Souvenir Ideas for Monterey County (California) by Savvy Mom Ruth Paget
In France, souvenir boutiques and gas stations sell items like those listed below, so tourists will have memories to look back on about their experience in a visited region.
Most are lifestyle items and many are perishable food items. Some souvenir items like cassoulet can even be consumed in gas station restaurants. (California cassoulet could be chile verde - pork and green pepper stew - or a spicy vegetarian curry.)
The following items may
interest people all around the county and visitors, if they could buy them easily around the county in supermarkets or the various tourism sites listed below.
Maybe a website for tourists could be set up with merchandise that would allow them to pay online and have delivery or shipping options. I think the web hosting service www.godaddy.com is set up for e-commerce as is www.wix.com:
-Stollen egg bread with raisins and nuts and Nuremberg Gingerbread for the holidays - Mecca Delicatessen
-Canvas Star Market Bag from Salinas, California -
Star Market has Mary Anne ice cream, English sweets, every flour imaginable, a small but great cheese selection along with crackers to go with the cheese, goat milk, teff flour, Choice Moroccan mint tea, La Florentine Italian turrone candy, Ritter Sport Chocolates from Stuttgart (Germany), and a newsstand with the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Chronicle in addition to local papers. You can also buy the New York Times inside. They also have Casa Giulia jams with varied flavors - Sicilian Orange, Pear Williams, and Fig in addition to traditional flavors. Lemon curd is on sale for a tangy toast spread.
-Blue Paris Bakery Bag from Seaside and Monterey, California
Perfect for carrying baguettes, croissants, danishes, and nine-grain sliced loaves of bread.
-Chilled rose, fresh chèvre, flat bread sticks made with olive oil and sea salt, triangular cheese spreader - All of these items together make a nice souvenir or in-the-room snack in hot weather after a day of whale watching and sea otter watching trips
-Cantucci d'Abruzzo - biscotti with almonds - from Cost Plus World Market.
Italians dunk biscotti in sweet Vino Santo. In the US, we could probably use a sweet California gewürztraminer. Cost Plus World Market sells many wines of varying sweetness that would go with the Cantucci d'Abruzzo. Americans would view this as a snack, but you might be able to use it as an appetizer for a shrimp-pasta meal following it.
-German mustards, coffees, and herbal teas from Mecca Delicatessen in Marina, California
-The Pepper Plant: Original California Style Hot Pepper Sauce - this could be made in Monterey County, too.
-La Chinita Smoked Paprika - Santa Fe in Seaside, Mi Tierra in Seaside, and El Rancho in Marina probably all have this
-Elkhorn Slough Cap
-Chalone Cap
-Acme Coffee locally brewed in Seaside, California - Road Dog French Roast in bean or ground versions is my favorite.
-Royal flan with carmel sauce for stovetop cooking. (Caramel sauce is pre-made and the flan requires milk plus boiling. 8 small cup portion. Found for $1.59)
-Cholula Hot Sauce
-Cans of Clam Chowder: Available at Old Fisherman's Grotto, Fish Hopper, and Scales
-Cans of Artichoke Soup if it exists
I ate this at the Old Fisherman's Grotto in Monterey and loved it. Perhaps Rappazzini Artichoke Farms in Castroville might be able to help with this question. Castroville is the artichoke capital of the US like Salinas is the lettuce capital and Watsonville/Pajaro are the strawberry capitals.
-Can openers to go with clam chowder and artichoke soup for people who will eat it here
-Monterey Jack cheese originally made by the Franciscan Missions of Monterey County
-Hawaiian Host Aloha Gems - Madademia Nut and Chocolate Candy - Costco - Sand City
-Chocolate Crepes by La Boulangere - Costco - Sand City
-Mexican hot cocoa pods - either the Ibarra or Abuelita brands
-Chocolate Bars from around the World - Cost Plus World Market - Sand City, California
-Sriracha hot sauce to jazz up Egg Flower Soup - this product is of Thai origin, but is produced in California
-Alvarado Street Brewery Cans of California Craft Beer - Sold by Six or Alvarado Street Brewery T-Shirts and Caps - Sold in Monterey and Salinas
-Talbott Silk Ties (related to the Talbott wine family group)
-Book: Salvador Dali: Conquest of the Irrational to better appreciate the 600+ art works at the Dali Exposition on the Wharf. (300 are original and reflect his years in Monterey)
-Nutcracker ballet tickets if we can get local performances at the Sunset Center in Carmel and Spector Dance in Marina.
