Big Sur Salts & the Flavors of the Coast
Big Sur Salts & the Flavors of the Coast

If you’ve ever breathed in the misty air on a Big Sur cliffside, you’ve tasted the "zing" of the Pacific. Most people just call it the ocean breeze, but Carlo Overhulser and his team at Big Sur Salts figured out how to put that specific feeling into a jar.

Legend has it that in 2015, a rogue wave in Big Sur soaked Carlo and left a bit of the ocean behind in a beer bottle he was holding. Instead of just drying off, he took that water home, evaporated it, and realized he was onto something special. Today, the team at Big Sur Salts has figured out how to put that specific coastal feeling into a jar. I used to think salt was just salt, but after learning of Carlo's process, it’s clear they are harvesting the literal DNA of the Monterey coastline.

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Big Sur Experiences, Foodie Favorites, Local Favorites, local flavors, product highlightsArvia GlassBig Sur Salts
Partner Spotlight: Qouign Pastries & the Art of Hand-Painted Chocolate
Partner Spotlight: Qouign Pastries & the Art of Hand-Painted Chocolate

If you’re wandering through the Carmel or Del Monte Farmers Markets and see a crowd hovering over what looks like a jewelry display, you’ve probably found Qouign (pronounced “queen.”)

The force behind the brand is Santana Rodriguez, a Soledad native and resilient "pastry queen" who sharpened her skills in legendary kitchens like Bernardus Lodge and Thomas Keller’s Bouchon before striking out on her own.

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product highlights, Monterey Highlights, Local Highlights, Foodie Favorites, Farmers marketArvia GlassQouign, Chocolate, Candy
Hidden History: What Cannery Row Was Before It Was Cannery Row
Hidden History: What Cannery Row Was Before It Was Cannery Row

I’ve often walked down Cannery Row and wondered if the tourists snapping photos of the bronze statues realize just how much the ground beneath their feet has shifted. Today, it’s all high-end hotels, breezy galleries, and the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium. But if you could peel back the layers of paint and modern glass, you’d find a place that was, for a long time, defined by a smell so pungent it could apparently peel the paint off a house!

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Tours, Things to do, Monterey History, Monterey Highlights, Monterey Bay Food Tours, Local Legends & TalesArvia GlassCannery Row
MBFT Insider: Favorite Recipes from Famous Monterey Kitchens
MBFT Insider: Favorite Recipes from Famous Monterey Kitchens

Monterey Bay Food Tours maintains an inside track to our amazing food partners, from the terrific stops on our food tour to the folks who hand make the goodies in our giftable totes.

For the most treasured digital souvenir around, read on to discover a treasured recipe straight from one of the best restaurants in Monterey.

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Monterey Cuisine, Chef Insights, Local Eateries, Recipe Shares, Foodie FavoritesMBFT Guest BloggerAlta Bakery, Ben Spungin, Monterey Restaurants, Food Tour Delights, Historic Eats, Gourmet Recipes, Culinary Creativity, Local Ingredients, Monterey Bay Food Tours, Foodie SouvenirsComment
Taste of Monterey: A Culinary Walk Through 6 Top Restaurants in Historic Downtown Monterey
Taste of Monterey: A Culinary Walk Through 6 Top Restaurants in Historic Downtown Monterey

Discover new and old favorites up and down one of the prettiest downtowns in California with this list of top 6 restaurants in historic downtown Monterey.

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Monterey Dining Historic, Monterey Dining, Historic Downtown, Alvarado Street, Culinary ToursMBFT Guest BloggerAlta Bakery Toribashi Revival Ice Cream Rosine’s Crown and Anchor Cibo Monterey Restaurants Food Tour Highlights Local Eats Culinary Guide, Alta Bakery, Toribashi, Revival Ice Cream, Rosine’s, Crown and Anchor, Cibo, Monterey Restaurants, Food Tour Highlights, Local Eats, Culinary GuideComment
3 New Monterey Attractions – Do It All on Spring Break!
3 New Monterey Attractions – Do It All on Spring Break!

Has it been awhile since you experienced spring break in Monterey? Our dynamic city has changed so much in the last few years – it’s time you came back for a visit!

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Family Friendly Activity, New Attractions, Spring Break Ideas, Local Activities, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Local HighlightsMBFT Guest BloggerOld Monterey, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Family fun, Cannery Row, Interactive Rides, Indoor Entertainment, Spring Break in Monterey, Bioluminescent Creatures, Arcade Fun, Revival Ice CreamComment
Best Wellness and Relaxation Spots in Monterey
Best Wellness and Relaxation Spots in Monterey

There are plenty of things to do while visiting Monterey and a lengthy checklist of stops for sightseeing in Carmel. However we want to remind you that sometimes some of the best things to do on your next vacation (other than a Monterey Bay Food Tour of course!) is to simply relax.

