Up for a culinary adventure? Check, Please! Bay Area returns this April for its 19th season with a delicious, two-part twist: the James Beard and Emmy Award-winning program is making a splash for the first two episodes of the season in the Monterey Bay Area! In each episode, three residents join host Leslie Sbrocco to share their favorite local place to eat, and after checking out each other’s spots, they join Sbrocco to discuss, debate and dish on their dining experiences. From Carmel Valley to Capitola, Seaside to Salinas, we’ve got hidden gems, favorite finds and historic icons for you to explore. Check out four new episodes, Thursdays beginning April 18 at 7:30pm on KQED 9 for new, tasty recommendations for local restaurants you won’t want to miss!

Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect this April:

April 18 (Monterey Special Edition)

Satisfying and sumptuous American classics with a Filipino and Pacific Islander twist — like fried chicken & waffles next to pork belly fried rice — at The Butter House (Seaside)
Picturesque views paired with some of the Monterey Bay’s tastiest seafood, including pistachio pasta with prawns and steamed black mussels at Cafe Fina (Monterey)
An elegant and seasonal Californian menu sure to please anyone in search of a satisfying meal — from French onion soup, to carnitas tacos, to wood-fired Meyer lemon pizzas — at Corkscrew Cafe (Carmel Valley)

April 25 (Monterey Special Edition)

Signature dishes like Pacific Rim salmon and prime rib alongside an extensive and locally-focused wine list, all set in rustic yet undeniably classy quarters at the historic Shadowbrook (Capitola)
An unexpected twist to Mexican cuisine in Salinas — like buttery roasted bone marrow — alongside classics like chile relleno and chilaquiles at Villa Azteca (Salinas)
Organic bistro fare — from lingcod katsu to bouillabaisse — that’s locally fished, farmed, and foraged at Wild Fish (Pacific Grove)
“Cecilia Tries It” gets a taste of jams, fruit picking, and famous seasonal pies at Gizdich Ranch (Watsonville)

May 2

Contemporary and charming takes on Filipino favorites — like savory sisig fried rice and colorful ube coladas — inside the Kimpton Alton Hotel at Abacá (San Francisco)
Farm fresh flavors and culinary methods that celebrate the chef’s Chicana heritage with dishes like spicy carrots and smoked trout tostadas at Bombera (Oakland)
Romantic bay views paired with thoughtfully-crafted dishes from land and sea since the 1950s at The Caprice (Tiburon)

May 9

An innovative menu inspired by the night markets and street festivals of Taiwan at the women-, queer-, and immigrant-owned Good to Eat (Emeryville)
Seasonal California-Mediterranean bites along classic films, taking “dinner and a movie” to a whole new level at Foreign Cinema (San Francisco)
A mouthwatering taste of Ethiopia with savory samosas and freshly-baked injera bread, bringing East Africa to the East Bay at Barcote (Oakland)
“Cecilia Tries It” visits Pop-Ups on the Plaza at San Francisco’s Ferry Terminal Plaza and Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, a series of events showcasing Black-owned businesses (San Francisco)

Don’t see your favorite restaurant on the list? There’s still time to tell us about your go-to spot; we’re accepting applications for our next batch of guests, and we want to hear from you! Nominate your can’t-miss picks and apply to be a guest now at kqed.org/checkplease/apply.

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Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: The Butter House, Cafe Fina, Corkscrew Cafe

Check, Please! Bay Area Makes Waves in Monterey To Kick Off Its 19th Season This April!