It’s one of the tallest orders in AT&T Pro-Am Tournament history: To follow a year where tourney darling Bill Murray didn’t just charm thousands with his typical buffet of bad golf etiquette, food-stealing forays and overacted celebrations, but won the team title with pro champ D.A. Points and four days of (mostly) inspired play.

But it looks like the AT&T’s up to it. And then some.

A very deep field of amateurs has committed to appear, including George Lopez, Tom Brady, Andy Garcia, Toby Mac,  last year’s Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers and last year’s breakout crowd favorite, Anthony Anderson.

They’ll be joined by top popular pros like Phil Mickelson, Mike Weir, Jim Furyk and two-time champ Dustin Johnson and, oh, some guy named Tiger Woods, who’s back for the first time in a decade, and rumored to join Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo in what will be the most-watched foursome of the weekend.

With the grand opening of Holman Ranch Vineyards tasting room in Carmel Valley, four superb family-owned, small-batch boutique wineries—Joyce, Parsonage and Chesebro—now make up a bona fide wine-tasting destination a modest shuttle ride from Tradewinds.

And those four standout artisan wineries occupy just one tiny retail strip on the edge of town. The wider hamlet—though it remains a quaint and rural unincorporated place with more red-tailed hawks than stoplights—is dripping with decorated wine venues, including Boete, Carmel Hills, Chateau Julien, Joullian, Bernardus, Heller and Talbott.

Chock Rock also calls Carmel Valley home, and hosts some of the highlights of the Monterey County wine world this winter season. In January, wine maker Dan Karlson will entertain an open house at Chock Rock’s tasting room. Attendees will be able to taste some of the winery’s incredible selections while listening to the flavorful explanations of the man himself. We can look forward to star gazing at the vineyard in February. For those that don’t know, the Chock Rock vineyard is located at mile 35 on Carmel Valley Road, just past Tassajara. The complete lack of light pollution makes it perfect for celestial staring.

Meanwhile, back in Carmel-by-the-Sea proper, a similar surge in tasting rooms is taking place, with no fewer than seven different rooms proliferating in art galleries, restaurants and stand-alone spaces.

The Cheese Shop is loaded with almost as many nice wines as incredible cheeses. Tudor Wines has a premium partnership with Andre’s Bouchee. Cima Collina, Caraccioli Cellars, Figge and Galante all do excellent locally nourished grape juice, all within a few blocks of one another and Tradewinds’ ocean view sanctuary.

That constellation of tasty places makes for a goal on their own—or pairs beautifully with a stroll on Carmel’s white sand beaches, a bite in the delectable restaurants and, yes, post-holiday shopping.

Tradewinds’ fresh orchids and Jacuzzi bathtubs await you upon your return.

As a side note, San Francisco’s ABC 7 recently did a great piece on the wines of Monterey County. Here is the video.

Carmel is a special place to me. My parents moved here when I was 10 years old. I went to school in the Del Monte forest and aside from a few years in college and grad school I have lived on the Peninsula pretty much my whole life. During this time I have developed a deep appreciation for the area.

Before coming in to work (I am the marketing manager for Tradewinds Carmel) I often go surfing down at Carmel Beach. There is something about sitting out beyond the breakers and looking back at the town that is truly spiritual. One of the best parts of my job is hearing about the memorable experiences that our guests have during their stay at the hotel. Your favorite restaurants? A secret place you have found? A magical Carmel alleyway that you love or even a special tradition or routine? Please share this with our online community (*see how below)!

To start off, I will tell you about my perfect day in Carmel. I have already told you where I surf but here is the rest….

Breakfast

After surfing, I begin my ideal day at Katy’s Place where they specialize in my favorite breakfast dish, Eggs Benedict. There are 16 different types of Bennys on the menu, everything from crab to spinach and back to the classic, Canadian bacon. But the chef-d’oeuvre, for my money, is the Romanoff – smoked salmon topped with a dash of caviar. Make sure to bring cash, they don’t take cards.

Enjoy the scenery

After a hardy breakfast, it’s time to go out and enjoy the main reason people come to Carmel, the scenery. I have hiked all over the Monterey Peninsula but my perennial favorite is still Soberanes Canyon. Soberanes is about nine miles south of Carmel on Highway One.