Read on to explore the various ways we love to recharge in Monterey, whether that’s one of the best Monterey hikes or a visit to some of the best spas in the Monterey area.

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Monterey Wellness, Outdoor Adventures, Carmel Valley Retreats, Local Favorites, Big Sur ExperiencesMBFT Guest BloggerMonterey Bay Coastal Rec Trail, Vista Blue Spa, Refuge Spa, Esalen Institute, Wellness Retreats, Outdoor Activities, Spa Treatments, Holistic Learning, Relaxation Techniques, Carmel Valley Athletic ClubComment
Stokes Adobe: Monterey’s Historic Restaurants and Their Tales
Stokes Adobe: Monterey’s Historic Restaurants and Their Tales

As California’s First City, Monterey holds a rich history inside of its many buildings and adobes. On our Monterey Bay Food Tours, we highlight how many of these first structures pulled double- or even triple-duty over the years as the city rapidly changed, existing as banks, jails, stores, and restaurants.
This blog will explore one of Monterey’s unique restaurants housed inside a historic building, giving you a fascinating (and maybe spooky!) appreciation for our culinary hot spots.

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Sustainable dining, Foodie Destinations, Local Legends & Tales, Historic Restaurants, Monterey HistoryMBFT Guest BloggerStokes Adobe, Historic Buildings, California Cuisine, Local Ingredients, Ghost Stories, Celebrity Sightings, Food Tours, Sustainable Eating, Craft Cocktails, Local History Comments
Elderberry: One of Monterey Bay’s Favorite Native Treats
Elderberry: One of Monterey Bay’s Favorite Native Treats

Monterey County nurtures an impressive array of native plants, including the delicious elderberry and elderflower. Have you ever sampled this tart berry and delicate edible flower?

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Food, local flavors, recipes, healthy living, product highlights, natures bountyMBFT Guest BloggerElderberry, Elderflower, Elderberries, Elderflowers, Carmel Berry Company, Monterey Bay Food Tours, Health Benefits, Health foods, Monterey, Monterey Bay, Monterey Elderberry, Monterey Elderflower, Antioxidant, cold symptoms, flu-like symptoms, Elderberry Syrup, Elderflower Cordial, Sambucus, Influenze Treatment, Natural Remedies, Online Store, antioxidant, immune support, monterey bay, healthy recipes, local products, sustainable eating, woman owned business Comments
5 Romantic Restaurants in Monterey
5 Romantic Restaurants in Monterey

Restaurants in Carmel, Monterey, and on the Monterey Peninsula continue to wow diners with their terrific, local ingredients and internationally-renowned chefs.

If romantic fine dining is on your travel to-do list, continue reading to learn all about the most romantic restaurants in Monterey.

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Monterey Highlights, Dining Guides, Romantic Getaways, Local Cuisine, Travel TipsMBFT Guest BloggerRomantic Dining, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Fine Dining, Local Ingredient, French Cuisine, Outdoor Dining, Sustainable Eating, Big Sur, Seafood, Vegetarian OptionsComment
Winter Fashion in Monterey
Winter Fashion in Monterey

Before you travel to Monterey it’s important you know how to dress for the peculiar weather in this beautiful part of the world.

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Destinations, outdoor dining, weather, Monterey Peninsula, Monterey Lifestyle, Travel Tips, Seasonal Guide, Fashion AdviceMBFT Guest Bloggermonterey weather, Micro climate, second summer, indian summer, what to wear, Central Coast, carmel valley, carmel by the sea, monterey, Monterey Weather, Packing Tips, microclimate, winter fashion, Travel Essentials, Monterey Travel, California Getaway, Mediterranean Climate, Rainy Season Gear, Coastal FashionComment
Top 5 Healthy Food Options in Monterey
Top 5 Healthy Food Options in Monterey

Planning a vacation to the Monterey Peninsula but wish to maintain your resolutions? Monterey’s location in the Salad Bowl of the World makes for a delicious, satisfying, and nutritious vacation for those who like to eat healthy while traveling (or those who need a break from our yummy bread bowls!)

