50 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY December 7-13, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com CHILL With an island-inspired restaurant menu, one would expect The Zen Den—the sleek bar inside Kona Steak & Seafood—to feature a little tropical flair. And they indeed serve a mai tai, an overflowing bowl called The Big Kahuna, and cocktails with pineapple juice or coconut rum presented in appropriate vessels. But this is no stereotypical tiki bar. The cocktails are sophisticated. Big Sur Sunset, for instance, wants to flirt with you. It also throws you a cold shoulder—rosy and sweet, but with a bitter, smoky scorn and spicy bite. A sip sets you on exotic shores, alluring but suggestive of danger. Beverage manager Omar Garcia and his team prepare it from both tequila and mezcal, the latter lending a charred note that reverberates through a stir of spicy agave syrup and its tantalizing embers. Yet in the end, the tropical appeal of passionfruit wins out, reminding you of the cocktail’s bright, inviting smile. Elvis Presley is a name seemingly out of place—until you recall that Blue Hawaii plays on a loop at the front of the restaurant. Here the Elvis Presley is a bold whiskey cocktail that highlights the notion of smoke curling through a fall forest with a dash of maple syrup. Garcia barrel ages the blend to enhance the feeling of whiskey as much as the flavor. One imagines smoldering leaves, dried herbs and preserved fruit. It’s worth exploring these drinks. The Zen Den in Kona Steak & Seafood. 1200 Del Monte Center, Monterey. 920-2911, konamonterey.com. Island Hopping Kona’s bar serves inspired cocktails that bring craft finesse to the tiki tropics. By Dave Faries SEND IDEAS TO: chill@mcweekly.com DAVE FARIES JOB FAIR Monday, December 18, 2023 8a.m. – 12p.m. Fairway One Complex 3304 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach (Across from The Hay Golf Course) Interviews on the spot These opportunities are for the period of January 29 – February 4, with most shifts February 1 - February 4. Hiring for all areas Bartenders, bussers, cashiers, cooks, housekeepers, servers, shuttle drivers, stewards, retail sales, valets, and many more! Please come prepared to provide proof of employment eligibility. Questions: (831) 649-7657 AT&T Pebble Beach PRO-AM Temporary Special Event ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ Baccarat FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • Gega-003846, Gega-Gega-003703, Gega-000889 Gega-000891 Gega-002838 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley, Inc. We provide more than just a meal… Nourishing & Nurturing Seniors Since 1972 Donate: montereycountygives.com/mows
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