The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex will host a World Cup Soccer viewing party on July 18 & July 19, 2026 on the big screen.
The admission is free with some fundraising options. Information follows:
https://salinassoccer.org/world-cup-watch-party-salinas-regional-soccer-complex/
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Salinas Rodeo Brings Population Surge!
I read that 90,000 people are in town for the Salinas, California Rodeo this week with a concert by Grammy winner Miranda Lambert in the Monterey County Weekly’s online newsletter.
There is a weekly farmers’ market at the Rodeo from 4 pm to 9 pm with food, merchandise, and entertainment. There is a farmers’ market with food trucks on Saturdays in Old Town Salinas as well.
We have Western clothing and boots stores galore in town with custom cowboy hat makers as well.
There is also a Salinas Rodeo Museum and Carnival at the Rodeo grounds.
Have fun!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Clasical Western Civilization War Games
Easy Italian Starter Dishes by Ruth Paget
Food Network star Giada de Laurentis writes in her book Giada in the Kitchen (Available on Amazon Kindle) that she studied cooking in Rome and worked as a personal chef before appearing on television.
I think being a personal chef is a good gig job to earn extra money to pay bills and/or invest that can turn into full-time work, if desired in the food industry.
De Laurentis makes use of seasonal produce, which Salinas (California) has in abundance in its six farmers’ markets and supermarkets selling organic produce.
Three of the recipes in Giada in the Kitchen that I think are great for ease of preparation and maximum flavor follow:
*Tomato, Watermelon, and Basil Skewers with a sweet Balsamic vinaigrette sprinkled on them
*Roman Summer Salad made with Balsamic vinegar, green and black olives, parsley, crushed anchovy filets, capers, garlic chives, pepper, olive oil, and tomatoes
*Hearty tomato soup made with puréed onions, carrots, garlic, white cannellini beans, crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, and rosemary. To this puréed mixture, you fold in heavy cream beaten into peaks.
De Laurentis calls this hearty tomato soup an après-ski dish.
Giada in the Kitchen by Giada de Laurentis has many recipes that can be used by personal chefs, caterers, and home cooks. That is what I find to be the real beauty of her books.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Museum
-creator of French Travel and Culture Games
-writer of 1,800+ Central Coast Californian lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist whose work includes editing 250 of my grandmother and father’s recipes and 150 recipes I created at the onset of COVID-19 and posting them Online at Ruthpaget.blogspot.com
The University of Chicago Press book The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of the Modern World by Selena Winsom discusses the fire that destroyed the last Assyrian library and yet conserved its contents made of clay tablets written in cuneiform script.
Details and purchase information about The Library of Ancient Wisdom follow:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
The Online Community Calendar of the Monterey County Weekly lists the PhotoWalk in Carmel, California on July 18, 2026.
This event organized by the Center for Photographic Art invites participants to visit Carmel’s galleries with featured photographers’ work on display.
Details about this event showcasing Carmel’s contribution to photographic art follow:
https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/photowalk-carmel-2026/19382014/2026-07-18T13
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Easy Italian Appetizers by Ruth Paget
Giada de Laurentis writes in her cookbook Giada at Home (Available on Amazon Kindle) that she studied Italian cooking in Rome and worked as a personal chef before becoming a Food Network personality.
Working as a personal chef seems to be a good gig job that can become a full-time career for people interested in working in the food and beverage industry. Getting a first job is probably tough as it is most industries, but de Laurentis provides a clue as to where to start: appetizers.
Just based on my personal experience, I know that I buy and like tortilla chips and pico de gallo salsa as an everyday appetizer. De Laurentis writes that many people buy chips and dip like me, but with a little planning homemade appetizers can elevate meals, especially when entertaining.
Three of the appetizers de Laurentis describes make use of grilled baguette bread rounds as a base for spreadable toppings in appetizers called crostini. (Very hard crostini are called bruschetta.)
