Cafe Fina

This month, we are celebrating the one year anniversary of the Cafe Fina Cookbook, You Don't Have to Be a Chef to Cook Great Food. Special thanks to Sally Baho and to all the others that made this book possible!

We have copies available for purchase at Cafe Fina and on amazon! https://a.co/d/hWDr3Wq

Summer is in full swing! As of this week we will be open seven days, and seven nights a week, yes, including Wednesday night! We'll see you soon for some for some good views and great food.


Photo courtesy of Ken Jones.

A new endeavor for us here at Cafe Fina, growing our own capers! Currently we have our lovely veal piccata, chicken piccata and the steamed Castroville artichoke with mayonnaise and caper dressing available for our caper lovers. Once our plants reach maturity and begin producing, we'll be adding a touch more farm to table to our favorite caper dishes.

Behind the scenes at our full service bar! Along side our specialty cocktails and infused liquor's, we do have a wide selection of spirits to choose from to make the drink that goes perfectly with your meal. Come visit us for lunch or for dinner on Old Fisherman's Wharf!

A true Italian favorite, the Cannoli! Filled to order, with Sweet ricotta, candied citron and chocolate chips. Dipped in rich ground pistachios and garnished with a cherry.

We've also included this recipe in the Cafe Fina Cookbook, You Don't Have to be a Chef to Cook Great Food. Just flip to page 140 and enjoy!

It's our favorite time of year again! Since we opened in 1989 we have been bringing in fresh fruits and vegetables from our farm in Los Banos. Enjoying a farm to table meal, with a view of the bay is the best way to spend the warm summer months at Cafe Fina.

Summer is here! Our farm in Los Banos is heating up with days reaching 110 degrees while Monterey stays nice and cool. A lovely day trip away from the central valley heat, with amazing views and great food. Come visit us at Cafe Fina soon!

It's that time of year again! Our heirloom Tomato Caprese is back, with fresh tomato's brought from our farm every week, mozzarella cheese, anchovies, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Now at Cafe Fina. First peaches of the year right off our trees. Peach cobbler is now on the Dessert menu.

First round of home grown zucchini from our garden went into the kitchen today! Nothing is better than farm to table.

A day at the farm! The tomato’s should be ready by mid July and the zucchini should be ready within the next month. We put the last tomato plants in the ground on the 15th. This means that our heirloom tomato’s will be plentiful till the end of September. The weeds were tilled which is a weekly chore with how fast they grow due to our rainy winter.

Celebrating my granddaughter Mia’s very first birthday a day early this year. Our favorite dish, the pizza Mia was named in her honor one year ago, with mozzarella, sun dried tomatos, prosciutto and pistachio’s.Happy birthday Mia!

Our special for Mother’s Day weekend! Lobster ravioli’s in a homemade creamy lobster bisque.

Make your reservations for Mother’s Day now! Call Cafe Fina at 831.372.5200 or go to our website www.cafefina.com. One of our favorite dishes we celebrate with, two cold water lobster tails with orzo pasta, fresh sautéed vegetables and drawn butter. Paired, of course, with a refreshing glass of rose`. We’ll see you next Sunday!

What’s happening in our garden, Fava beans are tilled under. Tomatoes, cucumbers and watermelons are planted. Second and third plantings are coming up, to space out the crop so everything doesn’t come at once.

Tonight we were invited to attend the premier of Check Please Bay Area, featuring Cafe Fina and hosted by Leslie Sbrocco on KQED Food. The show will air at 7:30 pm this Thursday, April the 18th! A huge thank you to the sunset center in Carmel and the entire KQED Food team for a wonderful evening.

Thank you to our friends at Rosewood Ranches in Dallas Texas, and to chef Dave Sokel for sharing his recipe. A limited special of Wagyu Beef Surf and Turf, available now.

Happy Easter from everyone at Cafe Fina!

Pollination is almost over, just the cherry trees are left to bloom. On Tuesday we got 65 tomato plants in the ground. By July 1st we should have Heirloom tomatoes on the menu at Cafe Fina!

A bit of great reading with an espresso was the best way to begin the day today. Another huge thanks to the patrons who voted this year in the Monterey Herald and to our very hardworking staff.

Only five more days till St. Patrick's day and the return of our annual favorite, Corned beef and Cabbage. We'll see you on Sunday, get it while it lasts!

Thank you to our loyal customers for showing their support in the Monterey Herald this year. We were voted best Italian food, best farm to table, and runner up for best restaurant on the wharf and best server (Roxanne) on the peninsula. We received honorable mentions for best clam chowder and best seafood. A huge thanks to our staff for the hard work they put in every day.

Our newest addition to our cocktail list is a coffee bean infused bourbon, made into a TV whiskey cocktail with the ingredients of a traditional old fashioned.

35 years ago today in February, we made the deal to purchase Cafe Fina (formally Genos) from the Genovese family. In celebration of all those years under our belt, and cookbook release this last year, we will be sharing some of our favorite dishes and the back stories behind them.

Check out the full book on amazon.com, Cafe Fina Cookbook

King Crab Pasta! Alaskan king crab (in shell) sautéed in lemon, butter, garlic and wine served over angel hair pasta.

Pistachio Lovers, This is one of my favorite pasta dishes. We grind the pistachios to a flour consistency and make a pesto with olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese and a touch of fresh basil. Then Sauté prawns in the pesto and serve over penne pasta.

Make your reservation now, before it's too late

Took a spin on the Goodyear blimp this morning. Thanks to my good friend Chris from Canton Ohio. Top five fun things I’ve done. 

Local Crab is in the House
It can be prepared 5 different ways
call for more info 831.372.5200

It's that time of the year again. Vote for Cafe Fina
https://www.mhrc2023.com/
Thank you for your support

Cafe Fina Enjoy traditional Italian Cuisine and Fresh Seafood at Cafe Fina on Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey.