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an Andalusian sandwich. Jeninni owner Thamin Saleh promised something different in America's (normally sedate) hometown, and he's delivered. The hope is that more adventurous diners will come out of the woodwork, and that the glossary, along with effusive hospitality and a smart wine list, are enough to sway the conservative set. Jeninni is located at 542 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 831/920-2662 or www.jeninni.com. SARDINE FACTORY LORE When asked how they've kept The Sardine Factory humming for 45 years, co-owners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino rattled off several key factors. But two anecdotes tell the real story. Just before opening in 1968, Balestreri's car stalled on the Cannery Row railroad tracks. A train clipped the vehicle, spinning it wildly. He walked away. Later that day, he was standing on a dilapidated pier when it collapsed. He fell down to the rocks, hitting the only patch of sand. "I just wouldn't die," he says. Cutino remembers his first hospitality job at Holman Guest Ranch in the summer of 1952. The 13-year-old needed money to help his fam- ily, so he scrubbed pots for 30 cents an hour. One day, underwhelmed at the staff 's spaghetti lunch, he refused to eat. Insulted, the chef chal- lenged Cutino to make it better. Cutino's train- ing? Watching his mother cook for her large family. But he accepted the challenge. The next day, he arrived early and prepared lunch for the staff. The dish became an instant hit, and owner Clarence Holman demanded that "Spaghetti a la Cutino" be put on the permanent menu. "I had more confidence than brains," Cutino says. "But sometimes that's all you need." The Sardine Factory is located at 701 Wave St. in Monterey. For reservations, 831/373-3775 or www.sardinefactory.com. HEALTHY CRUMBS Gluten-free has become trendy, but mak- ing a tasty no-gluten pasta is a chef 's Mt. Everest. Crema, located at 481 Lighthouse Ave. in Pacific Grove, offers a delicious pasta pomodoro made with rice-flour pasta, crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and chile flakes ($12). 831/375-1300 or www.cremapg.com… Passionfish co-owner Cindy Walter suffers from serious food allergies (one wrong bite lands her in the hospital), so her chef-hus- band Ted created a special allergy-sensitive menu. 701 Lighthouse Ave , Pacific Grove . 831/655-3311 or www.passionfish.net…Big Sur resident Toni Chiapelli has launched a line of organic, vegan energy bars called Rawphoria. Look for four flavors: Ginger Bliss, Bohemian Raspberr y, Anais and Henr y's Love Affair, and Hot Date With a Wild Tar t. Each bar comes with a poem hidden inside. Check out Rawphoria on Facebook or call 831/261-8198. C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 191 Longtime friends and business partners Ted Balestreri and Bert Cutino are fixtures on Cannery Row. Photo: Kelli Uldall 190-191 Food for Thought_Layout 1 1/27/14 8:12 AM Page 2