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Drinks, Food, Monterey Bay Food Tours, restaurants, cookingMBFT Guest BloggerHealth foods, Health Benefits, Healthy food monterey, Monterey restaurants Comment
4 Unbeatable Breweries in Downtown Monterey (and 2 Can’t-Miss Nearby Spots!)
4 Unbeatable Breweries in Downtown Monterey (and 2 Can’t-Miss Nearby Spots!)

These 6 best breweries in Monterey highlight the spectrum of top-notch breweries available for hop snobs, beer newbies, and even those who prefer a non-alcoholic drink.

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Things to do, restaurants, outdoor dining, Monterey Bay Food Tours, DrinksMBFT Guest BloggerBreweries, Beer, Monterey, Monterey Bay, Monterey Bay Food Tours, Alvarado Street Brewery, Ratel Cider, Elkhorn Slough Brewing Company, Peter B's Brewpub, Fieldwork Brewing Company, Dust Bowl Brewing Company, Summer Comments
5 Cozy Coffee Shops in Downtown Monterey
5 Cozy Coffee Shops in Downtown Monterey

The next time you’re in Monterey, stop by one of these downtown spots for a pick-me-up. These spots offer delicious coffee, tea, and usually some pastries that are impossible to pass up.

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Food, Coffee, TeaMBFT Guest BloggerCoffee, Coffee Shops, East Village Coffee Lounge, Paris Bakery, Alta Bakery and Cafe, Captain and Stoker, Cafe Lumiere, Cha-Ya, Downtown Monterey, Old Monterey, Alvarado Street, Plumes, Japanese Tea, carmel food tour, carmel food tours Comment
Six Outdoor Patios to checkout in Monterey Co.
Six Outdoor Patios to checkout in Monterey Co.

With the days starting to feel more and more like spring, dining outside feels like a luxury at times. Not all patios are created equally, however, and we wanted to list a few of our favorites. We took into consideration the shelter from the wind, available heat lamps, views, and that little something extra that helps create those lasting memories.

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outdoor dining, restaurants, Drinks, Food, Destinations, Things to do, WineMBFT Guest Bloggeroutdoor, outdoor patio, dining outside, outdoor dining, eat outside, restaurant, carmel, carmel valley, carmel by the sea, monterey, big sur, california, nepenthe, bernardus, anton and michel, alvarado street, alvarado street brewery, award winning, forbes four star, forbes, beer, breweries, vegetarian, mushroom, mushroom foraging, rooftop bar, sunsetComment
The Loving Procrastinator’s Guide to Valentine’s Day
The Loving Procrastinator’s Guide to Valentine’s Day

As Cupid’s shadow looms over this week, poor, well-intentioned procrastinators have been awakened with a gripped panic as Valentine’s Day draws nearer. We see you, we hear you, and we have compiled an assortment of last minute ways to make your Valentine’s Day special!

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Casey Aguilarvalentines, valentines day, vday, galentines, wine, chocolate, cheese, charcuterie, monterey, carmel, ad astra, bakers bacon, alta, alta bakery, comanche cellars, gift, last minute gift ideas, valentines gift, art, jewelry, unique gift, unique gift ideas, taste of monterey, taste of carmel, central coast, california, february 14, dumplings, dumpling party, miss lippes, pour girl, bartending, cocktails, virtual classes, virtual experiences, wine tasting, virtual wine tasting, cooking class, virtual cooking classComment
5 Great Places to Watch the Game - OUTDOORS
5 Great Places to Watch the Game - OUTDOORS

With most of the world on hold while we wait for waves of Covid to pass us by, we've been looking for ways to feel like life is normal for just a bit. Luckily, the world of sports has kept turning and gives us an escape from the DIY crafts and Netflix we've been filling our time with.

For this week’s post we scouted around and found a handful of great locally owned restaurants with outdoor TV's. Get your jersey on and your air-five's warmed up, these five places are ranked in order of the number of TV's on their patios, with a bit of a surprise for the last one!

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football, Things to do, restaurants, outdoor diningCasey Aguilaroutdoor, outdoor tv, dining out, dining outside, big sur, carmel, monterey, seaside, football, watch the game, where to watch the game, where to watch the game outside, Big Sur taphouse, Melville Tavern, mulligan's, mulligan, gusto, pizza, sur burger, Alvarado Street, old monterey, Pfeiffer big sur, Big Sur state parks, hiking, beer, taphouse, My Local Thrive, Old Monterey Food Tour, Monterey Bay Food Tours, Monterey food tour, Monterey Bay food tour, montereybayfoodtour.com, locally owned, locally owned restaurants, fire pit, heat lampsComment