I usually need a snack during my hike. Located in the Carmel Plaza, just a few short blocks from Tradewinds, is The Cheese Shop. They have over 300 different types of cheese. The Brie cheeses or perhaps the Gouda cheeses are the best in my opinion, but I am always open to the staff’s suggestions.

You know the enchanted forests depicted in children’s movies? Well, if one actually exists, Soberanes is probably it. From towering redwoods to large cactus patches to tree fairies (maybe) this canyon is truly a magical place. The entire Soberanes loop takes about three hours but it’s perfectly fine to simply hike up the canyon and back down (about an hour round trip).

Wine Tasting by the Sea & Dinner

For my perfect day wine tasting is a must! Believe it or not, Carmel proper (just about one square mile) has 12 tasting rooms. One of my favorites is the tasting room in Nielsen’s market. It’s not fancy but here’s a local tip- ask for Patrick. He’s been at Nielsen’s for ages and is probably one of the most knowledgeable wine experts in town. After Nielsen’s, I might stroll down to Cima Collina. This tasting room is very chic and they have great Carmel Valley wines. Buy a bottle from a local tasting room and many Carmel restaurants will waive the corkage fee.

When it comes to dinner in Carmel, you really can’t go wrong. That being said, one of the most unique, fun, delicious restaurants in Carmel is Mundaka. Mundaka is named after a town in Spain that has one of the most famous surf breaks in all of Europe. They serve Spanish Tapas and have a lively bar scene. What I like about Mundaka is you don’t have to commit to just one dish. Plates are small, so you can order several. But if I had to choose I would go with the Queso to start followed by the Rusa with the Cordero. Check out the menu to see details about what I picked!

After dinner, I would head back to the Tradewinds where I could enjoy the fire pit and the serenity of the garden for a few moments before I relax in my spa jetted tub.

For more Carmel ideas have a look at 71miles.com. It’s a great resource for Northern California explorers!

Thanks for reading.

Will Schaeffler

*Tell us about your perfect day in Carmel by posting a comment below.

Some of the most rewarding experiences can be times spent with friends traveling. So for this post we will highlight some fun things to do on a Carmel ‘Girls’ getaway.

The Carmel Plaza is the perfect jumping off point for your day. The Plaza has a number of high-end designer stores to visit; Cole Haan, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta and Cosbar, among others. If shopping works up your appetite (we know it does for us) stop by Patisserie Boissiere for authentic French fare, tea and snacks, or visit one of the many wine tasting rooms in Carmel.

A crowd favorite, Anthropologie has also come to Carmel in recent years. The popular lifestyle store has taken an entire upper unit at the Plaza. Directly below Anthropologie is Homescapes. Homescapes is only in Carmel, and offers a unique selection of one of a kind furniture, accessories and local art work.

Speaking of which, Carmel is also known for its abundance of fine jewelers. There are approximately 14 jewelers in Carmel proper. So, if you are looking for Rolex watches or Tiffany’s diamonds, downtown Carmel has you covered.

Homescapes aside, Carmel has a number of stores that are unique to the area. A Tradewinds Carmel favorite, The Carmel Bay Company has a wonderful assortment of gifts and holiday décor. This long time Carmel shop doesn’t lack for variety with everything from perfumes to kitchenware to furniture, including items from local artists.

Last but not least is The Cheese Shop. A gift membership to the cheese of the month club is a great way to remind your loved ones you care about them, every month, until next Christmas.

Shopping can be exhausting, we know. What could be better after a long day than a nice soak in one of our spa jetted tubs or one of our signature massages. But you may just want to crawl into bed and let the Egyptian cotton sheets take care of the rest.

For more ideas on fabulous girls getaways try visiting the Girls Guide to City Life.

Special Thanksgiving Menus

If you don’t make it home for the holidays, or, if you just don’t want to cook (understandable) why not visit some of the wonderful restaurants that are within walking distance of the Tradewinds.

Andres Bouchee is a Tradewinds favorite and this year they have a TG menu that promises not to disappoint: your choice of free-range turkey, braised spare ribs or local Halibut.

