Best Local White Wine
Bernardus Chardonnay
Bernardus Winery 5 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley (831) 298-8021, bernardus.com
In the old days, party conventions determined who would run for office. Delegates would cast their votes and it often took more than one ballot to come to a decision. That’s not the case with Bernardus’ line of Chardonnays. The winery puts them on the podium, the delegates cheer and the votes tally: 92 points from Robert Parker, 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, gold from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. And this is coming from the pundits. Guess the public feels the same way.
Best Local Red Wine
Boekenoogen Pinot Noir
Boekenoogen 24 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley (831) 659-4215, boekenoogenwines.com
You know what would be a great name for a lobbying firm? Boekenoogen Boekenoogen Boekenoogen and McCormick. Fortunately, Garrett Boekenoogen is a winemaker, not a string-puller. The family winery turns out not one or two, but several different Pinot Noirs, like the 93-point (Wine Enthusiast) Dryland Vineyard Pinot of 2017 vintage. Or the 92-point (also Wine Enthusiast) 2017 from the Santa Lucia Highlands. Between the candidates, the race is too close to call.
Best Local Beer/Brewery
Alvarado Street Brewery
426 Alvarado St., Monterey, (831) 655-2337 1315 Dayton St., Suite E, Salinas, (831) 800-3332 alvaradostreetbrewery.com
ASB is the incumbent for several awards, and it’s no secret why. The brewery is hugely successful, and keeps opening new beer-drinking hotspots all the time, plus you can find their brews on many a local menu. In fact, it’s almost weird if ASB isn’t on a menu. Their popular IPAs represent California style, but there’s plenty of variety if that’s not your thing. Super fruity sours, dense and chocolatey stouts, plus whatever ales, pilsners and lagers strike a fancy. There’s something for everyone to vote for here.
Best Cappuccino/Latte
Acme Coffee Roasting Co.
485-B Palm Ave., Seaside (831) 393-9113, acmecoffeeroasting.com
Though candidates who are self-funding and resisting corporate or PAC donations are gaining popularity, this Seaside coffee roaster has had that message all along: “Resist Corporate Coffee.” It allows them to bypass the noise of sideshow drink trends (we see you, Starbucks unicorn frappe) and do things their way: milk and espresso, that’s it… but not really. Their cappuccinos and lattes draw their strength from balanced medium roast espressos (their Motor City blend is always being pulled, but single-origins can be pulled as shots too). They’ve standardized the steamed milk temperatures so “extra hot” doesn’t exist on the menu, because they know that just means burnt milk. Really, if you want to add anything to an Acme latte or capp, it should be “breve” (cream instead of milk) or a limited range of traditional syrups (hazelnut or vanilla). The resistance is smooth. Who would’ve thought.
Best Smoothies
Jamba
Various locations in Monterey County jamba.com
There’s a reason why this business has over 850 franchised locations in 38 states, the first of which was founded as Jamba Juice in 1990 in San Luis Obispo as a senior project by then-Cal Poly student Kirk Perron. From classic, power and plant-based smoothies to bowls and artisan flatbreads, their five local locations stand ready to “jam.” Now known as just “Jamba,” like a crowded political ticket that ultimately thins out to one or two leading candidates, these guys over time have become the nominee.
Best Doughnut
Red’s Donuts
433 Alvarado St., Monterey, (831) 372-9761 1646 Fremont Blvd., Seaside, (831) 394-3444
Decisions, decisions, decisions. Election time is here, and choosing whom to vote for can be stressful – especially when it’s early in the morning. Fortunately for us, picking breakfast isn’t so hard: With over 20 different kinds of doughnuts made fresh every day, Red’s has something for everyone. Crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside, the chocolate, maple and sugar glazes are perennial favorites, along with cinnamon rolls, maple bars and apple fritters. The only thing to worry about is getting there early enough – these treats are known to sell out every day of the week.
Best Bagel
Bagel Bakery
Various locations in Monterey County thebagelbakery.com
With a menu that offers the choice of 22 bagels or breads, 14 kinds of cream cheese and other spreads, 12 proteins, four kinds of cheese, 12 vegetables and three dressings, this joint offers a staggering 532,224 possible order combinations – at least. The likelihood of anyone ordering a chocolate-fudge bagel with herb cream cheese, tuna salad, mozzarella, cranberries and mustard is practically zero – but this is a free country and we are all free to make our own mistakes. Luckily, there’s a menu of recommended combos to help you get it right.
