Saturday night we dined with seven friends.  A couple were steak and potato types, while others preferred lighter cuisine.  Charlie Palmer has a nice mix of both offering steak and venison, while also featuring chicken and fish options.  On cold nights like that, valet is just essential.  We walked inside and were warmly greeted by friends at the bar.  The hostess checked our coats for us, checked us in, and offered to take us to our table, even though one in the party was stuck in traffic.  Upon being seated we were warmly greeted, drink orders were placed and drinks arrived shortly thereafter.  Our server graciously inquired whether we wanted to order anything before the last guest arrived.  We went ahead and ordered appetizers.  A selection of nice crusty bread was served, as well as, an amuse bouche of turnip soup.

I ordered a selection of oysters, they were all fresh and briny, they came with a wonderful sorbet of “cocktail sauce” with was cool and very pleasant with the oysters, old bay crackers and lemon.  Hubby had a beautiful shrimp and chorizo dish that was bright with color and flavor.  Our guest arrived shortly after our appetizer, a drink brought to him within moments.  All orchestrated without a problem or fuss. We were very pleasantly surprised to see Mountfair Vineyards represented on the wine list, one of our new favorites in Virginia.  We ordered a bottle for the table.

Dinner orders were taken.  I had a beautiful petit filet done to a perfect medium rare.  On a very modern and pretty stainless steel lazy susan in the middle of the table were placed our sides: hen of the woods mushrooms, fingerling potatoes with pancetta, asparagus, béarnaise sauce, twice baked potatoes.  All of the sides were very good.  I have a particular soft spot for the hen of the woods mushrooms- fresh and meaty, without much fuss just allowing their simple flavor to shine through.  I also was very happy they had a potato option without cream on the list of sides.

We ended the night with coffee and dessert.  Service was so good, it was like a carefully orchestrated ballet, you saw the steps, but it was a smooth performance as a whole that really impressed you.  I have dined there at other times and it seemed the service Saturday night was really a step above.  It was so nice to have a leisurely meal with great friends and be able to enjoy their company in such a beautiful setting, with ease.   There are a lot of new, fancy restaurants in DC, but sometimes when you go back to old standbys you remember exactly why they were old standbys.  And this is probably the best food in DC with a view.

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Hubby and I went with his family to the Chic-fil-a Bowl in Atlanta to support UVA.  It was my first time in Atlanta, but Hubby grew up there.  It was a fun filled trip with a lot of fun things to do and good places to shop and eat.

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We stayed at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center.  Although it is a new hotel, and they need to figure some things out- towels in the pool area, more items in the gift shop (like a brush), etc.  Generally it was a really nice hotel, well appointed rooms with a nice size pool and whirlpool and fitness center.  It had a central location that you could walk during the day down to some of the main attractions.  Within about two blocks were a Starbucks, restaurants, CVS, nail salon and other essentials.

When we got in I was hungry, hungry.  Luckily right around the corner was Tin Drum Asia Cafe.  A fast food style American Asian style eatery, with fantastic things like spicy spaghetti, noodles with a great broth, peppers and chicken, or mango chicken in a faux General TSO style.  Everything was really good, I wish there was one of these in this area (like right here in Arlington, hint, hint).  Everything was fresh, crispy and had great flavor.

Next up was the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola.  The Aquarium was really cool; however, I think I have seen so many aquariums I have a pretty high bar.  It was met by the beautiful and huge whale sharks drifting above your head.  It was amazing to see that large of a tank with these beautiful creatures along with mantas, sharks and other fish.  The World of Coca-Cola was another winner.  I loved the vintage Coke, the pop culture Coke, the folk art and all the international coke products that you get to taste!  I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed the World of Coke!

That night we had dinner at Hugh Acheson’s Empire State South.  This was a delectible.  A great mix of contemporary Southern food, with fun, interesting ingredients making it new.  The space was buzzing with energy, but was large, open and spacious.

The nest day we had a trip to the High Art Museum.  This is a nicely curated collection laid out in a way that makes it more walkable and seeable then other big art museums.  They also had a lot of fun exhibits that really made you enjoy the whole trip.  The special exhibits were very unique, there was an exhibit of work by Grainger McKoy that I adored, wooden carvings that were stunning, but very natural.

