Risotto alla Milanese at Pub's (Growers Pub) in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Risotto alla Milanese at Pub’s (Growers Pub) in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

After a succession of hot days in the high 80s, my daughter Florence Paget, husband Laurent Paget, and I went out for an iodine-rich dinner at Pub’s (Growers Pub) in Salinas, California.

Salt depletion caused by sweating in high heat reduces iodine in the body.  Iodine depletion has been linked to several health disorders including thyroid cancer by the National Institutes of Health.  I have provided a hyperlink to the NIH site: NIH site regarding iodine depletion.  This text does not substitute for a doctor, but it might help guide dining choices for people who work outside all day or who do not have air conditioning and provide a discussion topic for doctor appointments.

With this grim information about iodine on my mind, I ordered a meal that a rich Milan, Italy dweller might order to deal with a hot days.

I started with fried calamari (squid) rings that I could dip in piquant sauce with fresh lemon squeezed on the calamari.  The crunchy, salty breading was delicious.  The squid itself has protein and selenium, which helps the thyroid produce hormones and is an antioxidant according to WebMD.com.

After the calamari, I ate iodine-rich salad with blue cheese dressing.  The blue cheese was very creamy and made me think it had been made with Gorgonzola or cheese made in the Gorgonzola style.  The crispy and cold romaine lettuce tasted great after a succession of hot days.

My main dish was an excellent risotto alla Milanese made with carnaroli rice from the app River Valley in Northern Italy.

Risotto is easy to make if you can patiently stand at the stove and add in a little chicken broth at a time to be absorbed by the rice before the next addition of broth.

I used the risotto alla Milanese (saffron risotto) recipe from the Mediterranean dish.combwebsite to guide me.  For this recipe, you heat chicken broth and pour some on saffron threads to steep before cooking.  The saffron makes the risotto a golden yellow.

After you do this, you soften chopped onion in olive oil.  Once this is done, you add in the pudgy carnaroli rice and coat it with hot rice for several minutes.

Next, you add dry white wine and broth followed by dissolved saffron.  After this, you keep turning the rice till it becomes al dente, adding broth along the way. When the rice is creamy, remove it from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan or grains pedant along with butter.  Serve warm and enjoy the salty Parmesan cheese.

This meal does taste wonderful when the weather cools down at night after a hot day at Pub’s in Salinas, California.

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

 

Empanada Night Mondays at Esteban Restaurant in Monterey, California reposted by Ruth Paget

Esteban Restaurant in Monterey, California is doing Empanada Night Mondays.  Pricing details follow from Monterey County Weekly Online Community Calendar:

Empanada Mondays at Esteban Restaurant In Monterey, Calendar Details

Try these savory delights that originated in Galicia, Spain.

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

UChicago Press Romance Languages and Civilizations books reposted by Ruth Paget

 Information and Pricing about Romance Languages and Civilizations books from the University of Chicago Press follow;

UChicago Press Romance Languages and Civilizations books

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

Paella Demo and Tapas at the Quail Lodge on September 20, 2025 at The Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California reposted by Ruth Paget

Paella Demo Class and Tapas at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California reposted by Ruth Paget

I hope this is the start of a tradition!

Information and details follow:

Paella Class and Demo at The Quail

Rice is California’s indigenous grain that grows along the Sacramento Valley.  Everyone in the state should know how to make paella, which can be served with chicken, vegetables, or seafood.

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

Santa Cruz Shakespeare (CA) Upcoming Shows and Tickets reposted by Ruth Paget

Santa Cruz Shakespeare (California) has a variety of plays coming up including many that are not Shakespeare. Information and tickets details are available on their website reposted below:

Santa Cruz Shakespeare Tickets

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

Pumpkin Economics in Monterey County California by Ruth Paget

Pumpkin Economics in Monterey County by Ruth Paget

This past weekend, my daughter Florence Paget, husband Laurent, and I went to Trader Joe’s in Marina, California and admired the bumper crop of pumpkins coming in from the 2025 Harvest.

The photos below show some of the beautiful varieties on sale.  For photo details, spread your fingers apart on the image to enlarge it.

For other pumpkin harvests when my daughter was little, I took her to Earthbound Farm in Carmel Valley to buy pumpkins to make homemade salted pumpkin seeds and savory pumpkin soup.

My travel memoir from this staycation outing follows:

Earthbound Farm Outing

For people who would like to make an easier pumpkin soup, I have posted my recipe for pumpkin soup using canned  pumpkin purée below:

Pumpkin Soup Recipe Created by Ruth Paget

For people who would to buy ready-made pumpkin pies and/or pumpkins, you can go to The Farm just outside Salinas at the Spreckels exit off Highway 68 (Main Street become Highway 68 outside of town).

