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A New Chapter for Cibo Ristorante T wenty-five years ago, Johnny and Rosa Catalano took a gamble, wagering that a combination of Johnny's love of music and Rosa's love of cooking could be blended into a winning formula. It paid off; Cibo Ristorante Italiano is a Monterey Peninsula institution serving up live music six nights a week and authentic Sicilian dishes every evening. Now a new chapter in the Cibo story is opening. The floors above the restaurant's building are being converted into 22 luxury apartments and property owners Paseo de Alvarado are performing an extensive exteri- or makeover and adding an outdoor seating area to the restaurant's Alvarado Street frontage. "It's the largest seating area downtown," says Mario Catalano, Rosa and Johnny's son and restaurant manager. "We're really excited about it. Our guests can sit outside, sip a cocktail and have a bite to eat while listening to live music." Mario's late father Johnny—he passed away in 2008—is remembered as one of the finest musicians the Peninsula has produced. "I fell in love with my Johnny the first time I heard him play," Rosa recalls. So it's impor- tant to the family that the Cibo musical tradition be maintained. Today, rumors swirl of dire predictions that the building's conversion will spell the end of live music at Cibo, but in fact every precaution is being taken to see that doesn't happen. "There has been extensive research into sound- proofing to ensure that the property's ground floor businesses are going to be able to operate in the same manner as they have in the past," says Edward Dooling of AG Davi Property Management. The story of downtown Monterey has been full of twists and turns, boom and bust. With investments such as that being undertaken here, the area seems on the cusp of a new era of vibrancy. And Cibo is uniquely positioned to lead that wave. Cibo is on the corner of Alvarado St. and Del Monte Ave. in Monterey. For more information, call 831/649-8151 or visit www.cibo.com. —Michael Chatfield SHORTCUTS NEIGHBORS Cibo Ristorante Italiano is a downtown Monterey fixture, serving a heady mixture of Sicilian family recipes along with a side order of live music. Now in its 25th year, the restaurant is entering a new chapter. 68 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 Photo: Kelli Uldall