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KW Coastal Estates. Each Office Independently Owned and Operated. All information in this document is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, or changes without prior notice. 25585 Boots Rd Hwy 68 Corridor | Monterey | Offered at $1,468,000 4429 Cypress Ridge Ct Seaside Highlands | Offered at $839,000 6 Antler Place Deer Flats | Monterey | Offered at $1,298,000 1211 Buena Vista Ave Pacific Grove | Offered at $798,000 22281 Toro Hills Dr Toro Hills | Salinas | Offered at $1,295,000 17218 Logan St East Garrison | Marina | Offered at $668,500 The Jacobs Team TOP 1% OF MONTEREY COUNTY REALTORS 2004-PRESENT Joy Jacobs & Jen Jacobs Bolger The Jacobs Team | Realtors® Joy 831.236.7976 | Jen 831.241.1598 joy@jacobsteamhomes.com jen@jacobsteamhomes.com jacobsteamhomes.com DRE# 70003531 KW Coastal Estates. Each Office Independently Owned and Operated. All information in this document is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, or changes without prior notice. 5585 Boots Rd wy 68 Corridor | Monterey | Offered at $1,468,000 429 Cypress Ridge Ct aside Highlands | Offered at $839,000 6 Antler Place Deer Flats | Monterey | Offered at $1,298,00 1211 Buena Vista Ave Pacific Grove | Offered at $798,000 22281 Toro Hills Dr Toro Hills | Salinas | Offered at $1,295,000 17218 Logan St East Garrison | Marina | Offered at $668,500 TOP 1% OF MONTEREY COUNTY REALTORS 2004-PRESENT Joy Jacobs & Jen Jacobs Bolger The Jacobs Team | Realtors® Joy 831.236.7976 | Jen 831.241.1598 joy@jacobsteamhomes.com jen@jacobsteamhomes.com jacobsteamhomes.com DRE# 70003531 es. Each Office Independently Owned and Operated. All information in this document is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, or changes without prior notice. d onterey | Offered at $1,468,000 Ridge Ct Offered at $839,000 6 Antler Place Deer Flats | Monterey | Offered at $1,298,000 1211 Buena Vista Ave Pacific Grove | Offered at $798,000 22281 Toro Hills Dr Toro Hills | Salinas | Offered at $1,295,000 17218 Logan St East Garrison | Marina | Offered at $668,500 The Jacobs Team OP 1% OF MONTEREY COUNTY REALTORS 2004-PRESENT Joy Jacobs & Jen Jacobs Bolger The Jacobs Team | Realtors® Joy 831.236.7976 | Jen 831.241.1598 joy@jacobsteamhomes.com jen@jacobsteamhomes.com jacobsteamhomes.com DRE# 70003531 KW Coastal Estates. Each Office Independently Owned and Operated. All information in this document is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, or changes without prior notice. 25585 Boots Rd Hwy 68 Corridor | Monterey | Offered at $1,468,000 4429 Cypress Ridge Ct Seaside Highlands | Offered at $839,000 6 Antler Place Deer Flats | Monterey | Offered at $1,298,000 1211 Buena Vista Ave Pacific Grove | Offered at $798,000 22281 Toro Hills Dr Toro Hills | Salinas | Offered at $1,295,000 17218 Logan St East Garrison | Marina | Offered at $668,500 The Jacobs Team TOP 1% OF MONTEREY COUNTY REALTORS 2004-PRESENT Joy Jacobs & Jen Jacobs Bolger The Jacobs Team | Realtors® Joy 831.236.7976 | Jen 831.241.1598 joy@jacobsteamhomes.com jen@jacobsteamhomes.com jacobsteamhomes.com DRE# 70003531 ’14 ’16 ’17 ’13 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’23 ’21 ed and Operated. All information in this document is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, or changes without prior notice. 1,468,000 6 Antler Place Deer Flats | Monterey | Offered at $1,298,000 1211 Buena Vista Ave Pacific Grove | Offered at $798,000 22281 Toro Hills Dr Toro Hills | Salinas | Offered at $1,295,000 17218 Logan St East Garrison | Marina | Offered at $668,500 The Jacobs Team ONTEREY COUNTY REALTORS 2004-PRESENT bs & Jen Jacobs Bolger s Team | Realtors® 36.7976 | Jen 831.241.1598 steamhomes.com steamhomes.com mhomes.com 03531 ’22 Voted Best Realtor Annual Monterey County Weekly reader’s poll Ten Years and Counting!