Grasings is another magnificent choice for Thanksgiving. Mouth watering selections include Bronzed Sea Bass, Braised Veal Osso Bucco and Herb Roasted Turkey.

For nontraditional Thanksgiving fare go to the consistently high-ranking Flying Fish Grill. Last but not least is Christopher’s with one of the best California Coastal Cuisine menus in Carmel. Just a tip, we hear the Cornmeal Crusted Chile Relleno with rock shrimp is to die for!

Shopping Black Friday

For a more relaxed shopping experience, many spend Black Friday in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Carmel is usually not as crowded as other shopping destinations. You’ll love the charm and won’t return home as frazzled. Carmel Plaza has a number of fantastic stores including Cole Haan, Louis Vutton, Sur La Table and the famous Cheese Shop. Spending the day with the family in a charming seaside village AND getting your shopping done…priceless!

Best after TG dinner activity

As many families already know, after dinner activities are a great way to bond and, sometimes, to work off calories. Regardless of weather, Point Lobos is a wonderful option. It’s inexpensive ($9 per car) and a late afternoon visit rewards you with breath-taking sunsets.  Walking around the state park and laughing at the raucous wildlife can be a good way for the whole family to get some exercise without even thinking about it.

If Big Sur’s Most Famous and Photographed Road in the World wasn’t enough for you, and the collision of condor, coastline, redwoods and literary legend don’t quite float your two-man kayak either, then you may want to see a shrink.

More affordable than said psychiatry—and wildly more enjoyable, engaging and enlivening—would be a visit to Tradewinds, where a Carmel stroll to the beach from the boutique dream hotel, a stop by one of the hamlet’s venerable restaurants and a recoup in the hotel’s jet tubs sets the mood and the energy for a trip south on the aforementioned Highway 1 and the bounty-for-the-senses that is Big Sur.

For there are more reasons to get to Big Sur than ever before. Here come a six-pack of them, beginning with a burgeoning foodie festival, and closing with a sublime five-pack of the best Big Sur parks, in alphabetical order:

Big Sur Food & Wine Festival

In its first year, people marveled at the amount of wineries with robust reputations (and better wines) and the number restaurants with adept chefs (and warm personalities) who came out for a little first-time benefit in the redwoods.

In its second, they gawked at how, despite the uptick in quantity and quality of the purveyors represented—as they joined the returning collaborators who swore they were in for life—the event retained the feeling of family that any event worth its Big Sur sea salt wants.

Now, in year three, it’s the organizers turn to be shocked—namely, at how quickly their “Magic Mystery Tour” trip (through three breathtaking properties paired with three standout wineries from Paso Robles, Monterey County and beyond plus three top chefs like Dory Ford) sold out.

There’s more indulgent epicurean education where that came from.

Folks from hallowed Big Sur taste destinations like Big Sur Bakery and Deetjen’s join forces with dozens of top wineries from Paso Robles to Santa Lucia (think Isoceles, Garys’ Vineyards, Talbott and Testarossa) for Pacific Coast-size waves of winemaker dinners, grand tastings, an opening gala at Highlands Inn and new events like a pork paradise party at Henry Miller Library called Swine and Wine.

There’s a reason people travel from as far off as Florida to tempt the South Coast’s treasures with as many senses as possible.

More at (831) 869-1341, www.bigsurfoodandwine.org

Andrew Molera State Park

This quazi-secret, 5,000-acre state park stretches along the shore for four full miles, with gotta-earn-it access to one of the longest beaches in Big Sur. Locals surf here religiously even though the waves require a pilgrimage hike from the cars that stretches at least a mile. Molera also offers equestrian trails and picnic facilities, as well as first-come-first-served walk-in camping in a expansive meadow a brief walk from the ocean, with lots of human-friendly trails snaking around the woods and coast too.

Located 21 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, Big Sur. 667-2315.

Garrapata State Park

Garrapata earns local adoration for its range of difficulties and similar range of payoffs. Think of it as a closer-to-town version of everything deeper Big Sur has to share. Its 3,000 acres encompass scenic shorelines, deep canyons and steep mountains. The Rocky Ridge trail turns inland and upward for some gulp-inducing views of the Santa Lucia Mountains, while the Soberanes Canyon trail is lined with redwoods and offers a rewarding hike without quite as much physical exertion.

