36 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY July 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Each July for the last hundred-plus years, the West comes alive at the California Rodeo Salinas. The much-anticipated annual event lasts well over a week and attracts thousands of rowdy rodeo fans who descend on Salinas for all of the Big Week festivities that include everything from bull ridin’ to barbeque’n (for more, see cover story, p. 20). And whether it’s the cowboy or the cow itself that piques your interest, you can bet your buckle that the California Rodeo Salinas has a committee working on it. Michelle Dominguez is the chairperson of the rodeo’s Sponsor Hospitality Committee. Her team of volunteers is responsible for feeding the thousands of people who descend on the big sponsors’ tent, and who arrive armed with an even bigger appetite. “We are proud of the work we do here over the course of the week,” Dominguez says. “We work very hard to make sure that our guests have a good time and are well fed.” The Sponsor Hospitality Committee, recognized internally as this year’s California Rodeo Committee of the Year, is composed of nearly 150 volunteers who work for months in preparation for the week-long barbecue buffet held each day of the week in the sponsors’ tent, which requires a ticket to get into. It’s a task that requires a great deal of planning and involves a whole lot of people. With seated dining capacity for nearly a thousand and standing room for hundreds more, one can only imagine how much food preparation is involved. The butcher’s list alone reads like a meat lover’s attempt at writing a country song. Two hundred pounds of sausage. Eight hundred pounds of ribs. Over a thousand pounds of tri-tip. Another couple hundred pounds of shrimp. Throw in two hundred more pounds of good ole’ pork loin, and twice that of their feathered friends. Add all of that together, and that’s what rodeo eating is. “We take it very seriously,” Dominguez says of the food offerings. “Our volunteers are cooking literally thousands of pounds of meat. They do a great job serving it in a relatively short period of time.” Along with the volunteers, the rodeo partners with local vendors ranging from Dole Foods and Taylor Farms to Kleinfeldt Family BBQ. These partners either donate food directly, or help with preparation. “We have a great relationship with the Rodeo,” says Justin Kleinfeldt of Kleinfeldt Family BBQ. “This will be our third year serving on Wednesday night, and it’s something we really look forward to every year.” Along with the fine selection of prime-choice meats on the menu, rodeo fans are also treated to a variety of fresh breads, beans and salads also donated by local restaurants and small businesses. “Our partners and sponsors have been outstanding,” Dominguez says. “We rely on their help for the special events, along with the help of our many volunteers on our committee who do the bulk of the work on the back end.” Dominguez estimates that the sponsors’ tent feeds close to 10,000 people over the course of Big Week—or at least that many appetites’ worth. “It’s all-you-can-eat, so it’s really hard to say exactly,” she says. Whether or not you enter the sponsors’ tent, the hungry rodeo-goer can still find some good eats. The front outdoor portion of the Salinas Sports Complex, known as the “midway,” doubles as a farmers market-style food court all week long, and showcases some of the area’s most popular vendors of favorites like kettle corn, churros, tacos and everything in between. When it comes to the food, there is something for everyone at the California Rodeo Salinas, even if it celebrates a different type of agricultural heritage than the region is best known for. “This is the Salinas Valley, after all,” Dominguez says. “The Salad Bowl of the World. We have to do it right.” Kleinfeldt agrees, and sees the biggest cowboy event of the year as a good thing for local food purveyors. “We are honored to have our brand associated with the rodeo,” he says. When it comes to classic Westernstyle eatin’, the California Rodeo Salinas brings out the most classic flavors. So strap on your boots and loosen your belt buckle, and let the volunteers handle the rest. First course The invitation-only sponsors’ tent is home to thousands of pounds of barbecued meat, but there are plenty of options—like baked potatos with everything—available to all. Michelin For Maligne… Maligne was awarded a Bib Gourmand award—for good food at reasonable prices—from the Michelin Guide. Congratulations to chef and owner Klaus Georis and his talented team. Stop by and check out their exceptional dishes on a newly revamped menu that earned them their spot on this noteworthy list. 600 Broadway Ave., Seaside. 601-1302, restaurantmaligne.com. Summer Sammiches…Chef David Pascuilli is taking Sammich’d, his specialty sandwich business, to the Everyone’s Harvest farmers market at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare every other Friday, starting Friday, July 21. Try a Hash Slinging Slasher—with a hash brown patty and applewood smoked bacon—or curried chicken, or le artichaut grilled cheese made with caramelized onion artichoke dip and Baker’s Bacon. 450 E. Romie Lane, Salinas. sammichd.com. Roadside Attraction…A second home for Bear + Flag Roadside is at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where the Carmel Valley spot will be serving its selection of sandwiches, salads, and breakfast burritos, as well as a variety of local beers and wines. Now you can sip and savor their beloved food and drinks while attending races or other events. 1021 Highway 68, Salinas. 293-8608, bearandflagroadside.com. Festival Kickoff…Salinas Valley Food & Wine Festival hosts a kickoff mixer on Thursday, July 27 from 5-7pm. Get a fun preview of the main event before the festivities really get going on Aug. 5. Tickets are $20 for Salinas Chamber of Commerce members and $25 for non-members. Guests will enjoy unlimited food, wine, and beer tastings from local vendors such as Alvarado Street Brewery (their newest spot in Salinas is gorgeous), Brew N Krew and Paraiso Vineyards. Tickets available at business.salinaschamber.com. 1 Main St., Salinas. salinasvalleyfoodandwine. com. Art and Appetites…On Wednesday, July 26, Cella hosts a four-course, prix-fixe dinner by chefs Ben Spungin and Cal Stamenov to be enjoyed alongside art installations by Bernard Trainor, who will also be in attendance. Tickets are $155 per person and include a carefully selected wine pairing by Bernabe DeLuna to accompany the meal and art—a feast for all the sense. 525 Polk St., Monterey. 920-1046, cellarestaurant.com. By Jacqueline Weixel morsels Send a bite to eatanddrink@mcweekly.com “They are cooking literally thousands of pounds of meat.” Eat + DrinK Mag One Media Buckle Bites How California Rodeo Salinas feeds thousands of rodeo fans. By Jeff Mendelsohn
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