128 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2025 montereycountynow.com/bestof EDITORS’ PICKS served with a side of chimichurri that will blow your mind. In fact, you could probably loll in the hammock with a bowl of the sauce, foregoing the empanadas. And it’s more fun to say than Silly Putty, too. BEST POST-FIRE RECOVERY The Power Plant Cafe 7990 Highway 1, Moss Landing (831) 453-0022 One version of Sim City challenged players to bring Detroit back from 1980s economic disaster. It was a tough time for the city. It’s been a rough go for Moss Landing. During the catastrophic battery plant fire across the street from the cafe in January 2025, the community was evacuated and Highway 1 was closed. The cafe/ gift shop/plant nursery reopened and kept humming—only to have the misfortune of a kitchen fire a few months later. That led to a nearly four-monthlong closure amid remodeling and battling with insurance. The good news is that as of Sept. 2, the doors are open, the look is fresh and the lattes are as frothy and delicious as ever. Most importantly, eager customers returned so the vibe is thriving again and plans are in the works to add beer and wine. BEST TRANSFORMATION IN MAKING PARKS INCLUSIVE FOR ALL Tatum’s Garden Foundation 1 Maryal Drive, Salinas 25 Ford Road, Carmel Valley (831) 998-7113, tatumsgarden.org Maybe they come to play on the swings, or on the see-saw, or the merry-go-round. Whatever their favorite playground game is, kids of all abilities love to play. This is where Tatum’s Garden comes in, built on a mission to fulfill the dreams of one little girl, Tatum Bakker, who was born with spina bifida. Her family envisioned a playground that would be fun for her, and for every kid no matter their physical abilities. The result is a nonprofit that built the region’s first accessible playground in Salinas, followed by another, Tatum’s Treehouse in Carmel Valley Community Park in 2024. These are all about giving the gift of play to all, and that’s something everyone can get behind. Play on. BEST PLACE FOR REAL MEN (AND ANYBODY) TO EAT QUICHE East Village Cafe 498 Washington St., Monterey (831) 296-0886, eastvillagemonterey. square.site Some people enjoy taking risks, such as ending with their faces covered in whipped cream while playing Pie Face! Others don’t like sweets and prefer a savory treat. East Village Cafe offers several quiche options that people can enjoy at any time of the day, along with their favorite coffee or tea. Options include spinach-mushroom, tomato or broccoli. Can’t decide? They also offer mini quiches. BEST SAFETY TREND IN NORTH COUNTY District 2 Eucalyptus Removal Program Monterey County Board of Supervisors (831) 755-5066, countyofmonterey.gov Eucalyptus trees are everywhere in North County. Some may find them pretty, while others are concerned about the severe safety hazards these non-native trees pose—namely how combustible and fragile they are. A $1 million pilot program by the County of Monterey, which received nearly 100 applications, funded the removal of eucalyptus trees throughout North County, transforming the landscape and perhaps making the dangerously high fire hazard region a little bit safer. Here’s hoping these invasive trees are replaced with native redwoods or oaks to give a boost to biodiversity. BEST PLACE TO TROT OUT THE PHRASE “FOR ALL THE TEA IN CHINA” Gold Leaf Spice & Teas 8 1/2 W. Gabilan St., Salinas 3690 The Barnyard, Carmel (831) 753-7700, goldleafspiceandteas. com The goal of Catch Phrase is to pass around a circular plastic device that cycles through various words all while a loud, incessant timer counts down, usually for about one minute or so. The goal is to get your teammates to guess the word that shows up on the screen as fast as possible, so as to not have the buzzer go off while the device is in your hands. There are different categories of words. For example, in the “World” category, the word(s) might be “Gold Leaf Spice and Teas” shop in Salinas, and so I might say, “Sip! Taste! Explore!” (the store’s slogan), or “Where one would go to feel like you are sipping around the world, one cup at a time.” Best “Don’t Call it a Comeback” Reincarnation | Monterey Skates
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