Located 10 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1. 624-4909.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

The southernmost state park in Big Sur is worth the drive, given the close-to-4,000 acres stretching from a much-photographed waterfall to the soaring peaks of the Santa Lucia Range. That means hikers can revel in beautiful redwood groves, river walks and views of the picturesque McWay Falls as it empties into the sea, or just picnic near the parking lot.

Located 37 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1. 667-2315.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

There can only be one king. Established in 1933, this state park is one of the reasons the government had to outsource reservations—it just got too damn popular. Located within its 850 acres are the Big Sur Lodge and cabins, a store, a restaurant, camping, and numerous sites for picnicking, swimming and fishing, plus the über-popular “Gorge” for its river beach and rocks to jump from.

Located 31 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1. 667-2315.

Point Lobos State Reserve

While not technically Big Sur, and arguably “the greatest meeting of land and water in the world,” as landscape artist Francis McComas called it, Point Lobos is hard to parallel, and tougher to describe accurately. Some 14 interconnecting trails wind through native pine forests, cypress groves and breathtaking, rugged coastal scenery that drawn divers and otters alike. Whalers Cove and other locations provide plenty of opportunities to view 250 bird and animal species, including, when the season is right, migrating gray whales. Day use only—but that includes the inspiring sunsets.

Located 2 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1. 624-4909.

Next week, a few of Carmel’s exclusive restaurants will open their doors to patrons at a reduced rate. Participating restaurants usually offer a three or four course fixed menu ranging in price from $25-$45. Often the package includes wine pairing – definitely an added bonus.

Our neighbor, Carmel Food Company, is including wine pairings on the menu. CFC is a promising newcomer to Restaurant Week and the culmination of a lifelong dream for head chef Sven Hoffmann. Hoffmann comes to Carmel from Napa’s prestigious restaurant and resort, Auberge d’ Soleil, to which the San Francisco Chronicle awarded the honor of being one of the top 5 places to dine in the San Francisco Bay Area. There is little doubt that Carmel Food Company will live up to expectations. Simply take a look at the Restaurant Week menu.

With so many locals already talking about Monterey Bay Restaurant Week it’s sure to create a vibrant atmosphere at the participating spots. Locals aside, this is a great opportunity for San Francisco Bay Area folks to come down and experience great dining at great prices during one of the best times of year. For more information on Carmel’s world class restaurants please visit the Tradewinds Carmel concierge page.

Carmel has long been defined by its forested residences, white sand beaches, addictive eateries and quaint shopping scene. Now, though, the wordsmiths at Mirriam-Webster are  updating the definition of Carmel to include the phrase, “outright eventful.”

(They already had Tradewinds Carmel locked in, by the way: Tradewinds Carmel, proper noun: Boutique luxury hotel dripping with all of the character of Carmel and its own unique appeal that helped earn it the 2011 Excellence Award from Trip Advisor.)

The Carmel definition needs adjusting because the tide of world-class events around here simply refuses to ebb. The wealth of stimuli this season starts with this weekend’s Monterey Jazz Festival.

The Jazz Fest has made its name—which happens to be as good as any going—with arguably the most impressive perennial lineup of genre stars in the galaxy. This year’s no different.

Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins with Glen David Andrews, Huey Lewis and The News, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band and Terence Blanchard are just a few of the dozens of artists appearing. These guys collect Grammys like most collect parking tickets.

This high pedigree doesn’t stop with the Monterey Jazz Festival, as a cursory peek at the upcoming lineup reveals rather rapidly. Bob Weir, Jerry Seinfeld and Thomas Friedman are among those arriving who can call themselves the very best in their field.

