This Week on the Central Coast…
Carmel gained a Mexican restaurant, Pacific Grove approved a test skate park, River Road Wine Trail will become Monterey Wine Trail, and a student created a water-testing device.
Monterey
Nicolas Cocina de Herencia Opens in Carmel
Salinas’ Villa Azteca’s sister restaurant, Nicolas Cocina de Herencia opened last Wednesday in Carmel Plaza next to Alvarado Street Brewery.
Susana and Leopoldo Alvarez worked the fields of Salinas, then progressed to cleaning homes. During this time, they would bring home cooked meals for lunch and often shared them with their clients. Eventually, the couple started a catering business, and, when a restaurant spot became available, Villa Azteca was born.
Now, the couple have expanded to Carmel and to a new audience. “I’m excited for this place because it’s going to be totally different—more seafood options, ingredients you don’t normally see in Mexican food,” Sous Chef Andres said.. “As chefs, the new audience allows us to present our cuisine on another level.”
The restaurant serves elevated Mexican food, including dishes like Passionfruit-Hibiscus Oysters, Huitlacoche Gorditas, and Chicken in Mole Negro with Green Apple Pico de Gallo. Nicolas Covina de Herencia is open 3PM to 7:30PM.
MBFC Helps pack food for the holidays
Last Monday, Monterey Bay F.C. players packed Thanksgiving orders at the Food Bank of Monterey County. The players packed tens of thousands of meals. “The plan is to package 50,000 meals for Thanksgiving and another 50,000 for Christmas.”
Several distribution events will dish out the meals to those in need over the next few weeks.
The Union’s 2024 season begins next March.
Pacific Grove Proposes a Test Skatepark
The idea of building a skatepark in Pacific Grove has been a controversial one. Supporters want a space for kids to hang out, a space for them to spend time between school and home. Those against it argue over the cost and whether it will be used. Despite continued support for the project, the council decided a test park was the best way forward “to see if kids even want a skatepark anymore”.
The pilot program will span ninety days and will be built in the youth center parking lot.
Salinas
River Road Wine Trail to Be Rebranded
The 31-mile River Road Wine Trail that stretches across the Salinas Valley, from Odonata Winery to Scheid Vineyards, will be renamed as the Monterey Wine Trail. ““The Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, the Arroyo Seco (“dry riverbed” in Spanish) AVA and part of the Monterey AVA, make up the Monterey Wine Trail of the Salinas Valley.”
The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association decided to change the name in order to have greater recognition. The name “Monterey”, they said, has a greater reach and more recognition than “River Road”.
The region of microclimates includes several wineries, including “Odonata Wines, Rustique Wines, Pessagno Winery, Manzoni Vineyards, Puma Road Winery, Wrath Wines, CRU Winery, Joyce Wine Company, and Scheid Vineyards.”
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Teen Invented a Water Quality Testing Device
Jack Driscoll-Natale created a device that checks if water quality is safe for humans and the environment. The invention’s inception occurred when Natale was finishing a lab at Pacific Collegiate School and couldn’t find the information he needed to complete the project. Natale taught himself electronics and computer programming to create a device that gave him the information he needed.
"It basically takes in the pH, temperature and oxygen reduction potential of local waterways," Natale said. "Then using a Wi-Fi module, we're able to transmit that data wirelessly, directly to the cloud. So that means community members can view the health of their water from anywhere."
He made the device to help people more easily find information on the safety of the tested water. Information for checking wave conditions exists for surfers. Now, anyone will be able to see the water-health as well. Natale is working with the Monterey Bay Aquarium to patent his invention and to be able to build upon it and expand access.
Annual Farm to Cafeteria Festival at Pajaro Valley High School
Last Monday, Pajaro Valley High School celebrated its annual Farm to Cafeteria Festival. The event started when students requested healthier school lunches. Since then, the school partnered with local farms to provide more organic produce. The change created a trickle-down effect where students touted the benefits of eating better to their families. “It made a difference for me and other kids, knowing that our food is local, it's safer for us and it's extremely nutritious, and it gives us the energy we need to just get through the day,” said a student at PVHS.
School staff have noticed the difference it has made as well and hope other schools will follow their lead.