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Sangria Wine & Tapas Bar in Carmel Valley waves that flag earnestly, preaching a "mi casa es su casa" philosophy. "We offer a unique, all-encompassing expe- rience for our customers," says Robert Mann, who owns the new restaurant with his wife Colleen. The couple met (of course) at a tapas party in Monterey. They fell in love—with each other and with the carefree Spanish traditions. "We wanted to create a warm and inviting atmo- sphere where customers could relax," he says. The food is rooted in Spain, with brief junkets to Latin America. Expect plates of cured meat — including the famous Spanish delicacy jamón Ibérico—and servings of paella on weekends. Colombia-born Chef Daniel Pullido serves Spanish favorites (spicy shrimp, stuffed dates, tortilla), along with a variety of empanadas. The wine list takes its cue from Spain, some of it reserved for the fruity-boozy drink that inspired the restaurant's name. Sangria Wine & Tapas Bar is located at 5 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley. 831/298-7281. A SWEET SPOT IN PG'S LANDMARK HART MANSION East Coast transplant Sue Rosenstock recognized her new life in Pacific Grove as pretty sweet—but was determined to make it even sweeter. As a young girl in Brooklyn, N.Y., Rosenstock spent many carefree summer days with a softie melting down her arm. Also called soft serve, the treat is a lighter, smoother, creamier version of ice cream. "I have a love for soft serve, and I wanted to introduce it here," Rosenstock says. Formerly a banking executive, Rosenstock needed to experience life beyond PowerPoint presentations. So she and her husband bought the historic three-story Hart Mansion, with plenty of room for rambunctious 3-year-old twin boys and a business on the ground floor. Welcome to Cream and Crumbles, a clever mashup of creamy soft serve and crumbly cookie bits—a full-service, sit-down experi- ence inside the renowned Victorian landmark on Lighthouse Avenue. Sundaes come in two sizes—fanciful and fre- netic—and are nut-free, egg-free, soy-free and, hopefully, worry free. "Everything about this is happy, painless and as joyful as possible," Rosenstock says. Cream and Crumbles is located at 649 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 831/887-0156. LAST BITES Boldly named and newly opened in Seaside, The Butter House channels the all-Ameri- can diner, with spins on breakfast and brunch classics such as loco moco, biscuits and gravy and the BLT…After years as a serial sous chef, Daniel Rader runs the show now as executive chef at The Beach House at Lovers Point…Chef, sommelier and former Peppoli General Manager Federico Rusciano is poised to open The Pocket in Carmel in the space long occupied by Christopher's…From the fast-growing portfo- lio of Folktale Winery, Rise & Roam is open- ing on the outskirts of Carmel Plaza (formerly 400 Degrees), with chef Aaron Rayer creating Roman-style pizza and baked goods. 164 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 9 Sue Rosenstock and husband Toby Farrand, with their twin boys, Seth and Ben, at Cream and Crumbles in Pacific Grove. They sell soft serve with cookie pieces in the Victorian located on Lighthouse Avenue. Photo: Kelli Uldall