Diver’s depth of local savvy
George Z. Peterson is the dive chief at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and has explored reefs and kelp forests the world over, but as a vegetarian for decades, he might enjoy more street cred on land, as a meat-free eater. Here he dives deep into his favorite spots for communing with nature and Earth-friendly plantbased eating, in and around the aquarium and its historic Cannery Row home. — Mark C. Anderson; travel@sfchronicle.com
Berwick Park:
This year, the huge trunk of a dead cypress tree at the center of Berwick got a controversial carving into the shape of two breaching humpback whales that had Pacific Grove residents up in arms. Peterson isn’t in love with the statue either, but he is enchanted with the gripping coastal views available from the thick strip grass adjacent to the recreation trail. It’s great for a game of ultimate Frisbee, disc golf or a picnic. 402 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove, ci.pg.ca.us
Julia’s Restaurant:
The vibe is as comforting as the handmade vegetarian burger, which rivals any in the area code. Owneroperator (and avid forager) Anthony Gerbino is as hands-on with the burger as he is with customer service. At his tuckedaway spot on Forest Hill, the gluten-free burger blends carrots, onions, mushrooms, mixed beans, brown rice, oats and flax meal; the wider menu mixes in wild arugula salads, spinach-mushroom calzones, hot curries, tamale pies and glutenfree smokehouse pizzas. “Their commitment to local vegetarians really resonates,” Peterson says. “They’re stalwarts.” 1180-F Forest Ave., Pacific Grove, (831) 656-9533, www.ju liasofpacificgrove.com. Dinner nightly, lunch weekends.
Monterey Blue Diving:
Peterson has owned and operated his own dive shop on the Central American side of the Caribbean and makes pilgrimages to places like Catalina Island and Baja California for research missions. If he’s recommending a local dive operation for Monterey Peninsula missions, it’s Monterey Blue, and only partly because owner-operator Dave Todd is a longtime volunteer diver at the aquarium. “He’s got a steadfast commitment to conservation,” Peterson says, “and he’s just a really nice guy. Everybody loves going out on the water with him.” (831) 601-4170, www.montereyblue.com
El Cantaro Vegan Mexican Restaurant:
Mexican cooking without cheese, sour cream or a little lard — let alone carne asada or carnitas — seems oxymoronic. But that’s the beauty of El Cantaro, just up the block from Peterson’s aquarium headquarters. The tiny mom-and-pop establishment captures imaginations and taste buds with bean-vegetable-jalapeño-molé sweet tamales, quinoa flour-based “chicken” in a peanut molé, stuffed poblano peppers coated in creamy walnut sauce and grilled pineapple-pepita-seed-barbecue-sauce burritos. That burrito and the smashed potato taco plates make El Cantaro Peterson’s go-to. Lunch and dinner Sunday-Thursday, lunch only Friday, closed Saturday. 791 Foam St., Monterey; (831) 6465465.
Lalla Oceanside and Angel’s Share Speakeasy:
Lalla Oceanside’s on-the-water Cannery Row views, funky-chic setting, and menu of inventive salads, seafood and sandwiches score points with Monterey County locals. Its downstairs bar/ lounge flies under the radar, peddling a wealth of Prohibition-style cocktails for limited hours. Angel’s Share: 8 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, Lalla: Lunch and dinner daily. 654 Cannery Row, Monterey; (831) 324-0891. www.lallaoceansidegrill.com
Secret Beach:
Also known as McAbee Beach Two, it’s called Secret Beach by seasoned local divers because it squeezes into the less-famous side of Cannery Row with a cement staircase and pocket beach that would be easy to walk past if you weren’t paying attention. It’s a great place to launch both kayaks and scuba adventures, or to just dodge the surge as it splashes on shore. An hour-long easy dive flows from here to the breakwater next to San Carlos Beach, starting with a ton of different algaes and small cryptic fish, followed by a broad sand plane that little red octopi love. North of Monterey Plaza Hotel, next to 301 Cannery Row, Monterey.