We had a nice lunch closeby at Table 1280.  The bread from Bakeshop was delectable.  The Cuban was a little rich, but the Warm Green Salad was an exciting and flavorful salad, and the chicken salad looked amazing.  That afternoon I got in a good workout at the pool, then it was off to dinner with the in-laws.

The next day we drove around my Hubby’s old neighborhood and had lunch at his favorite BBQ joint, Slopes.  It was just so good, smokey, flavorful meat with awesome sauce.  And the sides weren’t an afterthought.  It was real, deal BBQ.  We shopped at Lenox Square- which is sort of like Tyson’s but better.  Then it was off to the bowl!

The next day Hubby and I ventured to Phipp’s Plaza for a bit more shopping (the Tyson’s II of Atlanta).  That evening before we came home we went to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to see the Garden Lights exhibit, the whole of the gardens outdoor and indoor was decked out with interesting festive lights, with a train exhibit and lights that danced to music.  It was so much fun, the gardens themselves are so well done, it was a great stop.

Last but not least we had a quick dinner at Cypress Street Pint and Plate.  A great bar, with good food.  The soft pretzels were really good, as were the meatball sliders.  This was bar food done right, satisfying, but in a new way, an interesting way.

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We wanted some brunch Sunday around lunchtime before we met up with some people at the Museum of National History.  Driving around Penn Quarter not finding a parking spot, a realization came to my mind, Sou’Wester was actually very close to the Museum and would have good brunch and we would be able to find a parking spot in that area.

We easily found parking and wandered in out of the cold.  The room so light and airy, live jazz being played it was a perfect way to wake up to the day after a night of drinking.  I ordered the “Snout to Tail” pork shoat, greens and pork jus with a side of potatoes.  Hubby had the Croque.  Looking around the room though ordering was  a hard decision.  The bread basket had their normal cornbread and rolls, which are really good, sweet cornbread muffins, just small enough to be addictive and big enough to satisfy your craving for something sweet.  And rolls I should have saved to soak up my pork jus!

The food came out, I loved the balance of mine, crispy and tender with nicely cooked greens.  Hubby enjoyed his too.  The potatoes were a tad oily, but had a good flavor.  All in all it was a really nice brunch.  Service was a bit slow, but we were pretty slow at that point so it was fine.  And the food more than made up for it.

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I am just so happy that my lovely In-Laws live in Charlottesville.  I just have a love affair with Ablemarle and the surrounding counties.  The landscape is beautiful, the food and wine are devine and the shopping isn’t bad at all either.  We had the opportunity to take a lovely wine trip with some friends and host them at Hubby’s parents beautiful house in Ivy.

We went down by way of Gordonsville because I had been hankering for the BBQ Exchange.  I had heard about this place before it got popular.  And it is no secret now so it is best to get there early or late.  But luckily they can move things pretty quickly.  Our friends chatted up the pit master regarding his smokers and techniques.  They have a wide selection- pulled pork, pulled smoked chicken, smoked quarter chicken, brisket (I know, I know…), smoked pork belly and even BBQ tofu.  And an excellent variety of sides including really good hush puppies, coleslaw and cornbread.  We loaded up with provisions and then headed to Barboursville Vineyards.

Barboursville is very consistant, but this trip yielded a new surprise for me, a lovely brut sparkling wine.  Not quite as good as Thibaut, but close it had a nice balance of dryness and fruit without being very sweet.  Hubby played with Max in the lawn and we picked out a nice selection to go with our BBQ that we took out for us all to enjoy.  We then ate out on a picnic table in the sun.

Next up was Keswick Vineyards.  I am not as fond of it as other wineries, but it is close to Barboursville and on the way into C-ville so you might as well stop off, as everyone has different wine tastes.  That evening we had a lovely dinner at the Local.  We had a great time trying everyone’s dishes and were all really happy with the flavors and lovely local produce and meats cooked perfectly.  The Local is modern American farm to table.  It is upscale casual and really worth a try.  It’s over in the Belmont neighborhood which has a great selection of restaurants.