Three crostini appetizers that make great use of produce, which you can find at all six of the farmers’ markets in Salinas, California include:
*Roasted Eggplant Crostini
-these are made with roasted eggplant puréed with white cannellini beans, parsley, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pepper as a topping
*Artichoke Crostini
-these are made with puréed artichoke hearts, white cannellini beans, Pecorino Romano cheese, basil, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt and pepper This purée is spread on top of the bruschetta with crumbled pieces of roasted prosciutto sprinkled over the bruschetta.
Rome is famous in Italy for its artichokes according to de Laurentis. Just outside Salinas, Castroville (California) has become the US capital of artichoke production. Castroville holds an annual artichoke festival. Marilyn Monroe was one of the artichoke festival’s queens for some local gossip.
*Pea Pesto Crostini
De Laurentis uses frozen peas in this recipe and purées them with Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and olive oil to spread on top of the crostini. Halved cherry tomatoes are placed on top of the pea pesto for added color and flavor.
These three crostini are good to make at home and can be part of a personal chef’s portfolio of items to offer potential clients.
Giada at Home by Giada de Laurentis contains many clearly written recipes that make use of seasonal produce, which both help home cooks and aspiring personal chefs keep costs down.
The link below has information about working as a personal chef. Check if you need a safe food handling course, insurance, and any permits with local governments.
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2026/03/personal-chef-information-to-consider.html?m=1
Happy Cooking!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games and Classical Western Civilization War Games (8)
Six California Kitchens Lessons by Ruth Paget
Sally Schmitt, the author of Six California Kitchens, co-founder of Napa Valley’s French Laundry Restaurant, and champion of farm-to-table cooking, has left a legacy in California for high standards in home cooking, farmers’ markets organization, and dining at fine restaurants as part of elite tourism.
As a home cook and someone who likes California’s cuisine offerings, I chose three of her soup recipes to remind me of trips my family has family has made to Napa Valley.
All three of these soups can be puréed and chilled to eat on hot, summer days like those in Napa Valley:
-cold cucumber soup made with garlic chives, yogurt, cucumbers, water, mint, buttermilk, salt and pepper, and sweet onions
-eggplant soup made yogurt, garlic chives, sauteed eggplant, chicken stock, salt and pepper, and half and half. This soup is garnished with chopped shiitake mushrooms
-zucchini soup made with sautéed zucchini, salt, water, chicken stock, half and half, olive oil, shallots, and parsley
These vegetable-centric soups will always make me think of Sally Schmitt, the farm-to-table champion, who has made just about everyone in California value home cooking, farmers’ markets, organic produce, and fine restaurants.
Cooks who value farm-to-table dining will find much to like in Six California Kitchens by Sally Schmitt, which captures the lifestyle and values of Napa Valley.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games and Classical Western Civilization War Games (8)
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Museum
-creator of French Travel and Culture Games
-writer of 1800+ Central Coast Californian lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist - work includes editing 250 of my grandmother’s and father’s recipes (available on Ruthpaget.blogspot.com) and 150 recipes I wrote at the onset of COVID
University of Chicago anthropologist Sarah Newman writes about waste from the Mayas to Modern America in her book Unmasking Waste. New Histories of Old Things.
She discusses several large systemic changes that have to take place to deal with waste in the following interview transcript:.
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Zine Making Workshop on July 16, 2026 at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.
This free workshop by library school student Liz Mason looks very interesting. Liz Mason’s biography provides a good background on her work in this field.
Workshop details follow:
https://events.uchicago.edu/event/269522-zine-making-workshop
Note: This sounds like a fun activity for tourists in other workshops. They could do souvenir zines with photos, ticket stubs, receipts, menus, postcards and so on. This could be a gig business.
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
The University of Chicago is selling Done in a Day::Telex from the Fall of Saigon by Elisa Tamarkin of the Chicago Daily News about the exit from Saigon on the last day of the Vietnam War for 30%off its regular price.
Information about the book and purchase details with 30% off promotional code follow:
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19f5b778e33035cc
I am always interested in the Chicago viewpoint on national and international affairs.
