‘Tis the Season to Savor the Seafood – With LaBalena , Savor the Local , and Local Catch Monterey Bay Story and Photos by Camilla M. Mann I have crossed paths with Anna and Emanuele Bartolini, owners of La Balena , at a few different local good food events. They are a duo that you can’t help but adore. Their philosophies about life and food are impressive and reflected in the choices they are making at their restaurant. From the tables in the main dining room that are made from reclaimed trans-Pacific shipping crates to the bench seating that they rescued from a local Habitat for Humanity store, refinishing the wood and upholstering the cushions themselves, and the fact that their menu is simple, seasonal, and sourced from local suppliers as much as possible, Anna and Emanuele aim for excellence in all aspects of preparation and presentation of traditional, rustic food with the spirit of a classic Italian Enoteca . Originally the Bartolinis explored opening ...