34 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY february 2-8, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Jennifer Paige is bursting with excitement. After years of frustration, of not quite finding the right fit, she feels she’s found a way forward for her business— and it’s all just beginning. Paige is the founder of The Yolk Marketplace and the creator behind a lineup of what she calls “flavor accelerators”—unique spice and herb mixes that can be added while cooking. The journey that led to the creation of the company and the spice mixes is one that follows Paige’s own creative path—from a career in fashion and furniture design to food styling to product development and marketing for juice and chocolate companies. At one point she went to culinary school and started working as a private chef. The more she cooked, the more of her own herb and spice blends she created. Soon, she decided to share. Paige launched the Yolk Marketplace website in early October 2022 to sell directly to consumers and in November her blends were added to the shelves at Elroy’s in Monterey. The original—the “main chick,” as Paige puts it—was Golden Girl, a mix of turmeric, ginger, citrus peels and more that adds a bright zing to everything it touches. “I literally have a jug of it in my kitchen,” Paige says. There’s also Party Mix Tape, a smoky and spicy blend of paprika, allspice, garlic, red pepper flakes, cayenne, etc., which makes an excellent meat rub. Ocean’s Kiss is a take on the Japanese furikake (seaweed, sesame seed, garlic, onion, poppy seed, salt); Picnic Basket features aromatic dried herbs perfect for sprinkling on top of a sandwich or avocado toast; and Kitten Hug is a sweet blend of ginger, cinnamon and cardamom that one might add to cookies, coffee or French toast batter. Paige buys the ingredients for each blend from Watsonville-based wholesaler Monterey Bay Herb Co., and packages in squat, sizeable jars. But let’s say you’d like to try before you buy, or you can’t quite imagine how you would use a mix like these until you’ve tasted them. That’s where Paige’s newest project comes in: a popup, with Chef David Pasculli, at the Monterey Sports Center’s long-vacant concession stand. There, on the weekends of Feb. 4-5 and 18-19, Pasculli will be serving the gourmet sandwiches he makes under his Sammich’d brand, with Yolk Marketplace spice mixes playing a starring role in many. The partnership came easily, Paige says, after Pasculli sent her a message on Instagram. They started talking about food and feeding off one another’s excitement. “We can relate on such an amazing level,” Paige says. They’ve got different strengths, but a similar passion for high-quality craftsmanship in the kitchen. So they decided to team up: “We both have so much more opportunity [together] than we would have on our own.” The menu includes Curry in a Hurry (a curried chicken salad sandwich on toasted brioche featuring the Picnic Basket herb blend; $12), Pranzo (tomato, mozzarella, basil and arugula on a baguette; $12) and a breakfast parfait with yogurt, raspberry jam and homemade granola featuring the Kitten Hug spice mix ($10). (Because the concession stand is inside the Sports Center, customers must enter the gym, through membership or a pass, to partake.) The Sports Center opportunity also came easily, more easily than Paige expected. After noticing that the concession stand was closed, she asked whether the city-run fitness facility might be open to a takeover. “It happened in like one email,” Paige recounts. “It was crazy.” (It also seems to have spurred an idea for the Sports Center—a spokesperson tells the Weekly the gym is currently working to identify future vendors.) Meanwhile, Paige and Pasculli are already brainstorming ways to continue working together, like offering menus for wineries that don’t have their own food service. They also want to bring in more collaborators—sandwich bread by Otto Kramm of Otto’s Bread Company, for example. Paige says she’s surprised, but very gratified, by the way small business owners in Monterey County are open to working together. “There’s so much yielded by that camaraderie,” she says. Find The Yolk Marketplace and Sammich’d 8am-2:30pm at the Monterey Sports Center, 301 E Franklin St., Monterey. More at instagram.com/yolkmarketplace and instagram.com/sammichd. First course Jennifer Paige at the Monterey Sports Center during Sammich’d and Yolk Marketplace’s Jan. 21-22 pop-up. “We were welcomed with such open arms,” she says. Monterey Is For Lovers… Captain + Stoker is hosting the perfect pre-V-Day event to get the lovers and friends ready for the big day. Stop by on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 5:30-8:30pm to get yourselves some locally made jewelry, custom chain-stitched clothing, and locally sourced vintage clothing. You can also make your own flower arrangement while enjoying live art displays and can get a bite from Oli’s Cheesesteak when hunger strikes. 398 E. Franklin St, Monterey. 901-3776, captainandstoker. com. Game Day Pie…Get the Super Bowl game day pizzas you crave from Seaside’s The Oven—in addition to the regular menu, the spot will be whipping up two themed specials dedicated to Kansas City (yes, barbecue meat is involved) and Philadelphia. 720 Broadway Ave., Seaside. 899-1762. Bundle For Bae…Scheid Vineyards is making Valentine’s shopping a little easier for you by pre-”pairing” two wine and chocolate bundles. For $79, including shipping, you can get an assorted box of Lulu’s Chocolates paired perfectly with either their 2020 Pinot Blanc or their 2020 Barbera. Orders must be placed by Sunday, Feb. 5. San Carlos and 7th, Carmel, 6269463, scheidvineyards.com. Get Down…Consider yourself a lucky duck if you attend Chef Cam’s upcoming paella de pato (duck paella) making workshop at The Quail & Olive on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Participants will learn the process to make this coveted dish, enjoy a Valentine’s themed meal and treats, and leave with recipes to re-create it at home. Tickets are $130 per person and can be purchased at eventbrite.com. Early Bird Gets The Deal… With sunsets still happening on the early side, Pangaea Grill is offering a sunset dinner early bird special: three courses for $32 from 3-5pm Monday-Friday. Pick a starter, main course and dessert for this hard-to-beat price. Reservations recommended. Ocean Avenue between Lincoln and Dolores, Carmel. 624-2569, pangaeagrillcarmel.com. Babka Bake…Chabad of Monterey’s Women’s Circle is hosting a babka bake on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 4pm. Get your hands dirty in the dough while learning how to prepare and bake this traditional, sweet, braided bread. 620 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 6432770, monterey.chabadsuite.net. By Jacqueline Weixel morsels Send a bite to eatanddrink@mcweekly.com “There’s so much yielded by that camaraderie.” Eat + DrinK Daniel Dreifuss Seasoning Queen Jennifer Paige’s spice mixes bind a creative partnership. By Tajha Chappellet-Lanier
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