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Lamb Markets in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
I did a Google Search for lamb markets in Salinas, California, which gave me results which include the following:
-Salinas Meat
-La Vina Market
-La Esperanza Market
-Cardenas Market
-Magana’s Meat Market
-Ron’s Market
-Star Market
-El Rey Market
-Lucky
Happy Marketing!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games and Classical Western Civilization War Games (8)
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Museum
-creator of French Travel and Culture Games
-writer of 1800+ Central Coast Californian lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist - researched Pennington ancestors back to 1393, found Mayflower ancestors in my mother’s (Beatrice Pennington) family tree, and edited 250 of my grandmother’s (Rose Pennington) and father’s (Clarence Pennington) recipes and posted them on my website - Ruthpaget.blogspot.com
Quarter 4 (Q4) Sales Drivers by Ruth Paget
October:
Halloween
November:
Day of the Dead
Thanksgiving
Winter Holiday Sales
December:
Christmas
Hanukkah
Kwanza
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
The 2027 U.S. Open Golf Championship at Pebble Beach, California will be held from June 14 - June 20, 2027.
Ticket purchase information follows:
https://www.pebblebeach.com/events/us-open-championship/
Come for the golf and great food and wine!
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Ice Cream Shops in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
There are many ice cream shops in warm Salinas, California including:
-Baskin-Robbin’s
-Foster’s Freeze
-Casa Pena Ice Cream
-La Michoacana Original
-MYO Frozen Yogurt
-Yogurtland
-Cold Stone Creamery
-Tejuinos y Diablitos
-Emma Ice Cream
-Michoacana Joy
-Pacheco’s
-La Chime
-La Michoacana Plus
Happy Tasting, especially after marketing!
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games and Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Museum
-creator of French Travel and Culture Games
-writer of 1800+ Central Coast Californian lifestyle blogs
The University of Chicago Press is offering 30% off Your Tasting Brain: A Sensory Approach to Wine, Beer, and Other Pleasures by Randy Mosher.
Your Tasting Brain illustrates how science and art can work together to maximize pleasure at wine and beer tastings.
Information on Your Tasting Brain along with the purchase promotional code follow::
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/465/#cv/priority/%5Esmartlabel_promo/19f4c1fe8ac2fe00
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games and Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Museum
-creator of French Travel and Culture Games
-writer of 1800+ Central Coast Californian lifestyle blogs
-
The Monterey County Weekly’s Online Community Calendar lists a free Square Dancing Party in downtown Monterey, California at Jack’Park on July 11, 2026.
This event is listed as free and looks like dosie doe fun!
Information about this event from the Monterey County Weekly’s Online Calendar follows:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games and Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Museum
-creator of French Travel and Culture Games
-writer of 1800+ Central Coast Californian lifestyle blogs
The Monterey County Weekly Online Community Calendar is advertising the 54th Annual Moss Landing Street Fair on July 26, 2026 in Moss Landing, California.
Details about the Moss Landing Street Fair and Admission fees from the Monterey County Weekly Calendar follow:
https://mosslandingchamber.com/annual-street-fair/
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games and Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Museum
-creator of French Travel and Culture Games
-writer of 1800+ Central Coast Californian lifestyle blogs
This Walking with Steinbeck Tour in Monterey, California on July 11, 2026 looks interesting.
The Monterey County Weekly Online Calendar lists this walking tour as a free, community-building event:
Details about Walking with Steinbeck from the Monterey County Weekly’s Online Calendar follow:
Reposted by Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games and Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about the San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Museum
-creator of French Travel and Culture Hames
-writer of 1800+ Central Coast Californian lifestyle blogs
Asian Markets in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
Salinas has smaller Asian markets that have pretty high turnover on inventory. The Asian markets include:
-Steve’s Filipino Asian Market
-Tokyo Oriental Foods and Gifts
-Magat Asian Grocery
-Mabuhay Filipino Foods
-KK market
-Star Market
-Young’s Market
-San Miguel Market
Happy Marketing!
Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France + 6 Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games and Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Museum
-creator of French Travel and Culture Games
-writer of 1800+ Central Coast Californian lifestyle blogs