CHECK OUT : NEWS AND TIPS BANNER YEAR FOR CHERRIES.

Cherry lovers rejoice. This year, California is anticipating the second-biggest cherry crop of the decade. More than 3.3 million boxes or about 66 million pounds of cherries - almost double last year's crop - will be in stores now through June. Bing, the favorite variety, makes up 90 percent of production. Quality should be excellent - sweet and tangy. Look for plump, bright-colored cherries; those with reddish brown skin promise the most flavor. Figure 1 pound of cherries yields about 2 1/2 cups pitted fruit. Cherries are a fair source of vitamin A, and one cup of raw, sweet cherries contains about 65 calories (6 calories per cherry).

Great eats and view

Next time you're traveling to the Monterey/Carmel area and want to treat yourself to a wonderful dining experience, reserve a table at Roy's at Pebble Beach (in the Inn at Spanish Bay, 2700 17-Mile Drive). The restaurant is the brainchild of chef/restaurateur Roy Yamaguchi, owner of restaurants in Hawaii, Japan and other locations.

Done in blond and stained woods, it has sweeping curves, two levels and a wall of windows that overlooks the Pacific Ocean (watching the sunset while you dine is awesome!) and an open kitchen.

An exciting menu of East-West creations, along with nightly specials, makes it difficult to decide what to order. If you're in a quandary, order lots of appetizers or little dishes and share them. The setting is beautiful, and the food is fabulous and a good value. This is one restaurant that is worth a detour - or the effort to get there.

The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Pebble Beach gate fee is waived with reservations, which can be made by calling [phone].

Cookbook pick

In ``Treasured Recipes From the Charleston Cake Lady'' (William Morrow; $17), author Teresa Pregnall shares a wealth of easy cake recipes (some are based on using cake mixes) and secrets that helped make her home-based baking business, started in 1984, a success. Since then, she has baked and shipped more than 20,000 cakes throughout the country.

``I got my start as the Charleston Cake Lady through good luck and an army of friends,'' writes Pregnall, who adores baking. The book includes a chapter of 24 of her best-selling cakes, including the Milk Chocolate Cake, Gem Cake, Poppyseed Cake, Sherry Nut Cake and Chocolate Chip Cake, along with chapters of family favorites, Charleston classics, and snacks and treats. Besides cakes, the small volume includes other desserts such as pies, bread pudding, and cookies and brownies. The recipes appear simple and easily doable. None require special equipment. If you love cakes and desserts, no doubt you'll love this cookbook.

Freebie leaflet

If you're on the lookout for some interesting, different potato salad recipes for summer, write for a free copy of ``New Potato Salads From California.'' The brochure includes tips on using round red, Yukon golds, russets and white rose potatoes in four different salads. Send your request, along with a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope, to: California New Potatoes, 315 23rd St., Suite B, Manhattan Beach, Calif. 90266.

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Photo: (1--Color) no caption (Cherries)

(2--Color) no caption (Cookbook - TREASURED RECIPES FROM THE Charleston Cake Lady)

(3--Color) no caption (New Potato Salads from California!)