Westgate Hotel and Plaza Bar
On the same trip to San Diego that uncovered Anthony’s Seafood Grotto, I also discovered the five-star Westgate Hotel and the Plaza Bar tucked in the side corner of the lobby. This hotel is a hidden gem with that old world European feel. From the moment one walks inside and is surrounded by urns overflowing with lilies, snapdragons and roses, classic rococo desks, settees and sofas, and paintings by Rembrandt, one forgets they are in San Diego and is transported to a different place and time.
Conveniently located across the street from Horton Plaza shopping center, three blocks from the popular (although I’m not really sure why) Gas lamp district, and a few blocks away from the convention center, the Westgate is the perfect place to stay in downtown SD. I didn’t rent a car and found that everywhere I wanted to go was a walk or short taxi drive away.
The room was spacious and well appointed with a small balcony, large desk, inviting and comfortable king bed, armoire and 2 chairs – one oversized and with an ottoman. Compared to the small boutique hotels with closet sized-rooms that I have become accustomed to, the room at the Westgate was a castle! The bathroom was also large with marble counters and a large tub/shower that had exceptional water pressure.
The first night before dinner we popped into the Plaza Bar – a cozy oasis seemingly favored by the older local set and winner of the best piano bar award in San Diego magazine. The pianist was playing and the bartender in residence, James was clearly the master of his bar. It appeared that most of the patrons were known by name, as well as what songs they wanted to hear and what would best quench their thirst.
There was no question about James’ command of the martini – wet and dirty – expertly shaken and poured like a waterfall into the glass below – no splash or spills. By the time the glass was full Paul could hardly wait to bring it to his lips and take the first sip. It did not disappoint, we went back the following night for a repeat performance and will return the next time business or pleasure calls for a trip to San Diego.
mkmtEAT, mkmtGO | Comment (0)Paso Robles Wine Harvest Weekend
I had the good fortune to be invited to the Wine Harvest in Paso Robles at the beginning of October. One of the benefits of having a husband with a friend who shirked corporate America a few years ago and decided to make a career out of a passion by becoming a partner in the Four Vines winery. We stayed with our friend, Bill Grant of Four Vines and his girlfriend, Janell Dusi of J. Dusi Wines and were treated like special visitors everywhere we went.
The weekend was full beginning with a winemaker dinner on Friday night. Bistro Laurent paired with the Edward Sellers Winery and wine maker, Amy Butler did a top notch job pairing her wines with the menu.
The first course was Heirloom Tomato and Lobster Salad served with a 2005 Roussanne with 100% of its grapes coming from the Denner vineyard. This was followed by a Salmon appetizer paired with the ’06 Vertigo, a blend of Grenache, Mouvedre, and Syrah. The entrée was perfectly cooked, melt in the mouth tender local Paso lamb chops served with the ’04 Cuvée de Cinque, a blend of five grapes, all Rhone varietals.
At the end of the night there was a drawing for a magnum of Cuvée de Cinq signed by Amy Butler and guess who won? Lucky me! My tablemates were so excited that they all signed the box so I have a real memento of the evening and everyone with whom it was shared.
Saturday was spent wine tasting. We started with the Alternative BBQ at Four Vines– they’re in the process of increasing the size of the tasting room and adding an Oakville Grocer type deli so the BBQ was held outside. Winemaker, Chris Tietge is also a chef and put together an Asian inspired menu that featured chicken satay with peanut and tamarind sauces, cucumber salad, and pork finger sandwiches. Everything was grilled on the “Jimmy” flatbed truck grill. We couldn’t get enough!
After a couple hours, we headed down Vineyard Avenue to Denner Vineyards followed by Jada Vineyard with our final stop for the day at the newly opened, Jack Creek Cellars. We were greeted warmly at all wineries thanks to our friends and tasted some real treasures. The trunk of the car was full of wine by the time the day ended.
We grilled at Casa Billy Grant for dinner so our final stops were Pier 46 Seafood Company where we picked up some bright red sockeye salmon and fresh line caught wild halibut. Next we visited 15 Degrees Wine and Cheese shop where we picked up some cheese and dessert. We cooked up a storm while our host treated us to some special wines from his cellar – starting with vintage Ruinart champagne.
