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Category archives: Food & Drink

Happy New Year!

Champagne Alternative

Champagne alternative: Sparkling cranberry juice mixed with sparkling water and pomegranate seeds.

VOLCANO GRILL CLOSING

Email from Billy Quon:

To our many loyal customers,

We sincerely regret our having to close The Volcano Grill.
Last Sunday was our final day.

Over the past two years, we have truly enjoyed serving all of
you, and making good friends with many of you. Your support and enthusiasm
for our efforts is greatly appreciated, and we will miss you all tremendously!

It is our hope that by leaving the restaurant in “ready to go” condition,
a good restaurateur will fill our shoes, without the burden of debt that
is inherent with a new creation from the ground up.

In the past two years, we have built the restaurants foundation for success.
Having exhausted all of our resources, and not taking a paycheck for 2 years,
we feel that in this difficult financial climate….we cannot continue. Keeping a
roof over our heads is the most important thing right now, so taking a “real-job”
is our only answer to pay our bills.

We will be leaving Carmel Valley, regretfully, moving to the Palm Springs area,
where I will be Food & Beverage Director of an Indian Wells resort,
the beautiful Indian Wells Golf Resort. When in the area, please stop by and say hi….
…we would love to see you!! In the very difficult restaurant business, it is the
gratitude of our guests that often keeps us going. In the past departing week, the warmth
and sincerity you have expressed to us has truly overwhelmed us, and our tears are
appreciation for your acknowledgement.

Thank you so much…we love you!!
Billy, Teresa, and Kai

That great Island feel is still on The Peninsula!!!
Visit Kula Ranch Island Steakhouse in Marina!!

If you are holding a Volcano Grill Gift certificate, my friend and former partner,
Joe Loeffler at Kula Ranch, will honor them for food & beverage for the next several months.
Their phone number is 883-9479. Lunch is served Thurs-Sunday and dinner every night!
It is beautiful out there, you will feel like you are on vacation!!

Also, remember the www.hobnobmonterey.com site we were working on a few months
ago?? Well, it’s launching now, and content is starting to build. Sign-up (free) now, and
we will have a contact somewhere on the site to let you know what we are doing on a regular basis.

Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies

These cookies are so delicious. I usually hate chocolate cookies because they’re so dry and bland, but these are anything but. I followed this recipe, but substituted a cup of white chocolate chips and a few crushed up candy canes for the peppermint bark.
Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies

Piña Colada

Today’s Random Fact: I’ve had a piña colada at Trader Vic’s.

Baja Cantina, Carmel

Baja Cantina
7166 Carmel Valley Rd
Carmel, CA 93923
831-625-2252

Pomerita and Midori Margarita:
Pomtini

Halibut Tacos:
Halibut Tacos

Coffee:
Coffee

Churros:
Churros

Ice Cream:
Ice Cream

Lava Cake:
Lava Cake

10 chicken wings and a bottle of Dom

You never know where you’ll find inspiration. ;-)

10 chicken wings and a bottle of Dom

Volcano Grill & Mai Tai Bar

Another successful restaurant by the one and only Billy Quon (of Bahama Billys and Kula Ranch fame), and our new favorite. Volcano Grill & Mai Tai Bar is located in beautiful Carmel Valley Village.

Lava-tini – Pineapple juice, Cruzan Rum, Skyy Vodka and a dash of grenadine.
Lava-tini

Drop Your Bikini Martini – Pomegranate Pearl Vodka, Absolut Citron vodka, dash guava and sweet & sour.
Drop Your Bikini Martini

Herbie’s Kahuna Platter, a share appetizer for up to four guests, or a great dinner platter. Panko-crusted Jumbo Prawns, Volcano Spring Rolls, Black & Blue Ahi, and Kona BBQ Baby Back Ribs.
Herbie’s Kahuna Platter

Coconut-crusted Jumbo Prawns with Rice and Fresh Veggies, served with a “Volcano” Crispy Spring Roll (Napa cabbage, carrots, celery, & mint. Served with sweet Thai chili sauce).
Coconut-crusted Jumbo Prawns

Caramelized Banana Cream Pie – they didn’t even wait for me to get my camera out, hehe.
Caramelized Banana Cream Pie

Arctic Bon Bons, with dipping sauces of Kona Caramel, Macadamia Nuts, & Coconut – An instant fave.
Arctic Bon Bons

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Sugar!

Sugar
The Volcano Grill – Carmel Valley Village

LALLA Grill

Here are some pictures from our lunch at the LALLA Grill at Del Monte Center (mall) in Monterey. The place was very well lit and we liked the ’50s diner(ish) decor. I’m a sucker for booths, so I was happy. The service was good and the food was pretty good. We didn’t especially like the drinks – they weren’t bad, just different. I’m sure some people would love that though. The prices are about average for this area. We enjoyed ourselves and will definitely go back, especially when we need to kill time before a movie.

Roasted Beet and Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts and Gorgonzola
I can’t remember if that’s exactly what this salad was called, but whatever the name, it was good. The bread with the (Asiago.. I think) cheese baked in? OMG. I think I’d go to Lalla just for that.
Roasted Beet and Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts and  Gorgonzola

Fish Tacos
Fish Tacos

Betty Paige Martini:
This XXX Rated martini gives you a real lift… with Russian Standard vodka, XXX Rated, Cointreau, fresh squeezed lime juice, and a splash of cranberry juice… served up with a lime wedge
Betty Paige Martini

Bar at Lalla Grill
(Oops, this picture is teh suck)
Bar at Lalla Grill

Pick a sport…
Pick a sport...

Drunken Bananas

One of the desserts at Willy’s Smokehouse BBQ & Grill in Monterey.

A Flaky Phyllo Cup with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Bourbon-Caramelized Bananas and Candied Walnuts
Drunken Bananas