Take a little trip with me; drive down Fremont Street in Seaside and envision yourself traveling down a Venetian canal with your loved one in hand. Can you hear the gondolier singing Italian opera in the background? Okay, so this might be a bit of a stretch but I guarantee you the cuisine awaiting inside Gusto Handcrafted Pasta & Pizza will have you feeling as if you were in Venice's Piazza San Marco!
The humble building on Seaside's bustling Fremont Street is just a front for the Italian delight that lies inside. As soon as you swing open the doors you know you are in for treat as a wood burning brick pizza oven greets you front and center.
The main dining area is open and airy with perfect seating arrangements fit for everything from family get-togethers to romantic tables for two. The table settings are simple yet classy, definitely not a paper plate and napkin type of pizzeria. Walls are scattered with fresh images of Italian cuisine, just enough to rev up your appetite.
A sleek counter top and bar stretch through the restaurant, perfect for catching up on the game and ordering a casual drink. Their extensive beer and wine list is full of both local and Italian goodies including Italian sodas!
Owner and Chef Denis Boaro was basically born in the kitchen and watched his family refine their cooking skills in his small hometown of San Zenone degli Ezzelini in northern Italy. Today, Denis is proud to say that the food served at Gusto's is the same food that he grew up eating and he is proud to share his family's creations with his patrons.
His menu is full of everything the Gusto's name implies, tantalizing gourmet pastas and handcrafted pizzas, perfect for a family-style type of meal.
Before diving into the carbs one must indulge in Gusto's specialty meats and cheeses found on their antipasto Piatto del Salumiere dish. Several imported meats including mortadella, prosciutto and salami are scattered charcuterie style with Italian cheeses, Mediterranean olives and a sweet Chianti jelly. The truffle cheese in particular is to die for!
My first piece of advice, order the artesian bread basket. Their fresh olive bread loaf and simple sun dried tomato tapenade is a great way to kick off any Italian meal.
Word of caution, it may be difficult to choose just one of the 11 pizza concoctions offered on the menu. There's everything from a simple Margherita to a loaded Capricciosa. The Capricciosa is basically one Mediterranean party summed up on one pie with fresh San Marzano tomatoes, prosciutto, artichokes, mushrooms, olives, capers and mozzarella cheese, of course.
The best part about all of their pizza pies is the crust! The key to their thin yet fluffy crust lies within the organic flour imported from Mulino Sobrino, Italy. Once you have tried it you will realize it was definitely worth the trek overseas.
Be sure to save room for at least one (or two) pasta dishes. Gusto's lasagna in particular is a work of art with several thin layers of traditional beef Bolognese and béchamel sauce smothered in between homemade pasta and melted mozzarella. The simplicity and the freshness of the sauce make it a stand out as its ingredients only call for tomatoes, basil and olive oil.
What Italian meal is complete without dessert? Gusto's cannoli's and tiramisu are about as genuine as you are going to get on this continent. The cannoli's even come with crushed pistachios and a cherry on top! I would recommend ordering an Italian espresso with dessert to avoid a full-on food coma.
Want make your own Italian creation? The Gusto2Go case in front features a full selection of authentic Italian handcrafted pasta, sauces, cheese, olives, vinegars, coffee and more available for you to take and prepare at home.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Find Your Inner Peace at Carmel Valley Lodge
Carmel Valley- known for its grassy rolling hills, award-winning wines, ample sunshine and now a revived and rejuvenated Carmel Valley Lodge. The countryside lodge located just off of the Carmel Valley Road has recently just changed ownership; coming with it revamped rooms, outdoor fire pits and the introduction to their complimentary breakfast known as Rainbow Ssambap (more on that later).
The 31 room resort is sprawled out over 3 acres full of well-manicured gardens, an array of flowers and stunning views of the valley. Fully renovated rooms stay true to their cozy country roots with upgraded modern amenities including secluded outdoor patios and furniture, gas fireplaces, mini-fridges and free Wi-Fi.
