Heritage Tourism in California’s Central Zcoast by Ruth Paget

Heritage Tourism on California’s Central Coast (with some Northern California Spots as well) by Ruth Paget

Some of the places my family has visited over the years on California’s Central Coast and in Northern California might interest other travelers as well. 

This list is not exhaustive, but includes blogs I have written about these places:

Paso Robles:

Lunch at Firestone Walker, a California Brew Pub, is always a treat!

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/pretzels-burgers-and-rock-music-at.html?m=1

San Miguel Arcangel Mission:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/san-miguel-arcangel-mission-near-san.html?m=1

Morro Bay:

Two Fantastic Seafood Meals at Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurant -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/morro-bay-oysters-and-dungeness-crab.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/calamari-appetizers-and-seafood-pasta.html?m=1

San Luis Obispo:

Lure Fish House Meals, Novo Restaurant Meals, Hotel Cerro Breakfast, and Madonna Inn

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/italian-linguine-with-clams-at-lure.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/fusion-seafood-feast-at-lure-fish-house.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/franco-italian-meal-at-novo-restaurant.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/primo-pumpkin-risotto-at-novo.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/cowboy-eggs-benedict-at-hotel-cerro-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/madonna-frittata-and-apffels-coffee-at.html?m=1

San Simeon

Hearst Castle and Southern Big Sur Road Trip on Highway 1 -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/visiting-hearst-castle-with-juilliard.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/southern-big-sur-california-day-trip-by.html?m=1

Carmel:

La Perouse the Explorer Game and La Perouse the Explorer Cruise Idea-

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/04/la-perouse-explorer-historical-fashion.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/09/la-perouse-explorer-cruise-idea.html?m=1

Carmel Valley:

Carmel Valley History Center even has dinosaur bones -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/09/dinosaur-bones-ohlone-reed-boats-wagon.html?m=1

Earthbound Farms for lunch, pumpkins, and tulips -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/10/grown-up-kid-at-earthbound-farm-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/tulip-tourism-outside-salinas-at.html?m=1

Monterey:

Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Whale Watching, the Dali Museum, and the Crown and Anchor Pub - 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/01/cannery-row-for-new-years-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/monterey-bay-aquarium-monterey.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2016/11/whale-watching-field-trip_44.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2016/03/figueres-spain-dali-land.html?m=

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/12/producer-mom-dinners-at-crown-and.html?m=1

Pebble Beach:

Trap’s Lounge, Roy’s, Peppoli,  Stillwater Cafe, Gallery Cafe,  Market Reuben Sandwich Combo Deal, and Hay’s Place for great tasting meals -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/pulled-pork-sandwich-with-coleslaw-at.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/deluxe-bar-nibbles-at-traps-lounge-in.html?m=

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/04/hibachi-salmon-and-mango-cheesecake-at.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/06/spicy-crab-salad-at-roys-in-pebble.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/12/sardis-like-birthday-party-at-peppoli.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/organic-spinach-and-blue-cheese-salad.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/tonic-fall-deli-meal-at-gallery-cafe-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/sticky-buns-and-vegetable-frittatas-at.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/mexican-seafood-enchiladas-at-hays.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/06/enchiladas-de-mole-al-fogon-at-hays.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/04/reuben-sandwich-deal-at-pebble-beach.html?m=1

San Francisco, Napa Valley, and Marin County -

Celebrating Chinese New Year’s (two weeks in February), Napa Valley, Parisian Brunches at Cafe de la Presse, Skyline Dining at the Intercontinental,  Sliders and Kopi Liwak Coffee at the Mark, and the Asian Art Museum

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/chinese-new-year-parade-san-francisco.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/06/visiting-napa-valley-napa-california.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/06/lunch-at-cafe-de-la-presse-san.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/06/skyline-dining-at-intercontinental-san.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/06/sliders-and-kopi-luwak-coffee-at.html?m=1m

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/06/visiting-asian-art-museum-san-francisco.html?m=1

Minnesingers and Mayfair in Carmel Valley and Medieval Games in Marin County -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/04/minnesingers-and-mayfair-for-children.html?m=1

Millbrae: 

Sampling seafood dim sum in Millbrae -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/dim-sum-primer-millbrae-california.html?m=1

Los Gatos:

Memorable Meals at Chez Philippe!

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/06/apple-duck-confit-at-chez-philippe-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/12/salade-nicoise-with-salmon-at-chez.html?m=1

San Jose:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-tech-museum-san-jose-california.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/egyptian-museum-san-jose-california.html?m=1

Seaside 

Manga and anime rallyes at Harumi Restaurant -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/manga-and-anime-rallyes-in-seaside.html?m=1

Stammtisch for authentic German fare - 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/01/oktoberfest-at-stammtisch-restaurant-in.html?m=1

Hispanic Day of the Dead -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/04/day-of-dead-monterey-california.html?m=1

Lake Tahoe:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/anniversary-town-lake-tahoe-california.html?m=1

Mount Lassen and Shasta Caverns:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/lassen-peak-and-lake-shasta-caverns_4.html?m=1

Yosemite National Park Hiking:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/05/hiking-in-yosemite-national-park-sierra.html?m=1

Salinas:

Lunching at John Steinbeck’s Home near the Steinbeck Center with a bookshop downstairs -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/02/lunching-at-steinbecks-childhood-home.html?m=1

Market Town Salinas has a Wednesday Night Farmers Market at Northridge Market  with 100+ Food Trucks and Stalls and a Saturday Morning Market that closes Dow Main Street by the Steinbeck Center.

Alvarado Street Brewery is a California Brewpub Pub -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/02/german-style-kolsch-beer-and-loaded-blt.html?m=1

Growers Pub - Pub’s - is the oldest bar in Dalinas established in 1901.  It preserves many American bar traditions -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/10/prime-pork-chop-dinner-at-pubs-prime.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/chicago-meal-at-pubs-growers-pub-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/salinas-surf-and-turf-dinner-at-pubs-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/lobster-ravioli-at-pubs-growers-pub-in.html?m=1

Villa Azteca is aiming for a Michelin Star -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/05/mole-amarillo-shrimp-enchiladas-at.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/05/mole-rossa-at-villa-azteca-in-salinas.html?m=1

Neapolitan Pizza at Gino’s and Italian Bar Dining:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/always-great-pizza-at-ginos-in-salinas.html?m=

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2022/09/venice-film-festival-at-ginos-in.html?m=1

Tourism at the Farm in Summer:

Goats, Kiddy Tractors, and Organic Produce - 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/09/goats-kiddy-tractors-and-organic.html?m=1

Pumpkins -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/09/pumpkin-harvest-2025-in-monterey-county.html?m=1

Squash -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/squash-harvest-is-in-at-farm-in-salinas.html?m=1

Art at the Farm -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/art-at-farm-in-salinas-california-by.html?m=1

Salinas reminds me of the English market town of Epping, which is now a London suburb:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/touring-epping-london-suburb-uk-with.html?m=1

Salinas with its Hartnell College and tree canopy around campus and city hall also reminds me Of Cambridge in England as well:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/visiting-cambridge-uk-with-savvy-mom.html?m=1

Market towns with adventurous and skilled cooks need food games like the ones I created below:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/food-games-created-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Food Games Background Reading List to enjoy country outings before and after visits -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/food-games-background-information-by.html?m=1

Soledad:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/condor-country-monterey-county.html?m=1

San Juan Bautista:

Parading Roosters, Ohlone Native Americans, Everyday Alchemy, Images of the Virgin Conference by Artist Jennifer Colby

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/12/enjoying-tex-mex-food-with-juilliard.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/11/learning-about-ohlone-on-californias.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2016/12/alchemy-for-kids-san-juan-bautista.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/03/living-history-day-san-juan-bautista.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/images-of-virgin-exhibit-review-by-ruth.html?m=1