Some highlights:

Sept. 15
The Temptations at Sunset Center

Sept. 16
Pinotfest Monterey at Del Monte Beach House

Oct. 15
Jerry Seinfeld Live at Golden State Theatre

Sept. 29
Thurston Moore and Cass McCombs at Henry Miller Library

Sept. 29
The Bacon Brothers at Sunset Center

Oct. 7
Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack at Sunset Center

Oct. 7-8
Further With Phil Lesh and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead
at Monterey County Fairgrounds

Oct. 7-9
Robinson Jeffers Fall Festival at various locations throughout Carmel

Oct. 9
Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii at Sunset Center

Oct. 12-16
Carmel Art and Film Festival at various locations throughout Carmel

Oct. 13
Alt-country rockers Ryan Adams and Jason Isbell at Henry Miller Library

Oct. 20
Howie Mandel at Sunset Center

Oct. 23-24
Monterey Symphony Concert 1: Lisztomania at Sunset Center.

Oct. 25
The Miles Davis Experience at Sunset Center

Nov. 3-5
Big Sur Food and Wine Festival at locations throughout Big Sur

Nov. 3-5
12th Annual International Film Festival at Golden State Theatre

Nov. 10
MOMIX: BOTANICA Dance Company at Sunset Center

Nov. 11
Chamber Music Monterey Bay Presents Morgenstern Piano Trio at Sunset Center

Nov. 15
David Sedaris at Sunset Center

Dec. 2-3
Smuin Ballet’s Holiday Program at Sunset Center

(Charlie Rosewood is a regular contributor to the Tradewinds Carmel Hotel Blog. Also see his post on the 2010 Pebble Beach Food & Wine event.)

To better know where you’re going, the saying goes, it helps to know where you’ve been.

That’s a particularly delicious endeavor when it comes to Pebble Beach Food & Wine.

Last year my palate and I traveled to some amazing places over the course of four sensually unforgettable days.

I learned “life savers” from the master himself, Thomas Keller, as he coached a demo crowd on some of his most useful tools at Napa’s Ad Hoc—elements prized for their invaluable versatility—like a sweet onion tapenade for use with meats like lamb or pork or even on crackers with cheese and tomatoes (or thinned with olive oil and seasoned with vinegar to be used on cruidtés, fish or chicken). Later it was Ming Tsai schooling audiences on everything from chicken ( “Kosher chicken might be $3.50 a pound instead of $2.50. It’s worth it.”)  to crab cakes (”Julia Childs would say this about burgers. Pack loosely. Let the spaces fill with juices. Same with crab cakes.”)

At the breathtaking Grand Tastings, I detected two trends: 1) more sweets; and 2) a back-to-basics ethic.

On the dessert front, our own Anastasia Simpson of Spanish Bay whipped up cubical “peanut butter bar” creations whose nougat hat and smooth moussey magic paved a highway to attendee hearts. Celebrated pastry visionaries Angela Pinkerton of Eleven Madison Park and Sherry Yard of Spago conjured predictably mind-blowing sweet dreams—buttermilk sorbet and fudge cookie treats, respectively.

But it was the simple presentations that most spoke to me. One of my favorite tastes of the whole week: grilled cheese. Really. One livid lady—”Oh my God! I could make that myself! It’s pool party food!”—missed the point. You gotta be that much better to impress with an old blue collar friend than with a foie gras-foam-pâté smoothie. And Tommy Habetz and Nick Wood, chef-owners of Bunk Sandwiches in Portland, Oregon, did something extraordinary, melty, rich, delicious, comforting, dynamic, familiar and original with their grilled Tillamook vintage white extra sharp cheddar cheese and apple chutney with slow roasted pork belly. Another simply spellbinding taste also ranked among the very best all weekend. Sean O’Toole of Bardessono in Yountville deployed pata negra proscuitto on a basic slice of sourdough and whoah was it good.

Maybe five minutes after I tried that—I’m telling you, these Grand Tastings are a whirlwind— another understated dose of aha! appeared from Charles Phan of The Slanted Door in San Francisco. The star of nuanced Vietnamese cuisine gave a subtle tumeric-fish sauce marinade to some Alaskan halibut and, in his hands, it was magic.

The next day some delicious escargot with edible flowers and microgreens immaculately presented by Tyler Florence created some of the longest lines of the weekend, and spoke to one of the strengths of PBF&W: The stars themselves enthusiastically serve.

