Edible on the Air

 October this year possesses an extra Friday, and the squid asked for an extra show, so we’re going to enjoy a best-of edition of Edible On The Air. Mark C. Anderson and Christine Barrington have been hosting shows for close to a year now, and they’ve gathered some highlights of the people who make our edible world in Monterey County delicious and exciting: The chefs who work hard to hone their craft, so we can sit down and enjoy an effortless, eventful meal.

We wouldn’t know any of these great chefs if Mark C. Anderson, Managing Editor of Edible Monterey Bay Magazine, didn’t lean into his relationships with these talented folks and bring them into the studio. For this episode Mark interviews four chefs: Brad Briske owner and chef at Home and Home Away in Soquel; Ana Luisa Bejar chef and owner of Sunny Cafe in Carmel Valley, Avram Samuels chef at The View Restaurant at Santa Cruz’s Chaminade Resort, and Jesikah Stolaroff, chef and co-owner of Vim on Mission Street in Santa Cruz. 

Here are articles from Edible Monterey Bay Magazine on each of these culinary artists:

Is Home Away on the Way?: Article by Mark C. Anderson about Brad Briske and his latest venture, Home Away.

A Recipe for Why: How the chef-author Ana Luisa Bejar braved the world’s toughest culinary competition and helped change Mexican cuisine

Adult Happy Meals and Forest Therapy: Mark C. Anderson’s article about Chaminade Resort’s restaurant The View. Presided over by Chef Avram Samuels.

Whet Appetite: Enjoy Mark C’s article all about Restaurant Vim and Chef/owner Jesikah Stolaroff.

If you love to eat, you’ll love Edible on the Air where we share delicious insights into the latest restaurant openings, hidden gems still worth discovering, star chefs, tasty tipples, and inspired food growers. Featuring Monterey Bay’s gastronomic gumshoe, Mark C. Anderson, Managing Editor of Edible Monterey Bay Magazine who generously shares his deep knowledge of the culinary riches of our region, and Christine Barrington, your KSQD Hostess behind the mic.

For October, Edible on the Air celebrates National Seafood Month. Check out the good work of the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, or sign up to enjoy the Get Hooked Dinner Series. Monthly dinners that happen across the region. They close up 2026 on December 4 – Folktale Winery, Carmel Valley. Tickets coming soon. Use the above link to check it out.

If you felt inspired to check out Anthony Rogers‘ ideas for empowering yourself in the fight for our planet, here’s the link: Super El Nino Impacts

Vegan Lovers Rejoice!

Enjoy Vegan Pizza at Pogonip Pizza and Bookies pizzeria, where they offer vegan pepperoni and other delicious items for those dedicated to the vegan way.

Also, check out the The Vegan Mac Down at Portuguese Hall in Santa Cruz. Saturday, October 24. Noon-2pm.  $15 for two ($15 for one, so bring a friend!) This is held as part of the Monterey Vegan Chef Challenge.

Mark C. brings in Elsa Rivera to chat up the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival. You can Volunteer and get to feel the vibe and enjoy some of the events as well.  November 5-7th.  https://www.bigsurfoodandwine.org/

Grace St. Clair contributing writer to Edible Monterey Bay shares her inside tips. Click the links to enjoy her in-depth articles that will have you drooling. Even better, follow her on Instagram for one-the-spot tips:

Check out the Pop-Up Side Piece at Madsen’s Winery on the Westside Thursdays and Fridays, 5-9pm. Offering up a hand-made real crab and smoked avocado hand roll. Go early before they sell out!

Tomato Tomato on Walnut Ave. New sole proprietor small grocer with specialty items for down towners.

Monday night saves and Happy Hours: If you want to eat out on Monday in Santa Cruz, do not despair, we’ve got Grace St. Clair to the rescue:

Hook and Line has an all evening Monday Happy Hour;

Ally Oop is open Mondays and has a daily happy hour from 5-6pm of a glass of Piper Heidsieck champagne (or a cocktail) plus a burger and fries for $25 smackers. Check out their Instagram  Or  https://www.jazzalleylounge.com/

Copal is open Monday and also has a happy hour special of two tacos and a Mezcal Margarita for $16.

If you have kids and want to bring them with you for a great meal, these three restaurants offer kid-friendly menus:

Hook and Line; Copal ($10 kids menu); and Avanti:

Three love notes from Mark C. Anderson’s “Found Treasures”:

The Grove in Felton with a daily grilled cheese, and a Beet Reuben (no meat)

Calico Motor Club in Monterey serving the best Fish ‘N Chips since you last visited London.

In Seaside: Deli Boys & The Meatery

What do the best Pizza, Beer, and one Giant Tuna have in common? Listen in and find out! Mark C. Anderson, Managing Editor of Edible Monterey Bay Magazine and Grace St. Clair, contributing writer, host September’s Edible on the Air where they take you inside the food scene from Santa Cruz to Carmel by the Sea.