Best Omelette
Googie Grill
1520 Del Monte Blvd., Seaside (831) 392-1520, googiegrill.com
You can be forgiven if at first you mistake this omelet for a souffle: It’s a heaping tower of fluffy (very fluffy) eggs, piled high. The signature Googie Omelette (also available on the lunch menu, if you want to indulge in breakfast for lunch) has finely chopped, perfectly crispy bacon, chunks of perfectly ripe avocado and a generous layer of melty Jack and cheddar cheese inside the tower of local, cage-free eggs. This is where rich meets airy, and breakfast is filling without being greasy – also known as omelette perfection.
Best Huevos Rancheros
Baja Cantina
7166 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel (831) 625-2252, carmelcantina.com
Nobody should watch candidates debate immigration reform on an empty stomach when the county’s best huevos rancheros are within reach. One forkful into the creamy egg yolk and zesty ranchero sauce and you’re sold. The addition of Baja Cantina’s guacamole and pico de gallo takes it to your happy place. Even Trump wouldn’t be able to find fault in the black beans and Mexican rice that round out the dish. It’s so good you may have to build a wall of chips around your plate so you won’t have to share.
Best Biscuits And Gravy Best Fried Chicken
The Butter House
1760 Fremont Blvd. #B-1, Seaside (831) 394-2887, thebutterhouse.com
This is one of those places where you wish there was a chicken in every pot… except that it wouldn’t leave any place to stir the gravy. It probably stands to reason that a kitchen that can do flaky biscuits and a rich cream gravy Southern-style could also fry up a crispy, juicy piece of chicken (make that plural pieces – it’s not a place you leave hungry). They do it at this Seaside sensation. And they don’t even need 11 herbs and spices to get it right. They only use eight in the chicken dredge. Read the voters’ lips, and they’ll tell you these dishes are good.
Best Salads
Crazy Horse
1425 Munras Ave., Monterey (831) 649-4771, crazyhorserestaurant.com
Sometimes the progressive wing of the party demands a green new salad deal but then along come the primaries and the voters decide they want to go with the reliable candidate, the one they know well, the one they’ve voted for before. That’s the salad bar at Crazy Horse Restaurant. It wins the Best Of election year after year. It’s a classic salad bar like the ones that became popular 40 years ago, but today’s voters know they will always get fresh, crunchy greens, a big selection of toppings and all their favorite dressings from Crazy Horse’s crazy-long salad bar.
Best Deli Sandwich
Compagno’s
2000 Prescott Ave., Monterey (831) 375-5987
Imagine the largest sandwich around town. To start, the bread rolls are enormous – and they’re not trying to hide anything. Each sub comes bursting with a huge stack of whatever ingredients you choose, and pretty much any deli item you can think of is available, from salamis to sauerkraut to mortadella with pistachio. When your appetite is a front burner, there’s no better stop for quick and gigantic satisfaction‚ which is a good bet if you’re knocking on doors all day during campaign season.
Best Burrito
El Charrito
122 W. Market St., Salinas (831) 424-9446, elcharrito.com
The best burrito begins with the tortilla, the vessel which will convey the medley of meat, salsa, rice and beans inside. El Charrito’s flour tortillas are a food group apart: buttery, thick and aromatic, enticing to all the senses (and yes, they’re made with lard). Then fill it with fall-apart tender meat, spicy salsa and mild beans and rice. Here’s a way to win elections: Give the people what they want. El Charrito’s hot food area became so popular, the multi-generational family business decided a few years back to change things, removing the grocery shelves and updating the restaurant area. You can even order ahead online. But while technology is changing, the quality grub stays the same.
Best Pickled Food
Happy Girl Kitchen
173 Central Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 373-4475, happygirlkitchen.com
Happy Girl Kitchen is kind of a big dill in the world of pickled food. They have been voted Best Of year after year since they opened in Pacific Grove in 2010. Owners Todd and Jordan Champagne are dedicated to simple, delicious, farm-driven foods. You can pop into the shop and pick up your favorite pickled veggies, have a delicious vegetarian lunch or take home one of their fresh marmalades or jams. If you want to know all of Jordan’s secrets to pickling and preserving food you don’t have to wait much longer. In 2020 HGK is releasing a book, written by Jordan, on the art of preserving.