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The best things in life may be free, depending upon how one defines the superlative. Evenings with family or friends, a cruise along the coast—all may cost little in terms of dollars. Yet there are caveats. An appreciation of fine scotch, for example, bears some expense. Taking in the ocean view not from the seat of a convertible, but from the spacious environs of your own living room likely brings equal or greater pleasure. Owning a bottle of rare whiskey is one form of satisfaction. Sharing that bottle—actually pouring six figures or more worth of spirit—with friends who appreciate the experience is another, perhaps of greater personal contentment. Haven takes its name from a Gilded Age concept of home as a haven from a heartless world. We choose to define haven as an expansive word that can include any of life’s bests, in balance. In Shakespeare’s As You Like It, the character Rosalind ponders life’s contentments. “Why then,” she says, “can one desire too much of a good thing?” The stories in these pages suggest that finding that balance, walking the value tightrope implied by the best things is not difficult to achieve. Sharing the rarified bottle, navigating the challenges of design, creating a space to enjoy with friends and family, bringing greater flavor to the table, even getting away without care are all part of this balance. In Haven, it is not a heartless world, but one to be enjoyed. -Dave faries 14 BUILDING AWARD- WINNING LUXURY 20 THE ART OF COLLECTING WHISKEY 24 A HOME CONCIERGE TAKES CARE 28 INTERIOR DESIGN IS PERSONAL 32 MONTEREY COUNTY’S CRAFT OLIVE OIL CONTENTS Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve Publisher Erik Cushman Project Editor Dave Faries Editor Sara Rubin Art Director/Production Manager Karen Loutzenheiser Contributing Writers and Copy Editors Erik Chalhoub, Marvin Green IV, Celia Jiménez, Pam Marino, Agata Pope˛da, David Schmalz Photographer Daniel Dreifuss, except where noted Graphic Designers Alexis Estrada, Lani Headley, Kevin Jewell Advertising Keith Bruecker, Diane Glim, George Kassal Business Development Director Keely Richter Cover Art courtesy of Landry Design Group A living room design rendering of a home by Landry Design Group to be constructed on a Pebble Beach property. The design won the coveted Golden Nugget award at the Pacific Coast Builder’s Conference. The Best of Monterey Bay® is published by Milestone Communications, Inc., a California corporation. The entire contents are copyright 2024. No portion may be reproduced. 831-394-5656. www.montereycountynow.com. DANIEL DREIFUSS 12 The Best of Monterey Bay ® Haven 2024-2025 News Arts Culture Food and More SIGN UP TODAY: montereycountynow.com/signup DISCOVER MONTEREY COUNTY NOW Local news and lively commentary delivered to your inbox. Subscribe to Monterey County Now and get it DAILY. Local
One thing that Todd Riley has often heard over the years is people comparing architecture to music. And Riley, an architect and partner with Los Angelesbased Landry Design Group, gets it. “I love the feeling that different types of music can convey,” he says. “A really great house has a feeling to it. There’s something special.” Since late 2022, Riley has been on a team of architects designing someone’s dream house on a currently-vacant lot just off the green of the 12th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links. And even though no ground has yet been broken, the design has already received high praise—in June, at the Pacific Coast Builder’s Conference, the team’s design for the house was awarded a Golden Nugget, the oldest and arguably most prestigious award in American architecture. 14 The Best of Monterey Bay ® Haven 2024-2025 Designing A Dream A high-end architectural firm won top honors for its design of a Pebble Beach home. Here’s how they did it. By David Schmalz Above: A Pebble Beach home designed by Landry Design Group will include a golf simulation room. Left: A rendering of the entrance and front yard landscaping. Landry Design Group Landry Design Group