Quite possibly the most integral selling point of the retreat is the crystal blue pool and stone outdoor fit pits, both a necessity in sunny Carmel Valley. You simply can not top this gorgeous setting with the rolling hills in the distance; a perfect area to bask in the abundant sunshine, enjoy a glass of Carmel Valley's finest Pinot Noir and at night congregate around a cozy outdoor fire with your loved ones.
The nearby gazebo and meditation tent are also new additions to the pool area where guests are encouraged to reflect and tap into their inner creativity.
The most unique feature about this property is their complimentary breakfast created entirely by Carmel Valley Lodge's owner Tong Kim. After his own personal research and exploration he has crafted a raw vegan concoction known as Rainbow Ssambap (Korean for burrito); he even has an entire book on this stuff!
The meal (which Mr. Kim eats exclusively for breakfast, lunch and dinner) is full of over 20 different ingredients including beans, berries, nuts and fruit. I had the pleasure of trying this interesting mashup and to my surprise was delighted with the combination of tastes and textures. Mr. Kim notes that the most important ingredient for the flavor is a Meyer lemon, so important in fact that he has planted over 100 trees around the property.
The cornucopia of fruits, veggies and legumes is certainly a nutritious way to start off the day. I am not sure I could eat this dish all day everyday but Mr. Kim's youthful energy and appearance may have turned me into a believer.
Want to try this Rainbow Ssambap yourself? Book a room at the Carmel Valley Lodge of just follow the easy recipe below.
Rainbow Ssambap Recipe:
You will need-
Nuts
2) Pour it into a large bowl up to 1/3 of the bowl.
3) Add blueberries, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, one chopped apple, half of a lemon, some lettuce and any other vegetables, nuts or fruit you want to eat.
4) Mix and eat it.
The 31 room resort is sprawled out over 3 acres full of well-manicured gardens, an array of flowers and stunning views of the valley. Fully renovated rooms stay true to their cozy country roots with upgraded modern amenities including secluded outdoor patios and furniture, gas fireplaces, mini-fridges and free Wi-Fi.
Quite possibly the most integral selling point of the retreat is the crystal blue pool and stone outdoor fit pits, both a necessity in sunny Carmel Valley. You simply can not top this gorgeous setting with the rolling hills in the distance; a perfect area to bask in the abundant sunshine, enjoy a glass of Carmel Valley's finest Pinot Noir and at night congregate around a cozy outdoor fire with your loved ones.
The nearby gazebo and meditation tent are also new additions to the pool area where guests are encouraged to reflect and tap into their inner creativity.
The most unique feature about this property is their complimentary breakfast created entirely by Carmel Valley Lodge's owner Tong Kim. After his own personal research and exploration he has crafted a raw vegan concoction known as Rainbow Ssambap (Korean for burrito); he even has an entire book on this stuff!
The meal (which Mr. Kim eats exclusively for breakfast, lunch and dinner) is full of over 20 different ingredients including beans, berries, nuts and fruit. I had the pleasure of trying this interesting mashup and to my surprise was delighted with the combination of tastes and textures. Mr. Kim notes that the most important ingredient for the flavor is a Meyer lemon, so important in fact that he has planted over 100 trees around the property.
The cornucopia of fruits, veggies and legumes is certainly a nutritious way to start off the day. I am not sure I could eat this dish all day everyday but Mr. Kim's youthful energy and appearance may have turned me into a believer.
Want to try this Rainbow Ssambap yourself? Book a room at the Carmel Valley Lodge of just follow the easy recipe below.
Rainbow Ssambap Recipe:
You will need-
Nuts
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- 1 beet
- 3 tomatoes
- 20 cherry tomatoes
- 1 carrot
- Lettuce
- Cabbage
- Any other vegetables that you want to eat
- Beans
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Meyer Lemons
- Avocados
2) Pour it into a large bowl up to 1/3 of the bowl.
3) Add blueberries, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, one chopped apple, half of a lemon, some lettuce and any other vegetables, nuts or fruit you want to eat.
4) Mix and eat it.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Find Your Happy Place at Crema in Pacific Grove
Just about everyone is liable to find their happy place in a comfy nook and cranny at Crema in Pacific Grove. Tucked along Lighthouse Avenue in "America's Last Hometown," Crema's converted Victorian mansion is full of an array of separate quarters, cozy creative decor and exceptional daytime noshes and sips.
