Crashing Waves

One the best things about living in So Cal is the constant beautiful weather! This past weekend the temps were in the 80's. Instead of spending it inside; the hubby, roommate and I went out on an adventure to the Point Loma Tide Pools.

The weather was SO clear we could see the TJ Islands. At the tide pools it was great to see the waves crash directly below us, feeling the ocean spray on our faces.

New Year

Happy 2012 & Year of the Dragon! It's been a crazy past couple of months with the holidays, family visiting, moving to a new apartment...there has been a lot going on! I just want to reflect on a few things and share my resolutions for 2012.

I finally had the chance to visit Montage Laguna Beach. I didn't stay, but had lunch with one of my coworkers at Mosaic Bar & Grill. My goodness for their most casual outlet it was expensive! I paid a little over $15 for a half size of nachos (that's without protein). BUT it was a beautiful property sitting atop a cliff in Laguna Beach. I must say though I don't picture myself as a customer of Montage until I have a large disposable income. At our property Surf I feel the seaside relax setting, because you are literally on the beach!







My family recently visited me in SD and we went biking around Coronado Island. It was my 2nd time and seriously that is one of the best day activities you can do. It's an easy ride and a fun way to see Coronado. It made think twice about getting back into shape.



Which leads to my New Years Resolutions, which are:

1. Travel to somewhere outside of CA at least once. Maybe visit a good friend in Georgia, see my family in Washington (they are always coming to SD, but who can blame them), or VEGAS!!

2. Get back in shape. We all know this one that everyone says they do, but only stick to it for a week. I am serious about this one! I stopped drinked soda back in November, now I'm cutting out fast food and weaning off the junk food and sweets. I've just been doing Zumba and free weights at home, but now I'm looking into a gym membership at LA Fitness.

3. Stop eating out. I already broke this resolution week 2. haha!

4. Blog more. I'm pretty sure I said that last year, but I'm pushing myself to get on it!

Here's to an exciting 2012!

Beer vs. Wine

It's always fun to attend work events esp our Dining Odysseys. It was the 5th annual Beer Vs. Wine, Beer and Wine were tied 2-2, this dinner was the tiebreaker. Food was fabulous (of course) and the drinks were even better, (the menu is below). Our chefs did an amazing job dining and entertaining 90+ people. To everyone's surprise BEER won! My favorite dish was the Hamachi "Fish N' Chips" paired with beer and my favorite wine was the Field Blend. YUM!! I'm pretty sure I'm still full from this dinner.



ROASTED GARDEN BEETS
Avocado pudding, beet gelee, arugula, minus 8 vinaigrette, candied walnuts
Beer: Stone Brewing, Cali-Belgique IPA
Wine: Raymond Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

HAMACHI “FISH ‘N CHIPS”
Hamachi en croute, onion chip, yuzu pickles, caper pistou, frisee, malt vinegar espuma
Beer: Iron Fist, Spice of Life
Wine: Sonoma Cuvee Chardonnay, Russian River Valley


SONOMA DUCK BREAST
Truffle butternut squash, fried brussel sprouts, pistachio crumb, duck jus
Beer: Lost Abbey, Lost and Found
Wine: Raymond R. Collection Lot No.3, Field Blend, California


SHORT RIB EN SOUS VIDE
Bleu cheese polenta, freeze dried corn, English peas, horseradish beef jus
Beer: St. Bernardus, Abt 12
Wine: Raymond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

MEYER LEMON PANNA COTTA
Candied persimmon, cookie crumble, micro lemon mint
Beer: Alesmith Horny Devil
Wine: Chateau Grand Piquey Sauternes, France

La Jolla

A few days ago I spent my work day in beautiful La Jolla visiting our bed & breakfast. Once there, we were welcomed by the pet concierge! (Too cute!) The property sits right along the shores of La Jolla and the room views are incredible. For lunch we dined at one of trusted restaurant partners and had items "off-menu" courtesy of the sous chef. It's always fun "to work" by the beach for the day!

Goodies

This week I experienced my first yakyudori (Japanese skewers) and ramen house in San Diego, Yakitori Yakyudori & Ramen. I played it safe by ordering beef and chicken breast yakudori then trying the ramen. MY goodness the portion was huge, the ramen enough could fill you up. Probably looked like a fat kid from ordering all this food.

Side note: At one of our hotels, we got a sneak peak of the one of the items we'll be offering during the holiday season. YUM!!

More food!!!

I love this charcuterie bar at Bice in downtown. We were here to film a morning TV segment and I just couldn't help myself, but gawk at the beautiful display of different cheeses and meats! They are participating in San Diego Restaurant Week, I hope I'm able to make it there for dinner!

Speaking of San Diego Restaurant Week, yesterday I dined at Kitchen 1540 (one of my favorites) and finally sat outside! It's such an amazing setting out there, more so than their dining room. There is an outdoor fireplace, candles in mason jars hanging from the trees and the vertical gardens next to their awesome semi-private dining cabanas. During dinner a few chefs picked herbs from the vertical garden and bought them back to the kitchen. The service was impeccable! On Monday I was at Flavor Del Mar and prior to dinner I was found at their wine bar Sip. Food was great, but the wine was much better! Sip is the perfect place to hangout and have great conversations with friends.

For my last SDRW dinner adventure is Kensington Grill! Can't wait!

San Diego Blackout

Yesterday was such a weird day, worse day ever to have a black out too, it was freakin hot. The San Diego blackout occurred while I was at work and the resort had all-property meeting to figure out their game plan. After we were given the green-light go to head home, I realized the commute was going to be horrendous. No electricity = no traffic lights + rush hour = cluster!! There was decent cell service so I checked Sigalert, the freeways looked like spaghetti. The team and I ended up hanging out at the boss's house which is down the street, drank wine, saw her two pugs and snacked on munchies while we waited for the traffic to die down. The drive back was so odd, the sun was beginning to set and I knew coming home it was would be pitch black.

My apartment complex was just one big party, people were in the streets because it was much cooler, some were in their cars with booze listening to the radio for outage updates. The first thing I did when I got into my apartment was walk my dog, (poor guy). Shortly after I lit my one candle (with two wicks), I knew exactly where my flashlight was, looked for extra batteries and put my water bottles on my dresser. I had an epiphany though, my laptop was fully-charged so I used that to power my phone! After getting SD blackout settled, I didn't have a radio to get updates myself and I thought "now what?". The cell service was so spotty, you'd be lucky if you could get a phone call and sometimes it would take a while to send just a text! To keep myself entertained, I busted out my DS and played Pokemon Black. With really nothing to do, I went to bed super early. Eventually the power was back around 10:30pm PST.

Today I dumped all the food that went bad in the fridge. Looking back I think people realized HOW connected we are digitally, that sometimes it is nice to go outside, take a walk and talk to your neighbor. Any other day of the week you wouldn't see that on the streets.

So Much Food...

MY goodness, I feel like I've been eating non-stop! Last night at work we had a fall menu tasting for the Chef's new fall dishes and prior to the tasting we had cocktails down at the hotel bar. The dinner was five amazing courses, the sampling included: duck breast; heirloom tomato salad; diver scallops with octopus, japanese eggplant; beef tenderloin with fig, sweet potato croquette, beet gel; and for dessert, chocolate chip cookie with dulce de leche and malted vanilla shake. All the dishes were so delicious, all my plates went back to kitchen fully cleaned off. The next morning at work we had breakfast at the casual restaurant, I had a Belgium waffle with strawberries and chantilly cream. And finally after work I had some of the best sushi in SD. I am definitely ready to r-e-l-a-x this 3-day weekend.