent value. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6am–midnight M–F and 7am–midnight Sa–Su.

BIG SUR

The Restaurant at Ventana

48123 Highway 1 • 831.667.4242 • www.ventanainn.com A peaceful fireplace setting and rustic wood interior give way to a legendary terrace with some of the most amazing views Big Sur has to offer. Chef Truman Jones’ cuisine uses fresh, seasonal and sustainable ingredients sourced from local farms and foragers and reflects his memories of growing up on a farm and his experience working in some of the world’s most-acclaimed restaurants. The menu changes frequently; the wine list is award-winning. The Ventana Bistro is available for private events. Open daily for breakfast 7:30–10:30am, lunch 11:30am–4:30pm, dinner 6–9pm.

BOULDER CREEK

New Leaf Community Market

13159 Highway 9 • 831.338.7211 • www.newleaf.com New Leaf offers some of the best fresh food made and grown here on the Central Coast. Made-to-order sandwiches, salads and hot foods are all natural. No nitrates, hormones, antibiotics or artificial ingredients. The Coastal Kale Salad is a big favorite; wide selection of picnic supplies to be found here, too. Open 9am–9pm every day.

CAPITOLA

New Leaf Community Market

1210 41st Avenue • 831.479.7987 • www.newleaf.com See description under Boulder Creek. Open 8am–9pm every day.

Whole Foods Market

1710 41st Avenue • 831.464.2900 www.wholefoodsmarket.com Too busy to cook? Looking for a healthy eat-in café or source of picnic supplies? Head for the prepared foods section of Whole Foods Market, where everything is natural or organic and as much as possible is locally grown. There are ethnic specialties, salads, soups, fresh pizza and a coffee bar. Open 8am–9pm every day.

CARMEL

Basil Carmel

San Carlos Street between Ocean and Seventh avenues 831.626.8226 • www.basilcarmel.com Locally sourced and seasonal aren’t just buzzwords at Basil. Chef/Owner Soerke Peters turns out beautiful dishes with intense flavors—like black squid ink linguine with sea urchin sauce and Monterey squid, or Monterey abalone in vermouth butter sauce on fingerling potato hash. This cozy restaurant in the Paseo Courtyard has heated outdoor seating. There’s a full bar and a good selection of California wines, including many organic or biodynamic choices. Lunch and dinner daily from 11:30am.

California Market at Hyatt Carmel Highlands

120 Highlands Drive 831.622.5450 • www.highlandsinn.hyatt.com Locals and visitors alike enjoy the rustic elegance of this casual bistro. Whether dining al fresco overlooking magnificent Yankee Point or indoors by the pot-bellied stove, the California Market menu offers an eclectic array of offerings. At breakfast, look for frittatas, omelets, breakfast paninis, sticky bun French toast; lunch includes fresh seafood, pastas, sandwiches and daily specials. Service begins at 7am.

Carmel Belle

Doud Craft Studios • San Carlos Street at Ocean 831.624.1600 • www.carmelbelle.com Passionate about sourcing the best local ingredients and meticulous about identifying them on the menu, Carmel Belle is a delicious choice for breakfast or lunch. Almost everything is organic, from the coffee to the meats and cheeses. Faves include a warm slow-cooked Berkshire pork sandwich with red onion-currant chutney on ciabatta, and their house-made mozzarella and asparagus panini. Open daily 8am–5pm.

Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co.

The Barnyard Shopping Village, 3720 The Barnyard 831.620.0844 • www.carmelcoffeeroasters.com The only certified-organic coffee roasting company on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Valley Roasting Co. operates six coffeehouses and provides beans and coffee to area restaurants, hotels and markets. Owners Dean and Janet McAthie’s mission is to create superior, handcrafted coffee by roasting the finest Arabica beans in the company’s new Italian Farina coffee roaster. Each of their coffeehouses offers a unique experience, providing light fare such as bagels, pastries and sandwiches. Open M–F 6am–6pm, Sa 7am–5pm, Sun 7am–4pm.

Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co.

Crossroads Shopping Village, 246 Crossroads Blvd. 831.626.8784 • www.carmelcoffeeroasters.com Open M–F 6:30am–6pm, Sa–Su 7am–6pm

Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co.

Mid Valley Shopping Center, 319 Mid Valley Center 831.622.0787 • www.carmelcoffeeroasters.com Open M–F 6am–5pm, Sa–Su 6am–3pm See description under Carmel for The Barnyard location

Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co.

Ocean Avenue between Lincoln and Monte Verde 831.626.2913 • www.carmelcoffeeroasters.com Open Su–Th 6am–6pm, F–Sa 6am–7pm See description under Carmel for The Barnyard location

Earthbound Farm’s Farm Stand Organic Kitchen

7250 Carmel Valley Road • 831.625.6219 www.ebfarm.com/OurFarmStand Organic is essential at Earthbound Farm. In addition to fresh organic produce, prepared foods and gourmet groceries, the farm stand has a colorful salad bar and a certified organic kitchen. Under the direction of Executive Chef Sarah LaCasse, the kitchen turns out homemade soups and bakery goods daily. Take out or eat on site at tables set in the garden. The Farm Stand also hosts cooking demonstrations and other classes and activities. Open M–Sa 8am–6:30pm, Su 9am–6pm.

La Balena

Junipero Avenue between Fifth and Sixth avenues 423.802.1230 • www.labalenacarmel.com La Balena was set to open just after Edible Monterey Bay went to press with this issue. The plan was to offer rustic food in the spirit of a classical Enoteca. With a faithful authenticity to true Italian cuisine, the Bartolinis strive for excellence in all aspects of selection, preparation, and presentation of their dishes. They believe that food and wine taste better when served near where they are grown and when they are produced with ethical standards. Expect a menu that is simple and seasonal, featuring fresh foods with great flavor. Keep an eye on their website for an opening announcement and operating hours.

Mundaka

San Carlos Street between Ocean and Seventh 831.624.7400 • www.mundakacarmel.com A convivial Spanish restaurant and tapas bar hidden away at the back of a Carmel courtyard, Mundaka is named for a coastal town in the Basque country and has a loyal following of locals. A surprisingly authentic kitchen led by Chef Brandon Miller produces organic specialties to share like patatas bravas, croquetas, tiny lamb chops and paella. Open for dinner 5:30pm–late every day.

Pacific’s Edge at Hyatt Carmel Highlands

120 Highlands Drive 831.620.1234 • www.pacificsedge.com Hyatt Carmel Highlands offers awe-inspiring views of the Pacific, stellar service and food that draws inspiration from local farms and purveyors. Built atop a craggy cliff overlooking the dramatic Big Sur coastline, there is no better perch from which to view the setting sun or a breaching whale. Start your experience with a craft cocktail at the Sunset Lounge, followed by dinner in the glass-walled dining room at Pacific’s Edge (daily 6–9pm), featuring sophisticated California coastal cuisine from Chef Matt Bolton.

Rio Grill

101 Crossroads Blvd. • 831.625.5436 • www.riogrill.com The high-energy Rio features the talents of Chef Cy Yontz, who produces creative regional California cuisine and the flavors of the Southwest using bold spices and an oak-wood fire. The recently renovated bar offers elevated cocktails and an award-winning wine list, catalogued and annotated on iPads, which are handed to guests along with their menus. The new Barrel Room is available for private events. Open daily for lunch 11:30am–4:30pm, dinner 4:30–10pm and Sunday brunch 11:30am–3pm.

