In other words, a dining scene requires variety—not just in types of cuisine offered, but also in appeal. Jim Culcasi, owner of Rosine’s on Monterey’s Alvarado Street, recalls visiting friends in Los Angeles with his wife. They went for dinner at a hotspot called Sugar Shack. A year later, the couple were again in L.A. and Culcasi recalled the restaurant fondly. “They said, ‘That’s gone,’” he points out. “The trendy ones, they are really hot and then they’re gone.” Restaurant owners acknowledge, however, that longstanding venues must keep up with trends, at least to some extent. Culcasi revised the menu at Rosine’s in 2023 and is always interested in new flavors. “As a chef, it’s a place”—be that a downtown, a city or a region—“to get a good meal in a good environment,” says Jerry Regester of Spotted Duck, acknowledging that see-and-be-seen is often misconstrued as a dining scene. “Do I want to be trendy? No.” Old Fisherman’s Grotto on Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf also brings current interests to its menu. Chef Juan Ponce emphasizes technique—ethereal seared scallops that melt on the palate into the subtle, bittersweet heat of a sundried tomato chile sauce—but also sourcing local, sustainable and organic ingredients as much as possible. As a result, the restaurant flooded by tourists has a very strong local base. “We have generations of families that come,” observes owner Chris Shake. “We’re providing an experience that brings people back.” Yet it is crucial for a dining scene to have a fresh layer. Culcasi notes that when Rosine’s opened in the 1980s, downtown Monterey had fallen out of favor. The city was working to restore Alvarado Street and it needed something to draw people back. “Once we were established, other restaurants started popping up all around us,” Culcasi says. “The more restaurants, the better.” Bayonito believes a food scene is in somewhat constant evolution. Tastes change over time, people learn to Old Fisherman’s Grotto 28 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® EAT + DRINK 2024-2025 A CANNERY ROW TRADITION PIZZA SEAFOOD PASTA 660 Cannery Row 2nd Level of Steinbeck Plaza on Cannery Row louielinguinis.com 831-648-8500 FREE Clam Chowder Present this COUPON and receive ONE CUP of our Award-Winning Clam Chowder with the purchase of an entree. Limit two per table. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Code: CRVG Trip Advisor Lunch & Dinner Daily Expires 4/30/25 louie_1-3v_ED24_gk.indd 1 4/9/24 4:34 PM 28.indd 1 4/18/24 4:40 PM
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