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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Jj0DIwkYPtC4FosOT48zvmJ3eLY1PefPuAsbL06vERMFojQm0EDDE0J+2nvH5sCE
 agr8g0YqpDeyMYprt24SMA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-000925.txt : 20040112
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-000925.hdr.sgml : 20040112
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040112142200
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-000925
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEWITT LANCE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275946

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11777
		FILM NUMBER:		04520309

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1528 MUFFETT ST
		CITY:			SALINAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93905

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MONTEREY PASTA CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000913032
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS FOOD PREPARATIONS & KINDRED PRODUCTS [2090]
		IRS NUMBER:				770227341
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1227

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1528 MOFFETT ST
		STREET 2:		STE 500
		CITY:			SALINAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93905
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087536262

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1528 MOFFETT ST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 500
		CITY:			SALINAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93905
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000913032</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MONTEREY PASTA CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PSTA</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275946</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEWITT LANCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1528 MOFFETT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SALINAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93905</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to Purchase)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.83</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>3.83</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2005-01-02</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2014-01-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>246485</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ R Lance Hewitt</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-12</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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