On Sunday Paul and I went to the plaza in downtown Paso and strolled around town, poking around in the boutiques, doing our best to stimulate the local economy. There has been a lot of rebuilding going on since the big earthquake in 2003 and the plaza reminded us of Sonoma or Healdsburg with a mixture of upscale shopping and good dining mixed in with a few stores that have been there for a long time.
We had lunch at the Crooked Kilt – a cavernous Irish pub that features every NFL Sunday football game on their many televisions. You guess why we chose this restaurant – Paul was in heaven! And, it turned out to be an excellent choice for food. I had a crisp Steak Salad with big cubes of Niman Ranch beef, pine nuts, blue cheese, avocado and onions mixed with Romaine. Paul went for the Frisco Burger a fat, juicy burger on sourdough bread with cheese and a little secret sauce.
After lunch we had a couple more wine tasting stops to make and we lingered at each one. Turley Wine Cellars was first on the list. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and made us feel very welcome. Our last stop was Terry Hoage Vineyards. I was particularly impressed with the tasting room. It is a barn that was refaced with 300 year old wood from Terry’s family farm in Iowa. It was beautiful and brilliantly perched on top of the hill with panoramic views of the vines and some up and coming olive orchards. We chatted with Terry and his wife about their operation and enjoyed a sneak taste of some of the grapes that were just harvested.
And just when we thought we were going home we received the most generous invitation to have dinner with the first family of Paso. Every Sunday four generations gather and dine together. It was truly special to have been included in this warm and intimate family gathering.
When it was finally time to leave our hearts were happy and stomachs full. We spent the drive reminiscing about how much fun over the weekend and scheming about our return.
mkmtEAT, mkmtGO | Comment (0)Hotel ICON
Business took me to Houston. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I haven’t spent much time in Texas and had never been to Houston. I stayed downtown at the Hotel ICON, a luxury boutique hotel located in the former Union National Bank building that was built in 1911. After a $35 million renovation, it has received numerous awards including Condé Nast Traveler Hot List of Top 100 New Hotels in the World 2004. Besides, Anderson Cooper and the CNN staff stayed there during hurricane Ike – it was the only hotel in Houston that had power -if it was good for AC, it would be good for me.
The lobby is grand and beautifully designed in a contemporary, romantic, Texan style. Original details in this Neo-Classical building such as the massive vault behind the registration desk and the elevators have been left in tact. I was told that there was no getting the vault out of there! Another large vault in the basement has been turned into a wine cellar and private dining room. A bit of Texas slipped into the bar and covered the chairs with cowhide.
Service was friendly and hospitable. The hotel has a car for guests who need to be driven around the downtown area. This came in handy to me and was so much more pleasant that taking a taxi. The drivers were polite and knowledgeable. I asked many questions about where to eat and shop and got some good answers.
The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and well-appointed, also in a contemporary romantic style featuring lush fabrics and warm, vibrant colors. The desk had plenty of space to work, wi-fi, and an ergonomic chair that made working in my room a pleasure. The piece de la resistance was the Jacuzzi bath with a view into the bedroom. They call it “the ultimate bath”. I certainly enjoyed mine. True to Texas, the towel holder in the bathroom was a bull’s head with horns.
Despite some restaurant recommendations from friends and staff, I opted to dine in and went downstairs to Voice restaurant. Chef Michael Kramer took over 8 months ago and has made Voice a destination for fine dining in Houston. I feasted on the Gulf Blue Crab Cakes with avocado, shaved fennel and cilantro. There were two little round cakes and while they were tasty, they were not very substantial. The Hawaiian Hearts of Palm Salad with baby arugula, cucumber, almonds and white balsamic vinegar came next. I had ordered the other arugula salad on the menu and the waiter brought this one which while not what I was expecting was good, although I am not a hearts of Palm fan. 
Still hungry I ordered one more appetizer – Potato Gnocchi with morels, asparagus, and proscuitto. It was by far the best of the three, warm, flavorful and a decent sized portion for an appetizer. I left my bar table sated and ready to head back upstairs for the “ultimate bath”.
As seems to be the trend lately, there was one snafu. My room did not have hot water on the last day. I called the front desk and instead of ‘fessing up to what was going on, they said they’d send an electrician to take a look. I didn’t understand the correlation between electrician and water, and went downstairs to the Spa to bathe. Forty minutes later someone showed up to take a look but it was too late and I sent them away. Upon checkout I registered my complaint. I did not expect a hotel of this quality or standard to be short of hot water; unacceptable. Apparently, there was an issue with the city (fixing pipes that were damaged in the hurricane). I was given an apology and my meal from the previous night was comped. It was the least they could do.
Despite the water, the rest of my stay at the ICON was enjoyable and while I’m not sure if the hotel is an icon by definition (an important and enduring symbol), with the history behind the building and the current iteration of stylish, luxury hotel, it could be working its way toward icon status in the future.
mkmtEAT, mkmtGO | Comment (0)Oxbow Public Market
The newly opened Oxbow Public Market in Napa was my final destination after shopping in Saint Helena and lunching in Yountville. I had heard so much about it with comparisons ranging from the Ferry Building in San Francisco to the streets of Saint Helena. So, before getting on the 37 to head home I detoured through downtown Napa and landed at Oxbow. Perhaps I picked slow day because aside for the Oxbow Wine Merchant & Wine Bar, which was hopping, there weren’t many people there.
A cavernous warehouse still filling in with vendors specializing in artisanal food and wine and specialty shops full of culinary artifacts, food, and entertaining related gift items is what I discovered upon stepping inside and making my way around.
There was a variety of things to see, smell, and taste and on my circuit I browsed through produce, tasted olive oil at The Olive Press, admired the mouth-watering chocolate displays at Anette’s and pondered how an operational micro-winery, Folio Enoteca & Winery could fit into such a small space (80 sq. feet). Impressive!
By the time I arrived at Three Twins Organic Ice Cream I was ready for some fortification and ordered a scoop of Strawberry Je Ne Sais Quoi (strawberry with a splash of balsamic vinegar – yum!). After polishing off the ice cream, I washed it down with a latte from Ritual Coffee Roasters.
Re-energized by ice cream and caffeine I found my way through the automatic doors that lead into the Wine Merchant & Wine Bar and Oxbow Cheese Merchant. This was the one part of the Market that was humming with people, bellied up to the bar, sampling from the tasting menu, and wandering around the shop looking at the comprehensive and eclectic selection of wines not only from Napa but around the world. The staff was helpful and eager to make suggestions to fit any budget and taste. I ended up with a sparkling wine from Spain that I would not have tried without the enthusiastic recommendation.
Walking back to the car, I passed Taylor’s Automatic Refresher and The Model Bakery – both offshoots from their Saint Helena brethren. It made me think that while the addition of the Oxbow Market is good for Napa, the space felt like a glorified food court in a box. I didn’t get the warm, inviting, spend an aftrenoon eating, shopping and hanging out here feeling that I do when I’m in the Ferry Building. I was disappointed but glad I checked it out. I’m not sure how this feeling will be overcome but perhaps with time and once a few more vendors like Kara’s Cupcakes and Hog Island Oyster Company are up and running it will feel less boxy and more like a bustling marketplace. In the meantime, I plan to stick to my San Francisco Ferry Building and return to the downtown blocks of Saint Helena the next time I am in the Napa Valley.
mkmtEAT, mkmtGO | Comment (0)Aloft in Chicago
The last time I was in Chicago I opted to stay at Aloft, the newly launched loft-style brand by Starwood. I wasn’t sure what to expect but figured I’d give it a go. I had 1 night, was arriving late from NY, and planned to work the following morning in my room.
Upon arrival, Aloft is somewhat like an airline with kiosks in the lobby so that guests can check in and select their rooms themselves. I didn’t use this feature but understand the value and how it can come in handy. The one oddity is the “Aloha” spirit and greeting. I was in Chicago and was greeted with “Aloha” at the front desk, when I phoned down to ask a question the phone was picked up with a polite “aloha”. What is up with ALOHA when you’re not in Hawaii? It doesn’t work – and the employees are clearly uncomfortable saying it!
The atmosphere at Aloft is juvenile and playful. Board games abound and competition was heating up at the pool table. The covered outdoor pool and patio area were getting a lot of action from the young hipsters. The xyz lounge was full of sports fans watching college football.
My room was appealing and larger than expected – contemporary and sleek – urban and loft-like, perfect for a lone traveler. It was smartly appointed with a 42” LCD flat panel TV on the wall, a desk with several accessible outlets making charging the electronic devices easy and additional counter space which was the perfect place to put my luggage. The king “signature bed” was comfortable and I slumbered well.
The comfortable work environment and wi-fi were of particular importance so it was a bonus that the wi-fi was included in the room rate. This ended up being the only glitch in the stay and service. The morning I planned to work coincided with the morning work was being done on the network and it was down for 2 hours. Not good for me.
The bathroom / vanity area was split with a sink and counter on one side of a sliding mirrored door and toilet and shower on the other. The spa shower featured an oversized head with powerful pressure. Aloft goes green with bath amenities by Bliss spa served up in wall mounted shampoo/conditioner and bath gel containers – no land fill created by single serving bottles here!
Room service is not an option, however they make up for what is not on site with an extensive list of delivery menus. In addition to delivery, Refresh and xyz lounge were both well stocked. Instead of ordering out, I picked from the shelves and had a fresh, crisp chicken Caesar salad for my late night supper and for breakfast enjoyed a toasted bagel, yogurt, and fresh fruit. All of these items were self-serve and reasonably priced.
Overall Aloft is a good concept, stylish rooms with decent amenities for the business traveler and surprisingly healthy and fresh food options.
I’d go back (although next time I’m in town hopefully it will be long enough to warrant a stay in the city) and would be compelled to try other locations. Despite the cornball factor, this new Starwood concept gets a big Aloha from me!
mkmtGO | Comment (0)Three Sheets
For those of us with a passion for travel, meeting the locals and drinking like a native, Zane Lampley offers up the ultimate in entertainment… This has recently become one of Sassi’s fave’s and one of the few shows we watch together. He giggles and I add whatever the destination to the list of places we must go next!
It’s impossible not to love Zane and his motto of “around the world one drink at a time”
Watch Zane as he travels the world drinking like a local.
Five Nights in Tribeca
Traveling for business is never a picnic and my last trip to NY was no exception. It took a 2 hour delay upon take off, a diversion to Pittsburgh and 3 hours on the tarmac before the plane finally touched down 14 hours later at JFK after midnight. I checked into the new Duane Street Hotel, a boutique hotel in Tribeca that opened at the beginning of the year that has received accolades in Condé Nast Traveler as one of the “hottest new hotels in NY”. Usually I stay in the mid-town jungle but this time I thought I’d try a neighborhood. I booked my trip on Priceline and after 3 rejections of my bid, the Duane Street took me. Tribeca would be my home for 6 days.
The room was small (as expected) and very well appointed with furniture for each room custom designed by Paul Vega Architects. The floors were light wood and the walls pear green. The bathroom was slate with one of those big rainforest showerheads. After unpacking, I climbed between the sheets ready for a good rest…. and then the pounding began and lasted all night. I learned the next morning that there was a construction project going on next door and I was in one of the rooms that had yet to be soundproofed. A meeting with the manager took care of that and I was moved into the prototype room for the soundproofing project. The next 4 nights were silent. One question for the Duane…. If a soundproof room was available when I checked in, why didn’t you put me in it to begin with? All in all, I enjoyed the rest of my stay. The staff was helpful and friendly. Each night upon my return from dinner I was greeted with smiles and queries about where I went and how I liked it. The best part was that next to my bed was a late night cookie or brownie.
The subway is steps from the front door so everywhere I needed to go for work and for play was easily accessible.
Due to the late arrival, my 5 nights in Tribeca worked out to be just 4 nights which was a little disappointing. The days were full with work but from 7pm until bedtime, I was committed to making the most of them.