CARMEL VALLEY

Lokal

13750 Center St., Carmel Valley Village 831.659.5886 • www.facebook.com/lokalcarmel Chef Brendan Jones has no difficulty attracting full houses nightly. The ingredients for his exceptionally creative and sophisticated cuisine are sourced locally, and the inspiration, from Japan, Spain and other parts of Europe. Tuna x3, ceviche, roasted bone marrow and cabbage soup with mustard ice cream are not to be missed. Local wines and beer are poured at a 28-foot reclaimed wood bar. All food is organic when possible. Open for dinner Th–Sa 6pm, breakfast and lunch Tu–F 7am–3pm and Sa 9am–2pm.

Marinus

Bernardus Lodge, 415 W. Carmel Valley Road 831.658.3595 • www.bernardus.com Marinus has a new wine country-chic interior echoing the restaurant’s herb garden in its sage, lavender, burgundy and olive colors. It is a good fit for the stellar California cuisine of Chef Cal Stamenov, who loves searching out rare, highquality local ingredients—many of them now are grown in the restaurant’s 6-acre organic garden or brought in by local foragers. Private parties can book dinner in the award-winning wine cellar or at the chef’s table in the kitchen, where Julia Child and dozens of celebrities have dined. Open for dinner W–Su 6–10pm.

Toast

3 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village 831.659.8500 • www.toastcarmelvalley.com Whether you’re dining on the sunny deck out front or inside this spacious bistro decorated with the work of local art photographers like Kodiak Greenwood, the service and food are both excellent. Favorites are classic eggs benedict, a crab and spinach salad, sautéed salmon and marsala-glazed pork chops. Craft beer and local wine menus will impress the adults; rigatoni Bolognese and a toy basket will win over the kids. Open for breakfast and lunch 8am–2:30pm and dinner 5–9pm. Closed W.

Wickets

Bernardus Lodge, 415 W. Carmel Valley Road 831.658.3400 • www.bernardus.com Right next to the croquet lawn, the lodge’s more casual and economical dining option uses the same local organic produce and fresh seafood as Marinus in simpler preparations. Locals love to drop in for lunch on the sunny patio, ordering seasonal brick-oven pizzas, sandwiches, classic salads and light entrées. A 3-course dinner menu is available for $25 on Monday nights. Open daily for breakfast 7–11am, lunch 11:30am–3pm and dinner 6–10pm, with a light afternoon menu from 2–6pm.

Will’s Fargo Dining House & Saloon

16 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village 831.659.2774 • www.bernardus.com/lodge/restaurants Originally built as a tearoom in the late 1920s, this landmark steakhouse once served as a roadhouse on the “milk run” between Monterey and Tassajara. Purchased by Bernardus Lodge founder Ben Pon in 2002, Will’s Fargo is under the direction of super Chef Cal Stamenov, whose passion for high-quality, local ingredients shines through. Will’s caters to all tastes, focusing on natural beef, but providing lamb, fresh fish and vegetarian options as well. A lively bar next to the dining room keeps locals coming back for cocktails and camaraderie. Open for dinner Th–Tu 4:30pm, lunch F and Sa noon.

FELTON

New Leaf Community Market

6240 Highway 9 • 831.335.7322 • www.newleaf.com See description under Boulder Creek. Open 9am–9pm every day.

FREEDOM

Freedom Meat Lockers and Sausage Company

160 Hi Grade Lane • 831.724.4355 www.freedommeatlockers.com Worth searching out for their natural home-smoked meats and sausages, this old-fashioned butcher shop also has a take-out deli with hot and cold sandwiches, side salads and homemade apple or berry pies from nearby Gizdich Ranch. Favorites include marinated tri-tip, skirt steak and pulled pork sandwiches. Gift packs and custom smoking of your fish or game is also available. Open Tu–Sa 9am–6pm, deli hours 10am–5pm.

New Leaf Community Market

See description under Boulder Creek. Open 8am–9pm every day.

