34 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 13-19, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Let’s get the unromantic part out of the way first. It can be gross to share food. (Have you ever seen the droplets catch the light when someone blows out birthday candles?) There is obvious public health precedent for this, even before the Covid pandemic. Including way, way before: As ice cream gained popularity in 1800s England, the single-serving “penny lick” size became popular. A customer would pay a penny, get their ice cream in a small custom dish, lick it clean—then hand it back to the vendor who would refill it for the next customer, sans washing. While it helped popularize one of the unambiguously best dessert items, the custom also was credited for spreading tuberculosis and cholera. The practice was not fully banned until the 1930s. At risk of going too far down the road of squeamishness, let’s acknowledge the public health benefits associated with sharing food. The preferred word among researchers for this is “conviviality.” The Mediterranean diet is associated with all sorts of health benefits, and there are a number of reasons scientists point to for this, including the act of sharing. “Conviviality is more than a shared meal, because it relates to ‘how’ we eat,” according to a 2021 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. “The ‘how’ involves socializing when eating and, as complementary aspects, self-awareness of satiety and hunger signals, eating slowly and chewing well.” Nothing like sharing a meal to remind you how to chew properly. Scientific research aside, many of us recognize sharing food as a sign of intimacy. Even if it’s just a platter of fries, inviting someone else to reach their fingers onto your plate requires physical closeness, and trust in one’s hygiene. There’s a long list of foods meant for sharing. Paella is almost always presented for at least two people. Sushi is made for sharing—bite-sized pieces that are easily mixed and matched, served on a platter for the table. Charcuterie platters and tapas menus are built for grazing from one plate. There are less obvious options. The Whaling Station in Monterey, the menu always features a porterhouse steak for two. Zoom out to big things, like cake or pizza—just try eating one on your own. Of course, there is a difference between sharing a pizza or sharing a slice of pizza. You might offer half a sandwich to a stranger on the bus, but would you offer a bite of the half of the sandwich you are actively eating? No chance—but think of the people you would share a bite with. It’s probably a pretty short list. Of course that short list should involve a romantic partner, given that you are already trading more than droplets. But your comfort level with other dining partners—friends, roommates, family members—may not extend quite that far. No wonder there are lots of special Valentine’s Day menus that emphasize shared plates. But there is much more to sharing than romance, or just Valentine’s Day. And many shared foods are less romantic than they are simply fun. Consider fondue, which brings people together around a shared pot of melted, gooey cheese dip. According to custom at Lugano Swiss Bistro in Carmel, if a man loses the morsel at the tip of his fork in the pot of fondue, he buys a bottle of wine for the table. If a woman loses her food, she kisses the man to her right. “The soul of the food is bringing together family and friends, sharing from one pot,” says manager Julio Acosta who’s been at Lugano for 25-plus years. “It’s meant to bring family and friends together. The sharing atmosphere, that’s what it is all about.” That pot most commonly features the classic gruyere-based Swiss fondue. The ticino, with tomatoes and cream added to the mix, is also popular. The custom—about the bottle of wine or the kiss—is really just a legend, Acosta says, but the restaurant’s motto is far more serious. “Enter as a stranger, leave as a friend.” Once you’ve been dipping into the same pot of fondue, after all, you should be friends, at least. FIRST COURSE Some foods are made for sharing, and that includes fondue, such as the pot shown here at Lugano Swiss Bistro in Carmel. WINTER OF CONTENT…Book your tickets now for a John Steinbeckthemed dinner at C Restaurant + Bar on, yes, Cannery Row. Five courses are inspired by the author’s writing and life. Historian Susan Shillinglaw gives insights into Steinbeck’s work and joins a tour of Doc’s lab. The wines are from Wrath, naturally. A Jack Rose cocktail will open the evening and—you guessed it—there’s a beer milkshake for dessert. It all takes place on Steinbeck’s birthday, Thursday, Feb. 27 from 5:30-9pm. $140. 750 Cannery Row, Monterey. 642-2013, thecrestaurant-monterey. com. SPICE TRADE…You know what they say, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to spice things up. This may not be the context they’re referring to, but head to Acme Coffee Roasting Co. on Friday, Feb. 14 to celebrate The Yolk Marketplace’s one-year anniversary popup at Acme and get what you need to spice up your coffee and kitchen. 485 B Palm Ave., Seaside. For more about The Yolk, visit theyolkmarketplace.com. TWO FOR ONE…Put your chemistry to the test at The Wine Experience’s Valentine’s wine-blending for two event. Grab your lab partner and mix your own custom wine. 5:30pm Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14 and 15. $79 per couple. 381 Cannery Row, Monterey. 324-4974, wineexperience.org. VALEN-TEA-NE’S DAY…Extend the celebration with a high tea hosted by Rosemary & Thyme High Teas at the historic Casa Sorrento Adobe on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 3-4:30pm. Guests will enjoy themed baked goods and a selection of Englishstyle teas. $71. Casa Sorrento Adobe at 412 Pacific St., Monterey. rosemaryandthymehighteas.com. SWEET 16…Gusto’s Handcrafted Pasta & Pizza now offers a new early bird menu featuring a selection of classics for just $16 each. From 4-6pm Tuesdays through Thursdays, treat yourself to dishes like the meatball calzone, chicken parmigiana and more. 1901 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. 8995825. SUGAR BOMB…Con Azucar Café has opened a new branch in Salinas. You can now get their Mexican coffee beverages, refreshers and baked goods—including their claim to fame, the conchas gigantes—closer to home. 1746 N. Main St., Salinas. 998-8384. By Jacqueline Weixel MORSELS eatanddrink@montereycountynow.com “The soul of the food is bringing together family and friends.” EAT + DRINK DANIEL DREIFUSS Double Dip For Valentine’s Day (or any day), why not take it to the next level and share your meal. By Sara Rubin
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