New Cella Restaurant + Bar has named its chef: Thomas Snyder. For the past decade, Snyder has helmed the kitchen at Estéban inside the Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa. He’ll swap his signature Spanish tapas for a “globally inspired and locally sourced” menu at Cella. The new restaurant will open in September in the Cooper Molera Adobe, hot on the heels of neighboring Alta Bakery + Cafe from veteran pastry chef Ben Spungin.
Some editorial changes at local food and sustainable lifestyle magazine Edible Monterey Bay. Publisher Sarah Wood has stepped down and Deborah Luhrman will now helm the publication. Wood founded the magazine in 2011 as part of the Edible Communities International network, covering Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties.
Big Sur’s Post Ranch Inn welcomes Gary Obligacion as its new general manager. Obligacion was one of the early creative forces behind Coastal Luxury Management. Most recently, he was chief of operations for Chicago’s famed Alinea restaurant.
Pastry Chef Yulanda Santos hosts a summer sweets cooking class at Aubergine on Thursday, June 14 from 11:30am-1:30pm. Berries take the spotlight with fruit crisps, cobblers, and sweet biscuits. $100, includes recipes and instruction. Reservations required: 624-8578.
The 14th annual Carmel Valley Art & Wine Festival is Saturday, June 16 from 11am-5pm in the Carmel Valley Village. The festive block party celebrates local artists and winemakers. Look for sips from Bernardus, Big Sur Vineyards, Cheseboro, Cima Collina, Holman Ranch, Joullian, Joyce, Mercy, and more, plus live music too. Admission is free, with wine tasting available for $30 in advance at carmelvalleychamber.com or $40 at the door. An added bonus: a complimentary shuttle service between the Monterey Transit Plaza and the Carmel Valley Village via MST’s Grapevine Express.
Get ready to indulge in Champagne and caviar at the next “EPICurean Adventures” dinner at Schooners Coastal Kitchen & Bar on Thursday, June 14 at 6pm. Executive Chef Jerry Regester will prepare a four-course dinner featuring oysters, pasta salad, and scallops finished with caviar, plus a playful “caviar” dessert. Each course comes with bubbles, including selections from favorite Champagne houses Ruinart, Veuve Clicquot, and Moët & Chandon. $120, limited seating, 372-2628 for reservations.
Stave Wine Cellar has a trio of tastings lined up this week. First is a flight night with PlumpJack, CADE, and Odette on Thursday, June 14, offering tastes from Napa Valley. Seatings are at 5:30, 6:15, and 7pm, $25. On Tuesday, June 19, the wine bar hosts Paul Hobbs Winery featuring wines from Napa and Sonoma. Seatings are at 5:30, 6:15, and 7pm, $25. And on Wednesday, June 20, wine class is back in session with Vin de France at 6pm, $25. Reservations recommended for all: 644-7997.
Hump day got you down? Join Tarpy’s Roadhouse for “Wine Down Wednesdays” from 5-7pm. The restaurant hosts a different local winery each week in the Shell Room to enjoy complimentary wine tasting. The lineup for June includes Joyce on June 20 and I. Brand & Family on June 27. And don’t forget, wines by the bottle are half-price on Wednesdays (certain exclusions apply).
Blue Aces Bake Shoppe kicks off a sweet summer camp this month. Pastry chefs Adrian Jimenez and Cynthia Shuttleworth will teach kids the joys of baking with a five-part summer baking series at the Salinas shop. The series kicks off on Wednesday, June 20 with bread baking for children ages 5-10 (9am-3pm, $65). Thursday, June 21 brings a sold-out session on cookie decorating. On Friday, June 22 it’s French macaron making for children ages 12-18 (9am-4pm, $125). Classes resume on Tuesday, July 10 with a sold-out session on cupcake decorating, then on Wednesday, July 11 a second class on cooking decorating for children 7 and older (9am-3pm, $65). Lunch is provided. Tickets via Eventbrite. Private classes for groups of eight and larger also available. More information: 975-4714.
Marina’s Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette is celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride this month: Make a $20 donation to Monterey Pride and get a complimentary cocktail.
Downtown Monterey’s new sushi spot Sushi Fly has new hours: 5-9pm Monday-Thursday and until 10pm Friday-Saturday. (Closed Mondays.) Also new? Lunch, served noon-2pm Friday-Saturday.
Monterey’s historic Sardine Factory is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a “Golden Memories” contest. Share your favorite memory from dining at the restaurant for a chance to win an intimate dinner, with wine, for 12 people in the restaurant’s opulent wine cellar. Submit entries (200 words or less) at sardinefactory.com from June-August. Three finalists will be chosen at the end of August and published in the Monterey Herald and Monterey County Weekly, with the winner announced in October.