MARINA

Wild Thyme Deli & Café

445 Reservation Road • 831.884.2414 www.wildthymedeli.com Chef Terry Teplitzky offers a dizzying array of influences on the menu at his quaint and cozy café. A tantalizing slate of salads includes everything from traditional tuna and Greek to Asian cabbage and Chinese noodle. Also on offer is some of the best mango-chutney-bursting curry chicken in the region. East Coast classics, such as massive submarines, housemade corned beef and pastrami, as well as great Jerseystyle cheesesteak might smack of fast food, but everything is prepared with organic, locally sourced ingredients. Open M–Sa 10am–5:30pm.

MONTEREY

East Village Coffee Lounge

498 Washington St. 831.373.5601 • www.eastvillagecoffeelounge.com Located in a historic stone building in downtown Monterey, the East Village offers some of the vibe of the gathering place for hip and artistic souls that is New York’s East Village neighborhood. The coffee is fair-trade and certified organic and the food—salads, soups, wraps, paninis and other sandwiches—is made from locally sourced ingredients and can be taken outside to café tables in the plaza out front. Live entertainment and a wide selection of imported loose teas, European beer and local wines are also offered. Open M–F 6am–10pm, Sa 7am–10pm, Su 7am–8pm.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Café and Restaurant

886 Cannery Row • 831.648.4870 www.montereybayaquarium.org Sweeping views of the Monterey Bay are the focal point of the upscale restaurant inside the Aquarium. Executive Chef Jeff Rogers prepares sustainable seafood approved under the Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program. Preparations range from New England clam chowder to Thai-style mussels, with child-friendly options as well. Complimentary binoculars offered for viewing sea life in the bay. Open daily 11am–5pm. A self-service café is open 10am–5pm. Aquarium admission required.

Montrio Bistro

414 Calle Principal • 831.648.8880 • www.montrio.com This sophisticated bistro located in a historic brick firehouse in Old Monterey lures with a creative, seasonal menu created by Chef Tony Baker, a British expat with an eclectic style. Montrio’s faithful start early, enjoying the small-bite menu during happy hour at the lively bar—with a spirited, innovative cocktail program designed by mixologist Anthony Vitacca. Dinner begins at 5pm nightly, and patrons often linger well into the night. Montrio embraces sustainability, purchasing from local farms and vendors, following Seafood Watch guidelines and employing a triple-filtered tap water system.

Parker-Lusseau Pastries and Café

731 Munras Ave. • 831.643.0300 539 Hartnell St. • 831.641.9188 Ryan Ranch, 40 Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100 831.655.3030 • www.parker-lusseaupastries.com Gorgeous French pastries, cakes and tarts are lovingly handcrafted by the young couple that owns this gem of a bakery, Ann Parker and Yann Lusseau. If you want something hot from the oven, go to the Munras Avenue location where everything is baked. The Hartnell shop is a rustic café in a historic adobe in Old Monterey. Croissants, quiche, eclairs, cream puffs and chocolates are all on the menu, along with a selection of sandwiches, salads and soup. Custom cakes available for weddings and other special occasions. Munras store open W–Sa 7am-4:30pm. Hartnell store open M–F 7am-5:30pm and Sa 7:30am–4pm. Ryan Ranch store open M–F 7:30am–3pm.

Stone Creek Kitchen

465 Canyon del Rey Boulevard • 831.393.1042 www.stonecreekkitchen.com A glass-walled kitchen in the middle of a spacious cookware shop turns out imaginative Mediterranean deli treats and sweets to take away or eat under the market umbrellas outside. Petite baguette sandwiches—like grilled chicken, artichoke hearts and Boursin cheese—are little works of art. Don’t miss the pistachio/cherry chocolate bark or the paella Fridays. Open M–F 10am–7pm, Sa 10am–4pm, closed Su except during November and December.

Tarpy’s Roadhouse

2999 Monterey Salinas Highway • 831.647.1444 www.tarpys.com This romantic, historic stone roadhouse—built in 1917 and set on five, beautifully landscaped acres—features dining in several semi-private rooms and on a cozy garden patio. Chef Michael Kimmel uses a wood-burning grill to prepare American country cuisine, including wild game, prime steaks and local seafood, daily from 4:30pm. A popular site for Sunday brunch (11:30am–3pm) and local weekday “power lunches” (11:30am–4:30pm), Tarpy’s also attracts a spirited bar crowd and is a popular spot for large banquets, meetings and celebrations.

Whole Foods Market

800 Del Monte Center • 831.333.1600 www.wholefoodsmarket.com See description under Capitola

MOSS LANDING

The Haute Enchilada

7902 Moss Landing Road • 831.633.5843 www.hauteenchilada.com A fanciful world where Frida Kahlo and Andy Warhol prints hang side by side on fiesta-colored walls and a mermaid fountain gurgles in the courtyard, The Haute Enchilada serves Spanish, Mexican and Peruvian dishes with an emphasis on fresh seafood and local wines. Try salmon tacos with fruit salsa for lunch or chilaquiles for a hearty brunch. Open M–Tu 10am–4pm, W–Su 10am–9pm.

PACIFIC GROVE

Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co.

510 Lighthouse Ave. 831.920.1663 • www.carmelcoffeeroasters.com Open daily 6:30am–6:30pm See description under Carmel for The Barnyard location

Happy Girl Kitchen Co.

173 Central Ave. • 831.373.4475 www.happygirlkitchen.com The menu changes daily at Happy Girl’s airy and bright Pacific Grove café, but the food is always delicious, organic and reasonably priced. The sandwich of the day is $5.50 and a bowl of the soup of the day is $4.50. To drink, you’ll find kombucha on tap and Blue Bottle Coffee brewed fresh. Homemade baked goods include a daily scone, cookies and turnovers. When it’s time to go, take home some famed Happy Girl preserves or another local artisan food product from the café’s wide selection. Open daily 8am–3pm.

il vecchio

110 Central Ave. • 831.324.4282 www.ilvecchiorestaurant.com Fresh, authentic Italian pastas, entreés and desserts at affordable prices draw crowds nightly and create a festive atmosphere at Pacific Grove’s newest hotspot. The warm, rustic interior was created using reclaimed and salvaged materials by owner Carl Alasko’s daughter Ariele—a Brooklyn-based designer. Many of il vecchio’s recipes originated at Rome’s renowned Maccheroni trattoria. Now offering L’avventura in Cucina on Monday nights and family night on Tuesdays. Open Tu–Su 5–9:30pm.

La Crème Monterey/Crema

481 Lighthouse Ave. 831.375.1300 • www.lacrememonterey.com By day an espresso bar and by night a tapas and wine bar, Crema is the creation of La Crème Catering’s Chef Jon Moser and owner/party organizer extraordinaire Tamie Aceves. Moser and Aceves have a dedication to fine organic and local ingredients worthy of the renowned kitchens where Moser worked previously, including those of Chez Panisse, the French Laundry and Manresa. Crema is located in La Crème’s new Casa de la Crème, a Victorian Mansionturned-event space, complete with outdoor garden seating. Espresso bar open daily from 7am; tapas bar open Th-Su 4–8pm.

Passionfish

701 Lighthouse Ave. • 831.655.3311 www.passionfish.net If you’re looking for a restaurant with playful, spectacular food and a scrupulous commitment to sustainability, this green-certified restaurant is hard to rival. The elegant dining room is celebratory yet relaxed, and the award-winning wine list features many sustainable names and is priced at retail. Chef Ted Walter’s menu is ever-changing with the seasons, but always includes delicious organic local produce, inventive slow-cooked meats and an array of sustainable seafood choices. Open daily 5pm.

Point Pinos Grill

79 Asilomar Blvd. • 831.648.5774 www.ptpinosgrill.com Now serving dinner! Despite being located near Point Pinos Lighthouse and adjacent to a golf course, Point Pinos Grill’s biggest draw is its food, thanks to Chef Dory Ford and his team from Aqua Terra Culinary. Breakfast and lunch classics get his sustainable, gourmet spin, like buttermilk blueberry pancakes made from scratch, heirloom tomato tart, or arugula, fig and prosciutto salad. Happy hour prices and appetizer supper specials start at 3pm. Open M–Tu 7am–5pm, W–Su 7am–8:30pm.