Big Sur -

Eggs Benedict by the Pacific at Nepenthe with a little shopping is pretty terrific for views and flavor -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/12/brunch-on-grand-terrace-big-sur.html?m=1

Wildflower Drawing

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2016/11/wildflower-drawing-in-big-sur.html?m=1

Eating English Breakfast at River Inn -

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/12/english-breakfast-at-big-sur-river-inn.html?m=1

Monterey - Salinas Airport:

Woody’s Restaurant and Bar at the airport and in Carmel Valley offers many dining options that also draws local diners:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/12/authentic-monterey-county-lunch-at.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/02/miyagi-raw-oysters-and-jumbo-shrimp.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/09/calamari-steak-and-sand-dabs-at-woodys.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/05/seared-ahi-salade-nicoise-at-woodys-in.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/02/beet-salad-at-woodys-in-monterey.html?m=1

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/01/woodys-at-monterey-ca-airport-by-ruth.html?m=1

Culture of the American West Reading Game Created by Ruth Paget for topics to consider when thinking of your own travels in California’s Central Coast:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2021/08/culture-of-american-west-game-created.html?m=1

That is the blog round-up so far on Central Coast California tourism.  There is definitely more to explore, but all these places provide intellectual stimulation, delicious food, and relaxation to create what I consider a sense of well-being.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Ancient Western Civilization Game Series (https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/ancient-western-civilization-games.html?m=1)

Information Data and Society at SJSU reposted by Ruth Paget

San Jose State University announces its new combined major of Information Data and Society. which includes AI in its coursework.

Details about this new major at San Jose State follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_personal/19d03207bbec8f84

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and Eating Soup with Chopsticks and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

UChicago Press Book Release: Bicentenniel - a history of 1970sreposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago Press has just released Bicentenniel about the revolutionary history of the 1970s by Marc Stein.  Bicentenniel refers to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 1976.

Details about the book follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19d00f005ef9dd37

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Author Yiyun Li is the 2026 Berlin Family lecturer at UChicago reposted by Ruth Paget

Yiyun Li will spray at three lectures at UChicago as part of the Berlin Family Lectures.  Zoom attendance is possible for people who cannot attend in person.

Lectures occur on March 31, April 7, and April 14, 2026.

Details about this event follow:

https://mailchi.mp/uchicago.edu/invitation-humanities-day-on-october-5865889?e=cef015051e

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Salinas Surf and Turf Dinner at Pub's in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Salinas Surf and Turf Dinner at Pub’s in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget 

My husband Laurent, daughter Florence Paget, and I went out for a Salinas surf and turf meal at Pub’s in Salinas, California that was reliably great. I love eating at the oldest bar in Salinas. 

We began our meal with an order of deep-fried Monterey Bay calamari. The squid was lightly coated and came with a creamy, chipotle-mayonnaise dipping sauce. This was the delicious surf part of my meal. 

We all ordered steaks for the turf part of our meal. Florence and I ordered the flatiron steaks while Laurent had the filet mignon with shrimp scampi special. 

All the steaks came with an appetizer salad. The salad was crisp romaine lettuce like you would expect to eat in a top-notch steak house. I ate Thousand Island dressing with my salad made with ketchup-mayonnaise and pleasantly sour, house-made pickles. That was a refreshing break after eating the delicious calamari. 

I ordered my steak medium rare and it came out perfectly cooked and a little salty, the way I like steak. 

I chose to eat tiled, scalloped potatoes made with sharp cheddar cheese as my potato option. This tasty side is something I would eat as a vegetarian meal during the week. 

Steamed vegetables coated in butter rounded out the steak platter. Carrots, celery, and zucchini made up the vegetable selection when we went, but they can change with the seasons. The vegetables had a slight, sugary flavor letting you know they were fresh and at their peak ripeness. 

We brought our own bottle of wine to go with the steaks – a Mayard Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau de ma Mère produced in the Rhône River Valley by Avignon, France. The wine was six years old and excellent with steak. (The corkage fee at Pub’s is $20 – very reasonable, if you drink your entire bottle.) 

For a really great seafood and steak dinner in a country town, Pub’s in Salinas, California has been a number one option since its opening in 1901. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Portable, Battery Operated Fans for Hot Weather Car Waiting reposted by Ruth Paget

It’s supposed to be 89 in Salinas, California today.

For people doing delivery and other driving fleet work, I thought portable, battery operated fans might be useful to stay cool while waiting for assignments or trying to cut down on AC use while driving.

Walmart has a good selection and two locations in Salinas and one in Marina:

https://www.walmart.com/browse/home-improvement/battery-operated-fans/1072864_133032_1231458_1230511_3882908?adid=222222222285457627962_101114166_189154538570_23625811341&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=799457721965&wl4=pla-2461816942250&wl5=9031879&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=554347038&wl11=online&wl12=5457627962_101114166&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23625811341&gbraid=0AAAAADmfBIpCQkpRBrq-DWH051YxvzN54&gclid=CjwKCAjw1N7NBhAoEiwAcPchp6uAjdwqQepBZzVl_v5sic9aqWBaac9gJp5DTeG3rllY5ysdacJ90xoCj0YQAvD_BwE

Target, Ace Hardware, and Amazon probably carry these items as well.

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Quarter 2 Sales Drivers for Salinas and Monterey County California by Ruth Paget

Quarter 2 Sales Drivers for Salinas and Monterey County California by Ruth Paget 

Quarter 2 (Q2) sales drivers for the period April 1 to June 31, 2026 in Salinas and Monterey County California feature many national sporting playoffs and championships that can generate bar-restaurant sales as well as supermarket and market sales for home-based celebrations. Merchandise, sponsorships, and concessions bring in big money from sports, if managed well.

A preliminary list by month of events follows: 

April: 

-Easter – April 5 

-Earth Day – April 22 

-Hidden Hills Hoedown – April 19 

-ComicCon Salinas (Spreckels) – April 22 

-NHL Playoffs start – April 18 

May: 

-Kentucky Derby – May 2 

-Quilt Show Pacific Grove – May 1 

-WNBA Playoffs start – May 8  

-Cinco de Mayo - May 5

June: 

-NBA Playoffs start – June 3 

-Wimbledon begins – June 29 (their signature dish is strawberries and cream) 

-World Cup Soccer - beginning June 11

Ongoing: 

-Spring releases of books

-Major League Baseball

-LA ComicCon – November 30 to December 1 

-Room Air Conditioner Sales

-Fan sales

-time to get a personal gardener to clear out weeds and get the garden tidy

-spring is time for pet grooming and making sure shots and insurance are up to date

-In the South, people do laundry for other people as a gig job.  clothes can dry on lines in Spring.

-Spring is time to contact a cleaning company to set up spring cleaning

-start pricing educational toys for the holidays at Thinker Toys in Carmel

-set up landscaping services for summer

I used to do sports rallyes to watch basket games when I live in Chicago. It was easy for me to buy Greek food so I put together many Greek buffets.  My sports rallye blog follows:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-chicago-bears-rallye-game-sports.html?m=1 

*Catch up on vaccinations

Note: Nick the Greek Restaurant has opened in Monterey on Alvarado Street recently, if you would like to try some Greek food sports buffets too. Demetra in Marina and Carmel also serves Greek dishes.  Woody’s also has fried calamari and Greek salads for adding Mediterranean flair to sports night.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Seven Seas Soup Seafood Tourism in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Seven Seas Soup Seafood Tourism in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget 

Over the years, I have tried and really enjoyed eating seven seas soup (caldo siete mares) at neighborhood restaurants in Salinas and Monterey County. 

Seven seas soup is a tasty seafood tourism food for staycations and on the road trips. Its tomato-based broth usually come with shrimp, crab legs, scallops, octopus, mussels, clams, and white sea fish to make up seven items for the seven seas soup.  the vegetables in the soup are onions, carrots, celery, and potatoes.  For a seafood soup, seven seas soup is very filling.

