36 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY July 29-july 5, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com There are a few ways to think about the origin story of the business partnership between Raquel Rivera and Deborah Villalón. On one level, it’s a meeting of two hard workers who share a similarly intense work ethic. They are both jacks of all trades with an entrepreneurial spirit: Rivera has worked as a school bus driver and transportation manager, as well as a wedding photographer. Villalón used to work in the classroom with special education students, and also sold appliances. They both still have side hustles on the weekends. “We both are really hard workers,” Rivera says. On another level, it’s a love story that brought these two women together. Rivera is married to Villalón’s brother; when all three of them worked in the Carmel school system, Villalón remembers trying to help match-make for her brother. “I said, ‘She’s cute, you should talk to her.’ Who knew she was going to be my sister-in-law?” (Now, they call each other “sister,” no formality-by-marriage appended.) But mostly it’s the story of a longtime dream to own a cafe. “We love meeting people, being around people, serving people,” Villalón says. Neither has formal culinary training, but both love hospitality. “We have the same aspirations,” says Rivera. Of course, aspirations are one thing and reality is another. Last year, Rivera was serving on a jury in Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas. She saw Jo’s Cafe—so-named for the 62 decorative heads, designed by artist Jo Mora, that flank the 1937 building—was vacant. A sign in the door called for proposals to the county purchasing department. “I contacted my sister and said, ‘Remember how we always wanted to open a cafe? Are you sure that you’re sure? Because you’re going to have to quit your job.’” With no hesitation, Villalón said yes. Together, they crafted a response to the county’s RFP. They were awarded the lease, and got to work. They spent the next few months taste-testing and sourcing ingredients, striving for local—coffee beans from Acme in Seaside, tea from Zum Zum in Salinas, pastries from Azucar con T in Prunedale and The Sweet Life in Salinas, bread from Otto’s Bread just outside Salinas. They developed a menu guided by the idea of offering “healthier options than a vending machine,” Rivera says. “We chose things that we love.” There are grab-and-go options— sandwiches, wraps, salads, snack boxes with chopped vegetables and hard-boiled eggs—that serve judges and jurors on a quick court break. There’s a popular salad bar. And there are smoothies, smoothie bowls heaped with fresh fruit and granola, and a full coffee bar. (A customer favorite is the dulce de canela, made with agua de canela—cinnamon water—that they brew fresh daily.) They are limited in their cooking options because there’s no range hood; they use a small oven to make flatbreads (at least a 10-minute wait) and a hot plate for ramen. There are toasts (avocado, peanut butter-and-berry, etc.) and ample vegetarian options. They opened in March, and three months in, business is thriving. Most of their customers come from court and the District Attorney’s Office, which shares the building. (On one recent day, County Administrative Officer Sonia De La Rosa is having a long meeting; a woman comes in for an afternoon coffee with her son and brand-new daughter-in-law, moments after their wedding at the county building just across the walkway.) Some people drop in briefly for a coffee or a snack, but many linger. Rivera and Villalón decorated with lots of plants and green-hued paintings by Rivera (they plan to offer a rotating display of local art). They’ve transformed the space from what was once a juror snack bar into a cafe that invites people to stay a while. “One of our main reasons for decorating the way we did is to be an escape,” Rivera says. “The offices around here are all very stressful. It’s a break away from the terrible things in the criminal court. People say, ‘Thank you for being here, so we can have a breather.’” Villa Rivera Cafe is in Jo’s Cafe at 142 W. Alisal St., Salinas. Open 7am-3:30 Monday-Friday; closed weekends. 256-7025, villariveracafe.com. First course Raquel Rivera, left, and Deborah Villalón in Villa Rivera Cafe, where they serve healthy options (like oatmeal) alongside classic pastries from local bakeries. Pancake Party…The Monterey Fire Department is bringing the heat to the griddle on Tuesday, July 4 to make a plentiful pancake breakfast, complete with sausage, eggs, fruit and coffee, all to benefit MY Museum. Bring your little ones down to the fire station from 7:30-10:30am for the opportunity to eat a hearty breakfast, don some fire gear, take photos and explore a firetruck. Afterward, walk down to Monterey’s July Fourth parade. Tickets are $15 per person, at bit.ly/43MSptn. 600 Pacific St., Monterey. 649-6444, mymuseum.org. Barbecue Bash…Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette is celebrating Independence Day by serving up a backyard-style barbecue menu. From 2-9:30pm on Tuesday, July 4 you can get grilled cornbread, cheddar baconwrapped franks, dry-aged smash burgers, and a crab boil with a plethora of seafood and all the fixings. Reservations are recommended. 3295 Dunes Drive, Marina. 883-5535, saltwoodkitchenandoysterette.com. One Year of Whisky…Happy birthday to The Whisky Club, which is celebrating its one-year anniversary with an updated menu and personalized bottles of Frey Ranch whiskey. Stop by to take a taste, and raise a glass for a birthday toast while you’re at it. 425 Alvarado St., Monterey. 241-6713, twc11.com. big pour…Big news in the wine world: Winemaking giant E. & J. Gallo Winery has bought Soledad-based Hahn Family Wines. The acquisition includes the Smith & Hook, Hahn and Hahn SLH brands; it does not include the Hahn vineyards. Hahn has been family-owned and operated since 1979, when Nicky and Gaby Hahn planted a vineyard. Nicky Hahn was a fierce advocate for the Santa Lucia Highlands and helped the region campaign for American Viticultural Association recognition, which it was granted in 1991. Music in the Plaza…Carmel Plaza’s summer live music series is back. The five-week-long series pairs local musicians with bites from a local restaurant, wines by a local winery and information about a different local nonprofit each week. Starting Friday, June 30, The Money Band plays, Café Carmel brings the bites and Scheid Vineyards pours wine. The music is free, with food and drink available for purchase. Carmel Plaza courtyard, Ocean Avenue and Mission Street, Carmel. carmelplaza.com. By Jacqueline Weixel morsels Send a bite to eatanddrink@mcweekly.com “We chose things that we love.” Eat + DrinK Daniel Dreifuss Coffee Culture A grab-and-go staple next to the courthouse has a new life as an inviting cafe. By Sara Rubin
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