The Bench

The Lodge at Pebble Beach 831.625.8519 • www.pebblebeach.com The Bench offers contemporary internationally influenced cuisine prepared with wood-fired technique—and sweeping views of Stillwater Cove and the storied 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links. The restaurant’s casual yet elegant dining room surrounds a showcase bar that is itself wrapped around the wood-fired oven. Beyond a glass-walled conservatory, The Bench also offers outdoor dining and fire pits. Chef Yousef Ghalaini, most recently Imperial No. 9 at New York’s Mondrian Soho Hotel, plans to draw heavily on local Monterey Bay ingredients to create his own grilled specialties. Expect inventive craft cocktails and the option to order large plates meant for sharing. Open daily 11am–11pm.

Pèppoli

The Inn at Spanish Bay, 2700 17 Mile Drive 831.647.7433 www.pebblebeach.com/dining/the-inn-at-spanish-bay/peppoli-at-pebble-beach The only restaurant in the U.S. associated with the Antinori Italian wine company, Pèppoli specializes in cuisine that goes well with its renowned Super Tuscan blends. There are homemade pastas and charcuterie and an enormous brick rotisserie in the dining room where prime rib sizzles on weekends, along with great sunsets overlooking Spanish Bay and Asilomar. Open daily 6–10:30pm.

Roy’s

The Inn at Spanish Bay, 2700 17 Mile Drive 831.647.7423 www.pebblebeach.com/dining/the-inn-at-spanish-bay/roysat-pebble-beach With sweeping views over the wild Spanish Bay Golf Links to the coast, the Honolulu-based Roy’s features Hawaiian fusion fare. Chef Pablo Mellin combines Asian tastes and European technique to create exotic entrées like Crab Crusted Halibut or Thai Curry Glazed Rack of Lamb. Appetizers include 10 types of sushi rolls as well as nigiri sushi and sashimi. Open daily for breakfast 6:30–11am and for lunch and dinner 11:30am–10pm.

Stillwater Bar & Grill

The Lodge, 2700 17 Mile Drive • 831.625.8524 www.pebblebeach.com/dining/the-lodge-at-pebblebeach/stillwater-bar-and-grill A muted maritime theme with wavy designs and gleaming wooden decks sets off Stillwater’s magnificent views of Carmel Bay and the 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Seafood dominates the menu. A live tank provides Monterey Bay red abalone and Maine lobster. Splurge on a shellfish platter of oysters, crab and prawns or try Pacific black cod with organic local vegetables. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner M–Th 8am–9pm, F 8am–10pm, Sa 7am–10pm, Su 7am–9pm.

The Tap Room

The Lodge at Pebble Beach 1700 17 Mile Drive www.pebblebeach.com • 831.325.8535 This “19th hole” is like no other course restaurant. Renowned for its extensive collection of prized golf memorabilia, it’s also famous for classic steaks and a warm tavern atmosphere. Open daily for lunch and dinner, it serves allAmerican fare—from burgers to prime rib to filet mignon—but chef Benjamin Brown helps lighten the experience with his use of produce from such local purveyors as Swank Farms.

Cascade Bar and Grill

Costanoa Lodge, 2001 Rossi Road at Highway 1 650.879.1100, x4 • www.costanoa.com Just a short drive up a gorgeous stretch of coastline from Santa Cruz’ Westside, Cascade aims to reflect its setting in its food. New Chef Hunter Brawley has lightened and localized the menu, offering seasonally driven dishes featuring the harvest of Cascade’s garden and those of neighbors like Harley Farm and Swanton Berry Farm. He’s also put much more (sustainable) fish on the menu, including a rich cioppino, as well as a number of local, biodynamic and sustainable wines. Part of the Costanoa ecoadventure resort, Cascade can also offer diners a chance to spend the night. Open daily 7:30am–9pm.