Chicago restaurateur and anthropologist Rick Bayless uses fewer seafood items in his seven seas soup, but makes a great broth. I have included his recipe for the soup below: 

https://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/steaming-seafood-or-chicken-or-vegetable-caldo/#:~:text=A%20caldo%20in%20Mexico%20is%20a%20soul%2Dsatisfying,seven%20seas%20soup/stew%2C%20that's%20so%20popular%20on

There are six places listed for seven seas soup in Salinas online which I have listed below: 

-Guadalajara Grill - this restaurant is a Blue Zone designated restaurant

-Mariscos El Kora 

-Phil’s Fish Market (This might be a special there, so call to make sure it is on the menu.) 

-El Zacatecano 

-Mariscos Puerto Nuevo 

-La Casa del Sazón 

Online delivery services usually have a pick-up option, if you want to sample some seafood tourism close to home to brighten up winter. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Cheese Enchiladas for Flavor and Maybe Catering at Super Pollo in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Cheese Enchiladas for Flavor and Maybe Catering at Super Pollo in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget 

Cheese enchiladas, one of my favorite Tex-Mex dishes, is also what I consider a great catering dish for small dinner parties, office meetings, and team events for several reasons: 

-you can count the enchiladas out so everyone gets a fair share

-enchiladas can be made with either corn or flour tortillas (flour tortillas are made with lard whereas corn is sticky enough itself to hold a tortilla together) 

-enchiladas can be baked in a tray and served buffet style or plated up at a dining venue 

-enchiladas can be made with a variety of melting cheeses or with meat 

-the dried chiles used to make the sauce in cheese enchiladas can be mild or spicy and contains vitamin c

-cheese and peppers are both plentiful in California because they are produced here, which keeps purchasing costs down 

-cheese has both calcium and protein in it 

-Spanish rice is the usual side dish for cheese enchiladas. Rice is a grain that grows in California, which also keeps production prices down on cheese enchiladas 

-Spanish rice is usually made with chicken broth and tomato juice with a few whole jalapeño peppers added. This rice has protein, Vitamin C, antioxidants, and carbohydrates for energy 

I like the cheese enchiladas at Super Pollo and think they could make them as catering items with advance notice. Interested diners could try them first for take-out for 6 to 8 diners to test flavors and presentation before asking about catering. 

Super Pollo’s cheese enchilada combination seems similar to the recipe for them in The Best Mexican Recipes by America’s Test Kitchen (the test kitchen is in Boston). 

The sauce makes the dish. The sauce is made with stemmed and seeded dried ancho peppers that are toasted with cumin before being ground into a powder. This powder is added to salt and spices with chicken broth added that reduces the sauce to thick brick red. 

Some of this sauce is placed on the bottom of the baking dish. America’s Test Kitchen warms flour tortillas in a microwave. You can also do this with corn tortillas, but they crack easily so you need to be careful wrapping the corn tortillas around grated cheese. 

The cheese-filled wrapped tortillas are placed seam-side down on the baking dish. Sauce is spooned over the tortillas. Grated cheese is sprinkled on top of the tortillas before baking. 

When the cheese enchiladas are done, chopped scallions are placed on top of the enchiladas before serving. 

Spanish rice made with chicken broth, tomato juice, and maybe some whole jalapeño peppers is the side with hot sauces served in small dispenser cups. 

Cheese enchiladas with Spanish rice are inexpensive to make, easy to prepare and serve, and very healthy in terms of protein, calcium, Vitamin C, and antioxidants. The salt used has iodine in it I assume as well.

 i understand how Texas is Football Nation with a great catering dish like cheese enchiladas to serve player and everyone involved in making football games a profitable venture. 

Personally, I am a fan of the cheese enchiladas at Super Pollo in Salinas, California and think anyone involved with having to organized catering might want to try this dish. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Saint Patrick’s Day Books from UChicago Press reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago Press has put together a list of books about Irish history for Saint Patrick’s Day that the University of Chicago Press has published.

The list of books with their link follows:

https://t.e2ma.net/message/fh5tvi/vl7y5aok

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Quarter 1 Sales Drivers for Salinas and Monterey County by Ruth Paget

Quarter 1 Sales Drivers for Salinas and Surrounding Monterey County by Ruth Paget 

Quarter 1 (Q!) sales between January 1 and March 31 are typically considered a dry period for sales after the Christmas season and before the end of tax season. 

However, there are some ongoing and monthly events that can generate money from regional tourism. Regional tourists from Silicon Valley and the Bay Area can arrive in Salinas and Monterey County via car, train, bus, and commuter air flights from San Francisco. Day trips and weekend trips are areas for expansion. 

Also, Salinas can profit from drive-through tourism by business people going from southern California to northern California. 

Ongoing Tourism Events: 

*seafood tourism – 

Rainy, cold weather is good for seafood fishing and the perfect backdrop for seafood tourism. Maine has snow and sleet and a healthy seafood tourism industry. You can check tourism figures during winter months for Maine to see the magnitude of this tourism industry.   

Salinas can pair seafood tourism with whale watching tours in Monterey as a mini winter vacation.  Another pairing for seafood tourism is spa tourism or a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

*spa recharge tourism – 

This lucrative industry could be expanded to one-day or weekend tourists, especially for students in sustainable tourism, tourism workers, restaurant workers, and drivers in addition to traditional markets. 

*Northridge Mall Farmers Market on Wednesday nights – 

This market has 100+ food trucks and food stalls. Make sure that everything sells to Salinas and the surrounding regions. Reservations on food items managed with QR codes and Apple Pay might expand the number of people served and speed up the payment process so there are no lines.  Expanded product sales might include spa products and potted herbs. (Part of agritourism - Portland, Oregon is famous for its market)

*Natividad Farmers Market on Wednesday morning and afternoon

Located on Constitution Boulevard. See remarks above about the Northridge Market. This market sometimes has cooking demonstrations. (Part of agritourism - Portland, Oregon is famous for its market)

*Main Street Farmers Market on Saturday mornings – 

This market is well developed, but might also benefit from using a reservation pick-up system for food truck items similar to the one I described above. (Part of agritourism - Portland, Oregon is famous for its market)

*Salinas Valley Health Market on Friday mornings and afternoons -

See remarks on markets above (Part of agritourism - Portland, Oregon is famous for its market)

*Mall Shopping Tourism -

Salinas has malls with large parking lots so parking is typically not a hassle here even on busy weekends 

*Restaurant Tourism -

Restaurants in Salinas have outstanding organic produce, meat, and fish to work with. All our restaurants should be top-notch within their food category. Websites should all include parking options in their directions descriptions even if people tend to uber there. 

*Fashion Industry, Perfume, Make-Up, and Accessory Sales -

Clearance sales to make way for spring and summer collections in fashion, make-up, perfume, and accessories usually happen in January and run till everything is sold. Individuals can also go through their clothes and sell designer items at consignment shops or online. Clothes past their prime might be able to be made into rag paper. Black polyester might be able to be used for nets.

Donations of old clothing to non-profit organizations can sometimes be written off taxes as well.  You can stock up on Christmas gifts at a reasonable price January through March. This is a good time to buy winter coats like Burlingame (there is a store in Gilroy), sweaters (check out Kohl’s in Salinas), and winter boots.

*Family Reunion and Genealogical Tourism -

Many families hold reunions in upscale restaurants with good photo opportunities.  Family members might include hotel stays, tourism outings, and visits to grave yards as part of their reunions.  Florists and photographers might be part of the tourism sale for a family reunion.

*Wedding Tourism -

Wedding and honeymoon travel are available in one spot in Monterey County.

*24/7 Salinas Traveler’s Services

24-Hour Pharmacies, gas stations, restaurants, and car maintenance facilities are on the following blog I put together:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/247-salinas-california-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

*Little League Sports Tourism -

Visiting teams often eat in restaurants and stay overnight in hotels.