The next day we went to taste at White Hall which is one of my favorites, although they rotate the selections they taste and sometimes there is something I really want to try before I buy to see if their new vintage is as good as the old.  It is worth the trip to White Hall as I think it is one of the other very consistant wineries in the area with really quality products.  Another surprise was found here- a port style wine that is really quite a nice after dinner drink.

We then crossed the street to Mountfair Vineyards.  This is my new absolute favorite winery in Virginia.  They only have reds, but their reds are oh la la.  AND they taste the Thibaut Janisson sparking wines, which I really like, although Blanc de Chardonnay is better than Fizz.  The Mountfair reds will really blow you away though.  Let’s  just say we served a bottle to a friend who doesn’t like red wine and he loved it, he commented on how smooth it was, I am sure if we told him it was from Virginia he would have even been more amazed.

We lunched at Blue Mountain Brewery, which has such a good Afton Mountain Stout mustard that honestly they should bottle and sell it.  The flatbreads here are great, but really huge.  Hubby loves the soft pretzels.   We then hit Flying Fox, which I must comment- it was one of my absolute favorites, but they are now reserving their best wines for wine club members only, which I find slightly annoying.  But they do put together some good wines, they are a very small producer though so when you visit they may be out of some of their best stuff.

If you would like some local bottles without being able to get to all the wineries Food of All Nations has a great selection, as does the Greenwood Gourmet.  I always like to pick up favorites that the wineries are further out or we have been to them previously such as Jefferson, Blenheim and King Family.  Also another place in Charlottesville to pick up great picnic provisions is the Bellair Market, they have a huge selection of sandwiches and prepared food.  They have fresh roast meats that they cut for sandwiches and wraps and they even have freshly made desserts!

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After hearing so many good things about Fiola, it had been at the top of my hmmm list.  And since Hubby has been dearly missing good homemade pasta, I figured it would be a place we would both really enjoy.  I was warned, however, that it is really loud.  And it really is loud.  If you are someone who can’t tolerate a lot of noise I would advise going early or late because peak hours are loud.

The decor to me was interesting.  I loved the Le Paradou decor, but this was a totally transformed space.  I really liked the stone and clean lines.  I was a little miffed by the white scalloped curtains which were a little to cutesy for the modern space, but overall the space is really beautiful.

Our server was very nice and informative.  I wish I could remember his name.  He did a very good job of reading our table.  We started with a bottle of wine that was wonderful, and I have no clue what it was, except I think it was a Sangiovese.  Perhaps Hubby will come to my aid with the name?  It was very good and versatile for our meal. (This is what happens when I don’t write reviews immediately, sorry I was so busy that week.)

Let’s first talk a second about the rolls. A mix between a yeast roll and croissant.  A bit salty, tender and flaky, they were just perfect little snacks.

For a first course I had the  Ahi Tuna Carpaccio, Lemon, Tomato, Olives, Smoked Steelhead Caviar.  This was light and fresh with a lovely balance between the lemon and smokey taste of the caviar on the smooth and very fresh tuna.  Hubby had the meatballs and those were good, as well.  I think they would be great on a colder night.

For a second course I did cheat and have the half order of Pappardelle, King Oyster Mushrooms, Hudson Valley Foie Gras.  This was like the best mushroom stroganoff ever.  The noodles were perfectly made and cooked homemade noodles.  They were so well balanced in weight and texture and shape.  The mushrooms were very flavorful and the foie gras gave the dish this richness that made you not want to put your fork down.  At one point I had to make myself stop to save room for our entree.  The portions were a very good size for this dish, with how rich it is I don’t think I could ever eat a full portion.  Hubby had the Fiola Maine Lobster Ravioli, which he thought was ok.  I think I would have preferred the style over others with big chunks of lobster and not made into much of a filling or heavy sauce, but he I think wanted more sauce or richness.

