44 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY april 6-12, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com When Chef Michael Pappalardo first got a call from Oscar Alcala in the early days of the pandemic shutdown in 2020, he was skeptical. Pappalardo had been running a small restaurant, Little Sicily, in Oldtown Salinas, and Alcala was the relatively new owner of XL Public House around the corner. They didn’t know each other, but Alcala was pitching an idea: With no kitchen, his bar couldn’t prepare food, and with no food, he could not be open at all due to shelter-in-place orders. So he was looking for nearby food vendors who might be looking for a pop-up venue where they could sell their goods—as Alcala saw it, it would be a win-win. “I said, if you’re being honest, you’ll come down right now,” Pappalardo remembers thinking. That worked for Alcala—“I’m old-fashioned, person-to-person”—and he walked over, they met, shook hands and went into business together. Since then, they’ve come much further than either of them could have imagined. What began as Pappalardo making bar-friendly fare to sell out of XL during the shutdown (sandwiches, pizza, wings) evolved into a more extensive partnership. He eventually sold Little Sicily to Alcala, who in January opened a late-night hot dog spot, Cali Glizzy—another pandemic-era pop-up in XL—that serves plain or dressed-up dogs. Meanwhile, Pappalardo imported his Sicilian-themed menu to Altura Lounge & Bistro, which Alcala opened in February, offering high-end craft cocktails and, as far as food goes, Pappalardo’s favorites. There’s the Nonna’s lasagna, fettuccine alfredo and linguini and clams— staples of Pappalardo’s childhood in Sicily (he immigrated at 14) and his previous life running Gianni’s Pizza in Monterey for 25 years. Mostly, the menu inspiration comes from his mom (“half-mine, half-hers”), Pappalardo says. The “hers” part comes through especially in his secret tomato sauce recipe. He describes one customer who started tearing up over a plate of pasta: “It just reminds me of my mom,” Pappalardo says the diner told him. Alcala’s roundabout journey to the local restaurant industry started right here in Salinas where he grew up, before leaving for college and corporate jobs, working for Coca-Cola and car rental company Enterprise. He got burned out, he says, plus he wanted to return and be a positive influence and apply his business acumen to his hometown. “If you’re blessed, you’ve got to bless other people,” Alcala says. Despite their different origin stories and improbable meeting, Alcala and Pappalardo share a work ethic that dates back to some of their youngest memories. Pappalardo remembers unloading fish in Moss Landing early in the morning before going to school, then offering his teacher fish when she’d catch him sleeping in class. “I just love to work,” he says. Alcala says his first lessons in business came as a teenager delivering the Salinas Californian, and one morning arriving—just a little late—to a driveway where a group of men were waiting for him. “They were pissed,” he remembers. “I learned I’ve got to be on time, I’ve got to be consistent. After that, I was never late again.” Now, Alcala is hoping eateries like Altura and Cali Glizzy have the potential to help continue to turn Salinas’ reputation around throughout the wider region. “In the next three to four years, it’s going to be completely different,” he says. That difference, at least as far as Altura is concerned, comes in the form of classy cocktails that sell for the same price as a plate of spaghetti or gnocchi—and there is a market for it, as mixologist Kenny Aguilera develops and refines the drink menu, served from a dimly lit bar. There is no phone set up and hence no way to place a takeout order (although of course the staff does happily pack up food to go). And that’s by design: “People are coming here for an experience,” Alcala says. “They want to hear Kenny talk about the drinks, and experience the attention to detail you’re not getting anywhere else.” Altura Lounge & Bistro, 66 W. Alisal St., Salinas is open 11:30am-3pm Thursday-Saturday and 5:30-9:30pm Tuesday-Saturday. Cali Glizzy, 16 E. Gabilan St., Salinas is open 5:30-11pm Wednesday-Saturday. First course Chef Michael Pappalardo (pictured) began a partnership with Altura Lounge & Bistro owner Oscar Alcala through pandemic pop-ups. Now, Alcala says, “It is like a family.” Brunch With A Bunny…Enjoy a prix-fixe brunch with the Easter Bunny at Quail Lodge on Sunday, April 9 from 11am-3pm. This family-friendly celebration is complete with a children’s menu, Easter egg hunt, egg decorating, and photo opportunities with, of course, the Easter Bunny. Brunch is $79 for adults, $39 for kids under 12, and reservations can be made online at quaillodge. com/special-offers/dining-offers/easter-brunch. 8205 Valley Greens Drive, Carmel. 866-675-1101, quaillodge.com. Sip And Shoot…Bring your pretty pup to Folktale Winery on Thursday, April 13 for a fun photoshoot. You’ll get to sip on a glass of wine while your canine companion gets photographed by a professional photographer for a good cause. Half of the photo-op proceeds will go to Max’s Helping Paws Foundation. Reservations can be made at lovedogandco.com. 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. 293-7500, folktalewinery.com. Brunch Buffet…Stillwater Bar & Grill is hosting a decadent Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9 from 10am-2pm. Expect a variety of upscale, gourmet offerings such as caviar, a carving station, a seafood display with King crab, oysters and more. Plus, of course, dessert. This scenic experience is $155 per adult, $75 per child 6-12 years old, free for children under 6, and reservations can be made by calling 625-8524. 1700 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach. 800877‑0597, pebblebeach.com/dining/ stillwater-bar-grill. Big Kid Brunch…It’s not all kid-focused brunching.. Hotel 1110 hosts an adults-only Easter brunch on Sunday, April 9. For $65 per person, guests can enjoy a selection of brunch bites like deviled eggs and smoked salmon bagels, Easter favorites like glazed ham and lamb stew, and end with blueberry cobbler and a chocolate fountain with strawberries. This rooftop extravaganza is $65 per person including tax and gratuity, and bottomless mimosas can be added on for $20. Tickets are available online. 1110 Del Monte Blvd., Monterey. 655-0515, hotel1110.com. New Trivia Scene…101 Wine Press is now hosting trivia nights on Wednesdays at 7pm. Show off your smarts while enjoying a glass—or two— and some delicious barbecue. 8049 San Miguel Canyon Road, Prunedale. 2723025, 101winepress.com. By Jacqueline Weixel morsels Send a bite to eatanddrink@mcweekly.com “People come here for an experience.” Eat + DrinK Daniel Dreifuss All In A businessman and a chef meet at a bar…and the result is two new culinary destinations in Salinas. By Sara Rubin
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