*Alumni Club Discounts / Organization Discounts for Staycation Tourism -

Saving money on purchasing a needed item is money earned too - Check if your alumni clubs or organizations have discounts for members on items like grills, televisions, refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, and dishwashers, if you need to replace these items.  Also, many alumni clubs have discounts at JC Penney for family holiday photos.

*Join Airline, Rental Car, and Hotel Loyalty Point Programs and keep track of points for use on weekend vacations

*Join loyalty programs for upscale restaurant chains like Landry’s and plan travel around memorable meals to save money on dining out and travel. Chart House in Monterey is a Landry Restaurant. (McCormick and Schmick’s is an upscale seafood chain.  Check it out when traveling.)

*Recycle cans, plastic bottles, and glass

You can recycle these items in the parking lot of Star Market at the yellow recycling truck for cash.

*Sign up for car dealer club mailing lists

BMW in Seaside has one.  Learn about new models and any sales.  Year-end purchases can sometimes be discounted.  Read Consumer Reports magazine from library to study car options as well.

*Use Rewards Points at Starbucks

Get bags of coffee for use on the weekend.

*Look into any corporate gifts to be made like chocolate from Ghirardelli or See’s for birthdays or team meetings

*Set up corporate accounts for deli ordering at Costco and other supermarkets 

*Before subscribing to magazines, see if your local library has an online version of it.  You can spend money saved on a local newspaper subscription.

*Think of reading e-books 

Online books are sometimes less expensive than paper copies.  Check out this option to save money.

*T-shirts for family reunions, sporting events, corporate events, and class reunions

Get orders for these items in early

*Center for Photographic Arts Portfolio Counseling in Carmel

*Catch up on vaccinations

*Ticket Sales for Spring and Other Seasonal Events can Start in January for events such as the following:

-season tickets for the Western Stage at Hartnell College 

-season tickets for Ariel Theatrical the children’s theater 

-Rodeo tickets 

-Salinas Air Show tickets 

-Ferrari Challenge tickets 

-Bach Festival

-Concorso Italiano

-Concours d’Elegance

-Planetarium tickets at Hartnell College 

-Pro-Am Golf Tournament Tickets (held in February)

-season tickets to classical music events like Bach Fest, the Symphony, and Chamber Music of Monterey 

-season passes to the Monterey Museum of Art

-Steinbeck Center 

-Steinbeck House Restaurant Reservations 

-Shakespeare Santa Cruz

-Quilt Show - Beginning May 1 - Pacific Grove

-Hidden Hills Hoedown Fundraiser - 4-19

-Carmel International Film Festival

Once tickets are sold, people tend to make hotel and restaurant reservations.

Events that can generate sales for restaurants, grocery stores, books, and movie downloads by month for restaurant and at-home celebrations include: 

*January 

-New Year’s Day (January 1) 

-Martin Luther King Day (January 18) 

*February

-Chandeleur (February 2) 

-Mardi Gras (February 17)

-Lent (40 days before Easter. Food products to be eaten include fish, seafood, dairy, vegetables, and legumes but no meat related products) 

-Valentine’s Day (February 14) 

-President’s Day (February 15) 

-Chinese New Year’s and Vietnamese Têt – two-week celebration in February 

-Super Bowl Watching Parties – various venues 

*March 

-Tulip viewing and purchasing at Earthbound Farms - 

See my blog below for information on the history and cultivation of tulips:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/tulip-tourism-outside-salinas-at.html?m=1

-Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17) - 

See my blog below for a home-based celebration:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/saint-patricks-day-recipes-and-cultural.html?m=1

-ComicCon Salinas held in Spreckels at the end of March 

For ticket information, see my blog below:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/comiccon-salinas-is-march-22-2026-in.html?m=1

*Planted Flower Sales -

Flowers grow from inexpensive seeds and command high prices when potted and sold at markets.  This is a nice gig job, if you have a warm, sunny yard to grow plants and a buyer who will sell them. Herbs are a favorite for cooks.

*Landscaping Trimmings Sales

The wood in these trimmings might be able to be recycled into paper products.

-Major League Baseball begins on March 25

These cultural and educational events and seasonal items are what I would like to see sold to 100% capacity. With a little planning, I think this 100% sale of cultural and educational events can be a realistic goal. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Tulip Tourism Outside Salinas at Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel Valley, California by Ruth Paget

Tulip Tourism Outside Salinas at the Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel Valley, California by Ruth Paget 

While scrolling through my TikTok feed, I saw some posts about the You Pick Tulip Days at Earthbound Farm Stand in Carmel Valley, California. 

My husband Laurent, daughter Florence Paget, and I all thought this would be a nice family outing for the weekend and set out on a warm Sunday morning for Earthbound Farm Stand. 

I have put together a blog round up about tulip tourism for bouquet gatherers wanting more information. 

Earthbound Farm Stand’s Instagram has the best souvenir photo of tulip days, which I have provided a link for below: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DUWFm4PD_ny/

Earthbound was packed with diners when we arrived at 9:30 am. People wanted their coffee and baked goods before heading out to snip their bouquets. We would pick up some food after visiting the tulip garden. 

Earthbound Farm Stand naturally offers some great organic salads on its menu, which I have provided a link to below:

https://www.earthboundfarm.com/recipe-category/mains/

Tulips are most commonly viewed as a cultivated flower from the Netherlands. However, they are a wild plant that originally grew in the mountains of Central Asia. The Turks cultivated the tulip before it was introduced to Europe in the 16th century. At one time, tulips even became part of a speculation frenzy called tulipomania. 

The following blogs go into more detail on the history and cultivation of tulips:

*Tulip origins – Amsterdam Tulip Museum 

https://amsterdamtulipmuseum.com/blogs/tulip-facts/where-did-tulips-originate

*Tulip history and cultivation 

https://www.sarahraven.com/articles/the-history-of-the-tulip?srsltid=AfmBOopi3XWXQHCZaj1aVanKcLFW1x9gXT0g8F7fIzhhDdsmbcfPRx3M

*Tulipomania – fact https://www.history.com/articles/tulip-mania-financial-crash-holland

The tulip season is approaching its end in mid-March, so you might want to call and make sure they are still blooming at the Earthbound Farm Stand. 15 tulips currently cost $35. The tulip field is open 9 am to 3 pm from Wednesday to Sunday.

After photographing tulips and visiting the tulip field, Florence bought a turkey club sandwich and a greeting card with a line drawing of the Earthbound Farm Stand by Margaret Schaller. 

I like it that Salinas and Monterey County have no shortage of flowers like tulips or artists. 

Note: I grew up in Michigan, which honors Dutch culture, especially tulips, in its town of Holland, whose website follows:

https://www.holland.org/things-to-do/dutch-experiences/

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

UChicago Year of Games 2026 Still Going Strong reposted by Ruth Paget

The 2026 Year of Games at the University of Chicago is still going strong, including a visit to the Gygax House in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin where the game Dungeons and Dragons was born several decades ago.

For a calendar of events, lectures, and exhibits, click on the following link for the Year of Games at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois:

https://mailchi.mp/uchicago.edu/subject-line-5865619?e=cef015051e

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Vincent performed by Shakespeare Santa Cruz April 24 - May 10, 2026

Shakespeare Santa Cruz is performing Vincent, a one-act play, from April 24 - May 10, 2026 in Danta Cruz, California about the life of Vincent van Gogh as told by his brother Theo.

Ticket information and play details follow:

https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/santa-cruz-shakespeare/vincent

Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Ariel Theatrical 2026 Ticket Information posted by Ruth Paget

Ariel Theatrical has tickets for sale for its 2026 spring season available now:

For ticket information and play details, click the following link to their website:

https://www.arieltheatrical.org/tickets-show-schedule/

Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

ComicCon Salinas is March 22, 2026 in Spreckels, California reposted by Ruth Paget

The Salinas ComicCon with Anime and Cosplay is being held on March 22, 2026 in Spreckels, California.