Best Food on a Stick
Monterey County Fair
2004 Fairgrounds Road, Monterey (831) 372-5683, montereycountyfair.com
It’s almost a cliché that politicians show up at events like the Iowa State Fair in attempts to appear like common folk. It would be great to see Bernie dive into a frozen cheesecake on a stick or Biden snarfing down a corn dog at the Monterey County Fair. Not sure if any vendor has mastered Taco Bell on a stick for Trump. But with Monterey County Fair’s 2020 theme of “Fiesta,” we dare any candidate to try the jalapeños on a stick that local fair staff are promising will be a feature at the fare.
Best Fish & Chips
London Bridge Pub
256 Figueroa St. (on Wharf 2), Monterey (831) 372-0581, lbpmonterey.com
You had enough to drink that you’re starting to see a thousand points of light. Your hair looks like Boris Johnson on a bad day and you’re thinking of making a brexit. Best to take a break and grab something to eat. Fortunately, you had the good sense to go drinking in a British-style pub. And you could order something filling – bangers and mash, a cottage pie or curry. Please. London Bridge Pub repeatedly wins Best Fish & Chips because of their flaky Atlantic cod under a crispy, airy beer batter shell. A little malt vinegar and you’re good for another round.
Best Clam Chowder
Old Fisherman’s Grotto
39 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey (831) 375-4604, oldfishermansgrotto.com
Every stop on the campaign trail must pay homage to local delicacies, and in Monterey, there’s only one dish that counts: clam chowder. Stewed in a rich and creamy white sauce and served in a cup or a bread bowl, Old Fisherman’s Grotto has been sourcing local ingredients to make Monterey-style clam chowder for almost 70 years. Whether you’re walking on the Wharf – and grabbing a free sample – or sending a pack of cans home to enjoy when the weather gets chilly, this time-honored recipe is sure to be a winner.
Best Calamari
Abalonetti
57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey (831) 373-1851, abalonetti.com
It’s pure economics why calamari made its way onto restaurant menus back in the 1980s. Squid were used as bait until flounder and cod became scarce off of Long Island, New York and fishermen were hurting financially. A group of university experts, industry association members and the federal government got together and devised a plan to take plentiful and cheap squid and make it popular. Americans love anything breaded, deep-fried and dipped in sauce, so a recipe was developed. The name was changed to the Italian “calamari” and the rest is delicious history. Each year our readers vote Abalonetti as their favorite place in Monterey County to indulge in the delicacy.
Best Poke
Poke House
266 Reservation Road, Marina, (831) 384-7898 601 Wave St., Monterey, (831) 747-2581 pokehouseofmarina.com
Poke became the thing locally a few years ago, but those in the know have always known that the Hawaiian tradition of slicing chunks of marinated, raw, fresh fish, sauced precisely and served with fresh veggies and rice, is a good and even great thing – when done right. At Poke House, it’s done right. The fish (or octopus or crab, depending on your craving) is super-fresh, the portions of that super-fresh fish are generous, and the prices won’t break your bank.
Best Burger
In-N-Out
151 Kern St., Salinas 1350 Del Monte Blvd., Seaside (800) 786-1000, in-n-out.com
There’s no red tape, no mind-numbing bureaucracy, just delicious burgers built on a platform of simplicity. Lines might at times be as long as bread-lines in the former Soviet Union, but burgers are made quickly, to-order and with as many (or as few) patties and/or slices of cheese as one can handle. This democratic institution of fast food allows for culinary self-expression like ordering a burger “Animal Style” or just wrapped in lettuce, and with fries cut from actual potatoes mere minutes before being dropped into hot oil. In-N-Out might be a model for successful governments of the future.
Best Wings
Wing Stop
1130 S. Main St., Salinas, (831) 422-9464 1488 Constitution Blvd., Suite A, Salinas, (831) 449-8646 1951 Fremont Blvd., Seaside, (831) 899-9464 wingstop.com
This is like a United Nations of handheld chicken and fried goods. Baskets of wings large and small can be paired with flavors ranging from Atomic to Spicy Korean, Cajun to Hawaiian, then dipped in ranch, blue cheese or honey mustard. Ordering online is easy for delivery or carry-out, which means during the 2020 presidential race, if one needs to eat their feelings as candidates tear each other apart, leaving the house isn’t necessary for decadent portions of bite-sized comfort food.