The property was purchased in October 2021 for $10.5 million. How much does it cost to hire a high-end firm like Landry? Riley won’t say, but he’s more than happy to talk about his firm’s process when building a custom home. First, once the firm has been hired, they have meetings with their client to understand the client’s vision for the home. “We ask a ton of questions,” Riley says. “It’s a lot of back and forth, a lot of listening on our part…We really pride ourselves on listening to the clients so we can create a home that is theirs, that’s unique to them.” In this case, Riley and his team knew their client loved golf, so they came up with the idea to make much of the home’s design curvilinear, like the arc of a golf ball in flight. Then the team got to work making drawings, which also include all the interior architecture and all the hardscape. “We produce a pretty complete package,” Riley says. Throughout the process, the team meets with their client to ensure the designs are on the right track. As for the Pebble Beach house, Riley says, “[The client] is really excited about it, he’s thrilled with the work.” As he should be: The renderings of the future home are stunning, both inside and out, with artistic metal screening over the street-facing windows on the outside, stone and glass. Like any 12,000-square-foot Pebble Beach dwelling, the home will be well-appointed: It will have four bedrooms, an office—each with its own bathroom—a three-car garage, a walk-in golf closet in the hall from the garage to the kitchen, which is adjacent to an expansive and airy great room, a smaller chef’s kitchen, a glass spiral staircase, a bridge connecting the master bedroom to two smaller bedrooms, and a basement with all kinds of amenities. Those include a home theater, rec room, gym and a spa with a sauna and jacuzzi. And 16 The Best of Monterey Bay ® Haven 2024-2025 Landry Design Group The Golden Nugget award-winning concept includes a theater room (above left), ocean views, such as this from the primary bedroom (above right), and a subdued kitchen that opens to a stunning dining area (below). Landry Design Group Landry Design Group
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in the backyard, just a chip shot away from Pebble’s 12th green, a large pool and patio. Glass is a primary material in the design and, outside of the basement, every room will have a view of the ocean or the surrounding nature. “Every one of our projects is fun. We have great clients,” Riley says. “This is a special case where the client is amazing.” Riley expects construction to start sometime in the fall, once all the permits are sorted out. For a house like this, construction will probably take about 30 months. During that process, the Landry team will make about three to four visits a year to monitor construction and ensure everything is going to plan—Riley says they’re in regular communication with their clients not just before but also during construction. Another thing Riley adds is that, given the televised golf tournaments at Pebble, “We were kind of aware while we were designing this that the Goodyear blimp is going to see it, so it better look good.” As far as the design goes, mission accomplished. There is elegance in simplicity, especially when it comes with a view. A rendering of one of the bathrooms in the planned home that has already reaped an architectural award. LANDRY DESIGN GROUP 18 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2024-2025 factory prices direct to consumers 52 WeeKs a year. Visit our showroom any day by appointment 26362 Carmel Rancho Ln. #200 (next to The Barnyard Shopping Village) • Carmel • 831.899.5464 • monterey-mattress.com TesT drive The mosT luxurious mattress in California.
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At its peak, Mitchel Sawhney’s collection of old and rare whiskeys topped 4,500 bottles. The owner of downtown Monterey’s The Whisky Club has been investing in the spirit for decades, watching it grow from a pastime of a few to a bonafide trend with price records tumbling like dominoes. In 2019, a bottle of The Macallan Fine and Race 1926 broke an auction record, hammered at $1.9 million. Just four years later, Sotheby’s London sold a Macallan Valerio Adami 60-year-old for $2.7 million. That mark did not stand for long. In January of 2024, a small-batch Irish whiskey fetched $2.8 million at auction. Albeit, The Emerald Isle from The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is packaged in a bespoke walnut case with a timepiece and Fabergé egg, an indication that distilleries are targeting collectors. It’s no wonder that when Sawhney speaks of the hobby, he uses the word “appreciation.” Yet he intends it with a triple meaning. “Are you collecting things or memories?” he says. Like any form of investment, values fluctuate—although collectible whiskeys have generally trended upward since 2000. For Sawhney, appreciation includes watching added value, but also savoring the taste and the tradition of fine spirits. “Real old whiskey is history in a bottle.” Sawhney’s shop, The Whiskey Club, presents a curated selection of