Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1047605
[sportscaster] Jim Nantz. It's the only room where we still have the tux and white glove service, and it's the only restaurant in the world that matches the music to the food and wine all in concert. matches the music to the food and wine all in concert. We start off with Vivaldi, and then as the sauces get heavy, we go to We start off with Vivaldi, and then as the sauces get heavy, we go to Beethoven, Bach…when it's really heavy we play Wagner, and then we Beethoven, Bach…when it's really heavy we play Wagner, and then we lighten it up at the end. We try to lighten it up at the end. We try to match the last piece with the person- match the last piece with the person- ality of the diner… ality of the diner… Cutino: We do a special ice swan Cutino: We do a special ice swan intermezzo. We do ser ve those intermezzo. We do ser ve those upstairs on request… upstairs on request… Balestreri: We hosted a luncheon Balestreri: We hosted a luncheon for Prince Albert of Monaco…We for Prince Albert of Monaco…We couldn't mention all the celebrities couldn't mention all the celebrities who have eaten here; it would fill a room. But the most important cus- who have eaten here; it would fill a room. But the most important cus- who have eaten here; it would fill a room. But the most important cus- tomer we have is the guy who saves all year to bring his wife for a special tomer we have is the guy who saves all year to bring his wife for a special occasion…We want to make her feel like a queen. occasion…We want to make her feel like a queen. The most famous thing that ever happened was with [then Director of The most famous thing that ever happened was with [then Director of the CIA] Leon Panetta. On New Year's Eve 2011, we made the bet of the the CIA] Leon Panetta. On New Year's Eve 2011, we made the bet of the century. There were about 28 of us down there in the cellar and we go century. There were about 28 of us down there in the cellar and we go around the room give our New Year's resolutions and I always say, 'I'm around the room give our New Year's resolutions and I always say, 'I'm going to gain 10 pounds'…that way nobody calls me a liar. going to gain 10 pounds'…that way nobody calls me a liar. Leon says, 'Are you ever going to open up that rare bottle of wine?' It Leon says, 'Are you ever going to open up that rare bottle of wine?' It was an 1870 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. was an 1870 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. was an 1870 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. I said to him, 'Leon, I love you like a brother, but I don't love you that I said to him, 'Leon, I love you like a brother, but I don't love you that much. It's $10,000-15,000 a bottle.' I said, 'I'll tell you what I'll do. When you much. It's $10,000-15,000 a bottle.' I said, 'I'll tell you what I'll do. When you catch [terrorist Osama] Bin Laden, we'll open it.' catch [terrorist Osama] Bin Laden, we'll open it.' He jumps up and says, 'You're on.' He jumps up and says, 'You're on.' And we forget about it. Five And we forget about it. Five months later…I get this call…it's months later…I get this call…it's Sylvia Panetta and she says, 'Leon's try- Sylvia Panetta and she says, 'Leon's try- ing to get ahold of you.' ing to get ahold of you.' I said, 'What happened?' and she I said, 'What happened?' and she says, 'Get your wine opener ready… says, 'Get your wine opener ready… go home and turn on the TV. I said, go home and turn on the TV. I said, 'The son of a bitch set me up! He had 'The son of a bitch set me up! He had an inside track and he didn't tell me!' an inside track and he didn't tell me!' Then Bert and I put on this dinner at the Beach House with Fred Then Bert and I put on this dinner at the Beach House with Fred Dame, the number one sommelier in the world, to open the wine… Dame, the number one sommelier in the world, to open the wine… everyone got a little drop along with about $50,000 of other wines…and everyone got a little drop along with about $50,000 of other wines…and we celebrated God bless America. we celebrated God bless America. For more information on the Sardine Factor y Restaurant, please go to For more information on the Sardine Factor y Restaurant, please go to www.sardinefactory.com, or call 831/373-3775. For more information on the www.sardinefactory.com, or call 831/373-3775. For more information on the Cannery Row Company, go to www.canneryrow.com. Cannery Row Company, go to www.canneryrow.com. C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 153 153 Court of Master Sommeliers presents a saber to Sardine Factory co-founders and owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino f Court of Master Sommeliers presents a saber to Sardine Factory co-founders and owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino S Court of Master Sommeliers presents a saber to Sardine Factory co-founders and owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino i Court of Master Sommeliers presents a saber to Sardine Factory co-founders and owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino S Court of Master Sommeliers presents a saber to Sardine Factory co-founders and owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino i Court of Master Sommeliers presents a saber to Sardine Factory co-founders and owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino f Court of Master Sommeliers presents a saber to Sardine Factory co-founders and owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino i Court of Master Sommeliers presents a saber to Sardine Factory co-founders and owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino C Court of Master Sommeliers presents a saber to Sardine Factory co-founders and owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino i Court of Master Sommeliers presents a saber to Sardine Factory co-founders and owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino in the legendary Sardine Factory Wine Cellar. Left to right: Randall Bertao, M.S., Ted Balestreri, Bert Cutino, Fred Dame, in the legendary Sardine Factory Wine Cellar. Left to right: Randall Bertao, M.S., Ted Balestreri, Bert Cutino, Fred Dame, President Emeritus, the Court of Master Sommeliers and Reggie Narito, M.S. President Emeritus, the Court of Master Sommeliers and Reggie Narito, M.S. Photo: DMT Imaging The two men feel "blessed" by the support from the people of Monterey County and the backers who supported them as young men in their 20s with a dream.