Shiny new Lucia at Bernardus debuts fried chicken, mini foodie festival.

Cal Stamenov can do most anything with food and it's news to me, which is just one way of many to say how much I admire his sourcing and cheffing.

It was huge news when he got a new lease on epicurean expression with the reimagined Lucia, which supplanted Marinus at the remade Bernardus Lodge & Spa.

Now come four more tasty updates, including Wednesday night chicken and brisket (not biscuit) and a Craftsman Exchange food-and-drink festival in November:

1 • $8 Till 8 • Tuesday evenings starting Sept. 22

The indoor-outdoor lounge and its steampunk-chic aesthetic make the space very welcoming. Bartenders Gabe, Taylor and Jose make the drinks to order with fresh herbs and infusions, at a discount until 20:00 military time. 

2 • Chef Cal's Chicken & Brisket • Wednesday evenings (after 5pm) starting Sept. 23

Talk of all the tastings gives me flashbacks to that one time we tried 75 different fried birds in a single afternoon. Given his gift for comfort food done with precision, you better believe Stamenov came up with something stunning. The meal runs a reasonable $28 even though it includes an embarrassment of riches: smoked wagyu brisket, organic herb fried chicken, organic fall vegetables and herbs picked from the fall garden and a glass of cru Beaujolais.

3 • Drink the Pink • Oct. 1–Oct. 31

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Lucia presents a Drink the Pink rosé wine list ranging from California’s bubbling brut to Provence’s crisp, dry offerings to a herbaceous Tempranillo Rosé. A $10 donation will be made to the Breast Cancer Assistance Group of the Monterey Peninsula with each bottle sold.

4 • Craftsman Exchange • Saturday, Nov. 7 (1-3pm) • $95 per person, inclusive of tax & gratuity, reservations required.

Helping fill the void created by the cancellation of Big Sur Food & Wine 2015, small-farm cheese mongers, heirloom fruit enthusiasts, local beer artisans and wine producers summit at Bernardus, basking in the alfresco seating and vineyard views. Featured craftsman include painter Fred Carvell, Carmelo Peak Ranch Beef, Big Sur Bakery, Bernardus Winery, Albatross Ridge Winery, Morro Bay Oyster Company and Carmel Valley Olive Company.