labels from around the world, including a number of rare bottles sought after by collectors. He is also closely acquainted with master distillers at many of the top houses and an encyclopedic trove of information. When investing in a collection, he says, your personal motivation should be the starting point and set the guidelines. Rarity is a must, but within that there are countless directions—limited editions, series, whiskeys of a particular style or country. One can hone in on bottles over a certain age, a selection dating to your birth year, Scotches from Jura or bourbons from a specific label. In terms of the latter, Pappy Van Winkle is the current favorite of those in the hobby. But rarity is the first consideration of a high-end collection. For example, only three bottles of the Dalmore Trintas were released. Two are in the hands of collectors. “The third bottle, nobody knows where it is,” Sawhney says, adding a caveat that someone at the distillery probably has an inkling. For Macallan’s collaboration with Heart, only one bottle exists in California. “I can get it,” he points out. Considering prices, it’s a deal at $72,000. 20 The Best of Monterey Bay ® Haven 2024-2025 Bottle Tops Collecting fine and rare whiskey is in fashion, but the hobby is all about appreciation. By Dave Faries The Whisky Club in Monterey trades in collectible bottles, such as Old Fitzgerald editions and the Lagavulin 1997 single malt. Daniel Dreifuss
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A number of people chase whiskeys produced by Macallan. Currently eight of the 10 most expensive of the generally available bottles are from the Scottish distiller. “Macallan, Dalmore, Bowmore,” he notes. “These three, from all the whiskeys I’ve tasted that are really old, they seem to hold up.” Of course, Sawhney explains that the hobby is not limited to those seeking five-, six- or seven-figure bottles. Indeed, when he began securing whiskeys more than 25 years ago, some of today’s prized finds could be had for $200 or so. He points to a case of Clonakilty, an Irish whiskey that currently retails for $80 a bottle, but is not produced on the scale of Jameson or other names. “Will it appreciate?” he says. “Not like rare whiskeys. But it’s something everyone can enjoy, an easy way to get into collecting.” There are essentially two rules one should follow when building a collection. The first is simple: when you find a desired bottle, buy two. The first is to pour and enjoy, the second to store away. And keep in mind, the more examples of a particular whiskey that are consumed, the rarer it becomes. The second is a warning, one more difficult to heed successfully. Just as in other hobbies, such as collecting autographs, one must be weary of scams. There are internet scams, where fake sellers lure would-be buyers with bargain pricing, only to disappear once a down payment has been made. Following the old “if it’s too good to be true” advice is necessary. But there are schemes much more difficult to unravel. Bottles and labels can be forged. Even worse, an empty bottle of a Yamazaki 55 year single malt, for example, can be refilled with a common brand with similar hues. Fall for that and the collector is out more than $500,000 for $30 worth of whiskey. There are some ways to avoid such fraudulent bottles, including taking it to a firm that performs carbon dating. However, Sawhney recommends being cautious as you begin or add to a collection. Doing research and gaining trust with a dealer—which may take some time—is critical. Once a collection is going, there are practices to follow. Bottles should be stored away from direct sunlight in a cool place. Humidity is also important. “Too dry and the cork can get compromised, which leads to oxidation,” Sawhney observes. Why is oxidation a concern? Because, he notes, there is enjoyment in building a collection. But there is greater joy in sharing—pouring a bottle for friends who appreciate the history and nuances of a fine whiskey. Sawhney’s personal collection, once at over 4,500 bottles, is now at a more manageable 800. “Good whiskey is meant to be enjoyed,” he says. Recently he and friends finished a Macallan valued at $700,000. “You can’t regret it. There is always a special occasion, and if you have a special bottle, opening it is the occasion.” And collecting whiskey is about appreciation, in all of its meanings. 22 The Best of Monterey Bay ® Haven 2024-2025 Daniel Dreifuss Mitchel Sawhney, owner of The Whisky Club, with a prized Macallan 50 Year Old from the Red Collection. Sawhney says that demand is high for rare Macallans.
