Where to Eat and Play, With A Michelin-Starred Restaurateur
Monique Black, co-owner of Chez Noir, in a booth at the Carmel restaurant.
Photo by Kelsey Wisdom.
Despite earning instant recognition with their first Michelin star in July, Chef Jonny Black and wife Monique Black of Carmel’s Chez Noir remain delightfully down to earth. The couple, who live above the restaurant with their two young children, celebrate their love for the Monterey Bay Area through their hyper-local, seasonally-influenced menu and fancy, not fussy, coastal vibes. (Think Monterey Squid Gildas, handmade Sweet Corn Agnolotti, and Brioche-a-Tete, enjoyed in a luxe European bistro-style bungalow.) So it’s no surprise that Monique and Jonny (Atelier Crenn, Quince, Per Se), whose relationships with local farms and purveyors are paramount to their success, enjoy soaking in the beauty and bounty of the region in their down time, too.
Up next for the couple? The prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards in April, where they're a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.
AM
9A
Start the day with a breakfast picnic of baked goods from Ad Astra Bread Co. and a latte from Stationæry, enjoyed on the rocks overlooking Carmel River State Beach. I love watching the tides and the pelicans that come and go with the change of seasons. The view never gets old for me. If I were feeling particularly adventurous, I would hit up a friend to boogie board with me on Carmel Beach, too.
11A
A shopping walk around downtown Carmel is always ideal. For presents, I love Somewhere in Carmel; the collection of knitwear and jewelry at Tejeido is always tempting; and the homewares and design books at Shop Shoshin are forever inspiring.
PM
2P
In the afternoon, I would scoop up my husband Jonny and our kids and head to Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos. Nowhere makes me feel more at ease than in a redwood forest with my family.
*Editor’s note: Allow yourself an hour for the scenic drive between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Aptos.
5P
After a solid hike, we would brush off the dirt and head over to Mentone (also in Aptos) for an early dinner. Their pasta and cocktails never disappoint!
PLAN YOUR DAY
on the Peninsula
- Ad Astra Bread Co.
Monterey, CA - Stationæry
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Carmel River Beach
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Somewhere in Carmel
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Tejeido
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Shop Shoshin
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA - Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos, CA - Mentone
Aptos, CA