SALINAS

The Bakery Station

202 Monterey St. • 831.783.1140 www.thebakerystation.com In a repurposed gas station, bakers Ana Melissa Garcia and Erika Olivarez fire up a traditional stone hearth oven to produce crusty Old World breads, scones and muffins. The Bakery Station is also a popular lunch stop, turning out sandwiches like the Road Hog—with pulled pork and whiskey sauce on a brioche roll. Open M–F 6am–4pm, Sa 7am–2pm, closed Su.

SANTA CRUZ

Charlie Hong Kong

1141 Soquel Ave. • 831.426.5664 www.charliehongkong.com Charlie Hong Kong has been providing the Santa Cruz community with healthy, fresh, high-quality food since 1998. The restaurant’s fusion of Southeast Asian influences and the Central Coast’s local organic produce is what has made it a neighborhood favorite. Its slogan is “love your body, eat organic,” and its cuisine is proof that fast food can be good for you. Open daily 11am–11pm.

Companion Bakeshop

2341 Mission St. • 831.252.2253 www.companionbakeshop.com After five years on the farmers’ market circuit, Companion has opened its own bakery/café. It has a brick oven, where organic sourdough bread is baked throughout the day, and there is a long communal table for sharing a coffee with your neighbors. Eight kinds of sourdough bread and seasonal pastries are made with local, organic ingredients. Tuesday night is pizza night and Thursday, fish tacos. Open Tu–F 7am–1pm, Sa–Su 8am–2pm, closed M.

Gabriella Café

910 Cedar St. • 831.457.1677 • www.gabriellacafe.com One of the city’s most charming dining spots, Gabriella Café serves a California-Italian menu starring organic produce from local growers and the nearby farmers’ market, as well as humanely raised meat and sustainable seafood. There is a candlelit patio and a cozy dining room that showcases the work of local artists. Open for lunch M–F 11:30am–2pm, dinner daily 5:30–9pm, brunch Sa–Su 11:30am–2pm.

Laílí

101B Cooper St. • 831.423.4545 www.lailirestaurant.com Exotic flavors of the Silk Road are served in a stylish dining room decorated in eggplant and pistachio colors and on a hidden candlelit patio. Locals rave about Laílí’s homemade naan served warm from the oven with a selection of Mediterranean dips. There is a wide variety of deliciously spiced vegetable dishes, organic whenever possible, and all meats are hormone free and free range. Open daily for lunch 11:30am–3pm and for dinner 5–9:30pm.

La Posta

538 Seabright Ave. • 831.457.2782 www.lapostarestaurant.com A cozy neighborhood bistro not far from the Santa Cruz yacht harbor, La Posta Chef Katherine Stern prepares northern Italian cuisine using local ingredients—some foraged and some grown on nearby organic farms. Charcuterie is house-cured and the rest of the menu reflects whatever produce is freshest right now. Visit the chickens in the restaurant’s backyard and enjoy the eclectic atmosphere. Open Tu–Th 5–9pm, F–Sa 5–9:30pm, Su 5–8pm, closed M.

Le Cigare Volant

328 Ingalls St. • 831.425.6771 • www.lecigarevolant.com Chef Ryan Shelton serves some of the region’s most innovative cuisine in a warm dining room, with a wood-fired pizza oven in full view and a bar made from barrel slats. Taking full advantage of sustainably grown, organic local produce, meats and cheeses, the menu changes with the seasons. Small plates like smoked fingerling potatoes, flat bread pizza and pork shoulder steamed buns are always available in the wine tasting room. Open for lunch daily 12–6pm, tastings daily 12–5pm and dinner W–Su 5:30–9pm. Roswell hour: 51% off glasses of Bonny Doon wine Su–F 3–6pm.

