The Divine Dish

Dinner at Bella Vista, Westin Mission Hills Resort and Spa

Posted on Oct 28, 2009 under Uncategorized | No Comment

Last weekend I travelled out to Palm Springs to finish a pet friendly Palm Springs article and checked into the Westin Mission Hills resort and Spa.   Set on 360 acres in Rancho Mirage, the property houses 472 guest rooms all offering their signature Heavenly Bed and private patios.    The property is surrounded by pools, waterfalls and lush gardens with rooms arranged in a series of two-story bedrooms (beware, check into a second level room if you can as I had to move rooms because of the upstairs noise).   In addition to their championship golf courses, they offer a running track, bike trails, tennis courts, lots of pools, lawn games and an expansive spa.  My friend Paul met me for dinner at their  Bella Vista restaurant.  Here is what we had:

We started with a amuse from the chef – a baby crab cake topped with a slice of tomato.  Next came starters – mushroom artichoke heart risotto for me and clams and scallops for Paul.

Paul had the striped bass and I opted for the strip steak, both were very good.  The real star at the restaurant is the view, overlooking the many water features and towering mountains.  A perfect place to watch the sunset in the desert.

After our main courses, we ordered desserts of carrot cake and rice pudding.

If you are in the desert area, it’s worth a visit during sunset to stop in for dinner or a drink on the patio.

Bella Vista is located at 7133 Dinah Shore Drive, rancho Mirage, CA, 760/328-5955.

Dinner at JAR

Posted on Oct 20, 2009 under Archives | No Comment

Last weekend after visiting Campanile, I headed out the next night for dinner at Mark Peel’s other restaurant (with co-owner chef Suzanne Tracht) JAR.  I had heard great things about the eatery for a long time and decided to try it out.

It is one of LA’s best for dishing up familiar comforting food.  The minamilist decor of browns and pastel green and yellows with orange hanging globe track lights creates a romantic retro-modish ambiance, where steaks and chops are featured heavily on the menu.   The crab deviled eggs, juicy pot roast, lemongrass chicken and marinated skirt steak are served with creamed spinach, duck fried rice, and mashed potato sides.  Desserts are also delicious, with chocolate mousse, banana cream pie and other faves to choose from.  Here is what we sampled, all fabulous.

we started with the special appetizer, the lobster tomato soup, rich in lobster flavor but light because it has no cream.   Very tasty.

I love deviled eggs, so these crab deviled eggs were a real treat.  My fave of the night.

The butter lettuce salad was served with radishes, parmesan and a tangy lemon garlic vinaigrette.

Our main courses were the lemongrass chicken with kaffir lime leaf sauce, very good, and the marinated skirt steak (which comes with a side sauce, choices include bearnaise, lobster bearnaise, tamarind, peppercorn and creamy horseradish).  I had the lobster bearnaise sauce.

We also ordered some great side items, mashed potatoes and a medley of roasted mushrooms.  Both paired perfectly with our dishes.

We ended the meal with a mouth watering chocolate mousse (my favorite dessert).  If you crave your grandma’s classic comfort food but can’t cook it or get to nanna’s house, head to JAR for some tasty home cooked fare.  JAR is located at 8225 Beverly Boulevard, call 323-655-6566 for reservations.

Dinner at Campanile

Posted on Oct 20, 2009 under Archives | No Comment

Last weekend I visited Mark Peel’s Campanile restaurant for two reasons, to review it for an upcoming iphone application I am working on and for a birthday celebration for my friend Mario (and me, we share the same birthday).  Opened in 1989 in a building from the early 20th century designed for Charlie Chaplin, Peel’s Campanile is reminiscent of a Mediterranean village.

Divided into three sections, the front section is an open patio with a tiled fountain and glass atrium ceiling, the middle section has stone walls, a bell tower and gothic arches with seating looking into the open kitchen, and a romantic backroom for more intimate dining.  Here is what we sampled on our visit:

We started with a lovely amuse lobster salad from the chef.  Big chunks of lobster so everyone was happy.

I had the braised short rib with horseradish sauce.  Huge and delicious.

Mario and John had the grilled Alaskan halibut with braised fennel, tomato confit and spinach.  I had a few bites, also very yummy with a lovely sauce.

For sides we shared the mashed potatoes with shallot creme fraiche and the braised leeks with feta cheese.

For dessert we shared the flourless chocolate cake (my fave) and a delicious apple and strawberry crisp.

the Italian and French inspired menu changes often, and everything on it is delicious and homey, so anytime is a great time to dine at Campanile.  Also, they have a fantastic brunch.

This Monday, a special book signing and dinner is being held at the restaurant.   Chef Mark Peel’s new book, “Classic Family Dinners” will be sold and signed by Peel, with a great dinner menu of grilled squid, potato and asparagus salad, leeks vinaigrette, or Waldorf salad for appetizer (diners can choose one option), giant ravioli with spinach, ricotta and egg yolk, cornmeal crusted pan fried trout, or pot pie (again, one choice), and chocolate pudding, apple cobbler or roasted figs with vanilla ice cream for dessert.  The cost is only $39, a great deal, and reservations are a must.

Campanile is located at 624 South La Brea, call 323.938.1447 for reservations.  Signing event starts at 6pm.

Palm Springs LA Writer’s Dinner at BOA, West Hollywood

Posted on Oct 11, 2009 under Archives, Palm Springs | No Comment

Last week, approximately 50 writers from a wide variety of publications attended the LA writer’s dinner held at the trendy BOA on Sunset in West Hollywood (we never refuse a free meal, especially at a steakhouse).  The event was sponsored by a group of hotels and resorts, as well as the board of tourism and convention and visitor’s authority.  After mingling and cocktails, all of the writers moved into a private dining room for dinner and presentations.

Mark Graves, director of communications for the Palm Springs Desert Convention and Visitors Authority welcomed all of the writers.

Hilary Angel from the Palm Sprigns Bureau of Tourism also welcomed us.

Dinner started with a jumbo lump crabcake and a caesar salad.

We got to choose from chicken, salmon, Ahi tuna, filet mignon or New York strip steak.  I opted for the filet, as we were at a steakhouse, and it was delicious.  Sides included grilled jumbo asparagus, mac & cheese and roasted garlic whipped potatoes.   Here are some pics:

For dessert we had cookies, ice cream and cheesecake.

Throughout the evening, pr directors from a wide range of Palm Springs resorts and activities made presentations to update all of us on all of the new things going on in the desert.    Here are some of the speakers:

The event had fabulous food and was a great opportunity to network with other writers.   Drawings were held and weekend getaways were given out to many of the resorts – unfortunately ours was the only table that didn’t win a weekend away!   I got more info for my article on pet friendly Palm Springs, as well as all of the great resorts and activities now available in Palm Springs.  Temperatures have dropped and now is the perfect time to head to the desert.