The Farm is an agricultural research station with a model farm, country store, community supported agricultural produce box subscription program, and bakery.

I have posted a link to The Farm’s website below:

The Farm in Salinas, California

Harvest Pumpkins at The Farm pictured below:

For people interested in a fall festival with pumpkins and a corn maze head out to Swank Farms in Hollister (San Benito County).  Ticket details and information are posted below:

Swank Farms Fall Festival

Cooler weather is coming, which is perfect for warm berages with pumpkin spice as well.

Whatever your preference, enjoy the 2025 bumper crop of pumpkins in Monterey County.

Note:  The internal mesh around the pumpkin seeds might be able to be used as feed for hogs and chickens or as organic fertilizer to make the pumpkin a no-food-waste item.  The pumpkin skins might be able to be used as feed and fertilizer as well.  I think pumpkins are pretty slop for hogs.

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

Dinosaur Bones, Ohlone Reed Boats, and Historic Menus at the Carmel Valley History Museum in Carmel Valley, California by Ruth Paget

Dinosaur Bones, Ohlone Reed Boats, and Historic Menus at the Carmel Valley History Museum in Carmel Valley, California by Ruth Paget

The first thing that you will notice about the Carmel Valley History Museum when you arrive at the Carmel Valley Park is the shape of the museum.

It is built in the Monitor style that is still used for horse stables and cow barns throughout the Western US.  The Monitor style has a raised central aisle with two lower flanking sides.  Windows between the lower sides and central aisle let in light and let breezes through to remove hot air that rises from below.  Hay can be stored on a second floor built into the raised aisle.

The label for Junipero Swiss Cheese from the Schoch Dairy in Prunedale outside Salinas shows a modified Monitor Barn the family uses for their dairy.

What everyone comes to see at the Carmel Valley History Museum is the dinosaur hip bone found while plowing a local field.  According to the museum’s exhibit label, scientists need to find dinosaur teeth to identify if the hip bone belongs to a mastodon or mammoth.

A picture of a mammoth and mastodon shows why they are hard to tell apart.

A Rumsen Ohlone tule reed boat is a living tradition made by Linda Yamane from tule marsh weeds found in the marshes of Carmel Valley.

Students who are studying sustainable tourism at California State University Monterey Bay might be interested in the menu, and seating plan from Will’s Fargo Saloon and Restaurant that was in business for decades.  To enlarge the menu, spread your fingers apart on the image.

My photo is a bit tipsy

There are many other fun things to see at the Carmel Valley History Museum in Carmel Valley, California including saddles, wagon wheels, plows that look like one-wheeled bicycles, and old fashioned typewriters.  After your visit, you can walk in the park, picnic, or admire the Emerald City Playscape.

Saddle detail with flowers and lariat

Pear cart wagon wheel.  There were orchards in Carmel Valley before vineyards.

A ride over the Laureles Grade (10%) to Salinas follows an old cattle drive path to Salinas for market and Gonzales for fattening is a bit of a thrill ride ending for a day at the museum.

Note:

There is an Emerald City Playscape located by the museum.  I have posted some photos in the following blog:

Carmel Valley Park playscape

During summer, you can buy a pass for the Carmel Valley Pool located in the park.  I have posted a summer staycation memoir below:

Carmel Valley Pool Life

Locals and visitors alike might enjoy a recharge weekend at the Hidden Valley Inn, Laureles Lodge, or Bernardus Lodge, which are located nearby.

My family likes to eat at Rustica in Carmel Valley.  I reviewed the restaurant for the Monterey County Weekly when I was younger.  The blog follows in two parts:

Rustica Review - Part 1

Rustica Review - Part 2

I also reviewed The Wagon Wheel Restaurant in Carmel Valley, which is famous for heart Western breakfasts. My review for the Monterey County Weekly follows:

Wagon Wheel Restaurant Review

Woody’s now has a place in Carmel Valley.  I like their calamari steak and sand dabs, which I have written about in the blog below:

Woody’s for Calamari Steak and Sand Dabs

The Trailside Cafe and Beer Garden has a rib special on Tuesdays:

https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2025/10/diegos-rib-night-at-trailside-cafe-and.html?m=1

An example of the kinds of school parties that can be held in the park comes from my daughter’s charter Waldorf school below:

Minnesingers and Medieval Games

Happy Trails!

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