Best Pizza
Gianni’s Pizza
725 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey (831) 649-1500, giannispizzamonterey.com
Gianni’s pizzas are made of the same ingredients as most other pizzas: dough, cheese, sauce, meat, veggies, herbs. It’s hard to say what makes it come together in such a way that these pies stand out and keep people coming back. But the first clue that you’re in for a special pie is the aroma upon entering the place – it’s warm, bready and savory. The next is in how long they’ve been around: since 1974. That kind of longevity tells you a lot. And the fact that they name their pizzas – Meat-zilla, Big Wheel, Andy’s Southwest Chicken – tells you that they have distinct character and are well worth remembering.
Best BBQ
Salinas City BBQ
700 W. Market St., Salinas (831) 758-2227, salinascitybbq.com
There’s smoke spilling from weathered smokers out back. There’s oak stacked up and a patina to the building that seems to say: Southern barbecue. And there’s that menu of sandwiches and platters – tri-tip, pulled pork, ribs, chicken, hot links and the king of all barbecue meats, the brisket. And how do they manage to turn this stern, tough cut into something kinder and gentler? The pitmasters go low and slow, cooking the wood and letting the smoke ease over and into the meat. They have a slogan: “When you’re eating breakfast, we’re cooking dinner.” But if you are planning on dinner at Salinas City BBQ, maybe it’s best to skip breakfast.
Best Butcher Shop
The Meatery
1534 Fremont Blvd., Seaside (831) 656-8810, themeatery.us
Everything is broadcast to the world when you’re running for office, and that includes who you know. Luckily for The Meatery’s founder Kevin Hincks, transparency and his relationships within the food industry – formed over years working at fancypants restaurants like Carmel’s Cantinetta Luca – are the exact reason people keep coming back. Sourcing is at the forefront of the Meatery’s ethos and at a minimum, everything from the beef to the chicken to the rabbits have to be from sustainable and ethical farms. The added bonus is when Hincks can source locally. On top of that, the butcher shop also has weekly specials, plus a solid list of sandwiches that highlight the quality of the products within their cases. Pro tip: Hincks also makes a tasty brat and killer salami.
Best Cupcake
Blue Aces Bake Shoppe
8 W. Gabilan St., Salinas (831) 975-4714, blueacesbakeshoppe.com
Until about six months ago, cupcakes weren’t a regular offering at this bakery in the heart of Salinas. But owner and pastry chef Adrian Jimenez, who left a career in project management to pursue her confectionary dreams, noticed that custom orders of her creative cupcakes were popular. Now you can find everything from cookie dough and key lime to turtle and breakfast cereal-flavored cupcakes on display. The shop gets inspired through partnerships with local winemakers and farmers, crafting seasonal and themed cupcakes as well.
Best Cookie
Pavel’s Backerei
219 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove (831) 643-2636
At Pavel’s Backerei, MAGA means Make America Glutenous Again! This Pacific Grove staple has a line coming out the door nearly every morning. Some are there for the brioche cinnamon rolls – an 80-year-old recipe – while others prefer the berry danishes or wait for the cranberry oat muffins. Pavel’s even has bipartisan kalamata olive branches which they say should be shared with your partisan friends, an effort to Get America Talking Again. This award, however, goes to their cookies, which range from macaroons and cherry thumbprints, to biscotti and peanut butter crunch cookies.
Best Pie
Sweet Elena’s Bakery
465 Olympia Ave., Sand City (831) 393-2063, sweetelenas.com
People vote with their dollars and the residents of Sand City are no different. They picked Sweet Elena’s because their pies are on a whole different level of seasonality, creativity, flakiness and quality. It’s difficult to figure out her secrets. What is it that she adds to the pecan pie that makes the filling so intense? The olallieberry pie so balanced with sweet and tart? And quiches count as pies, right? Where else in Sand City can you get a locally roasted espresso, laze around staring at local works of art, do homework and feel uniquely in Sand City? It’s a rhetorical question.
Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
MYO
491 Alvarado St., Monterey, (831) 649-3769 1091 S. Main St., Salinas, (831) 759-9769 840 Broadway Ave. #B5, Seaside, (831) 375-3769 157 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel (coming in 2020) myofrozenyogurt.com
Winning its 10th term in a row, Make Your Own Frozen Yogurt has captured the masses with their do-it-yourself dessert bar. Offering dairy-free, low-sugar, classic and rotating flavors like limoncello, maple bacon donut and red velvet, MYO keeps the voters satisfied. If you’re a traditionalist, vanilla froyo topped with chocolate fudge, peanuts and a cherry is always available. For those more liberal with their toppings, MYO has cookies, boba, fresh fruit, over 10 sauce flavors, gummy bears, cereals and more. They may be pandering to every type of sweet tooth, but voters know there’s no malarkey going on here.
Best Cake
Layers
9 Soledad Drive, Monterey (831) 655-1544, layerscake.com
Whether it’s a Disney-themed birthday party or a Super Bowl Sunday gathering, Layers can make a cake for any occasion. Some recent work includes a chocolate cake shaped like a suitcase, complete with passports made of frosting and an intricate wedding cake that appears to be a bouquet of white flowers suspended in air. It’s like edible art. If one-of-a-kind edible artworks aren’t what you’re after, Layers also has an array of standardized cakes ready to order, from tiramisu to tres leches.
Best Milkshakes
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
23625 Holman Highway, Monterey (831) 624-5311, chomp.org
There’s a cafe inside the hospital affectionately known by its acronym – CHOMP that locals love. It’s a hospital and they are supposed to make you feel better than you did four years ago (or yesterday, for that matter). But what attracts people in perfectly good health to the hospital is the milkshake. It’s a no-frills thing: ice cream and milk, blended just like they did in parlors of old. And it’s perfect, so thick it can hold a straw upright, down to the last drop, but thin enough that you can use the straw to sip it. So it has bipartisan appeal. Next time Congressman Jimmy Panetta reaches out across the aisle, he should try offering one of these.
Best Desserts
Alta Bakery & Cafe
502 Munras Ave., Monterey (831) 920-1018, altamonterey.com
What makes for a great dessert? It’s the ingredients, stupid! You can’t be economical with them if you’re going to win the voters’ hearts and minds. So Alta starts with good ingredients and then throws in a little flair. In a menu that changes often, you can find familiar treats. But why not skip the checks and balances thing and go for a chocolate-buckwheat cookie? Or perhaps one with tahini and sunflower seeds? Maybe a tart with some Earl Grey tea in the filling. That glazed doughnut – that’s a miso glaze. Those are desserts for the people, and for change.
Best Cheese Selection
The Cheese Shop
Junipero and Ocean (in Carmel Plaza), Carmel (831) 625-2272, thecheeseshopinc.com
Good cheese can give you a sense of Ewephoria. That’s a punny cheese, by the way, and they stock it at The Cheese Shop. In fact, they stock hundreds of cheeses from around the world. Need a little Gjetost? They’ve got it. Can’t decide between a Leerdammer and an Ossau Iraty Istara? They folks behind the counter can help you decide. That may be the best thing about The Cheese Shop: customer service. The staff offer you samples without waiting for you to ask, and they know their stuff, giving you straight answers – no evasive or misleading answers, no “it would be irresponsible of me to comment at this time.” Just great cheese and knowledgeable people.
Best Catering Company
Aqua Terra Culinary
529 Central Ave., #1C, Pacific Grove (831) 657-9790, aquaterraculinary.com
This category is about as crowded as the Democratic or Republican field before the first primary, but as in politics so too in hospitality – the best boots on the ground presence and actually touching people’s lives will always win out. That’s what’s been happening for AquaTerra, resulting in six Best Of wins in this category including the last five years straight. Customers and employees report terrific attention to detail and farm-to-table sensibilities. The owner attributes their success to a focus on sustainability, seasonality and quality.
Best Food Trend Of 2019
Plant-Based Protein
There’s no denying that the vegetarian lifestyle is beginning to appeal to a lot of people, and if it’s a majority, they’re not so silent these days. Options are changing everywhere at sit-down and even fast-food restaurants – even Burger King now offers the Impossible Burger several different ways, while Carl’s Junior leans toward Beyond Meat. This trend isn’t just good for business, it’s good for everyone who wants options – and good for the planet to boot.