Father's Day Breakfast on Cannery Row

Summer is in high swing all around the Monterey area, with most attention currently being paid to the elite world of golf and the US Open.  Pebble Beach is giving the pros fits.  Thousands of fans are in town to cheer them on and marvel at their skill.  I, like most locals, am fitting into less-filled spaces and looking for a different vantage point from which to enjoy what the Peninsula has to offer.  Timing is everything; hiding out during peak tourist hours is a must.

Today was Father's Day, a good day to see about a brunch out on the town.  Problem was, all directions would be clogged with a few thousand visitors also out trying to make the most of the day.  We wracked our brains and considered the options.  There were a dozen places to pick and choose from, many of which we really love.  Mostly, we wanted to expand the list and find someplace new to us - not an easy task. The list of favorites had to be shortened as we took into account that we'd be travelling on golf-fan-clogged roads; some places would be just too awful to negotiate.  After some restaurant favorites dropped off the list and others didn't seem quite special enough, we finally chose the Intercontinental Monterey The Clement's C Restaurant and Bar on Cannery Row.  By far, it is the most awkwardly named place on the whole Peninsula.

We'd gotten very lucky with our parking spot being just in front of the hotel in a metered space.  Wow did that meter suck up quarters.  I think the rate is about 25 cents per 10 minutes, which rivals any slot machine in Vegas.  Hardly mattered, though, since we were in such a close-by spot.  Valet parking is one option, but that would be even more expensive.  No matter; we were looking forward to the meal and feeling good about a still-quiet Cannery Row at 10 AM.

The Clement is serene and cooly Pacific Rim indoors, much different than the boardwalk-style atmosphere outside.  There are outdoor spaces that take full advantage of the expansive view of the bay. Potentially, one might choose to eat small plates of tasty offerings by outdoor fire pits on the deck in the evening or late afternoon, an option I'll try someday.  

We had a window seat in an airy and open dining room.  We were distracted by sea lions, otters, and a flotilla of open-water swimmers with kayaks making their way past kelp beds about half a mile offshore.  It seemed like an awful lot of activity for a Sunday morning, but made for curious diversions as we ate.  Of course, we did have some fine food, omelets and eggs benedict that were filled with avocados and crab.  We took our time and relaxed for as long as we wanted.

All food complies with standards for sustainability set by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and produce is organic.  Prices ranged from $8 to $15 for generously delectable, fresh and creative food.  Considering the size of portions, the creativity and quality of food products used in our meals, each dish was a top-notch winner.

When we were done with the meal, we strolled around the austerely peaceful interior spaces of the hotel. Then we went outside to find the car and encountered a bustling crush of mid-Sunday-in-summer tourist crowds.  The contrast was remarkable, to be sure.  Time to slip away and leave the out-of-towners to shuffle and shop.

We had local's luck on the Row this morning, and managed to feel relaxed, unhurried and pleasantly satisfied.  Timing the crowds is a skill locals the world over learn if they live in a destination spot like Monterey.  You realize that when you are out among folks seeing your hometown for perhaps the first time, their enthusiasm and sense of discovery can rub off on you in brief doses.