April Events In Monterey And On The Central Coast

Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur launched a week long special during Spring Break that took the Central Coast by storm. Yes only at Nepenthe could you order, for only $14.95 a Kosher-All Beef foot long hot dog wrapped in uncured natural bacon and deep fried. For that price, of course, you got a side salad which-upon request-could be deep fried also. They sold nearly 60 pounds of these home wreckers the first week.

I was invited by my friend Tina Gularte to go old school like a VIP at the Fox Theater in Salinas last Friday night. Bret Michaels the former lead singer of Poison and star of VH1 reality show Rock of Love was in town with his solo group, the Bret Michaels Band. (Shrug..who? I had no idea, I had to google the guy.) After a long Friday in Livermore preparing for the US Foodservice Spring Buying Show, coming up April 23rd at the Sacramento Convention Center, I drove out to La Casa Sorrento in Salinas to meet Tina and some of her friends before heading to the show. The place was packed at least 3 deep at the bar. Owner Mike Hackett was on hand pouring cocktails along with his staff. Mike and his wife had an opportunity to take over this business that goes back about 50 years in Salinas. I had the best slice of pizza that I have had in a long time. Check out the coast weekly article Pepperoni Resurrection

For only $5.00 Chef Todd Fisher is preparing dinner at Shoreline Church in Monterey this Wednesday 4/16 for the launch of their new small group Bible Study based on Max Lucado's book 3:16 The Numbers of Hope. The study looks at a critical conversation between a prominent Jewish leader and Jesus of Nazareth. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of a group that was building a case against the man Jesus Christ in order to stop him from speaking and teaching. This was the same group that investigated John the Baptist, who was then beheaded. Nicodemus in spite of his official duties to prosecute Jesus, was facinated by the teachings and actions of Him. He sought him out after dark one evening to question Him. Their
conversation included the 26 words that are the foundation of our faith as Christians. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." For $5.00 you couldn't even get an appetizer at most of the restaurants that Chef Todd worked at or owned!

Another Shoreline Church member and restauranteur Pat Ottone has launched a $100.00 steak special at his Monterey restaurant, Lallapalooza. We have recently reviewed his updated Steakhouse Menu, but Pat has taken it a step further with his 16 ounce Prime Akaushi Ribeye steak dinner. The first week out he sold 10 steaks and re-ordered this 100% Hormone Free, source specific, beef that is a natural source of CLA and Oleic Acid. The steaks for his special are ordered and shipped direct from the Heartbrand Beef ranch in Texas to order. With his second order he added 10 pounds of Akaushi ground beef for a burger and slider special. Be sure to call first or ask you server (or Meg the bartender who can tell the Akaushi story like no other.)