New Leaf Community Market

1134 Pacific Ave. • 831.425.1793 • www.newleaf.com See description under Boulder Creek. Open 9am–9pm every day.

New Leaf Community Market

1101 Fair Ave. • 831.426.1306 • www.newleaf.com See description under Boulder Creek. Open 8am–10pm every day.

The Penny Ice Creamery

913 Cedar St. • 831.204.2523 www.thepennyicecreamery.com Lines out the front door of its converted Spanish bungalow are evidence of Penny’s popularity. All ice cream, including bases, is made from scratch on the premises using local organic ingredients when possible. Flavors change seasonally, but two favorites are bourbon bacon chocolate and strawberry pink peppercorn. Open Su–W noon–9pm, Th–Sa noon–11pm.

The Picnic Basket

125 Beach St. • 831.427.9946 www.facebook.com/thepicnicbasketsc Across the street from the main beach, owners of the Penny Ice Creamery have opened an alternative to boardwalk fast food. Sandwiches, organic salads, coffee and beer, all from local food artisans, and of course Penny’s popular ice cream are all on offer to eat in or eat outside with your feet in the sand. Open daily 7am–9pm.

Ristorante Avanti

1917 Mission St. • 831.427.0135 www.ristoranteavanti.com This popular, Mediterranean-style bistro recently moved into a lush, more upscale location with a larger bar and expanded seating to better accommodate its loyal fans. Avanti’s menu remains true to its long-time commitment to supporting local organic farms as well as local ranchers, foragers and fishermen. The menu changes with the seasons and specials are offered every day using local organic produce and meats, wholesome oils and imported Italian cheeses. Open for lunch M–F 11:30am–2pm, for dinner Su–Th 5–9pm, F–Sa 5–9:30pm.

River Café

415 River St., Suite K • 831.420.1280 www.rivercafesantacruz.com A popular spot for breakfast and lunch at the Old Sash Mill, the River Café now serves dinner on Thursday and Friday nights. All meals are made with seasonal, local and organic ingredients, prepared with a Mediterranean flair. Homemade granola and quality panini. Dine inside or on their redwood deck. Open M–Sa 6:30am–6pm, Su brunch 10am–4pm. Organic produce and flower stall open Tu 11:30am–4pm.

Soif Restaurant and Wine Bar

105 Walnut Ave. • 831.423.2020 • www.soifwine.com This wine-centric downtown restaurant is housed in a hip, loft-style building and includes a wine shop next door. Food reflects Chef Santos Majano’s love for Mediterranean flavors, and each dish is paired with a wine suggestion from the vast wine list. Monday evenings there is a raw oyster bar with live jazz. Tuesday is tapas night. Restaurant and wine bar open Su–Th 5–9pm, F–Sa 5–10pm.

Vivas Organic Mexican Restaurant

1201 Soquel Ave. • 831.425.8482 www.vivasorganic.com A splashing fountain suggests an old Mexican patio but the food is a modern, organic and delicious take on south-ofthe-border classics like tacos, tostadas, quesadillas and burritos. All meats and vegetables are organic. Local juices, organic white and brown rice are available, as well as vegan options. Open M–F 10am–10pm, Sa–Su 9am–10pm.

Whole Foods Market

911 Soquel Ave. • 831.426.9901 www.wholefoodsmarket.com See description under Capitola

WATSONVILLE

Gizdich Ranch

55 Peckham Road • 831.722.1056 www.gizdich-ranch.com Visitors from great distances love this third-generation, family-run farm business that popularized the “pik-yor-self” experience just east of Watsonville’s Interlaken neighborhood. Tour the farm, pick fresh apples or berries or watch the action inside the juice-pressing barn. No one leaves hungry if they spend time at the bakery-deli that pleases with its fresh pies, shortcakes and pastries, along with hearty sandwiches and box lunches. This family friendly experience is also a treat for kids, who will enjoy the wide-open spaces and the homemade popsicles and slushes. Open daily 8am–5pm.