Posted on Jul 22, 2009 under Archives |
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
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
Next came a yummy clam chowder.
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
Next was a grilled artic char with five bean ragu, rosemary demi-glaze, orange oil and local greens. Everything tasted really fresh.
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.
Posted on Jul 22, 2009 under Archives |
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.
Eggs benedict
Sushi
Desserts
Cheeses, my favorite
Blue cheeses
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.
Posted on Jul 22, 2009 under Archives |
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
Bathroom
I received a lovely strawberry and chocolate tower after I checked into the room.
Yummy chocolate and strawberry tower
Strawberry from tower, with cream
chocolate strawberry, my favorite
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
Next I had short ribs with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Both were delicious.
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
The next morning I attended the Sunday brunch, pics in next post.
Posted on Jul 21, 2009 under Archives |
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
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
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
Here is what I ended up with, the best strawberries I have ever had. Well worth the stop!
Really fresh strawberries