Sip and Savor at Chateau Julien in Carmel Valley

If you are looking for a true vine to wine experience then Chateau Julien is the place to check out while on your tasting journey through Monterey County. Here you can not only taste some exceptional blends but you can also take a tour through their working vineyards, view the wine Chai and literally stop and smell the roses.
Just a few miles from Carmel-by-the-Sea, along Carmel Valley Road, sits an off-white Chateau that looks like it came straight out of France's Loire Valley. This grown-up fantasyland is a dream come true from husband and wife duo Bob and Patty Brower. The old-world structure is a replica of a home located on the French-Swiss border that the Brower's drooled over while on a European vacation which now plays host as Chateau Julien's tasting room.

Wine tastings are available Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday- Sunday from 11am to 5pm for $15. Public tours are also offered daily and are complimentary with a purchased wine tasting. Did we mention that this is the only full capacity winery on the Monterey Peninsula open for tours?

Melinda, my guide for the day, had me start with a white blend appropriately named French Kiss. Fresh floral and melon had me sold at first sip and I could easily envision myself with a glass, or two, on a hot summer day.
After this little warm-up I was poured a glass of their Royalty Red, their most popular wine, before embarking on a walk through the vineyards and property.

We first headed to the wine estate's Chai (pronounced "shay") which houses over 1,000 American and French oak barrels. The building is built 30 feet underground to keep the wine cool as it "matures" and would also make for killer party venue. I could easily envision a classy wedding reception or my upcoming 27th birthday party amongst the decorative casks.

Just on the other side of the Chai are six acres of Sangiovese grapes. Rows and rows of vines are nestled on the valley's floor making for quite the backdrop to Melinda's overview of the grape growing process as we wound back up to the Chateau. Once back in the main tasting room I enjoyed a dose of their Reserve Merlot. The rich and bold tannins made for the perfect way to end a di-Vine day.

Even wine drinkers can appreciate this 45-minute guided tour. The immaculate gardens and aromatic roses make this a noteworthy stop for just about anyone. Check out their calendar of events for concerts in the garden, special wine dinners and more.

Sneak Peek: New "Tentacles" Exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

It's finally here! Tentacles: The Astounding Lives of Octopuses, Squid and Cuttlefishes officially opens at the Monterey Bay Aquarium tomorrow, April 12th at 10am!

Today we were lucky enough to get a peek of the largest and most diverse exhibit created capturing these amazing creatures.

Over the life of the exhibit, you might see any of the 24 species that will rotate through various living exhibits, from a giant Pacific octopus to a Hawaiian bobtail squid, the Wunderpus and others - including one of the world's smallest squid and one of the world's largest cuttlefishes.

Click here to purchase online tickets.
For more photos visit our Flickr set.

Favaloro's Big Night Bistro in Pacific Grove

Twenty years in the restaurant business is nothing to take lightly. Favaloro's Big Night Bistro has been an anchor is Pacific Grove's dining scene for the past two decades and with no lack of tragedy. In 2012 the Italian family run business experienced a detrimental fire that ripped through the entire building. Living just down the street from the restaurant, I was shocked to hear about the fire but couldn't be happier to hear that they were planning to bounce back; and bounce back they did! In August 2013 husband and wife Nino and Marie Favaloro reopened their doors with the same great dishes and down-home service that keeps locals and visitors coming back for more.

The cozy establishment is located on Lighthouse Avenue in one of Pacific Grove's charming Victorian storefronts. Favaloro's has a charm all its own that makes you feel like part of the family once you step inside. The dim lighting, traditional Mediterranean décor and displayed Italian wines create a romantic and enchanting vibe, perfect for a date night!


Recently a large group of hungry co-workers and I had the pleasure of dining at my local hot spot. After a warm greeting from owners Nino and Marie Favaloro, and glasses half full of Chianti, we were ready to begin our traditional Sicilian soirée.

Every good Italian meal should start with fantastic bread and Favaloro's takes this a step farther with its aromatic garlic cheese bread. The toasted Italian loaf oozed with mozzarella cheese and bites of garlicky goodness.

Being that we had ten in our group we obliviously opted to have not one, not two but four starters. Living in Monterey has made me quite the calamari snob and I can honestly say that the Calamari Fritti is among one of the best on the peninsula. The lightly breaded squid was exquisitely tender and obviously fresh out of the bay.

Steering away from the deep fried dish we cleared our arteries with two different salads, a beet salad and an arugula and pear salad. The arugula salad was my personal fav with bites of crunchy Asian pears, homemade candied walnuts and chunks of pungent gorgonzola cheese.


The heartiest appetizer of them all was the Melanzane Parmigiana, or grilled eggplant with cheese. Layers of meaty eggplant medallions were topped with spicy marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Sprinkles of freshly picked basil leaves made me smile on the inside and added a much welcomed peppery kick.

What's an Italian meal without pasta? Favaloro's has quite the line-up on the menu including homemade cannelloni, fettuccine and linguine. Tonight we were treated to gnocchi gorgonzola and butternut squash raviolis. I've had the gnocchi as an appetizer before and was certainly not disappointed to see it as an entrée. The doughy potato pillows had the perfect consistency that allowed each bite to immediately melt in your mouth. The remaining gorgonzola cream sauce was quickly sopped up by a piece of garlic bread I had hoarder earlier.

Just when I thought I had reached my eating capacity, Nino surprised us with steamed clams and a seafood medley in a spicy tomato based broth. I savored every bit of the clams as the buttery Bordelaise sauce seems to drip down by face.


After each course our amazing waiter Nick was quick to clear our dishes and silverware. I must say that the family atmosphere and service is the icing on the cake and truly rounds out the "big night out" experience.

Last, but certainly not least, cannolis! Baby cannolis came powdered in sugar with a cherry on top! The creamy ricotta filling had a hint of coffee with a crust that had just the right amount of crunch. A perfect pastry to top off a traditional Sicilian dinner!

Need a quick bite or just a quick fix for a sweet tooth? Just next door is the Favaloro family's "fast food" eatery named after Nino and Marie's daughter. Café Ariana has all sorts of paninis, pizzas and gelatos open daily (except Sunday) at 11am for lunch and dinner (or just dessert).