28 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 11-17, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com LOCAL SHOPPING The Office’s Michael Scott once declared that, “Gift baskets are the essence of class and fanciness. They are the ultimate present that a person can receive.” Maybe they aren’t the ultimate, but gift baskets are a great holiday gift and they can be the ultimate in sharing all that’s wonderful about the wealth of Monterey County’s products. Traditional food gift baskets usually feature some kind of cheese and, as it turns out, the county has its own family of cheesemakers, the Schoch’s of Schoch Family Farmstead, headquartered in Salinas. One of the best places to sample the family’s cheeses before you buy is The Cheese Shop, inside Carmel Plaza at Ocean and Junipero. President and CEO Kent Torrey and his staff are ready to offer tastes and suggestions. The Monterey farmstead jack cheese is more flavorful than storebought jack. The family also makes a nutty edam cheese, appropriately named East of Edam, in a nod to author John Steinbeck, as well as the Junipero, their take on Swiss, among others. You can get a hunk cut to order at The Cheese Shop, or pick up precut cheeses at Star Market in Salinas or some specialty stores, or at farmers markets. From there, consider a bottle of wine from the county’s own wine country. Torrey and his staff can help there, too. Torrey suggests considering what the person receiving the wine typically likes best. For white wine, think a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc; for reds, Monterey County is known for Pinot Noir. “We will take the time to help you select what you want,” he says. With wine and cheese as the main stars, build around those offerings with a small jar of local honey from the Carmel Honey Company, jams or pickled vegetables from Happy Girl Kitchen and chocolates from Lula’s Chocolates. Other choices include Big Sur Salts or Holy Granola from New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur. Consider a local olive oil—Torrey recommends High Top Ranch or Dahldemper Farms, both from Carmel Valley. His shop sells tiny bottles and jars of various condiments that will tuck nicely into a basket. You can also add fresh foods to the basket, like a loaf of Ad Astra sourdough, Bigoli fresh pasta or Baker’s Bacon—there are plenty of local products to make the one who receives the gift feel classy and fancy. DANIEL DREIFUSS County Bounty Gift baskets offer a way to share a wealth of local goodies with others. By Pam Marino The Cheese Shop in Carmel has everything one needs to create a Monterey Countycentric gift basket, especially cheese and wine. new holiday arrivals carmel-by-the-sea
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