This Week on the Central Coast…
A tiny, yet specialized restaurant in Carmel and a new pub in the valley, Salinas’ soccer complex grows bigger and the city makes plans to expand its historical building designations.
Monterey
Tiny Le Souffle Stands Out Among the Stars
Le Soufflé is a hidden treasure among the Michelin Stars of Carmel. The specialty French restaurant is exclusively open for lunch and only has four tables. The two owners run the entire 200 square foot restaurant, Lisa Foreman serving and Ivan Samchenko cooking.
The restaurant opened about four years ago after Foreman had been inspired by Cafe Jacqueline in San Francisco. The atmosphere is homely, meant to bring about the feeling of dining at a friend’s house. Small touches of France, like the music playing, remind diners of the origins of the soufflé. “We hoped it would feel similar to enjoying a traditional French soufflé in Paris,” Foreman said.
The three-course menu is $75 and consists of unique dishes such as a Winter Greens Salad with Pomegranate Dressing, Garlic Soufflé with Dungeness Crab Sauce, and Passionfruit Mango Soufflé. Reviews are overwhelmingly great with many diners citing the size of the soufflés being generous and well worth the price.
Le Soufflé sits at the corner of 5th Avenue and Dolores Street. They are open for lunch Monday through Friday, starting at 11:30am and by reservation only. Occasionally, walk-ins are welcome between 1-2pm for dessert, based on availability.
The Barrel Room is Now Open in Carmel Valley
The Barrel Room in Carmel Valley is a new sports bar made for the locals and by a couple locals. Their philosophy is simple: create a welcoming atmosphere that is not fussy.
65-inch flatscreens show the games overhead while the taps pour local brews like Mai Tai P.A. The Barrel Room even encourages bringing your own food from the many surrounding restaurants. “Hospitality is definitely in the family blood. I know I just really enjoy serving people and talking about life and sports, trying to enjoy every day.”
The Barrel Room is located at 5 Del Fino Place in Carmel Valley. They’re open 12-9pm everyday and from 10am-9pm on Sundays for football.
Salinas
World-Class Soccer Complex a Work in Progress
Catherine Kobrinsky Evans is the board vice president for the Salinas Regional Sports Authority, a nonprofit organization behind the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. She recalled when she was just a soccer mom, discussing the poor field conditions with other parents. “Poorly maintained and rough to play on, injuries from holes and a random sprinkler head during games was not uncommon.” She took note of empty lots next to the field, overgrown with weeds and left unused.
Flash forward fifteen years and Phase 2 of a 4-phase plan has begun. Two lighted synthetic turf fields and 400 new parking spaces have just been added. Renovation of existing grass fields was part of Phase 1.
Major funding for the project has come from local businesses, such as the Hayward Family Foundation and Taylor Farms, as well as some coming from private and public sector partners. Local leaders are excited about the potential boom of tourism the new complex can bring. Currently, the fields draw nearly 7,000 people each week. Once the project is complete, that number is expected to grow to 20,000 with the chance to host national and international quality tournaments. These plans are supported by a 50-year lease on the land, plus an additional 40 years offered as an extension.
Salinas Plans to Expand its Historical Buildings
1989 was the last time Salinas assessed its historical building inventory. Earlier this month, the city approved plans to conduct another thorough inspection. An architectural design and planning firm has been tasked with carrying out the inspections, with the hopes of identifying key buildings to be preserved.
Michael Mazgai, an architectural historian and a member of Salinas’ Historic Resources Board, expressed his excitement at the city’s decision. “I’m over the moon that the city has moved forward with this. It’s a great decision. There are buildings in different parts of the city that are special, and we still don’t really have designated, official historic districts.” He believes projects like these are important, not just for planning purposes, but also for instilling a sense of local pride. “If (locals) don’t know about it, how can tourists or the rest of the public find out about it?”
The entire project is on-track with the city’s General Plan and a statewide historic preservation program approved in June.