Even in the smaller coastal towns, the food scene is going global. Seaside now boasts Cambodian and Oaxacan newcomers. Monterey is home to a Vietnamese cafe on Tyler Street, just north of Bonifacio Place. And Carmel - less exotic, perhaps, but no less delicious - is home to a new bakery bistro serving a Danish breakfast sandwich pressed with Comte cheese and cultured butter on a seeded sourdough bun.
Food trends are ever-changing. An ingredient that is considered cheap peasant food one day can evolve into a staple of fine dining years later. Lobster was famously considered food for the poor before its reputation shifted and it became the expensive, luxurious shellfish we know today. Lentil soup has experienced a similar trajectory. A plentiful, affordable, dense source of essential nutrients like protein and fiber, lentils have been part of our diet since at least 8000 B.C.E.
Attendees of the sold-out 2025 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge journeyed the globe by taste-sampling bites and beverages from 34 embassies when the Philippines and Peru chefs claimed the People's Choice and Judges' Choice Awards, respectively.