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The call came hours before guests were to arrive for an outdoor dinner party. It was an otherwise calm evening, suited to a patio gathering. But a skunk had chosen that particular moment to take up residence in the yard. Welcome to the world of a home concierge, where the routine of decorating or arranging services can be punctuated by the unexpected—in this case, coaxing an uninvited guest back to the wild. “You just manage it,” says Kristy Farmer. “There’s never a week that’s the same.” Farmer owns Central Coast Home Concierge, a company dedicated to resolving the details—large and small, routine or unique—that come with a second home or vacation rental. The service is part of a necessary and rather diverse niche. The necessity stems from the number of second homes and vacation rentals available in Monterey County. While the 2020 U.S. Census identified just over 40 percent of Carmel’s housing units as vacant, with smaller percentages—yet still in doubledigits—vacant in Pacific Grove and Monterey, Farmer can point to observational data. “Is there business out there? Oh, yeah,” she says. “You can tell by the [private] jets that come in and out.” The diversity of the home concierge role is what separates it from the more traditional concierge. While placing reservations or directing people to sights and activities are part of it, there’s a responsibility companies like Farmer’s take on. If a family is traveling to their Pebble Beach retreat for Car Week, her crew can stock the refrigerator in advance. Should the owners be away for a while, Farmer can arrange for mail pickup and garbage cans to be trotted to the curb and back. 24 The Best of Monterey Bay ® Haven 2024-2025 Upper Management Kristy Farmer says ‘there is no typical day’ in the home concierge business. By Dave Faries Kristy Farmer of Central Coast Home Concierge keeps a stock of seasonal decorations and other items on hand, ready for any occasion. Nik Blaskovich
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“Who is going to meet the repair guy? Who is going to empty the refrigerator?” she says. “My approach is helping people.” Home concierge services—and there are several available in Monterey County, including those offered by local real estate agencies—exist to ease the stay of visitors to the area and secure the home when vacant. And for the most part the pattern is routine, from arranging private chefs to decorating for an occasion or maintaining the landscaping. Of course, the routine can be punctuated by moments of drama, when storm-battered trees collapse, taking down power lines and kicking on generators. More likely, there is a scramble to fill a surprise request or come up with a unique family activity. That’s part of what attracted Farmer to the idea of a home concierge startup. “I’ve always been service-minded,” she explains. “I like being creative.” A native of the San Joaquin Valley and agricultural finance student at Fresno State University, Farmer came to Monterey County immediately after graduation, lured by the challenges of produce marketing and sales. She grew up on a farm and participated in 4-H and FFA. Farmer continues to help with youth programs. She is currently a mentor with First Tee’s Pay it Forward, which aids first-generation university students at CSU Monterey Bay (who, in turn, mentor First Tee children). “Hands down, it’s the coolest program I’ve ever been involved in,” Farmer says. “It teaches them a lot, it teaches me a lot.” Five years ago in November, Central Coast Home Concierge launched with a modest proposal. Farmer sent out a mailer offering holiday decorating services for vacation homeowners, so the festive array would be ready and waiting for their arrival. The scope of the home concierge market is difficult to pin down. Concierge offerings include medical, business, hospitality and even online travel services. Statista places the value of business concierge services at $3.5 billion. What can be known is Farmer’s schedule. Her calendar is filled daily. Just occasionally, she sends a team member out to discourage a wild animal from joining the party. “Do I juggle a lot? Yeah,” she admits. “But it’s all part of me.” 26 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2024-2025 BIG SUR FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL OCTOBER 31 – NOVEMBER 2, 2024 Sign up for the BSFW newsletter for ticket release info at www.bigsurfoodandwine.org BSFW_1-2h_Haven24_dg.indd 1 8/1/24 9:34 AM