Listen in to catch the warm and yeasty pizza scene across Santa Cruz. And, what goes with pizza? Beer! (The Giant Tuna comes later) Sayre Piotrkowski, Executive Director of The Bay Area Brewers Guild, joins the show to discuss how Alvarado Street Brewery is building a state-of-the-art production brewery in Castroville capable of producing up to 45,000 barrels of beer annually. Sayre tells readers how Alvarado Street is getting it done in his article for Edible Monterey Bay Magazine. 

Also joining the show is restaurateur Bashar Sneeh, whose journey from Syria to the Monterey Peninsula is defined by his time-tested stewardship of the Five Golden Keys: Quality, Value, Service, Integrity, and Consistency. Inspired by his roots and a commitment to hospitality, Bashar welcomes every guest like family in his own home. His latest opening is CHAR Steakhouse in Carmel.

Below find links to everything else mentioned by Grace St. Clair in this show. Enjoy!

– CARNE www.carnesantacruz.com

– Vegan Mac Down www.www.veganchefchallenge.org/santacruzmac

– Monterey Vegan Chef Challenge https://veganchefchallenge.org/monterey/

PIZZA

– Slice Project https://www.sliceprojectpizza.com/

– Pogonip Pizza https://pogonip.pizza/

– Bookies Pizza https://www.bookiespizza.com/

– Girasol Pizza https://girasolpizza.com/

– Izzy’s Ice’s https://www.izzysitalianices.com/

– Sleight of Hand https://www.sleightofhandpizza.com/

– Cruz Room 831 https://cruzroom831.com/

– H&H Fresh Fish www.hhfreshfish.com

– Sidepiece Hand Rolls https://sidepiecesc.com/

– Madson Wines https://www.madsonwines.com/

– Johnny’s Harborside https://www.johnnysharborside.com/

– Bonny Doon Art & Wine https://www.bonnydoonartandwinefestival.com/

– Anzani Cider https://anzanicider.com/

– TYTY Wines https://www.instagram.com/tytywine

– La Marea of the Sea www.instagram.com/lamareaofthesea

– Clearview Orchards https://clearvieworchards.com/

Follow Grace’s tasty adventure at @bigbitesc on Instagram

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Grace’s Instant Pot Apple Butter

Yield’s about 5 cups

This apple butter is incredibly easy to make and fills the house with the most amazing cinnamon-apple aroma. The Instant Pot does most of the work—you just blend, reduce and jar it up.

*Softer, sweeter varieties like Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Fuji, Gala and Cortland work best. I used Gala.

Storage: Keep refrigerated and enjoy within 1 week.

*Vanilla scone mix from Iveta: https://www.iveta.com/collections/scone-mixes

Mark C. Anderson, Managing Editor of Edible Monterey Bay Magazine returns to the airwaves with KSQD’s Christine Barrington to reveal the palate tempting tales coming your way this Autumn from the writers, chefs, and food-growers who star in the features created for your reading pleasure.

Celebrate 15 years of tasteful and tasty reporting across the tri-county region with Edible Monterey Bay Magazine. Their Autumn Edition launch party will happen on September 7 hosted by Woody’s at the Watsonville Airport. It is free and open to all, but you MUST RSVP. Sign up for the Edible Monterey Bay newsletter and look for the link that will posted there soon. They hope to see you at the party!

Discussed in this show:

Watch Duty App (Watchduty. org) recommended by Ryan Masters, volunteer fire fighter.

Big Sur Food and Wine Festival 

Char just opened in Carmel by the Sea. 

Clearview Orchards autumn apple celebrations happening weekends through Winter. 

Mini Moos: https://www.montereyminicowcompany.com

Follow Grace St. Clair @  Big Bite SC on Instagram. 

Sugar Bakery Capitola

Vim Restaurant Santa Cruz on Mission Street in Santa Cruz. Reservations highly recommended!

Find Edible Monterey Bay Magazine at distribution Centers in Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties.

Edible on the Air presents the sizzling hot July edition featuring Christine Barrington and Mark C. Anderson, Managing Editor of Edible Monterey Bay Magazine. Mark brings three guests into the studio with him:

The multi-talented Ryan Masters, musician, columnist, and poet whose article about restoring trout and salmon to our local rivers inspires hope for a thriving future. He also presents highlights from the rising culinary scene in Scotts Valley as the city turns 60. Articles below:

https://ediblemontereybay.com/online-magazine/summer-2026/back-from-the-brink/

https://ediblemontereybay.com/online-magazine/summer-2026/doing-60-in-scotts-valley/

Jamie Collins has been writing for Edible Monterey Bay Magazine since its second edition, and she also celebrates 25 years growing gorgeous organic produce at her Serendipity Farms. She discusses her article that swoons over cucumbers. https://ediblemontereybay.com/online-magazine/summer-2026/swoon-song/

Jamie Collins’ Farmstand runs between 10am to 2pm at 26500 Val Verde Drive at the end of Rio Road in Carmel.