For ticket information and event details, click on the event link below:

https://ohanacomiccon.com/salinas-toy-anime-comic-con/

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Western Stage Season Pass Sale Extended to March 31, 2026 reposted by Ruth Paget

The Western Stage at Hartnell College in Salinas, California has extended its 2026 season pass purchase period to March 31, 2026.

See the link below for ticket information and details about plays:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19cd9df99cd97681

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

LA ComicCon - 11-30 to 12-1, 2026 repost by Ruth Paget

The Los Angeles (CA) ComcCon will take place from October 30 - December 1, 2026.

Details about tickets and the event follow:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19cd937cef152b40

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

German Back-to-School Schultute Goody Cone Tradition and Craft Project repost by Ruth Paget

The German Back -to-School Schultute Goody Cone Tradition and Craft Project Reposted by Ruth Paget

The German Back-to-School Scultute Goody Cone Tradition dates back to the 1800s.  

Schultute cones are filled with Germany candy and school supplies.  You can buy these cones ready made in Germany or make them yourself for a more personalized selection of candy and decorative style.

The following website details the current tradition, the history, schultute contents, and how to make these back-to-school cones at home:

https://whysogermany.com/schultute-the-german-first-day-of-school-tradition/#:~:text=Children%2520receive%2520this%2520cone%2520as%2520they%2520start,just%2520a%2520gift%252C%2520the%2520Schult%C3%BCte%2520stands%2520for

Have fun planning for your next back-to-school project!

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

German Strawberry Jam Recipe reposted by Ruth Paget

German Strawberry Jam Recipe reposted by Ruth Paget

This recipe from Best German Recipes is great for Monterey County California with its strawberry fields, too:

https://mybestgermanrecipes.com/german-strawberry-jam-recipe/amp/

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Jam-Filled Berliner Donuts reposted by Ruth Paget

Jam-Filled Berliner Donuts reposted by Ruth Paget

The following post about Berliner donuts is interesting:

https://www.daringgourmet.com/berliner-german-donuts/

Donut Shops in Salinas, California:

Winchell’s 

https://winchells.com/ or DoorDash

Sunshine Donuts

Order on Door Dash

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Making Classic Donuts with Beer reposted by Ruth Paget

Making Classic Donuts with Beer reposted by Ruth Paget

I found this interesting blog about making Classic donuts with beer. There are some other recipes as well, but the old fashioned donuts are most interesting for brew pub California:

https://domesticfits.com/classic-glazed-beer-doughnuts/

Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

April 22, 2026 is Earth Day by Ruth Paget

April 22, 2026 is Earth Day by Ruth Paget

National Geographic Kids - History of Earth Day

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/earth-day

Recycling Landscaping Trimmings Idea

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/recycling-landscaping-trimmngs-by-ruth.html?m=1

Making Biofuel from Landfill Idea

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/01/list-top-10-bioenergy-companies.html?m=1

Making Classic Beer Glazed Donuts

https://domesticfits.com/classic-glazed-beer-doughnuts/

Earth Day has an official organization.  Their website follows:

https://www.earthday.org/

Posted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Saint Patrick’s Day - 3-17-2026 - Recipes and Cultural Background - March 17 - posted by Ruth Paget

Saint Patrick’s Day is March 17th every year.  I put together a blog round up of cultural information and recipes for a home-based celebration for families with young children: 

National Geographic Kids has cultural information that includes dying the Chicago River green in addition to holding a parade.: 

 (I loved going to the parade when I lived in Chicago after graduating from the University of Chicago.  I worked downtown where the parade was held and called myself Ruth O’Pennington on that day.)

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/celebrations/article/st-patricks-day#:~:text=Patrick's%252520Day%E2%80%94observed%252520every%252520March,a%252520celebration%252520of%252520Irish%252520culture.

Recipes for a Home Based Celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day:

Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe.  

You would probably use beef broth instead of Guinness for this recipe if cooking for children:

https://therealfooddietitians.com/corned-beef-and-cabbage/

Roasted Sheet Pan Root Vegetables Recipe:

https://therealfooddietitians.com/garlic-roasted-root-vegetable-fries/

Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Garlic Recipe:

https://therealfooddietitians.com/garlic-mashed-potatoes/

Colcannon - Irish Mashed Potatoes with cabbage, butter, and cream recipe:

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/colcannon/

Blog Round Up by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Food Games Background Information by Ruth Paget

Ruth Paget wrote the following food blogs to transmit family knowledge from one generation to the next.

To access the blogs, type the title in the blogger search bar or click on the link following the title:

Apple Economics

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2023/05/apple-economics-in-west-virginia-by.html?m=1

German Celery Root Economics

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/11/german-celery-root-economics-by-ruth.html?m=1

Pumpkin Economics

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/09/pumpkin-harvest-2025-in-monterey-county.html?m=1

Cabbage Economics

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/cabbage-harvest-more-than-sauerkraut-by.html?m=1

Squash Economics

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/squash-harvest-is-in-at-farm-in-salinas.html?m=1

Omelets All Day

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2022/09/omelets-all-day-money-hack-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Feta Omelets

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/01/feta-omelets-at-agora-restaurant-by.html?m=1

Polenta Economics

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/05/great-value-polenta-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Meatball Economics

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/05/vegetable-meatballs-for-taste-and.html?m=1

Coconut Economics

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/healing-power-of-coconut-reviewed-by.html?m=1

Antioxidant Onions

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/05/antioxidant-onions-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Frost-Resistant Potatoes

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/05/frost-resistant-potatoes-and-more-by.html?m=1

Reuben Sandwich Deal at Pebble Beach Market

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/04/reuben-sandwich-deal-at-pebble-beach.html?m=1

Iced Coffee and Cold Brew

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2022/08/cold-brew-and-iced-coffee-money-hacks.html?m=1

Oktoberfest Food

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/oktoberfest-food-ideas-for-us-suggested.html?m=1

Making Classic Donuts with Beer

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/making-classic-donuts-with-beer.html?m=1

Fermented Black Soybean Use in Chinese Food

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/chinese-probiotic-black-bean-chicken.html?m=1

Jam-Filled Berliner Donuts

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/jam-filled-berliner-donuts-reposted-by.html?m=1

Food Games

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/food-games-created-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Chinese Probiotic Black Bean Chicken with Vegetables at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Chinese Probiotic Black Bean Chicken with Vegetables at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget 

The black beans used in black bean chicken with vegetables at Golden Star Chinese Restaurant in Salinas, California are fermented black soy beans. 

As a fermented food not only do fermented soy beans have a delicious salty flavor, they are also a probiotic that promotes gut health. Fermented black beans are high in protein content and fiber. They usually replace oyster sauce as a flavoring agent when they are used in a dish. They enhance the flavor of vegetables, especially cabbage. 

At Golden Star, they flatten the chicken used in black bean chicken with vegetables to make it cook quickly in a wok. When the chicken is done, it is taken out and set aside. 

More oil goes into the wok to heat up followed by the seasoning trio of minced garlic, minced fresh ginger, and chopped scallions. Fermented black beans are added to the seasoning trio and stirred in before adding the following seasonal winter vegetables: carrots, green bell peppers, mushrooms, and cabbage. 

Once the cabbage and carrots soften up, the flattened chicken is added back in and heated up with the vegetables. Just before serving, shaoxing wine is added in for flavor. 

This dish is best eaten steaming hot over rice. I love the distinct vegetable flavors that become even more pronounced with the black bean sauce. 

The flattened chicken curls in the wok when heated. There seems to be a lot of chicken in the black bean chicken, but flattening the chicken might make ¾ of a breast seem like twice that amount.

