Rob Weakley had a way of describing life with David Bernahl, a partnership first forged while sitting around fire pits at Bernardus, and one that led to the rise of Pebble Beach Food & Wine, Los Angeles Food & Wine, Cannery Row Brewing Company, Restaurant 1833, Rose.Rabbit.Lie in Las Vegas and Faith & Flower in L.A., all within the last seven hardworking, head-spinning years.
“Dave sells people the dream,” Weakley would say. “I finance the nightmare.” He would add a wry grin, and time it well—as he did with many things. To hear Weakley tell it, his departure from the CLM mothership he co-directed is also well-timed. (Get more on the blog, www.mcweekly.com/edible.)
The first feat of savvy timing for CLM came eight years earlier, when Weakley leapt into the void created by the departing Masters Food & Wine he ran at the Hyatt Carmel Highlands. He imported the celeb chef contacts, Bernahl brought visioning and sweat equity, Pebble Beach Company delivered vital infrastructure and suddenly Pebble Beach Food & Wine was a thing. (Weakly also sold his deeeep wine collection and mortgaged his home to get the original event aloft—barely.)
The timing now comes down to a couple of things: A desire for an increased role in CLM’s ever-expanding projects from minority partners and winery barons Charles and Ali Banks, founders of Terroir Selections, who have bought out much of Weakley’s sizable chunk. The other thing: Weakley’s desire to do less nightmaring and more dreaming.
The Banks, particularly Charles, have partnered with CLM on a range of projects for a year and a half. Their involvement helped CLM to reclaim greater control from Dick Clark Productions, whose initial investment propelled CLM from PBFW toward its now-wide restaurant operations.
Weakley says the shift came the same way as the original partnership and the Dick Clark deal: sitting and drinking wine.
“I didn’t have any plans on exiting, but there was a wish for more involvement,” he says. “We talk, one thing leads to the next, and a number is thrown out.”
He’s playing coy with those numbers for now, as he is with the projects he’s eyeing—other than his wife, 5-year-old twins and 3-year-old daughter.
“One of the great things of running CLM for so many years is you see so many facets of hospitality: The events, retail, nightclubs. But I also want to get back into Monterey. Last month I spent four days there.”
Food Republic named Charles Banks one of “The 9 People You Need to Know in American Wine Right Now” because he has collected an impressive range of wineries since just 2009, boosting big names like Mayacamas, Sandhi, Mulderbosch and Qupe. They are also partners in the mind-blowing, close-to-the-land Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tenn.—which starred at PBFW 7.0—and Mattei’s Tavern in Santa Barbara.
Bringing together their Rolodex with CLM’s is a palate- and mind-tingling thing to consider.
“Being well-capitalized will strengthen every aspect of our business, allowing the team to move more quickly when new opportunities present themselves,” Charles says. “We see immense potential for continued growth and creative exploration.”
After the growth and exploration of the first seven years, that’s a mouthful. But these players are among the most qualified anywhere to spoon it out.
~ QUICKBITES ~
• New Exec Chef Todd Fisher has introduced his lunch and dinner menus at Tarpy’s Roadhouse. Check out a mouthwatering sneak peek on the blog, www.mcweekly.com/edible.
• D’Anna Thai in Marina (883-9399) is adding a larger Salinas outpost at the end of the summer. More on the blog.
• Craft Artisan Ales of Pacific Grove introduces its Ricketts Lab IPA with complimentary samples at Cannery Row Brewing Co. 5-8pm Thursday, June 26.
• A Taste of Monterey (646-5446) has launched a new, more substantial Thursday-Sunday “Bistro Night Menu” starting at 5pm—with items like a Salinas baby greens avocado fritter ($8), honey-chili glazed wild salmon ($22) and achocolypse now triple-choco mousse cake ($7.50), paired with a local wine.
• Grand opening of Alisal Certified Farmers Market comes Tuesday, July 8, and fresh farmers market interactive cooking workshop at noon and 2pm at 632 East Alisal St. in Salinas.
• From the little miracle file: Crêpes of Brittany (601-4847) summons lines out the door for its all-organic-and-French-authentic buckwheat crepes ($5-$10)—and waits that reach 45 minutes. Thierry Crocquet and company satisfy everyone with little more than hot plates and a corner of a shared space on the first side stretch of Fisherman’s Wharf.
• The Beach House at Lovers Point (375-2345), Weekly readers’ vote for “Best New Restaurant” of 2013, just celebrated a year in business this month.
• Nino and Marie Favoloro highlight five Italian wines they love for 50 percent off with entree every Tuesday and Wednesday at Favaloro’s Big Night Bistro (373-8523)
• Pacific Grove’s Crema (324-0427) on Lighthouse now does build-your-own burger with sauces like Sriracha mayo, toppings like fried egg or tri-tip chili plus garlic, truffle and Parmesan fries on the side. Cute place too.
• Peter B’s Brew Pub (649-2699) now dishes a Stout Resistance ice cream by Kailee Creamery (402-0627)—full-bodied and well-rounded, with oats notes coming on strong. It’s available in both places, even squooshed between ginger snap cookies and decorated with chocolate shavings at PBBP.
• Cal Stamenov and Jeff Rogers combine for Coastal Cooking Demonstration and Lunch at Bernardus ($95, 658-3550) Saturday, June 28; p. 24 for more.
• Lucky Me’s help usher in the new era of live music and entertainment at The Shadow Box (394-3242) Saturday, June 26. Crossing fingers for cabaret soon.
• Evenings by the Bay returns to Monterey Bay Aquarium (648-4800) July 5-Aug. 31. Visitors have to opportunity to cruise the galleries on Saturdays and Sundays from 6-8 pm and unwind with a glass of wine and live music (free with admission, $24.95-$39.95).
• Another weekend jazz escape against a sweet backdrop: The Fireplace Lounge at the Hyatt Regency (372-1234) offers live pros 7pm every Friday and Saturday in July, accompanied by local wine and petit plates.
• Perfectly Pressed in Salinas (998-8770) has a new juice, RAD booster: apple, ginger, radicchio and lemon.
• Nice Fourth of July strolling buffet ($40) coming together noon-4pm at Restaurant 1833: charred sweet corn; herb-marinated heirlooms with peaches and burrata; smoked and pulled pork shoulder; fried chicken; bacon-cheddar biscuits; and a Young’s/Grey Goose hosted bar.
• Local über gardener Elizabeth Murray does a talk on her new book Living in Full Bloom 7:30pm Friday, June 27, at Luminata Books in Monterey (333-1110).
• McIntyre wines are 40 percent off at their Hyatt tasting room (649-9463) ahead of a move to the Crossroads.
• “The best pace is suicide pace,” Steve Prefontaine said, “and today is a good day to die.”