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So you have a new home, a new idea, new space—it doesn’t matter; you want to make this space yours, in look and feel. There is a style you like or maybe you have questions, but you definitely want a change. One can easily fall back on trends in luxury interior design. If home follows fashion, the major couture shows have already provided direction. Classic elegance is of the moment, a phrase imbued with textures familiar to a day and age—lacquered walls, understated neutrals and the warmth lent by woods and heritage pieces. Some refer to this as “latte decorating,” a hallmark of quiet luxury. This is design that flows from vintage investment furnishings, such as armoires, china pantries and floor lighting. Once relegated to the grandparents’ living room, such pieces are now considered timeless. As with every trend, however, there are contradictory ideas. Bold swipes of color, eye-popping appliances, statements that say local and sustainable are also in vogue. So as things change, design remains the same at its core. It is the personalization of a home. A design project isn’t all sunshine and roses—there is a road to happiness but the road itself isn’t always happy. Local designer Kierstyn Berlin of Berlin Holistic Design says, “One contractor I work with actually hands out a pamphlet explaining the emotional roller coaster.” From the time a homeowner starts the project through the end result, there are logistical obstacles—things like unexpected price hikes, supply chain back-ups or vendor mistakes—so it’s best to brace up for what’s to come. But more broadly, there’s the transformation of a vision to actionable details that can be hard to articulate or execute. “There is always a point in the pro28 The Best of Monterey Bay ® Haven 2024-2025 Hitting the Walls Interior projects are often about what’s in vogue. But it’s always a challenging process. By Marvin Green IV The current interior look calls for quiet luxury, like this setting by Jana Magginetti Interior Design. But as tastes and lives change, so do projects. Brad Knipstein for Jana Magginetti Interior Design
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cess when there is so much coming at [the client] and it’s hard to see the vision they were excited about,” Berlin says, “so we help them take a step back and remind them about the pamphlet.” Even in best-case scenarios, there are a lot of decisions required, both macro and micro, along the way. “It’s a constant line of decisions,” says Jana Magginetti of Magginetti Designs. “‘If I do this, then I can’t have that.’ So you have to focus on the long term.” Berlin notes that the broad canvas of options can lead to decision fatigue. “People get overwhelmed with decisions,” she says. “There are so many options and so many styles.” From drapes and rugs to furniture and flooring, there are many types to choose from; having a designer as a guide can help find the right answers in aesthetics, as well as function. “Interior designers help you think more about your day-to-day life and what that means,” Magginetti says. There is one certainty in an interior design project. Everyone gives their best estimate, but no one can anticipate what will actually happen. “Something will go wrong, mistakes will be made, deliveries will show up late or damaged,” Berlin says. “Someone has to be responsible for managing that and it’s the designer.” Conversely, clients often make decisions on the fly that can add time to the process and Berlin encourages them to embrace those decisions more than the timeline. “When you’re working on your home there are always choices to be made and selections getting changed, and that’s OK,” Berlin says. It’s not about the process, but the end result. Besides the possibility of delays, there are also budget considerations, even when money is no object. Designers suggest that it’s best to have a contingency set aside to play with so you don’t have to compromise. Remember, the completed space is supposed to represent you and your dream. And along the way to getting there, upgrades may become available, or additional finishing touches. There is, of course, a payoff—don’t be discouraged by a longer-than-expected redesign journey. Imagine the end point of that journey: You did this work for a reason, with an end goal in mind, whether it’s brighter or more subdued, cozier or more open, comfortable for close family or maximized for hosting big groups. It has been a long road to get to the finish line, but you are there. So take a deep breath, and enjoy the space you envisioned. “It’s always a happy, Christmas morning feeling for me and my clients,” Berlin says. It’s the realization of a highly personalized vision. “Clients are often surprised at how calming and comfortable their home is,” Magginetti says, “and how much it resonates with their lives.” There are trends. There is the desire to be current. But ultimately, our homes are meant to serve the people who live in and visit them. “Design matters,” says Berlin. “It matters psychologically. Set up your life in a way where you actually have the space to do the things that are constructive for your intent and your life.” BERLIN HOLISTIC DESIGN Getting a room to taste, like this by Berlin Holistic Design, requires communication, changes and, perhaps, delays. 