I like the flavor of salty, fermented black beans and the seasonal winter vegetables very much. This preparation also tastes good with shrimp. I am biased, but I think the seasoning trio of garlic, ginger, and scallions is pretty tough to beat for flavor and health. 

The black bean chicken with vegetables at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California is a very flavorful dish that makes excellent use of the organic produce in Salinas Valley. 

Chinese food lovers already know this is a tasty dish, but diners seeking a probiotic dish that is mildly flavored might enjoy trying black bean chicken with vegetables as well. 

Note: There is parking behind Golden Star Restaurant with a passage to Main Street where Golden Star Restaurant is located in Salinas, California. 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Recycling Landscaping Trimmngs by Ruth Paget

Recycling Landscaping Trimmings by Ruth Paget 

Twigs and branches from landscaping might be able to be recycled into paper products like toilet paper, tissue, napkins, and paper bags.

Having emergency supplies of those products on hand might help with community preparedness for disaster.

Just a thought. The following companies might have services to do this already in place:

Wood Recycling Company

https://www.visionrecycling.com/ 

Reuse Wood Company

https://reusewood.org/

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Music Games Created by Ruth Paget

Ruth Paget created the following music games to transmit family knowledge from one generation to the next.

Click on the link following the game titles to access the games or look up the game title in the search bar.

*Clefs: The Music Fundamentals Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/clefs-music-fundamentals-game-created.html?m=1

*Duple: The Musical Rhythm, Meter, and Metric Organization Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/duple-musical-rhythm-meter-and-metric.html?m=1

*Phrygian: The Musical Scales, Keys, and Mode Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/duple-musical-rhythm-meter-and-metric.html?m=1

*Solfege; The Sining and Harmonic Organization Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/solfege-singing-and-harmonic.html?m=1

*Plagal: The Harmonic Organization Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/plagal-harmonic-organization-game.html?m=1

*Bass Line: The Harmonic Composition Fundamentals Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/bass-line-harmonic-composition.html?m=1

*Cambiata: The Melodic Composition Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/cambiata-melodic-composition-game.html?m=1

*Picardy Third: The Harmonic Composition Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/picardy-third-harmonic-composition-game.html?m=1

*Codetta: The Visual Score Analysis Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/codetta-visual-score-analysis-game.html?m=1

Sylvain Tutoring in Salinas, California and Princeton Review can help prepare for the AP Music Theory Exam.

by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Ancient Western Civilization Games Created by Ruth Paget

Ancient Western Civilization Games Created by Ruth Paget 

Ruth Paget created the following games to transmit family knowledge from one generation to the next to promote lifelong learning and a pleasant lifestyle. 

To access the games, type the name of the game in search bar or click the link that follows the title of the game: 

*Pharoah Hatshepsut 

Pharoah Hatshepsut Game

*Thutmose III: The Ancient Egypt Game 

Thutmose III Game

*Ramses II: The Ancient Egypt Media Game 

Ramses II Game

*Marathon: The Ancient Greece Strategy Game 

Marathon Game

*Salamis: The Ancient Greek Navy Game 

Salamis Game

*Tyre: The Ancient Greek Engineering Game 

Tyre Game

*Gaugamela: The Ancient Greek Bittersweet Victory Game 

Gaugamela Game

*Cannae: The Ancient Carthage Strategy Game 

Cannae Game

*Alesia: The Roman Conquest of Gaul Game 

Alesia Game

*Ancient Rome and Latin Reading List Games 

Ancient Rome Reading List

Games Created by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Calzone Change Up at Gino's Pizza in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Calzone Change-Up at Gino’s in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget 

A calzone fills an entire large pizza box at Gino’s in Salinas, California. 

Calzones at Gino’s are in no way a hand-held item. At Gino’s you split the calzone in two and share it with two people for dinner. You eat them with a knife and fork and do not carry them like you do in Naples, Italy where they originated. 

I like the Italian-American calzone at Gino’s for size and flavor. 

A calzone is made with a large, round piece of pizza dough. At Gino’s, they fill one side of the dough with ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and sweet pepperoni. 

The unfilled side is turned over the side with the filling and the edges are sealed and crimped to look like a Galician (located in Northwestern Spain) empanada. The calzone at Gino’s is baked to form a crisp crust with a soft, warm interior. Gino’s calzone comes with mozzarella sauce on the side for dipping. 

A family of four could amply eat with an order of two calzones at Gino’s in Salinas, California. I recommend the calzone as a multicultural change for a standing pizza night dinner. 

For more information on calzones, check out the following website: 

https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/calzone-vs-stromboli#:~:text=What%20Is%20a%20Calzone?,fried%20and%20are%20called%20panzerotti.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Friday Night Fish Fry at Black Bear Diner by Ruth Paget

Friday Night Fish FryDinner at Black Bear Diner by Ruth Paget

Friday Night Fish Fry Dinner at Black Bear Diner in Salinas and Monterey by Ruth Paget

On a recent outing to Black Bear Diner in Monterey (Salinas also has a location), I saw that Black Bear Diner is doing Friday Night Fish Fry.  Fish Fry usually comes with French fries.  

I like to order lemonade with fish fry to increase the vitamin C with the meal - Vitamin C fights scurvy, the old time sailor’s plight.

The Monterey location advertised catering for events in the restaurant. 

I have included the following link to their website:

https://blackbeardiner.com/location/salinas/

Note: Friday Fish Fry Dinner has a long history in Wisconsin where my family lived for several years.  This meal is usually reasonably priced and welcome for work-weary parents.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

Gambrinus: The Global Beer Types Game by Ruth Paget

Gambrinus: The Global Beer Types Game Created by Ruth Paget 

I named the beer types game for Gambrinus, the European king of beer, who was famous for drinking a stein of beer in one swallow. 

Gambrinus Game Objective:  

Enable player(s) to make better purchasing decisions based on knowledge.

Items Needed: 

To play this global beer types game, you will need: 

-A copy of the Oxford Companion to Beer edited by Garrett Oliver

-large index cards 

-pens 

-access to the internet to look up the hops used in various beer types 

The following background information on beer culture can serve as an ice breaker for individual or team play: 

European Beer Buying Tips: 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2019/12/european-beer-buying-tips-lager-ale.html?m=1

Beer Economics in South Jersey 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2021/12/beer-economics-and-food-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Pub’s for Prime Pork Chops – Sustainable Animal Husbandry 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/10/prime-pork-chop-dinner-at-pubs-prime.html?m=1

Oktoberfest Food 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/oktoberfest-food-ideas-for-us-suggested.html?m=1

Alvarado Street Brewery - Sustainable Beer Practices 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/02/german-style-kolsch-beer-and-loaded-blt.html?m=1

Beer Hops Game Game Directions: 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2021/06/beer-hops-games-created-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Firestone Walker - California Brew Pub

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/pretzels-burgers-and-rock-music-at.html?m=1

To play Gambrinus you need to make an index flash card with the name of the beer on the front of the card and the following information on the back: 

1-beer category – ale, lager, or hybrid 

2-main city and/or country of origin 

3-hopes used for flavor and/or aroma  

4-2 or 3 historical facts for discussion (these will vary by player) 

The Oxford Companion to Beer edited by Garrett Oliver lists 107 different types of beer in the world. 

If you learn 10 beers at a time with all 4 pieces of information, it is easier to manage learning the entire list. 

Start by learning one of the characteristics at a time for the 10 beers and so on. 

Quiz yourself on all 4 characteristics for every 10 beer types you learn. When you have gone through all 107 beer types, quiz yourself until you know everything by heart. 

Gambrinus is a great game for learning material individually and then playing as a team. 

Happy Gaming! 

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Food Games Created by Ruth Paget

Food Games Created by Ruth Paget

Ruth Paget created the following food games to transmit family knowledge from one generation to the next to maintain a pleasurable standard of living.

