Stone Creek Kitchen
465 Canyon del Rey Blvd., Monterey
(831) 393-1042
On the deli side: beautifully displayed sandwiches like the exotic curry chicken salad on pecan raisin bread or the Stone Creek-style pastrami Reuben; salads and sides that get your attention visually and then please the palate; an array of always-changing speciality dishes; and made-with-love pastries and cookies. Nothing but quality. No shortcuts. On the store side, culinary aficionados are kids in a candy shop as they choose premium-quality products for baking, roasting, frying and serving. You can take a cooking class here, too. According to co-owner Linda Hanger, the secret is welcoming people who like to cook as well as people who just like to eat.