In California you can eat well, and around Monterey Bay you can eat very, very well. Thanks to the abundance of local produce, meats, seafood, and wine, the best cuisine here is that which doesn't stray too far from home. Monterey and Carmel fairly burst at the seams with such restaurants, with Monterey's Montrio Bistro -- a temple of California cuisine -- leading the pack. Carmel's restaurants are guided by their worldly chefs, most notably the inventive Walter Manske at intimate L'Auberge Carmel. And although Santa Cruz is not famed for its restaurants, the county is famous for its organic farmers; the best place to taste the fruits of their labor is at Theo's in Soquel, which specializes in seasonal American dishes.
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