You can access the games by looking them up in the blogger.com search bar or by pressing the link that follows the game’s name:

Camembert: The Global cheese Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2021/07/camembert-cheese-games-created-by-ruth.html?m=1

Au Jus: The Global Beef and Veal Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/au-jus-beef-and-veal-society-game.html?m=1

King Trumpet: The Global Mushroom Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/king-trumpet-mushroom-society-game.html?m=1

Dijon: The Global Mustard Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2023/07/senf-mustard-society-game-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Coulis: The Global Tomato Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2023/11/coulis-succulent-tomato-society-game.html?m=1

Isigny Ste Mere: The Global Cheese Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2023/10/isigny-ste-mere-global-butter-brands.html?m=1

Teff: The Global Flour Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2023/03/teff-global-flour-game-created-by-ruth.html?m=1

Gremolata: The Global Fish Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/gremolata-fish-buying-and-cooking-game.html?m=1

Carnitas: The Mexican Food Society Game with Expansions for Other Cuisines

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/07/carnitas-taco-salad-at-taquitos-in.html?m=1

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Zsoup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Mathnasium Tutors are in Salinas, California Now Reposted by Ruth Paget

I received an announcement in the mail that reports that Mathnasium Math Tutors now has an office in Salinas, California on Constitution Boulevard.

More information is available on the link below:

https://www.mathnasium.com/math-centers/salinas

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

24/7 Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Salinas, California has several 24/7 businesses that benefit tourists, workers, and locals alike:

*Valvoline for car maintenance

*Denny’s Diner - 3 locations

*Winchell’s for Donuts, Sandwiches, and Coffee - 3 locations

*Chevron on North Davis (RV dump services in addition to gas)

*Shell on North Davis (diesel station)

*CVS Pharmacy on South Main Street

*Car Wash - Shell Station on South Main Street

This is an introductory list, which may grow.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

Sustainable Wine Culture Practices in France by Ruth Paget

Sustainable Wine Culture Practices in France by Ruth Paget 

When I lived in France, I was able to witness several sustainable wine culture practices in the Touraine and Bordeaux wine regions. (My husband Laurent’s grandfather was a wine salesman for these regions, who kept several of these traditions alive in his family.)  There is money to be made in all these practices that also create jobs.

*Making wine vinegar throughout the year 

Unfinished red wine that has become sour can be made into vinegar with the addition of apple cider vinegar. I like how Normandy, which has apples, but no vineyards, is linked to the wine trade through the making of wine vinegar for both red and white wine. 

The following youtube.com video shows the procedure for making red wine vinegar with measures: 

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/u_SOgZWRxcs

*Making Salade à la Tourangelle with wine vinegar 

This is a spring and summer recipe that makes use of the abundant baby greens that grow in the Touraine, the organic cendré chevre goat cheese from the Touraine, tomatoes for which the Touraine is famous, and wine vinegar. 

My recipe for this salad follows: 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/salade-lavtourangelle-in-salinas.html?m=1

*Drinking Marc Eau-de-Vie 

Marc is a French equivalent of Italian grappa. Marc is an eau-de-vie made from grape skins, seeds, and stems that remain after grape juice is crushed out of the grapes at harvest to make wine. 

These leftover items are further crushed to make a bitter eau-de-vie. The most famous marcs in France are Marc de Champagne and Marc de Bourgogne, but technically every winegrowing region could make marc. 

*Gathering and Using Grape Leaves in Several Kinds of Food Dishes 

Once the harvested grapes are crushed and marc is made, grape leaves can be harvested for use in salads, sautéed like spinach, and stuffed with rice and/or meat.

My blog follows on how to work with grape leaves as food: 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/greek-grape-leaf-recipes-reposted-by.html?m=1

*Using Twigs from Pruning for Various Paper Products 

The most immediate use of twigs from pruning is grilling. The twigs from grape vines are supposed to impart a good flavor to grilled meat. Twigs can also be made into paper products like toilet paper, tissue, paper napkins, paper tablecloths, paper towels, writing paper, post-it notes, and paper bags. 

*Eating Boar Stew 

Boars are wild pigs with curled tusks that live in vineyards and eat grapes and leaves. They are considered pests. The French have no qualms about eating one if they capture it. They can make boar stew with chicken, if they have not boars on hand. 

Many variations of boar stew exist, but they usually include some winter root vegetables and maybe mushrooms along with a bottle of red wine in the recipe. 

*Using Old Wine Barrels to Finish Tennessee Whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon 

Old cognac barrels are routinely sold to the US for Tennessee whiskey and Kentucky Bourbon. The seasoned barrels add to the flavor of these beverages. 

*Using Old Wine Barrels as Planters 

Wine barrels cut in half make good planters. If you plant roses in them and place them by vineyards, they can provide early signals of blight and mildew that might affect the fields. 

*Possible Use of Old Barrels to Make Paper Products 

Old Barrels might be able to be made into paper products before using the option of burning them for heat.  

*Using Egg Whites to Clarify Wine at Mouton-Rothschild

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2015/02/chateau-lafite-rothschild-pauillac.html?m=1

These sustainable wine culture practices in France can be reproduced in the US, especially in California, to make money and create jobs.  Some of these sustainable practices are centuries old, but not fully adopted in all regions where wine is grown.  Adopting them might have the side benefit of helping reduce food insecurity by using grape leaves as food.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Costco Online Ordering of Deli and Cake Items Seems to Work Now on its App reposted by Ruth Paget

Costco Online Ordering of Deli and Cake Items seems to be working on its app now.  

The following article on the Woman’s World blog covers the many advantages of ordering this way:

https://www.womansworld.com/life/costco-app-update-finally-lets-you-order-cakes-and-deli-trays-online

This makes potlucks and events like team lunches easier.

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Free e-book on Beastfeeding and the Science and Cultural Norms Around it reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago Press is offering a free e-book for March on the science and cultural norms around breastfeeding - Back to the Breast: Natural Motherhood and Breastfeeding in America by Jessica Martucci.

For information and download details click below:

https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19cb46ae3d50b57f

Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Agritourism at the Fattoria di Maiano in Fiesole, Italy outside Florence by Ruth Paget

Agritourism at the Fattoria di Maiano in Fiesole, Italy outside Florence by Ruth Paget 

My husband Laurent and I were invited to the Fattoria di Maiano in Fiesole, Italy high up in the hills above Florence by J., one of my college roommates at the University of Chicago during our honeymoon. 

When I talked to J. on the phone, I told her I would find out how to take the bus to the central piazza in Fiesole from Florence, so her dad would just have to drive us back at night to our hotel.

Laurent and I loved having a dinner engagement to get to by bus. We went to a large bus stop by the Duomo, the cathedral, and found out the bus to take along with the correct fare for the bus to the zone where Fiesole was located. 

Back at the hotel, I called J. and told her the time we would arrive and the bus number we would be on. I loved peeking into gardens and yards on the way up to Fiesole. 

I was feeling very much the European citizen for using the bus to go to the suburbs. At the appointed time, we got off the bus and greeted J. and her parents and took BMW rental car to the restaurant. J.’s mom said she was going to take the bus downtown and go to museums. 

When we arrived at the Fattoria di Maiano, we sat in the garden and began our farm-to-table meal. J.’s mom told us she was taking cooking classes at the Fattoria. She had been waking up early to make saltless Tuscan bread before the heat set in. She was going to markets to buy seasonal products to go with pasta and buying many delicious ready-made meals at the farmers markets. Everything was drizzled with the Fattoria’s wonderful and healthy olive oil. 

I thought J. and her family traveled in grand style from San Diego, California to Fiesole. They flew from LA to Switzerland where they rented a car and drove to Fiesole for a month of organic food and wine lessons.

J.’s dad ordered dinner while her mom asked how we had traveled to Italy. We took charter flights from the US and had Eurail passes. On our month-long honeymoon we were visiting art museums. 