30 THE BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® HAVEN 2024-2025 hours: Thursday – Sunday 10:00 AM to last race Special Days: First Thursday of the month free for Seniors Over 40 televisions 12 tracks per day Full Bar–Drink & Dinner Specials 2004 Fairgrounds Rd. Enter at Gate 5, Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-0315 | www.montereycountyfair.com Admission Pricing: $10.00 Admission Fee Triple Crown and Breeders Cup race: $12.00 admission $3.00 Programs $11.00 Daily Racing Form hours: Thursday – Sunday 10:00 AM to last race Special Days: First Thursday of the month free for Seniors Over 40 televisions 12 tracks per day Full Bar–Drink & Dinner Specials 2004 Fairgrounds Rd. Enter at Gate 5, Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-0315 | www.montereycountyfair.com Admission Pricing: $10.00 Admission Fee Triple Crown and Breeders Cup race: $12.00 admission $3.00 Programs $11.00 Daily Racing Form hours: Thursday – Sunday 10:00 AM to last race Special Days: First Thursday of the month free for Seniors Over 40 televisions 12 tracks per day Full Bar–Drink & Dinner Specials 2004 Fairgrounds Rd. Enter at Gate 5, Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-0315 | www.montereycountyfair.com Admission Pricing: $10.00 Admission Fee Triple Crown and Breeders Cup race: $12.00 admission $3.00 Programs $11.00 Daily Racing Form hours: Thursday – Sunday 10:00 AM to last race Special Days: First Thursday of the month free for Seniors Over 40 televisions 12 tracks per day Full Bar–Drink & Dinner Specials 2004 Fairgrounds Rd. Enter at Gate 5, Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-0315 | www.montereycountyfair.com Admission Pricing: $10.00 Admission Fee Triple Crown and Breeders Cup race: $12.00 admission $3.00 Programs $11.00 Daily Racing Form s: sday – Sunday AM to last race al Days: Thursday of the h free for rs Over 40 televisions 12 tracks per day ll Bar–Drink & Dinner Specials airgrounds Rd. Enter at Gate 5, Monterey, CA 93940 31) 372-0315 | www.montereycountyfair.com Admission Pricing: $10.00 Admission Fee Triple Crown and Breeders Cup race: $12.00 admission $3.00 Programs $11.00 Daily Racing Form hours: Thursday – Sunday 10:00 AM to last race Special Days: First Thursday of the month free for Seniors Over 40 televisions 12 tracks per day Full Bar–Drink & Dinner Specials 2004 Fairgrounds Rd. Enter at Gate 5, Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-0315 | www.montereycountyfair.com Admission Pricing: $10.00 Admission Fee Triple Crown and Breeders Cup race: $12.00 admission $3.00 Programs $11.00 Daily Racing Form hours: Thursday – Sunday 10:00 AM to last race Special Days: First Thursday of the month free for Seniors Over 40 televisions 12 tracks per day Full Bar–Drink & Dinner Specials 2004 Fairgrounds Rd. Enter at Gate 5, Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 372-0315 | www.montereycountyfair.com Admission Pricing: $10.00 Admission Fee Triple Crown and Breeders Cup race: $12.00 admission $3.00 Programs $11.00 Daily Racing Form : day – Sunday AM to last race al Days: Thursday of the h free for rs Over 40 televisions 12 tracks per day l Bar–Drink & Dinner Specials airgrounds Rd. Enter at Gate 5, Monterey, CA 93940 31) 372-0315 | www.montereycountyfair.com Admission Pricing: $10.00 Admission Fee Triple Crown and Breeders Cup race: $12.00 admission $3.00 Programs $11.00 Daily Racing Form MtyBayRace_1-3v_Haven24_KB.indd 1 7/31/24 11:14 AM
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When guests accustomed to supermarket olive oil sample the line of extra virgin oils at 43 Ranch in San Ardo, owner Greg Traynor notes that the reaction is generally one of shock, even disbelief. “A lot of times they’ll say, ‘What have you added?’” he points out with a laugh. “Fresh olive oil has more flavor and complexity than grocery store olive oil.” Extra virgin olive oil—unprocessed liquid that first trickles from the mill—is much like fine wine. Each variety offers a distinct character on the palate that is subject to the whims of a growing season and farming practices. It also has a terminology, with grades and blends and phrases like “cold-pressed” that can be open to interpretation. While olives are more forgiving than grapes when it comes to harvest, the oil produced withers under light and heat. Unlike wine, it does not age well—one of the reasons for the gap between fresh oil and that languishing on a shelf. “It’s confusing,” admits Shaana Rahman, chair of the board for the California Olive Oil Council, who owns a ranch in San Luis Obispo County. People may enjoy something while on an olive oil tasting, but the retail encounter is different. “They buy a bottle of olive oil and it’s in no way, shape or form similar to that experience.” Yet since Americans rediscovered extra virgin olive oil in the late 1980s, demand has skyrocketed. In 1980, the U.S. imported 28,000 tons, largely from Italy and Spain. By 2015, that figure reached 315,000 tons—and the number continues to rise. In 2022, 375,000 tons reached U.S. shores, according to Statista. This demand is spurred perhaps as much by reports of olive oil’s health benefits and the popularity of the Mediterranean diet as by flavor. But it has revived California’s industry. Traynor planted his grove of Italian, Spanish and Greek cultivars 13 years ago. He’s part of a growing group of small producers in Monterey County taking note of the boom and crafting high-quality extra virgin oils. Charlotte Muia and her husband Carl of Frattoria Muia started their orchard not long after buying a house near Carmel Valley village in 1998. “I was going to do wine,” she recalls. “Then I talked to a woman who said, ‘Why don’t you plant olive trees? It’s a tree—what could go wrong?’ Not many people were doing olive oil. We were all learning at the same time.” Reid Norris, who bottles small batches in Carmel Valley under the Modern Times label, purchased land with trees planted around the year 2000. He has a day job, referring to his olive oil as a passion project. “I just got the bug for it,” Norris explains. “The first time I had good olive oil, it’s like your first good coffee—you’re never going back. It’s night and day.” The growth of California’s olive oil industry has been astounding. The year 32 The Best of Monterey Bay ® Haven 2024-2025 Green Is Good Extra virgin olive oil from Monterey County and the rest of the state sets a high standard. By Dave Faries daniel dreifuss
