Posted on Jun 03, 2009 under Archives |
Casa Del Mar, Santa Monica
Summer is here and if you can’t get away for a vacation, try a staycation and head to Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica, the perfect spot to catch a few waves, watch spectacular sunsets and soak up the scenery.
Perched on the Santa Monica shoreline, this stately brick and sandstone Renaissance revival-style seven-storey seaside resort is a great local beach getaway. The lobby is also a nice spot to meet for drinks and watch the sun set into the Pacific.
Impressive Casa Del Mar lobby
I ended up staying at Casa last week for a beach story and was very impressed with the hotel. It is one of two directly overlooking Santa Monica beach (the other is the neighboring Shutters, owned by the same company). Casa Del Mar’s 129 rooms feature ocean views, breezy butter-yellow walls, hand-painted armoires, wooden Venetian blinds and opulent Italian marble bathrooms. Below is a pic of my room, I really liked the bed.
Casa Del Mar room
My friend Nicole joined me at Catch, the signature restaurant, to enjoy ocean views and delicious seafood and sushi.
Enjoying the sunset at Catch restaurant
The chef sent out a nice sashimi plate with some caper berries.
fresh sashimi with caper berries
We also ordered some sushi, below, and an interesting watermelon, arugula, avocado and feta cheese salad. This dish took a few bites to get used to, but we bothed ended up really enjoying it.
tuna and spicy salmon sushi
watermelon, arugula, avocado and feta salad
Nicole got the halibut with morels and asparagus and I opted for the lobster with gnocchi.
halibut with morels and asparagus
Lobster with asparagus and gnocchi
The lobster was our fave. Next came a big chocolate molten cake and ice cream.
chocolate molten cake and ice cream
Although a bit pricey, Catch is definitely worth a visit just for the view. It is a perfect spot for a romantic date or catching up over a drink in the stunning lobby. Reservations can be made for Casa Del Mar or Catch at 310/581-5533, both are located at 1910 Ocean Way in Santa Monica.
Posted on Jun 03, 2009 under Archives |
Original Pancake House, Redondo Beach
During the press tour of Redondo Beach, while on the Disco Bus, I passed this interesting restaurant and when I inquired about it our hosts informed me it was a local favorite, so I decided to check it out on my final morning before leaving Redondo Beach.
Menu, lots of pancake choices!
The restaurant offers lots of pancake choices and was filled with local which is always a good sign. I opted for sausage and eggs and they gave me a side of pancakes with fresh strawberries. I was told that the apple pancakes are also a local fave.
sausage and eggs
pancakes with fresh strawberries, yummy
I highly recommend stopping in at the Original Pancake House (located at 1756 South Pacific Coast Highway) for breakfast before heading to go surfing, shopping or just enjoying the beach the next time you are near Redondo.
Posted on May 25, 2009 under Archives |
The second half of last weekend’s press tour of Redondo Beach included cocktails at the Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club followed by a tasting menu from chef Daniel Roberts at Baleen restaurant.
Baleen Chef Daniel Roberts
We started off the meal with a seared ahi and watermelon carppacio.
seared ahi with watermelon
Next we had a pear and arugula salad with gorgonzola.
pear and arugula salad
Next came my favorite of the night, a spicy seafood ciopinno.
Cioppino
Chef Roberts also gave us some yummy mac n cheese.
mac n cheese
Our meat course was a tasty short rib with truffle mashed potatoes.
short rib
Everything was delicious. We finished the meal with strawberries and marscarpone cheese.
strawberries
Posted on May 25, 2009 under Archives |
Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club
Last weekend I joined a group of writers for a press tour of Redondo Beach organized by the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau and Susan Bejeckian of SBPR Public Relations. I stayed at the Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club.
Writer's breakfast at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Splash
All of us met at the exhibition kitchen at Splash in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Splash has an open kitchen where you can watch the cooks prepare your meal and a chef’s table inside the kitchen.
Chefs preparing omelettes
I had an omelette, prepared by the chefs above.
my breakfast
During breakfast we learned about the history of Redondo Beach and then took a tour of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I especially liked the view from the large pool deck, below.
Crowne Plaza pool deck
We toured the marina and seaside lagoon and then headed to Captain Kidd’s Fish Market.
Captain Kidd's Fish Market
Inside was a wide variety of fresh fish which guests can pick out and have cooked to order.
Next we headed to the Disco Bus, where our host Tom Kearney showed us the Whaling Wall, Sealab, the historic Moreell House, the Galleria and Riviera Village before dropping us off at the pier.
Disco bus, complete with purple leopard seats
Writers on disco bus
Once we exited the bus, we headed to the pier.
Redondo Beach Pier
We were all pretty hungry, so we stopped off at Maison Riz for lunch.
Maison Riz, pier
The chef prepared a wonderful tasting menu, first course was roast duck breast with green pepper sauce, Chilean sea bass, and a salmon and foie gras croquette.
First course
Next came an assortment of sush - scallops with black truffle miso and wagyu beef tataki.
Sushi, course 2
Our third course was dessert, which we all loved. A yummy fruit/orange, panna cotta and apple wonton crisp.
Orange with fruit
panna cotta, my fave
apple wonton crisps, everyone loved these
All of the food was delicious and the restaurant has a great view. Well worth the drive to Redondo for a romantic dinner.
picking my oyster
Right next to Maison Riz is Mie Pearl, a jewelry shop where you can pick an oyster and keep the pearl, which we all got to do. Above, I am picking my oyster, below, there is the pearl!
my pearl
After the tour I headed back to my big comfy bed at the Portofino for a nice nap before dinner.