The next longest line was generated by Maine lobster flatbread pizza by Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier of Arrows Restaurant in Maine, named number 14 of the country’s top 50 by Gourmet in 2006.

This is knock-you-silly stuff—and I haven’t even mentioned the wine—as Paul Robertson, aka one-of-the better-sommeliers-on-the-planet-period (formerly of French Laundry and today one of only 127 master soms in existence), put it at a Champagne panel, “We think it should be Pebble Beach Wine & Food.”

He’s got a point. The chefs are spectacular and everpresent, but the wine is truly overwhelming. At the three-hour Grand Tastings, you could sip a nimble Storybrook Zin or test drive a Testarossa Pinot every single minute and still miss out on 80 wineries. (Not wines. Wineries, who were often pouring several tastes.)

This all bodes beautifully for 2011.

Thirteen different dinners approach epicurean absurdity—heck, the lunches are lavish all by their lonesome: Note the $200 “Don’t Mess With Texas,” pulling five of Texas’ best chefs to pair with Penfolds’ nicest wines and Pebble Beach Lodge backdrop.
This year’s $500 “Delicacy Dinner,” for instance, brings together Joachim Splichal (Patina Restaurant Group), Charlie Trotter (Charlie Trotter’s), Daniel Humm (Eleven Madison) and Gale Gand (TRU) with seven wineries like Veuve Clicquot, Hundred Acre and Rubicon.
Demos by Jacques Pepin, Tyler Florence and Tom Colicchio, who is also the focus of a special tribute “10 Years of Craft” dinner—represent sure-fire sell-outs, and the Grand Tastings remain a spectacle unparalleled west of Aspen: You can’t chew twice without stumbling over several Masaharu Morimotos, Tim Loves or Michael Symons or a tiny-production, huge-reputation winemaker. The key is to keep moving, but there are so many tastes and personalities and talents that pull you in that the key is swallowed along with the lobster cones and truffle terra cotta.
April 28 will be here before we know it: 1-866-907-FOOD or www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com.

Please share comments below with your own memories of gustatory delights, tips for what to do while in town, or whatever comes to mind….

Like there weren’t enough excuses to come to Tradewinds Carmel already, what with the angelic, within-walking-distance white sand beaches, the flood of foodie-adored restaurants, the custom Balinese robes, serene setting, unbeatable views and the jet bathtubs.

But a few more couldn’t hurt.

Long weekends created by Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 17) and Presidents Day (Feb. 21) make it a little more possible to squeeze in all the splendor of Big Sur, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, River Road wine tasting, Carmel Valley’s trails, Pebble’s 17-Mile Drive and Carmel’s incomparable coast in one trip—though it’s still darn difficult.

The Chinese New Year (Feb. 3) is all the more fun to celebrate in the area’s only Eastern-style sanctuary. Besides, meditation on the year gone by is easier in a context like the Zen garden or the infinitely peaceful rooms appointed with trickling ponds, fireplaces and custom platform beds from Bali.

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Feb. 7-13) remains the game’s best celebrity tournament, and the storied Pebble links are just minutes from Tradewinds.

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) in Carmel-by-the-Sea is about as romantic a setting as lovers could conjure. Impeccable restaurants bred to wow on occasions like this lie everywhere in the forested streets, appealing to all palates and providing seamless service.

The Sea Otter Classic (April 14-17) is arguably the best bike festival in the world, and only getting stronger after two decades. Note the 10,000 athletes and 50,000 fans, the nearly 200 classes of road and mountain bike racing, including Cross Country, Dual Slalom, Super D, Downhill, the mountain bike tours, demos, stunt show, kids’ playhouses, food court, beer and barbecue garden.

The Big Sur Marathon (May 1)—still worthy of Runner’s World’s words “If we were told that we could run only one marathon in our lifetime, Big Sur would have to be it”—rounds out the many reasons to make it to Tradewinds, and that doesn’t even include the wine-and-food festivals. More on events like Pebble Beach Food & Wine (April 28-May 1), the finest tasting compilation this side of Aspen, and the intoxicatingly flavorful Big Sur Chanterelle Festival and Cook-off (TBD February/March).