36 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY June 8-14, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com This year Castroville—the little North County town known as the “Artichoke Center of the World” because it produces two-thirds of the globe’s artichokes—will celebrate its 160th anniversary. In honor of this milestone, the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau created an “Artichoke Trail” in March, with 40 suggested stops including bars, restaurants, farmstands, and farmers’ markets where people can learn about, buy and eat artichokes around Monterey County. The list includes dishes such as roasted globe artichoke, served with a vegan garlic and lemon aioli from Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant in Pacific Grove; artichoke-fontina ravioli at Gusto in Seaside; and a crispy artichoke-and-prosciutto sandwich from Woodward Marine Market in Moss Landing. Clearly, artichokes are popular in this area. The vegetable, which was cultivated from the wild cardoon, a tougher but similar looking plant, has become a culinary staple and an agricultural beacon in the region—and even has its own festival, celebrated at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center from June 10-11 (see more, p. 34). At the festival, attendees will get to try all manner of artichoke concoctions, from lumpia to ice cream. One establishment that didn’t make the cut for the Artichoke Trail map, but is worth a visit all the same, is a small, family-owned restaurant called Alfonso’s Authentic Mexican Food. The restaurant has been around for over 35 years, and has changed ownership four times during this period. The current owner is Jose Bonilla Balmoris, a Salvadoran man who has worked in kitchens for 24 years making different types of cuisine, including Mexican, Italian and Hawaiian. For the past two years, he’s been at Alfonso’s, which is notably located on the same street in Castroville as the world’s largest artichoke sculpture. Bonilla Balmoris says he was friends with the previous owner, Rene Herrera, and shared with him his desire to buy a restaurant. Herrera told him that instead of going elsewhere he could take over Alfonso’s. On April Fools’ Day, instead of pulling pranks, he fulfilled his dream of becoming a restaurant owner. “Now that I turn 45 I fulfilled it,” Bonilla Balmoris says. “It was a goal. God gave it to me and I’m glad.” The ownership change has gone smoothly as far as operations. “I haven’t changed the menu,” Bonilla Balmoris says in Spanish. Alfonso’s offers a selection of Mexican land, sea and vegetarian dishes including chiles rellenos and menudo (on weekends). The house specialty, however, is the enchilada. A favorite is the carnitas artichoke enchilada, filled with tender pieces of pork and soft artichoke chunks and made with corn tortillas bathed in a red sauce. The enchiladas are topped with sour cream and cheese and served with a side of rice and beans. They also make a vegetarian version, even more prominently featuring the artichokes. Despite his new role as owner, Bonilla Balmoris continues to cook at Alfonso’s. “I prepare almost all the food,” he says, adding that he works hand in hand with the whole staff. “It motivates me. I like working alongside workers. It wasn’t weird to be boss because I’ve been manager.” Both locals and tourists frequent the restaurant, Manager Shannan Padilla says. Crowds tend to increase when there are local festivals or golf tournaments on the Monterey Peninsula who make Castroville into a stop. “We get a lot of tourists that come right off of the freeway,” she says. Fridays used to be relatively slow at Alfonso’s. To turn it around, they started making Italian and Hawaiian dishes, including mahi mahi with fresh pineapple, fettuccine alfredo and chicken parmigiana—as Friday specials. (The exact selection varies weekly.) It’s a refreshing twist, and a callback to Bonilla Balmoris’ past experience. But even if you come in for the mahi mahi, don’t forget to give the artichoke enchilada a try. Alfonso’s Authentic Mexican Food is open 9am-9pm daily. 11252 Merritt St., Castroville (inside Castroville Station Center). 633-5572, instagram.com/ alfonsosauthentic. First course Artichokes are often boiled, steamed or roasted and served on their own. At Alfonso’s Authentic Mexican Food, the popular thistle ends up in these delicious enchiladas. Rum By The Beach…Lalla Oceanside is hosting a series of cocktail-making classes. Each class focuses on one spirit, and participants will learn about the spirit in general and also how to make impressive cocktails with it. The next session, which is devoted to rum, happens Monday, June 12 from 6:308:30pm. Tickets ($75 per person) can be purchased online before June 9. 654 Cannery Row, Monterey. 324-0891, lallagrill.com/location/oceanside. Blue Zone by the Bay… Mezzaluna is officially the first, and currently only, Blue Zones Project-approved restaurant in Pacific Grove. The approval acknowledges that Mezzaluna offers plant-based and vegetable-forward options prepared in healthy ways, which can help you make healthier choices in your eating habits. 1188 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 372-5325, mezzalunapasteria.com. dining-by-the-sea…Enjoy the last few days of Carmel Culinary Week, which ends on Sunday, June 10. You still have a few days to take advantage of the deals and offerings that this annual promotion brings to Carmel’s restaurants. On Thursday, June 8, there’s a corresponding discussion and Q&A at Sunset Center with TV personality Ted Allen. Allen, once the food and wine guy on the original edition of Queer Eye, now hosts cooking competition shows Chopped and Chopped Junior on The Food Network. Or skip the talk and go out to eat. You can find a full list of offerings and events at carmelcalifornia.com/ carmel-by-the-sea-culinary-week.htm. sipping on Cider…You can now find Santa Cruz Cider Co. at the downtown Carmel farmers market on Thursdays from 10am-2pm. Stock up on the Watsonville-based company’s hard ciders in a variety of unique flavors like Call Me A Cab—made with cider aged on Cabernet Sauvignon grape skins. 6th Avenue and Junipero Street, Carmel. 288-7049, santacruzciderco.com. Wine & Dine…Comanche Cellars hosts a special summer wine dinner on Monday, June 12 at 5:30pm. Chef Daniel Schrock of MacDonald Farm in Castroville prepares a four-course, farmto-table meal that will be paired with Comanche’s own wines. Tickets ($75) are now available online. 412 Alvarado St., Monterey. 747-2244, comanchecellars.com. By Jacqueline Weixel morsels Send a bite to eatanddrink@mcweekly.com The house specialty is the enchilada. Eat + DrinK Celia Jiménez On the Map One Castroville restaurant gives artichokes a Mexican twist. By Celia Jiménez
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