The University of Chicago did not allow double majors, but I had done all the course work in both East Asian Studies (my major) and Art History. I was the honeymoon tour guide, especially since I had studied Italian Renaissance Art with Professor Earl Rosenthal. I showed J.’s mom the Let’s Go Italy guide I had published by Harvard for planning historical walks as well. 

As we nibbled on minced liver crostini, we talked about the artwork at the Uffizi, the Bargello sculpture museum, the Pitti Gallery artwork, and Michelangelo’s David at the Academy. 

Our primi pasta course arrived, which killed off most of the conversation. The pasta was fettucine with sautéed tomatoes, spinach, yellow squash, and seasoned with rosemary, thyme, garlic, and fine grain sea salt in a creamy sauce. 

J.’s dad remarked that cooking with the seasons seems to mean sautéing what’s new at the market, adding it to pasta, and serving it in a cream or tomato sauce. 

“Seasonal food is also supposed to be abundant and lower priced,” he remarked.  

I think he was suspicious of pyramids of glossily shined tomatoes and zucchini. 

He was waiting for the secondi. 

“You can’t go wrong with bistecca alla fiorentine and Chianti,” he said as we all prepared to eat large steaks from Chianina beef with expensive Chianti – no straw encased bottles here. The steaks had sea salt on them with large drizzles of viscous, green cold press extra virgin olive oil made at the Fattoria di Maiano. 

The steak was a first-class experience. 

Our contorni, vegetable course, was a mound of organic baby greens with oil and vinegar dressing. 

I was merrily eating and remarked as we looked at the lights in Florence below, “I am not sure how to get back to our hotel from here.”

Neither did Laurent. The churches of Florence were all illuminated along with their piazzas. “Each church is a neighborhood with streets radiating out around it like the spokes on a wheel,” I remarked, using information I had learned in art history. 

We picked out the Duomo and the Santa Croce neighborhood where we were staying. Laurent suggested that J.’s dad drive us to the Duomo and we would do the rest of the trip on food. We would call from the hotel to let them know we had arrived. 

This is a great memory I have of Europe, but Americans can now do agritourism in many parts of the US. 

For example, I live in Salinas, California now, which has a large farmers market on Saturday mornings. The farmers market closes down a huge portion of Main Street. This is a great spot to buy basic organic ingredients with a few food trucks.

Another spot for agritourism happens on Wednesday nights at Northridge Mall in Salinas at the Farmers Market that has 100+ food trucks and food stalls. This market reflects the multicultural diversity of the region. It is a great place to try ethnic food at a reasonable price. 

There are many ways to do agritourism including walks with picnics, cooking classes, olive picking, fishing, grape harvesting, grape stomps, visiting fish markets, going to a brew pub for a meal, learning to make jams, learning to bake various items, winery and brewery tours, winery tour by stagecoach, and hayrides. 

All of these activities create jobs in the countryside, which is always welcome, and an incentive to seek out agritourism when traveling. 

The Fattoria di Maiano has been in operation for more than 40 years doing activities like these providing lessons for all of Europe and the US on how to make money by promoting the best practices of the countryside. 

Monterey County also has many opportunities to do agritourism including spa options. 

Happy Touring! 

Fattoria di Maiano Website follows:

https://www.fattoriadimaiano.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21367343970&gbraid=0AAAAADl20mHW0IBxuKzhvgCtKj48-SigL&gclid=CjwKCAiAqprNBhB6EiwAMe3yhn-QRaGrCmOxfj99kLIc-03cZaoCyhvMXJxSTXJ-Z3A-DLTE7INkNRoCJMkQAvD_BwE

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Beverage Games Background Information Blogs by Ruth Paget

Beverage Games Background Information Blogs by Ruth Paget

I have collected my blogs on beer economics, beer traditions, German wine labels, and wine and Chinese food pairings below to transmit family knowledge to the next and following generations.

To access the blog, click on the hyperlinks that follow the title or type the title in the search bar of my blog.  A link to the games is at the bottom of the page.

European Beer Buying Tips

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2019/12/european-beer-buying-tips-lager-ale.html?m=1

Beer Economics

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2019/12/european-beer-buying-tips-lager-ale.html?m=1

Making Classic Donuts with Beer

https://domesticfits.com/classic-glazed-beer-doughnuts/

Oktoberfest Food

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/oktoberfest-food-ideas-for-us-suggested.html?m=1

Beer Traditions - California Brew Pubs in Monterey, Salinas, and Paso Robles

Alvarado Street Brewery - Monterey and Salinas 

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/02/german-style-kolsch-beer-and-loaded-blt.html?

Firestone Walker - Paso Robles

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/pretzels-burgers-and-rock-music-at.html?m=1

Beer Traditions - American Bar Restaurants

Pub’s - the oldest bar in Salinas, California

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/10/prime-pork-chop-dinner-at-pubs-prime.html?m=1

Brass Tap - Cicerone Beer Server Training Ground with 100+ beers on tap, Trivia Nights, Sports

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/11/eating-crunchy-fried-shrimp-by-pacific.html?m=1

Crown and Anchor - British pub with ship models, English phone booth, royal Guard statue, beefeater mugs, and brass bad-relief plates

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2017/12/producer-mom-dinners-at-crown-and.html?m=1

Wine Traditions 

Sustainable Wine Culture Practices in France

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/sustainable-wine-culture-practices-in.html?m=1

German Wine Labels

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/exploring-german-culture-through-wine.html?m=1

Wine and Chinese Food Pairings

Ihttps://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2019/03/wine-and-chinese-food-pairings.html?m=1

Fortified Wine Use and Solera System

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/08/chicago-meal-at-pubs-growers-pub-in.html?m=1

Cold Brew and Iced Coffee

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2022/08/cold-brew-and-iced-coffee-money-hacks.html?m=1

Beverage Games Created by Ruth Paget

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/beverage-games-created-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games

Beverage Games Created by Ruth Paget

Beverage Games Created by Ruth Paget

Ruth Paget created the following beverage games to transmit family knowledge from one generation to the next to maintain a pleasurable standard of living.

You can access the games by looking them up on the blogger.com search bar or pressing the hyperlink that follows the game’s name.

Note: If you want to work in a bar in California, you need to read current information on certification by the Alcohol Beverage Control Board.  Their website follows:

https://www.abc.ca.gov/education/rbs/

Vienna: Coffee Games

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2021/07/vienna-coffee-games-created-by-ruth.html?m=1

Yunnan: The Chinese Tea Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/yunnan-chinese-tea-game-created-by-ruth.html?m=1

Darjeeling: The India Tea Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/darjeeling-india-tea-game-created-by.html?m=1

Matcha: The Japanese Tea Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/matcha-japanese-tea-game-created-by.html?m=1

Wulong: The Taiwan Tea Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/11/wulong-taiwanese-tea-game-created-by.html?m=1

Sommelier: The Wine Facts Society Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2019/02/sommelier-wine-facts-society-game.html?m=1

French Wine Place Name Game - Reds

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2023/07/french-wine-place-name-game-reds-by.html?m=1

French Wine Place Names - Whites

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2023/07/french-wine-place-name-game-whites-and.html?m=1

Felix Kir: The French Cocktails, Liqueurs, and Digestifs Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/felix-kir-french-cocktails-liqueurs-and.html?m=1

Fizz: The Fashion and Non-Alcoholic Beverage Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/12/fashion-and-non-alcoholic-beverages.html?m=1

Spirits: The French Eau-de-Vie Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2018/08/spirits-french-eau-de-vie-game-created.html?m=1

Beer Hops Games

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2021/06/beer-hops-games-created-by-ruth-paget.html?m=1

Gambrinus: The Global Beer Game

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/gambrinus-global-beer-types-game-by.html?m=1

Beverage Games Background Information Blogs

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/beverage-games-background-information.html?m=1

Happy Gaming!

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games