The second night (but really the first real night) I had dinner with friends at The Odeon. This iconic NY restaurant was made famous in the 80’s as a Mecca for the hard-partying crowd. Andy Warhol and his entourage frequented this hip and stylish classic French-American brasserie. If only the walls could talk there would be some wild stories to tell. Our waitress was polite and professional. I ordered the Warm Goat Cheese Salad and an Omelet with asparagus, cheese, and mushrooms. Both were made to perfection. We had frites for the table and shared buttermilk ice cream, which was divine, for dessert.
The next night, by coincidence, we went to dinner at Village in Greenwich Village. Chef Stephen Lyle was the chef at The Odeon in the 80’s during its heyday. His cooking style is “sophisticated simplicity” and his signature is combining traditional French brasserie cooking with Mediterranean, Asian, and Mexican flavors. Village is art-deco in style and our group was seated in the back room underneath an impressively large vintage skylight. If it weren’t 2008, we could have easily been sitting in the same room in the 1920’s. For dinner, I enjoyed the Arugula, Fig, and Nectarine Salad with Hazelnuts and Feta. The flavors were complimentary and blended together well. For the main course I had to have the quintessential bistro combo, Steak and Frites. Our waiter was a good sport as the group was a bit rambunctious and treated us to several desserts that were passed around the table and shared.
The fourth night I was on my own and after walking around SOHO looking for a mani/pedi and doing some shopping I slipped into Bread Tribeca, a cozy neighborhood Italian spot. The décor is stylish and contemporary with white brick walls and lots of candlelight. The bathrooms were très cool with deep, rectangular charcoal colored basins full of black rocks and pebbles that glistened in the water. I bellied up to the bar and enjoyed a glass of rosé along with a wood oven pizza with cracker thin crust topped with provolone, proscuitto, and arugula. It was the perfect combination of light crispy crust, salty proscuitto, and a little bitter from the arugula – a pizza salad of sorts. I couldn’t have been happier with my find!
On the fifth night, after a full evening of shopping, we ended up at Paradou in the Meatpacking district. With one tiny room and a garden, Paradou is a little slice of Provence in Manhattan. The ceilings are high and brick walls white washed which made for a lovely contrast with the Provençal blue door and window sills. The wine list is extensive and it was refreshing to be able to order by the glass, ½ carafe or carafe. We were able to sample a few different varietals with our meal. I ordered the Arugula and Pear Salad with Goat Cheese and the Poulet. The presentation was great on both and the salad was very good but the chicken was a bit dry and vegetables uninspired. The best part of the meal was the company and getting to know some of the fabulous ladies with whom I work.
As I headed to the airport on Day 6, I stopped at the Carnegie Deli and picked up a pound of pastrami + all of the essentials to make sandwiches when I got home. They packed it for the plane and I was off. I figured that while the girl had to leave NY she could take a part of it with her to be shared with Paul and enjoyed at home in San Francisco.
Duane Street Hotel
130 Duane Street
212.964.4600
The Odeon
145 West Broadway
212.233.0507
Village
62 West 9th Street @ 16th Ave
212.505.3355
Bread Tribeca
301 Church Street
212.334.8282
Paradou
8 Little West 12th St
(212) 463-8345
Visit to the McEvoy Ranch
Last year I was too late to reserve my slot in one of the coveted McEvoy Ranch olive orchard tours and tastings. Disappointed, I made a note in my calendar to check their website at the beginning of April when booking dates for the short tour season commence so not to miss out again. My vigilance paid off and I had my pick of dates! So, with the tour confirmed, I headed to the hills of West Petaluma to see the sights.
The 550 acres of rolling hills that Mrs. McEvoy bought to spend time with her grandchildren is nothing short of spectacular. Originally a dairy farm, the ranch has been reincarnated into an organic olive orchard, producing olive oil in the traditional Tuscan style. And in addition to 80 acres of olive trees, there are several acres of organic fruit trees and vegetable gardens.
However, it wasn’t always this way. Several challenges had to be overcome along the way.
The story goes that in 1990 upon learning the land she had fallen in love with was zoned for agriculture the County asked Mrs. McEvoy what kind of agriculture she intended for the property. She immediately ruled out animals and told them that she was going to have olive trees. When they told her it wouldn’t work she decided to give it a try anyway. She wasn’t discouraged by the fact that she didn’t know the first thing about olive trees or making olive oil so she set off to Italy to learn as much from the experts as possible.
