34 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY July 18-24, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com The great recession of 2008 hurt the great American tradition of all-you-can-eat buffets. Covid19 delivered the fatal blow— almost. In their heyday, buffets came in many cuisines. Pizza joints sold by the slice. Quick-service chains featured breakfast buffets. Most notably in the U.S., Chinese and Indian restaurants capitalized on the buffet idea, particularly at lunchtime. And in Monterey County, this continues to be the case. Aabha Indian Cuisine in Carmel’s Barnyard Shopping Village hosts a lunch buffet every day, with a Champagne buffet on weekends (for just a few dollars more). The options include Indian favorites, such as tandoori chicken, butter chicken, a few masala options, curries and more. There are also traditional dishes with a local flair—artichoke pakora is an example. Namaste in Monterey features a similar lineup for their lunch service. One can try samosas, pots of lentil, like dal makhani from the Punjab region, the rustic vegetarian aloo simi, lamb curry and creative spins on the British tikka masala. Basmati rice is a must in every Indian restaurant, as well as roti, the irresistible flatbread. In both places kheer was served for dessert. Perhaps the most popular Indian sweet treat, it is a creamy rice pudding, served cold and flavored with cardamom, rose water and nuts. “It’s a bit costly for us, but also helps with marketing,” Aabha owner Bhupender Singh says of the lunch buffet. “Indian food is still not very familiar in the U.S., and this way a customer can try several dishes at once. We change buffet food everyday, but some dishes are always there, such as butter chicken or tandoori chicken. Desserts also change, from kheer to mango pudding.” Sakura Buffet in Salinas leans heavily toward Chinese, but has other options as well. There are lunch and dinner lines, the theme for the latter being seafood—think snow crab, shrimp, oysters. The place has an oldschool feel, with noodle dishes, chicken glazed in Chinese flavors, fruits and more. The restaurant 201 Main in Salinas is an example of the American breakfast buffet, although they trot out eggs, pancakes, sausage and other staples just for Sunday brunch. But this is the point of a buffet: options—filling options, no one stopping you from seconds or thirds, and no regrets for an overflowing plate. While it’s probably good for our waistlines that buffets are fewer and further between, it’s hard not to be nostalgic about those symbols of inexpensive indulgence. The buffet seems to be a Swedish invention, and in some European languages the buffet still translates as “Swedish table.” This small bites smorgasbord is more reminiscent of a spread found at exhibit openings and small gatherings. There is little all-you-can-eat encouragement. Far from it. Such presentations are for measured enjoyment on a small scale—preserved fish, cold meats, spreads, bread. Swedes can likely identify foreigners by their overloaded plates. Americans picked up this Swedish idea during the 1912 Stockholm Olympics and it became more widely known in the New World at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. But Las Vegas was the American city that took the idea to the next level. Originally served in El Rancho Vegas casino and resort around 1945, Las Vegas remains to this day the kingdom of hotel buffets. Loading up at a reasonable cost became the point of buffets. Cold cuts, deviled eggs and meatloaf evolved to sprawling spreads of roast beef stations, prime rib and Waldorf salad. Those were the boom times of the buffet. Fortunately, there are still some around today. Aabha Indian Cuisine noon-3pm daily. 3690 The Barnyard, Carmel. 250-5940, aabhaindian.com. Namaste Indian Bistro noon-3pm Monday-Saturday. 538 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. 641-0130, namasteibmonterey.com. Taste of India 11am-2pm Monday-Saturday. 1180 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 641-7493, tasteofindiapg.com. Sakura Buffet 11am-2:45pm; 2:45-9pm daily. 1433 N Main St., Salinas. 443-3880, sakuraseafoodbuffet.site. Ambrosia Indian Bistro 11:30am-2:45pm Monday-Friday. 565 Abrego St., Monterey. 641-0610, monterey.ambrosiaib.com. First course You never know what dishes to expect during the lunch buffet at Namaste in Monterey, but certain items are a must: the famous tandoori chicken, as well as a curry and masala. Bizness Deal…Steb Montez and Brittani Reid became known for piling up crazy—and normal—nacho creations at Nacho Bizness, first in a stall on Lighthouse then at their Alvarado Street location in Monterey. But the pair decided to step aside. The new owner does not have to travel far. Abdalla Manasiri operates Manasiri’s Crepes and Sandwiches, just a few blocks down (or up, depending) Alvarado. It remains the same fun spot. 470 Alvarado St., Monterey. nachobiz.biz. Center Field…Celebrate summer on Center Street on Saturday, July 20 from 2-6pm at Field + Form’s community event. Take a stroll and shop from local vendors and neighboring retailers while enjoying live music, demonstrations, bites and wine from Tira Nanza Winery. 13766 Center St., Carmel Valley. field-and-form.com. A Gourd Time…Squash isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when I think of summer, but Chef Brandon Miller is turning that around with his warm summer squash salad recipe. Head to Everyone’s Harvest’s Natividad farmers market on Wednesday, July 24 at noon for a free, live cooking demonstration of this seasonal dish. 1441 Constitution Blvd., Salinas. 3846961, everyonesharvest.org. Pop Rocks…Enjoy bubbles overlooking the ocean at the first of Pacific Edge’s 2024 Forks, Corks, and Action series. On Thursday, July 25 they host a Deutz Champagne dinner that you won’t want to miss. Indulge in a spectacular four-course dinner to be paired with a series of Deutz Champagne wines. $185. 120 Highland Drive, Carmel. 622-5445, hyatt.com. Going Up…Rise and Roam Bakery is expanding in all kinds of ways. They have added their hours and have a new kids menu for those 12 and under. They are now open Monday through Thursday from 7am-5pm, and Friday through Sunday from 7am-7pm. Keep an eye out for more exciting additions to come. 7th and Mission, Carmel. 574-2900, riseandroamcarmel.com. Monday Funday…Start the week off on the fun foot at Alvarado On Main. They host Michelada Mondays/Loteria Lune on Mondays featuring all-day happy hour, $7 house fermented micheladas and free loteria in the bar (with prizes) from 6-8pm. 301 Main St., Salinas. 3560219, asb.beer. By Jacqueline Weixel morsels eatanddrink@montereycountynow.com “This is a way customers can try several dishes at once.” Eat + DrinK Daniel Dreifuss Tray Days Buffets were once the rule, but all-you-can-eat opportunities still exist. By Agata Pop˛eda
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