Jamie offers consulting office hours on Zoom every Tuesday for starting an organic farm. Here’s how you can sign on: Organic Office Hours – 08/25/2026 – CCOF.org https://share.google/nuk1z6pUwKMcHj16I

Franco Boffi shares insider information about the mystery and magic that goes into creating Huxal Mezcal. Read all about it here: https://ediblemontereybay.com/online-magazine/summer-2026/spirit-of-connection/

Local products and food purveyors reviewed:

Gold Dot Coffee: Out of Bolder Creek and available online. Enjoy artisan roasted coffee beans that come delivered with a hand-crafter ceramic vessel with every order. https://ediblemontereybay.com/online-magazine/summer-2026/spinning-cups/

Wise Goat Sauerkraut: https://ediblemontereybay.com/online-magazine/winter-2020/wise-goat/

Ichigo Strawberries: https://ediblemontereybay.com/online-magazine/summer-2026/berry-unbelievable/

Compact Disco in Monterey: https://ediblemontereybay.com/blog/compact-disco-adds-rare-late-night-food-option/

Clyde Collado INOA POKE: https://ediblemontereybay.com/blog/new-one-man-start-up-inoa-poke-impresses/

https://ediblemontereybay.com/online-magazine/summer-2026/second-shelf-life/

Steel Bonnet in Salinas

 Pull up a chair and join us at the table for Edible On The Air, with Christine Barrington and Mark C. Anderson, the managing editor of Edible Monterey Bay magazine who literally keeps the pulse of the local food scene.

For our May episode, we have staged a bit of a prison break and traded the studio mics and fluorescent lights for the sea breeze and some Central Coast sunshine.  Join us as we seat ourselves on location at Chaminade, Santa Cruz’s premier mountainside inn. Their restaurant, The View, captures one of the best reasons to hightail it up the mountain to partake of all they have to offer. And, Chef Avram Samuels serves up an epic taste taste with calamari, seared salmon and an oozing smash burger!

Also featured is Allison Garcia, of Santa Cruz’s Chef’s Vegan Challenge, which just wrapped up after weeks of creation and competition. They’ve declared their winners and handed out awards, and she will share with us some of her personal surprises and delights with what unfolded.

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Show Notes:

Chaminade Inn and The View Restaurant:

https://www.chaminade.com

Santa Cruz Chef Vegan Challenge:

veganchefchallenge.org/santacruz

https://ediblemontereybay.com/blog/flipping-the-script-a-vegan-chef-challenge-climax/

The Cruz Room:

Post No Bills

We all have to eat, and we all love to eat good food! In February’s edition of Edible on the Air, Mark C. Anderson shares tasty insights gleaned from his journeys around the region as Managing Editor of Edible Monterey Bay Magazine. KSQD hostess Christine Barrington comes along for the ride facilitating conversations to deepen your knowledge of the places and people that make California’s Central Coast a delicious food destination.

Featured in this show:

Bay Area Brewer’s Guild: Their monstrously huge SF Beer Week extends through March 1.

SANTA CRUZ:

Chef Brad Briske calls in to share about his two restaurants in Soquel: Home and Home Away

Pogonip Pizza  on the Westside is new pizza destination to please the palate and anyone who loves Lost Boys and biking our Santa Cruz trails.

Mane Kitchen & Cocktails Downtown Santa Cruz–don’t miss the passion fruit margaritas!

Santa Cruz Bike Party celebrating the Seabright area to give it some love while the Murray Street construction continues.

Woodhouse Brewing: One of the great small breweries, not only in Santa Cruz, but across the nation. USA Today features them in their 10 best in 2026. Voting has closed, but you can vote with your feet and visit them anytime!

MOSS LANDING:

The FoodLab/The Landing/Power station coffee shop. OPEN WED-SUNDAY! 

MARINA

Local EMV Deli Local EMV, “Eats,” “Merch,” “Vibes” from do-it-all owner-operator Marcus Edwards, a one-of-a-kind sandwich shop in the Marina Village Shopping Center, with a Grocery Outlet next door for some of the best wine values going. 

CARMEL:

Hatch Southwest Kitchen

PACIFIC GROVE:

PG Meeting House

Pop & Hiss: A Bar Record Shop Live Music Venue

Hops & Fog Brewing

The Caledonian at the Kimpton Hotel Pacific Grove

Ricotta Gnudi recipe. They are so easy and utterly delicious!

MONTEREY:

Piccolo Deli in Monterey downstairs from big sister Osteria al Mare continues to be a hidden jewel with harbor views and quality Italian food. 

Nami in downtown Monterey