Maybe a website for tourists could be set up with merchandise that would allow them to pay online and have delivery or shipping options. I think the web hosting service www.godaddy.com is set up for e-commerce as is www.wix.com:
-Stollen egg bread with raisins and nuts and Nuremberg Gingerbread for the holidays - Mecca Delicatessen
-Canvas Star Market Bag from Salinas, California -
Star Market has Mary Anne ice cream, English sweets, every flour imaginable, a small but great cheese selection along with crackers to go with the cheese, goat milk, teff flour, Choice Moroccan mint tea, La Florentine Italian turrone candy, Ritter Sport Chocolates from Stuttgart (Germany), and a newsstand with the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Chronicle in addition to local papers. You can also buy the New York Times inside. They also have Casa Giulia jams with varied flavors - Sicilian Orange, Pear Williams, and Fig in addition to traditional flavors. Lemon curd is on sale for a tangy toast spread.
-Blue Paris Bakery Bag from Seaside and Monterey, California
Perfect for carrying baguettes, croissants, danishes, and nine-grain sliced loaves of bread.
-Chilled rose, fresh chèvre, flat bread sticks made with olive oil and sea salt, triangular cheese spreader - All of these items together make a nice souvenir or in-the-room snack in hot weather after a day of whale watching and sea otter watching trips
-Canned Pork Chile Verde - Mexican pork stew - Juanita's brand - available at Lucky Supermarkets and Safeway Supermarkets.
-Cantucci d'Abruzzo - biscotti with almonds - from Cost Plus World Market.
Italians dunk biscotti in sweet Vino Santo. In the US, we could probably use a sweet California gewürztraminer. Cost Plus World Market sells many wines of varying sweetness that would go with the Cantucci d'Abruzzo. Americans would view this as a snack, but you might be able to use it as an appetizer for a shrimp-pasta meal following it.
-German mustards, coffees, and herbal teas from Mecca Delicatessen in Marina, California
-The Pepper Plant: Original California Style Hot Pepper Sauce - this could be made in Monterey County, too.
-La Chinita Smoked Paprika - Santa Fe in Seaside, Mi Tierra in Seaside, and El Rancho in Marina probably all have this
-Elkhorn Slough Cap
-Chalone Cap
-Acme Coffee locally brewed in Seaside, California - Road Dog French Roast in bean or ground versions is my favorite.
-Royal flan with carmel sauce for stovetop cooking. (Caramel sauce is pre-made and the flan requires milk plus boiling. 8 small cup portion. Found for $1.59)
-Cholula Hot Sauce
-Cans of Clam Chowder: Available at Old Fisherman's Grotto, Fish Hopper, and Scales
-Cans of Artichoke Soup if it exists
I ate this at the Old Fisherman's Grotto in Monterey and loved it. Perhaps Rappazzini Artichoke Farms in Castroville might be able to help with this question. Castroville is the artichoke capital of the US like Salinas is the lettuce capital and Watsonville/Pajaro are the strawberry capitals.
-Can openers to go with clam chowder and artichoke soup for people who will eat it here
-Monterey Jack cheese originally made by the Franciscan Missions of Monterey County
-Hawaiian Host Aloha Gems - Madademia Nut and Chocolate Candy - Costco - Sand City
-Chocolate Crepes by La Boulangere - Costco - Sand City
-Mexican hot cocoa pods - either the Ibarra or Abuelita brands
-Chocolate Bars from around the World - Cost Plus World Market - Sand City, California
-Sriracha hot sauce to jazz up Egg Flower Soup - this product is of Thai origin, but is produced in California
-Alvarado Street Brewery Cans of California Craft Beer - Sold by Six or Alvarado Street Brewery T-Shirts and Caps - Sold in Monterey and Salinas
-Talbott Silk Ties (related to the Talbott wine family group)
-Book: Salvador Dali: Conquest of the Irrational to better appreciate the 600+ art works at the Dali Exposition on the Wharf. (300 are original and reflect his years in Monterey)
-Nutcracker ballet tickets if we can get local performances at the Sunset Center in Carmel and Spector Dance in Marina.
