An oasis of high-test coffees and wholesome eats, Café Monet has been serving Santa Maria for nearly 20 years. Beloved for its relaxed atmosphere and affable staff, the café entered a fresh era when new owners took over in February 2009.
Six months after buying Café Monet, Katie and Rick Renaud have proved their commitment to honoring the traditions of Kenji Matsuoka, the eatery’s founder. The décor hasn’t changed much (yes, Hoover, the giant pacu, still holds court from his aquarium), and the dining experience remains friendly and fun.
“As soon as you walk through those doors,” Rick said, “it’s comfortable. The food is outstanding, and the people we have working for us are so customer-conscious you feel like friends the first time you walk in.”
“You instantly feel at home,” Katie agreed. “Kenji had a great model, and we just want to keep that going.”
Though the menu remains basically the same, Rick and Katie have put their own twist on several items and incorporated a few signature flavors. They eliminated some nearly duplicate items—while continuing to offer the same variety of choices—and allow diners the option of ordering any sandwich as a wrap.
On the menu, “Hefty” sandwiches range from roast beef to vegetarian to almond or curried chicken, while the “Deluxe” column boasts masterpieces with names like Italian Supreme and Vegetarian Eggplant. New arrivals include the Solana (a toasted bagel with bacon, tomato, and cream cheese) and French dip, made with roast beef or tri-tip on a fresh roll.
Creative salads, quiche, quesadillas, and soups (including vegetarian and vegan selections) round out the roster. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, choose from the Americano (bacon, eggs, homestyle potatoes), breakfast burritos, omelets, and pancakes or French toast with sausage.
Rick, the restaurant’s chef, has traveled all over the United States and brings a mixed bag of influences to the kitchen.
“Everywhere I go, I’m always interested in food,” he explained. “I’ve picked up techniques from across the country, and I apply those to the food here.
“The tri-tip I make is not Santa Maria-style,” he declared. “It has a different taste, because I make my own seasoning. Our Mexican tri-tip sandwich has salsa and
avocado and is a very big seller.”
Evidencing the fact that he gathers his culinary ideas from everywhere, a collection of magnets holds typed, scribbled, and printed recipes to the
café’s kitchen refrigerator.
“I’m a little different than most chefs,” Rick laughed. “I don’t use measuring cups. The only measurement I use is the customer’s smile when he eats it.”
Among Café Monet’s most popular treats are the fruit smoothies, homemade soup and salad combinations, and fresh pastries baked by the Renauds’ daughter, Jasmine.
“My mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and I all used to bake a lot,” Katie said, “so I guess she learned through osmosis. She’s really good at it, and she enjoys it!”
Jasmine’s specialties include brownies, muffins, and a singular chocolate mashed potato cake baked from a recipe that’s been in the family since the Civil War. All make a wonderful accompaniment for any of the café’s chai tea, hot chocolate, or exotic drinks—from café Cubano to Karamel Macchiato.
Rick and Katie, who married last year, have seven children between them and happily employ about half of them and their spouses behind the counter. On Sundays, the pair likes to work the café together, encouraging customers to grab a chessboard or deck of cards from the game corner, and visiting with the regulars.
“We give discounts to certain groups,” Rick said. “PCPA is one of our larger ones—they get 20 percent. Teachers, too. Officers and first responders get their first cup of coffee free and then 10 percent from there.
“Sometimes you’ll see my Harley sitting out front,” he added, “and if you ride in on your motorcycle, you get 10 percent off. It’s just a way to get people in.”
In the Palmer Room (a free meeting room available by reservation), diners can browse the work of local artists or purchase a used book. On Saturday nights, and occasionally during the week, Café Monet hosts live music performed by local talent, all part of the Renauds’ plan to help build a strong neighborhood.
“We do everything as local as we can,” Rick said. “We buy our food locally, do our printing locally, because we want the money to stay in Santa Maria to help it grow.
“It’s real important to us that we’re part of the community,” he added, “not just people who show up to work here. And we like to have fun. My motto when I hire somebody is we want work to be fun, and if that’s what you want, then this is the place for you!”
K. Reka Badger knows all the haps. E-mail comments or ideas to rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Aug 27 – Sep 3, 2009.
