Archives for July, 2009

Dinner at Pasta Moon Restaurant

Posted on Jul 22, 2009 under Archives | No Comment
Pasta Moon Restaurant, Half Moon Bay

Pasta Moon Restaurant, Half Moon Bay

It’s worth a visit to Half Moon Bay just to eat at Pasta Moon Restaurant.   This is one of the best restaurants between San Francisco and Monterey, serving contemporary Italian cuisine in a casual setting.   The setting is comfortable, with a warm chocolate brown dining room and wood floors and beams.  Nearly all produce is local and organic.  I had a fabulous meal here, below are the highlights:

Pea and fava bean salad

Pea and fava bean salad

Owner Kim Levin offered me a lovely tasting menu, which started with the above Iacopi Farms pea and fava bean salad with Harley Farms feta cheese, mint, lemon zest and olive oil.  My waiter informed me that the peas were picked the morning of my visit.  Really fresh!

clam chowder

clam chowder

Next came a yummy clam chowder.

Risotto basil pesto and scallop

Risotto basil pesto and scallop

Next was my fave of the night, a basil pesto risotto with pan seared day boat sea scallops and micro greens.  Hands down the best risotto I have ever had.  Yum.

Grilled artic char with five bean ragu

Grilled artic char with five bean ragu

Next was a grilled artic char with five bean ragu, rosemary demi-glaze, orange oil and local greens.  Everything tasted really fresh.

marscarpone cheesecake

mascarpone cheesecake

Last was the mascarpone cheesecake with chocolate crust and sauce.  Pasta Moon is located at 315 North Main Street in Half Moon Bay, reservations can be made at 650/726-5125, open from 5:30 to 10 pm.

Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay Sunday Brunch

Posted on Jul 22, 2009 under Archives | No Comment
Shrimp, brunch Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay

Shrimp, brunch Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay

Sunday brunch at the Ritz Carlton is always a treat.  The Half Moon Bay resort is extra special because of the spectacular views.  I joined my friend and pr director Jennifer Chiesa for brunch during my stay.  Here are some of the wonderful food we chose from the resort’s Navio Sunday Brunch:

Oysters galore, yum.

Oysters galore, yum.

Eggs benedict

Eggs benedict

Sushi

Sushi

Desserts

Desserts

Cheeses, my favorite

Cheeses, my favorite

Blue cheeses

Blue cheeses

cows milk cheeses, really good

cows milk cheeses, really good

There was much more as well (carving station, dim sum treats, salads, cold and hot appetizers, eggs, caviar, lamb, beef and fish) but by this time I had to start eating some of the great food.  I highly recommend a stop to the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay – if you can’t spend the night be sure to stop by for the Sunday brunch.  Two seatings area available, 11 am and 1:30 pm and reservations are a must.  Navio, Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, One Miramontes Road, 650/712-7000.

Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Posted on Jul 22, 2009 under Archives | No Comment
Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay

Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay

On my way up to San Francisco for a coastal getaway article I was lucky enough to stop off at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay.  Since my friend Jennfier Chiesea (former pr director of Ritz in Pasadena) moved up to Half Moon Bay as PR Director for the resort I have wanted to come for a visit.

Perched on the edge of the gleaming Pacific, the glamorous golf and spa resort houses 261 white and pale yellow rooms and suites with marble bathrooms, feather beds, fireplaces and ocean views.   Guests can enjoy the sweeping vistas of the coastline from the 16,000 square foot spa, fitness center or at the three restaurants.

The view from my room was stunning.  Pics below:

View from my room

View from my room

Bathroom

Bathroom

I received a lovely strawberry and chocolate tower after I checked into the room.

Yummy chocolate and strawberry tower

Yummy chocolate and strawberry tower

Strawberry from tower, with cream

Strawberry from tower, with cream

chocolate strawberry, my favorite

chocolate strawberry, my favorite

Strawberry mousse

Strawberry mousse

The resort has a wonderful dining room where the Navio restaurant is where I had dinner my first night.  I started with a crab salad with avocado cream, watercress and a red wine reduction.

Crab salad

Crab salad

Next I had short ribs with mashed potatoes and asparagus.  Both were delicious.

Short ribs, potatoes and asparagus

Short ribs, potatoes and asparagus

The resort also houses two golf courses,  the Old and Ocean Courses.  The long and demanding Old Course (7,104 yards)  is a parkland-style course lined by Cypress trees.  The links-style Ocean Course (6,700 yards) offers ocean views from every hole and three finishing holes that sit directly on the Pacific Ocean.  The resort offers an unlimited golf package where golfers can play till they drop from check-in to checkout.

On the course

On the course

The next morning I attended the Sunday brunch, pics in next post.

Strawberry fields Half Moon Bay

Posted on Jul 21, 2009 under Archives | No Comment
strawberry fields sign

strawberry fields sign

As I was driving to the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, I came across this sign.  I had to check it out.

strawberry fields

strawberry fields

I found a huge lot with hundreds of rows of fresh strawberries.  It only cost $1 to pick a big basket, so I went to work.

hundreds of strawberries

hundreds of strawberries

strawberries on the vines, ready to pick

strawberries on the vines, ready to pick

Lots of other people drove up the dirt road to get some of the fresh strawberries.

people picking strawberries

people picking strawberries

Here is what I ended up with, the best strawberries I have ever had.  Well worth the stop!

Really fresh strawberries

Really fresh strawberries

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