Raúl Nava
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offthemenu831.bsky.social
Raúl Nava
@offthemenu831.bsky.social
63 followers 26 following 75 posts
he/him/él • writer covering Monterey Bay dining + restaurants • previously Edible Monterey Bay + Monterey County Weekly + Monterey Herald • a little a lot
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offthemenu831.bsky.social
Lobster French toast • beurre blanc, mirepoix, peas, pain au lait
Hippie hand grenade • avocado, mushroom, pepper, carrot, cucumber, radish, sprouts, carrot-ginger dressing
Old Bay hot cross buns • herb cream cheese
Baked oysters • fun butter, herbs, breadcrumbs

📍 Oystertown, Monterey, CA
A slice of golden brown toasted topped with several pieces of red lobster meat, green chives and yellow butter served on an oval-shaped white plate with a dark green trim. Photographed in a warmly lit dining room on a gray concrete bar top with orange flowers and a silver metal chiller in the background. A salad with green avocado, shredded orange carrots and green sprouts served on a round white plate. Photographed in a warmly lit dining room on a gray concrete bar top with a white bowl and silver metal chiller in the background. Two square bread buns filled with white cream cheese in an X pattern, topped with chopped green chives and served in a round white ramekin. Photographed in a warmly lit dining room on a gray concrete bar top. Four baked oysters in gray shells topped with golden brown bread crumbs and served on white rock salt in an oval-shaped bowl with a black exterior and white interior. Photographed in a warmly lit dining room on a gray concrete bar top with plates of food blurred in the background and a green placemat in the foreground.
May 5, 2025 at 3:44 AM
offthemenu831.bsky.social
I’m hearing rumors @mezcalitomanny.bsky.social will bring back some of his signature drinks before his departure this weekend 👀

In the meantime, here’s his parting gift for the spring cocktail menu at Stokes 🍸

Bond Was Wrong • gin, dry vermouth, coconut milk punch

📍Stokes Adobe, Monterey, CA
A pale yellow cocktail served in a short glass with a single large ice cube and garnished with a dark red cherry in a bamboo skewer. Photographed on top of a white paper napkin on a white marble bar countertop with silver barware, a stack of white paper napkins, glassware and shelves of liquor bottles blurred in the background.
April 24, 2025 at 2:05 AM
offthemenu831.bsky.social
But the real standout of the spring happy hour menu refresh is a Thai peanut curry in cocktail form from beverage director @mattyeggleston.bsky.social 🫨

Khruangbin • green chile vodka, peanut butter whiskey, tamarind, lime, cilantro

📍 Stokes Adobe, Monterey, CA
A light tan cocktail served over pellet ice in a short rocks glass and garnished with a wedge of green lime and brown compostable straw. Photographed on top of a white paper napkin on a white marble bar countertop with silver barware, glassware and shelves of liquor bottles blurred in the background.
April 24, 2025 at 1:55 AM
offthemenu831.bsky.social
寿司盛り合わせ • Chef’s choice 10-piece nigiri
Hokkaido hotate (scallop) nigiri
鮭皮巻 • Salmon skin roll
ネギハマ巻 • Negihama roll • yellowtail, green onion

📍 Akaoni, Carmel, CA
Ten pieces of brightly colored raw nigiri sushi served on a square dark gray ceramic plate. Photographed indoors at twilight on a light wood tabletop with plates, glassware, a menu, a window and a green bush blurred in the background. A variety of sushi served on a square gray ceramic plate with a textured lip. At the left are cream-colored pieces of raw scallop nigiri with yellow lemon zest, at the top is a salmon skin roll wrapped in white rice cut into six pieces, and at the bottom is a negihama roll wrapped in black seaweed cut into six pieces. Photographed indoors at twilight on a light wood tabletop with a plate of sushi, a dish of soy sauce and a pair of chopsticks blurred in the background.
April 16, 2025 at 2:50 AM
offthemenu831.bsky.social
自家製豆腐 • Housemade tofu • before + after
米なすの田楽 • Baked eggplant with hacho miso
鶏の唐揚げ • Fried chicken

📍 Akaoni, Carmel, CA
Cream-colored soft tofu set in a beige ceramic bowl and served with a wooden ladle on top of a round white plate and a small green-and-gray ceramic bowl of brown soy sauce, white sesame seeds and a silver spoon. Photographed indoors at twilight on a light wood tabletop with other plates of food in the background. Thick spoonfuls of soft cream-colored tofu in a brown soy sauce and white sesame seeds served with a silver metal spoon in a green-and-gray ceramic bowl. Photographed indoors at twilight on a light wood tabletop with a large beige ceramic bowl of tofu and a brown wooden ladle in the background. Half an eggplant, scored into squares, roasted brown, drizzled with dark brown miso paste, sprinkled with white sesame seeds and served in a white oval-shaped porcelain bowl with a textured lip. Photographed indoors at twilight on a light wood tabletop with other plates blurred in the background. Eight pieces of golden fried chicken served on a square sheet of white paper in a black plastic basket and garnished with two slices of yellow lemon. Photographed indoors at twilight on a light wood tabletop with a plate and chopsticks blurred in the background.
April 16, 2025 at 2:50 AM
offthemenu831.bsky.social
As opposed to unofficially in my crudo era before 😝

Sushi, crudo, aguachile… I’m definitely down for some raw fish any time of year 🍣
April 3, 2025 at 2:16 AM
offthemenu831.bsky.social
Ok, I guess there was some sushi for supper 🫣
March 14, 2025 at 2:12 AM
offthemenu831.bsky.social
Treat yo’self! 😏

Otoro (fatty bluefin tuna belly) and Hokkaido uni (sea urchin) 💸

But the real luxury these days? Tamago (Japanese egg omelet) 🍳
A selection of sushi served on a beige ceramic plate. On the top left are two pieces of orange sea urchin wrapped in black seaweed with strips of yellow pickled ginger. On the right are four pieces of yellow egg omelette wrapped in a thin strip of black seaweed. On the bottom left are two pieces of pink tuna. Photographed in a dimly lit dining room on a black wood tabletop.
March 14, 2025 at 2:12 AM