Food Lover's Guide To Carmel

Carmel, California, offers a variety of art galleries, shopping, golf, and miles of beaches. For food-lovers, there are also wineries and some unique spots to dine. Here are a few places to try on your next visit to Carmel.

Pezzini Farms

Head to Castroville to Pezzini Farms to sample fresh artichokes and local farm produce. The store offers artichoke cookbooks, aprons, steamers, salad dressings, and other kitchen gadgets and products, along with a variety of fresh artichokes. Step outside and around the corner to order steamed, grilled, and French fried artichokes from its Choke Coach.

Earthbound Farms

This farm stand is a small, local, certified-organic grocery store selling vegetables, soups, and plenty of Earthbound Farms lettuces, slaws, and frozen vegetables. The stand also houses an organic café serving fresh sandwiches, salads, soups, and smoothies. Outside, visitors can explore the organic gardens, pick herbs and raspberries, and walk through the labyrinth.

Folktale Winery

Situated on 15 acres of vineyards and gardens along the Carmel River, Folktale Winery resembles a huge French chateau. Tour the expansive grounds, which include vineyards, a 10,000-square-foot barrel hall complete with 2,000 oak barrels, a glass-enclosed greenhouse, wine cellar, open-air courtyard, and garden. It also offers tastings of its sparkling brut, chardonnay, pinot noir, and blended wine.

Il Tegamino

Located in a cute walkway behind Carmel's Cottage of Sweets is Il Tegamino, serving traditional Italian cuisine. The tiny trattoria is run by brothers Giuseppe and Salvatore Panzato. The menu offers delicious dishes including an extensive choice of meatballs, gnocchi, lasagna, risotto, fish, salads, and a mixed grill.