Posted on Mar 13, 2009 under Uncategorized |
Hamachi toule cone
I recently visited one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego, The Marine Room. I was in La Jolla doing a story on San Diego and had to include this lovely spot. Located at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club (2000 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla), this is the best place to share a sunset and wonderful food. Sitting just beyond the sandline within feet of the waves that snuggle up to La Jolla shores, the restaurant offers outstanding French-Colonial cuisine as well as stunning vistas and high-tide waves that splash against the floor-to-ceiling picture windows. My friend and chef extraordinaire Bernard Guillas prepared a lovely tasting menu. We started with a tasty toule cone (edible) of fresh Hamachi tuna with trout roe (above).
Diver scallops
Next came this lovely, huge plump seared diver scallop. Very buttery and sweet, served over mushrooms and a spiced pumpkin bread on the top. Yum.
Beef carpaccio
This appetizer of beef carpaccio came next, with ginger oil, sage focaccia, figs and jack cheese. We really liked the balance of flavors on this plate.
Foie gras and lobster
Next was my favorite, a vanilla leek lobster and foie gras. My friend Sheila doesn’t eat foie gras (poor Sheila, doesn’t know what she is missing) so I ate her portion as well. I just couldn’t let a perfect piece of foie gras go to waste. I could eat this dish all day long.
Pompano with risotto
Chef Guillas then presented us this tasty pompano with Asian crab and a sake infused risotto. We both loved this dish. The light texture of the fish paired perfectly with the creamy risotto. Another fave.
Veal with candy apple
Our meat and final course before dessert was this perfectly cooked veal tenderloin with a roasted candy apple and truffle reduction. The veal was tender and delicious.
dessert, number one
Dessert plate number one included a chocolate pot of creme, lemon tart with hibiscus flower (in the middle, our fave on the plate) and a yummy mango sorbet. We thought we were full, but managed to eat most of this plate.
Dessert, plate two
Our final course and second dessert (yep, we actually ate most of both plates – they were so good and we couldn’t waste them!) had peach sorbet, a minature chocolate cake with raspberries and an amarillo creme brulee. It was a fabulous meal. I highly recommend dinner at the Marine Room – go there to catch the sunset but also for the top-notch food. Reservations at 858.459-7222.
Posted on Mar 04, 2009 under Uncategorized |
Last night JLK Communications and Spago Beverly Hills hosted a reception for the new Terranea Resort, scheduled to open in June in Palos Verdes. The $450 million oceanfront resort will include a spa, several restaurants, and views from everywhere in the resort.
Food and travel writers
We were greeted with wine and lots of yummy appetizers.
Salmon pizza
Pizzas included salmon and tomato.
Tomato pizza
Next came wontons and white and red wine.
Wontons
We also tasted delicious chicken and beef satay.
beef satay
Chicken satay
Bob and Rob Lowe (father and son) presented information and welcomed the crowd.
Bob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Terranea Resort Executive VP/Managing Director Terri A. Haack presented a slideshow about the resort. All the writers were lucky enough to be given a night at the resort when it opens. For more information and to make reservations go to www.terranea.com.
Executive VP/Marketing Director Terri A. Haack
Posted on Dec 02, 2008 under Archives, Uncategorized |
In The Real Deal!, the Venetian’s new poker-themed stage show, audience members get a chance to play against some of the world’s best poker professionals. The show features elements of a live game show along with comedy and celebrity participation, all centered around a game of Texas hold’em.
The Real Deal poker pros
Six lucky audience members are chosen at the beginning of each 90-minute show who sit at the poker table on stage with two poker pros. Revolving poker celebrities include Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth Jr., Antonio Esfandiari, Gavin Smith, Eli Elezra, Jennifer Harman, Phil Laak, Scotty Nguyen and Todd Brunson. Each theater seat is equipped with a wireless handheld touch screen device allowing every audience member to play along.
The audience members become the virtual ninth player, as every person in the theater is electronically dealt a hand on the device to go along with the cards dealt onstage. Big screen monitors keep track of the action.
Each audience member starts off with 100,000 points. At the end of the show, the surviving professional player and the final amateur from the original six are joined by the audience member who accumulated the most points in a showdown.
“You don’t have to be a poker player to enjoy The Real Deal,” said Merv Adelson, co-creator of the show. He explained that audience members can add to their total by making simple bets, such as the suit of the next card, via the handheld devices.
“I think it is a great concept,” said Doyle Brunson. “We are committed to the fact that we are trying to establish contact with the audience and are also having a good time.”
Poker legends Doyle Brunson and Scotty Nguyen during our interview
Fellow poker pro Scotty Nguyen agrees. “I love being able to play against my friends in a more relaxed environment. I can really relax and get a chance to meet some of my fans.”
Adding fuel to the poker fire is the show’s comedic talent, hosts Paul Rodriguez and Vinny Favorito. “I love to play poker. The combination of mixing comedy with poker, plus the opportunity to work with a live audience was an opportunity I could not turn down,” said Favorito, who also performs a nightly comedy show at the Flamingo.
Audience members will be awarded prizes, from logo merchandise to jewelry to plasma screen televisions, at random and for play performance. At the end of the show, a $1 million grand prize jackpot will be up for grabs when select audience members are dealt a royal flush.
The Real Deal! Plays six days a week at the Venetian Showroom in Las Vegas, with shows at 5 pm and primetime performances at 8 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tickets start at $75 and VIP packages, including an opportunity to meet the stars after the show