Tuesday, November 8, 2011

We’re Toasting Toast

It was another hot day in the valley so we decided to have lunch alfresco at one of our favorite Carmel Valley restaurants—Toast.

Toast has been operating for a little over a year now and it’s a winner. The owner, Shon Whalen, has created a welcoming ambiance and a tasty and varied menu.
Toast serves its breakfast and lunch menu from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and has an excellent dinner menu as well. Plus, during the autumn, there is a special weekday 5-7 p.m. “happy hour” with many of their draft beers selling for $3 and select appetizers for $3-$5. Now that’s a deal.
We are particular aficionados of their lunch menu. On this hot October day, we shared two favorites: a Crab and Spinach Salad with Louie dressing, green tomatoes, egg and avocado, and a Grilled Vegetable sandwich on multi-seed roll with goat cheese. Each was $10 and quite delicioso.
Besides great food, Toast has a fun and varied wine and beer list. We decided to try two white wines we had never had before from Scheid Vineyards, a large Monterey County operation with ten different grape growing properties and over 27 wine grape varieties.
The two wines we tasted were their ’08 Pinot Gris Estate, Monterey and their ’09 Riesling Estate.
The Pinot Gris was green, lean, and angular, with quite a bit of acidity. With food, it opened up and softened a little. The Riesling was smoother, rounder, fuller, and had a very fruity nose. We liked it with or without food.
Scheid has a tasting room on Cannery Row in Monterey so we will make our way there soon to try more of their wines. http://www.scheidvineyards.com/
Until then, we’ll return to Toast for its good vibes, food, and wine. We think you’d like it. Check out their website at www.toastcarmelvalley.com/ for menus, wine and beer lists, and hours. Or better yet, head to 3 Del Fino Place in Carmel Valley and see for yourself why we like Toast so much.

2 comments:

  1. I've enjoyed this restaurant too! Have you tried the steamed mussels? Yummy!!

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  2. Yes...they are the best. Thanks Patty for the reminder of just one more delicious item on the menu at Toast.

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