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Muia moved into her Carmel Valley home, there were an estimated 900 acres dedicated to extra virgin olive oil in California, with the rest of the producers more interested in table olives. Last year, according to COOC data, some 400 orchards were growing 75 different cultivars on 37,000 acres, and the state accounts for more than 95 percent of all extra virgin olive oil milled in the U.S. “For the smaller producers, it’s less labor-intensive than a vineyard, and people are becoming more aware of craft extra virgin olive oil,” Traynor says. “And Central Coast quality is second to none in the state.” From Monterey County labels, one can find a wide variety of oils. There are blends and single variety bottlings. The mildly grassy mission olive has been grown in California since the 1700s. Spanish colonizers planted olive trees as they established missions. “People like the experience, knowing where their food comes from,” Rahman says of the advantage of a small producer. Much of that olive oil is pressed at the 43 Ranch mill, the only modern facility operating in Monterey County, and one of only 50 mills in the state. Traynor opened the mill seven years ago and now works with 150 different producers from a multi-county area. From the moment they are picked, olives begin to degrade. To receive extra virgin grade in California, the crop must be harvested and milled within a 24-hour span. In many areas, this means a rush on the mill, with many producers seeking to schedule its services within a short time, often a window of no more than 30 or 45 days. Traynor explains that the microclimates of the Central Coast ease this potential problem by extending the milling season closer to 90 days. Besides, adds Evan Loewy, who crafts Like Family olive oil from a grove planted by his parents in Carmel Valley, “Greg will mill through the night, if necessary.” Growing up, tending to the grove was like a summer job for Loewy, who also founded Other Brother Beer Co. in Seaside. After college, he worked in the corporate world for a time. But he and close friend Ben Herrmann decided to leave their jobs. “We thought, ‘What should we do?’” Loewy says. “We looked at the olive orchard and thought, ‘Oh.’” The origin stories behind Monterey County’s olive oil names tend to be like that, giving the growing industry an approachable appeal that Rahman shares. “California is the new player on the block,” she observes. “We produce a small portion of the world’s olive oil.” According to the World Population Review, the U.S.—essentially California— ranks 14th among global producers at 152,000 tons in 2023, in line with Peru and Libya. Spain, the world’s leader, pressed 6 million tons, with Italy (2.2 million) and Morocco (2 million) in the distance. Even with the growing number of groves in the state, 97 percent of the olive oil sold in this country is imported. And that is the biggest reason for the quality gap experienced by consumers. Many become trained to the taste of inferior olive oil, and there is a lot out there. Newspaper investigations have repeatedly revealed mislabeling and fraud. Ships carrying olive oil from Morocco or other locations will dock in Italy, where they will receive the Italian label. Even worse, vegetable oils have been doctored to simulate olive oil. As far back as 2010, a UC Davis study reported that 69 percent of extra virgin olive oil found on grocery shelves fell short of trade standards. And there are few signs of improvement. While the International Olive Council mandates acidity content and other marks, those rules unravel when the product is shipped overseas. “There are no standards for what’s imported to the U.S.,” Rahman explains. “But people buy it.” California has established strict rules for extra virgin olive oil. In addition to the 24-hour timeframe for milling, all oil destined for the extra virgin stamp is put through a chemical analysis then sampled by a sensory tasting panel. “There’s a lot of good oil in California,” Muia says. “You can visit the people who make it and get to know them. We’re fussy about our olive oil.” 34 The Best of Monterey Bay ® Haven 2024-2025 High Top, Like Family, Daisy Hill Farms (shown above) and Holman Ranch (p. 32) are just a few of the olive oils from Monterey County. One can find imported oils at Monterey’s Tasty Olive Bar on Cannery Row. daniel dreifuss
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