Specialty Foods BEST DESSERTS Rosine’s 434 Alvarado St., Monterey (831) 375-1400, rosinesmonterey.com Life on the frontier wasn’t all that bad. There was indeed more for dessert than pemmican and sorrel pie. A hotel in the Dakota Territory, for example, could serve apricot tarts and fancy treats like charlotte russe a la vanilla. There were ladyfingers to be had, as well as sherry wine jelly (a kind of early Jello shot?). Still, even modern folks used to exotic desserts are mesmerized by the offerings at Rosine’s. Think pies of all kinds, cookies, brownies and especially cakes. Moist rounds layered with luscious icing, all made daily because they sell out fast (and owner Jim Culcasi insists on freshly made desserts). BEST CHEESE SHOP The Cheese Shop Carmel Plaza, Ocean and Junipero, Carmel (831) 625-2272, thecheeseshopinc.com It is doubtful that Miss Kitty ever asked the dry goods merchant about a wheel of petit gres de centre-Loire or a pound of la dama sagrada. But that’s the dilemma one faces at The Cheese Shop. Stocked with cheeses from around the world, customers can be overwhelmed. What does robiola bosina taste like? Will myzithra go with white wine? Should we give an American artisanal cheese like Rogue River blue a shot? Fortunately, the clerks here let you sample. And they can provide expert guidance. Plus there are craft salts, oils and other goods, as well as fine wines. BEST CATERING COMPANY Kleinfeldt Family BBQ (831) 578-2536, kleinfeldtfamilybbq.com If you want to host a great event, the food has to be great as well. Thankfully, we can turn to Kleinfeldt Family BBQ and its crew of experienced caterers. As the name clearly states, barbecue is this Salinas-based operation’s jam. But this is no quick campfire fare along a journey westward—tri-tip, pork chops, ribs, portobello mushrooms, it’s all here. Try their sausage cups to get the party started: sliced Swiss sausage in cocktail cups with cheese cubes, pickled jalapeños and pepperoncinis. For your next hoedown, leave the cooking to the pros. BEST FOOD TREND Blue Zones-Inspired Dishes Blue Zones Project, 252 Main St., Salinas (831) 800-7355, montereycounty.bluezonesproject.com The Blue Zones Project is all about helping people live healthier, longer lives. But that doesn’t mean food prep should take just as long to achieve that goal. Blue Zones features more than 200 recipes on its website that promise requiring less than 30 minutes to assemble. They’ve got lima bean stew, white bean and zucchini burger, black bean chocolate brownies and many more. They all follow Blue Zones’ guidelines for food, which include a daily dose of cooked beans, reducing meat and egg consumption, and emphasizing plant-based ingredients, among other delicious things. Best Smoothies | Perfectly Pressed 112 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 montereycountynow.com/bestof
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