Well, her learning paid off and with her indefatigable spirit and perseverance, she created what is now the largest producer of estate-grown olive oil in the nation.
Tours are almost over for this year so I encourage you to make a note in your calendar to check and see what’s available next April so you can experience the Ranch for yourself. You’ll be glad that you made the trip!
Private Chef in Tahoe
It was the picture perfect summer weekend in Tahoe. Warm, bright blue sky, bunnies nibbling grass in the back yard, wildflowers aplenty, and a refrigerator full of chilled wine. We settled into our luxe yet comfortable home in Northstar. This home gets serious “Sassi Stars” the term that has been coined for my husband, the traveler with high standards. He would have loved it – in fact, I’m bringing him back in Oct and he WILL love it!
Sassi Stars aside, the real star of the girl’s weekend was the chef we hired to make dinner for us on Saturday night. What a treat it was to have someone prepare, serve, and clean up after the meal.
Our menu commenced with the cheese and fruit platter. Red, green and black grapes, figs picked that morning, and apricots paired with baked brie en croute, and a tangy goat cheese were featured. This starter is a winner and so easy for anyone to make at home – all it takes is a trip to the farmer’s market or specialty grocer and then it’s just a matter of assembly on a beautiful platter.
Next was an heirloom tomato salad with fresh mozzarella and basil dressed with olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar – yum! Heirlooms are the only kind of tomato I eat so I eat them every day this time of year!
The our entrée was a choice between a chicken breast stuffed with feta and dried cranberries, scalloped potatoes, and asparagus or ono (flown in from Hawaii on Friday) with mango salsa, orzo and asparagus. I had the ono which was moist and meaty. The mango salsa was a refreshing accompaniment. I would have swapped the orzo for the scalloped potatoes which were To Die For and the asparagus was expertly steamed and slightly crunchy.
For dessert we indulged in a mixed organic berry cobbler with vanilla ice cream. There was quite a bit left over which was enjoyed for breakfast Sunday morning!
Aside from the stellar meal, I have to say that Northstar Rocks! Between the complimentary shuttle that picks up curbside, to the gondola and chairlifts that took us to the launching points of two memorable hikes, to lounging poolside, summertime is a great time to visit this resort.
If only we were there for a few more days we could have played golf, gone horse back riding, caught some fish, and explored more hiking trails while staying in our home with Sassi Stars….
mkmtEAT, mkmtGO | Comment (0)Farmers Market in Santa Cruz
In case you were worried, my trip to Santa Cruz was not all about the Corn Dog. In fact, my second trip was centered on the Saturday morning farmer’s market at Cabrillo College. Paul and I were to meet friends there at 9am – sharp – so not to miss the best of the pickings.
I am spoiled. The San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers Market is a short walk from home. I went to Santa Cruz, but with a raised eyebrow – would it really be as good? Plus, I had to be in the car by 7:15am on a Saturday morning to be there by 9am… for a girl who likes to sleep in on the weekend, this was becoming a hardship.
The Santa Cruz market did not disappoint; in fact, it exceeded expectations. I don’t think that anything there came from more than 30 miles away – including the line caught wild halibut that we bought to eat for dinner. YUM!
As we wandered through the three levels of the market we were challenged by all of the options and found it difficult to decide what we were going to make for dinner that night and what we wanted to stock up on for the next several days. There were so many choices!
There was hybrid corn, heirloom tomatoes, baby spinach, little gem romaine, rainbow chard, mushrooms, fresh baguettes, peaches, plums… the abundance of fresh produce one would expect to see in the middle of farm country in the summer.
And did someone mention flowers? There were just as many flowers as there was produce – everything from mixed wild sunflower arrangements, to award winning begonias – yes, Santa Cruz is official begonia country but that’s another story, and dahlias to die for!
I left the market with my basket overflowing and looking forward to spending the afternoon in the kitchen preparing all of the goodies I brought home for dinner with friends.
mkmtGO, mkmtLIVE | Comment (0)