-Elkhorn Slough Yearly
Memberships
-Pacific Grove Museum of
Natural History Yearly Memberships
-Monterey Bay Aquarium Yearly Memberships for frequent tourists
-Steinbeck Center Yearly Memberships (Salinas)
-Steinbeck Books - Short Novels - maybe an idea for Comic-Con at the Steinbeck Center:
-The Pearl
-The Sea of Cortez
-Russian Journal
-The Red Pony
-The Moon is Down
Maybe these books could be turned into comics or graphic novels (comics in book form with a hard spine).
-Steinbeck Books - Short Novels - maybe an idea for Comic-Con at the Steinbeck Center:
-The Pearl
-The Sea of Cortez
-Russian Journal
-The Red Pony
-The Moon is Down
Maybe these books could be turned into comics or graphic novels (comics in book form with a hard spine).
-Bach Festival –Season Tickets
for the Sunset Center in Carmel, California
-Western Stage Season Tickets
– Salinas, California
-Chalone marble wine coasters
-John Steinbeck Novels - available at Steinbeck Center
-Robinson Jeffers poetry books
-Canon 13 Chardonnay from Soledad, California - a Monterey County Chardonnay - Monterey County is the largest producer of Chardonnay in the State of California
-Oaxaca Coffee mugs
-La Dolce Vita Almond - Anise Biscotti - Costco - Sand City
-Monterey Coffee mugs
-Cowboy Hats
-Cowboy Boots
-Monterey Photo Calendar
-Monterey Postcards - 50 cents each?
-Jane Smiley Books - local Pulitzer Prize winner
-Belle Yang Books - Forget Sorrow Manhua artist/author
-Beverly Cleary Books for children
-Paul Fleischman books for children - winner of the Newbery Award
-Donna Jo Napoli books for young teens
-Poet Patrice Vecchione books
Veccione does poetry workshops including workshops for young teens.
-Suzanne von Drachenfels - The Art of the Table: A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners, and Tableware - Former White House Etiquette Advisor
-Pirate's Booty - Puffed corn with Parmesan cheese. Available at Grocery Outlet in Salinas.
-Western Apparel including cowboy boots - El Dorado store at Northridge Mall in Salinas, California
-Ghirardelli Chocolate - Corporate Gifts are suitable for birthdays and holidays, too - Cannery Row - Monterey, California
-See's Candy - in Del Monte Center Mall in Monterey and Northridge Mall in Salinas, California
-John Steinbeck Novels - available at Steinbeck Center
-Robinson Jeffers poetry books
-Canon 13 Chardonnay from Soledad, California - a Monterey County Chardonnay - Monterey County is the largest producer of Chardonnay in the State of California
-Oaxaca Coffee mugs
-La Dolce Vita Almond - Anise Biscotti - Costco - Sand City
-Monterey Coffee mugs
-Cowboy Hats
-Cowboy Boots
-Monterey Photo Calendar
-Monterey Postcards - 50 cents each?
-Jane Smiley Books - local Pulitzer Prize winner
-Belle Yang Books - Forget Sorrow Manhua artist/author
-Beverly Cleary Books for children
-Paul Fleischman books for children - winner of the Newbery Award
-Donna Jo Napoli books for young teens
-Poet Patrice Vecchione books
Veccione does poetry workshops including workshops for young teens.
-Suzanne von Drachenfels - The Art of the Table: A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners, and Tableware - Former White House Etiquette Advisor
-Pirate's Booty - Puffed corn with Parmesan cheese. Available at Grocery Outlet in Salinas.
-Western Apparel including cowboy boots - El Dorado store at Northridge Mall in Salinas, California
-Ghirardelli Chocolate - Corporate Gifts are suitable for birthdays and holidays, too - Cannery Row - Monterey, California
-See's Candy - in Del Monte Center Mall in Monterey and Northridge Mall in Salinas, California
By Ruth Paget, author of Eating Soup with Chopsticks and
Marrying France
Click here for: Ruth Paget's Amazon Books
Marrying France
Click here for: Ruth Paget's Amazon Books
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