Don't let the downstairs espresso café and wine bar entrance fool you; an entire mansion lies upstairs just waiting to be explored. Guests can choose from a variety of settings like the studious Peacock Room, the kick back garden courtyard and the expansive upstairs Victorian Dining Room; each one fit for every one from solo travelers to large meet up groups.
The cool thing about this place is that all rooms and seating arrangements are up for grabs, whether you just want to grab a latte, enjoy a fresh pastry or have a scrumptious brunch; think of it as staying at your best friend's house and making yourself at home.
Each room is decked out like a picture perfect Pinterest board and makes you feel completely at home. Antique furniture, historic photos from the building's yesteryear and etsy-esque projects are scattered about. My personal favorite is a window framed cabinet in the main dining with the owners' grandmother's vintage tea set, so cute!
An essential "must have" item on their menu is their sangria. You will not find another juicy goblet of fresh fruit and tangy red wine like this anywhere else!
After awing over the presentation of my favorite beverage I suddenly became mesmerized by the bacon cheddar biscuit. This football sized doughy cloud of goodness was sensational! The savory bits of bacon paired well with the sweetness of the accompanied honey butter.
The mushroom burger on the lunch menu is not for the faint of heart. This hefty "moo la la" burger, as they call it, is slathered with smoked gouda, topped with grilled mushrooms and onions and served with some of the best truffle fries I have had. The $13 price tag was a bargain for both quantity and quality!
What brunch is complete without chicken and waffles? A crispy Belgian waffle served as just a base to the generous serving of crispy fried chicken doused in spicy sausage gravy. The gravy was superb, not too salty and not too thick.
For dessert we indulged in root beer floats made from Pacific Grove's Sparky's Root Beer and vanilla ice cream from Kai Lee Creamery at the American Tin Cannery just down the street. Delicious and local!
Whether your are just looking for a quick cup of joe or a full on brunch with bottomless mimosas, Crema is a the spot to find your happy place everyday from 7am-4pm.
Don't let the downstairs espresso café and wine bar entrance fool you; an entire mansion lies upstairs just waiting to be explored. Guests can choose from a variety of settings like the studious Peacock Room, the kick back garden courtyard and the expansive upstairs Victorian Dining Room; each one fit for every one from solo travelers to large meet up groups.
The cool thing about this place is that all rooms and seating arrangements are up for grabs, whether you just want to grab a latte, enjoy a fresh pastry or have a scrumptious brunch; think of it as staying at your best friend's house and making yourself at home.
Each room is decked out like a picture perfect Pinterest board and makes you feel completely at home. Antique furniture, historic photos from the building's yesteryear and etsy-esque projects are scattered about. My personal favorite is a window framed cabinet in the main dining with the owners' grandmother's vintage tea set, so cute!
An essential "must have" item on their menu is their sangria. You will not find another juicy goblet of fresh fruit and tangy red wine like this anywhere else!
After awing over the presentation of my favorite beverage I suddenly became mesmerized by the bacon cheddar biscuit. This football sized doughy cloud of goodness was sensational! The savory bits of bacon paired well with the sweetness of the accompanied honey butter.
The mushroom burger on the lunch menu is not for the faint of heart. This hefty "moo la la" burger, as they call it, is slathered with smoked gouda, topped with grilled mushrooms and onions and served with some of the best truffle fries I have had. The $13 price tag was a bargain for both quantity and quality!
What brunch is complete without chicken and waffles? A crispy Belgian waffle served as just a base to the generous serving of crispy fried chicken doused in spicy sausage gravy. The gravy was superb, not too salty and not too thick.
For dessert we indulged in root beer floats made from Pacific Grove's Sparky's Root Beer and vanilla ice cream from Kai Lee Creamery at the American Tin Cannery just down the street. Delicious and local!
Whether your are just looking for a quick cup of joe or a full on brunch with bottomless mimosas, Crema is a the spot to find your happy place everyday from 7am-4pm.
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