For our main course we had the whole roasted duck for two.  The preparation on the duck is intense.  It is brined, then marinated, then roasted and grilled.  It is served in two different preparations.  I almost didn’t order this.  I almost went with the snapper, which was our waiters favorite dish, but he told me he didn’t eat a lot of red meat.  But after explaining the almost three week preparation I had to give it a try.  Of course at the end of my order he asked me if I was sure.  With a menu so full of good options just ordering was the most difficult part of the evening, no I wasn’t sure!  But Hubby and I both really like duck and with three weeks in the making, like ordering dessert 30 minutes before it arrives, it had to be good.

The main preparation was the breast with marinated almost caramelized skin on the duck breast, carmelized endives, cherry and a balsamic sauce.  The fat below the skin had nicely rendered leaving a thin, but delicious layer of fat.   This was perhaps the best duck preparation I have had, save for a really spectacular peking duck.  The second preparation was a crispy skin thigh with lettuce and fennel salt.  This had a wonderful balance of flavor between the dressing and duck.  The crunch of the lettuce and crispness of the skin made this a great dish.  We had so much duck we had to take some home.  (We gave a little bit to Max, who afterwards went bolting to the fridge every time the door was opened.)

We got sent out a dessert.  I am not sure if this is a normal birthday thing, or if it was because I happen to be a member of some online food communities, or because we did really take a liking to our waiter, who was just a lot of fun.  But we did get a comped dessert-full disclosure.  And it was a good comped dessert.  I am a chocolate fiend and although I was really too full for dessert I somehow found room in my stomach for more.  I can’t find it on the website, but it was similar to the Michel Richard kit kat.  Don’t tell that I said this, but it may have been better.  Certainly the flavors were similar and really a side by side comparison would be needed to be sure.  They also sent out a couple petit fours.  A chocolate chip macaron that I could eat a whole box of they were so good.  A small shotbread and jam cookie and a chocolate and brittle bit, if memory is correct.

The meal from start to finish was really wonderful.  There is so much more of the menu I want to explore.  The next night we went back to the bar and had some fantastic cocktails.  They even made my best friend a non-alcoholic sparkling lemonade.  I tried the fried chickpeas, which weren’t at all as I was expecting, they were more like gourmet mozarella sticks, not sure I would re-order those with all the other good stuff on the bar menu, like Hubby’s meatballs, but they were good for sharing and we ended up finishing them, so they couldn’t have been too bad.

And the staff really is top notch.  It isn’t a romantic, talk quietly and gaze into each others eyes type of place, but if you like vibrant spaces with top notch food and are open to some fun, it’s a great experience.  Sorry I have no pictures, since it was a birthday dinner with just Hubby and I, I didn’t photograph my food.  We had a really nice evening.  Hubby as usual made my birthday spectacular, he is just so great!

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The first good sign was that I actually found the place without getting lost.  I frequently get lost in Springfield, as there is just stuff all over the place.  Walking in there was a small buffett and tables on the left.  There was also a small menu on the wall of noodle soups available.  I got a beef noodle soup and one of the very pleasant staff asked me if I wanted the one similar to Pho.  As I was wearing a white shirt, I thought clear broth over red probably a good idea.  The noodles were thin rice noodles and there were some slices of brisket and some meatballs and scallions in what was a very nice complex broth.  All the normal Pho accompaniments alongside.  As there were torrential downpours outside, it felt quite nice to sit inside watching the rain slurping noodles.

I also ordered a bahn mi to go.  It had a mix with sausage, pate and a few other cured meats.  The bread was soft, warm and crusty, the condiments were very spicy, but had a little sweetness.  There was a good balance of meat, bread, condiments.

The bakery has to go plates of rolls and other Vietnamese dishes for carry out and more can be ordered.  There were all sorts of pastries.  I bought some peanut cookies and pastries with a cashew filling.  They seemed to have some pastries that seem a bit more Chinese to me, as well, but I am not good with those sorts of differentiation at this point, especially with the French influence.  There were also a variety of steamed buns.  There were candies and other sweets and cakes.  The people coming in and out for bags of sandwiches was promising.  This is a neat little spot well worth exploring.  I can’t wait to take Hubby there at some point.

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Day Three started with a Mini winding across the Bay Bridge and up through Mill Valley to Muir Woods National Monument.  It reminded me of an old growth forrest on the East Coast that was fed lots of Miracle Grow.  The trees were immense and the earth just smelled good.  It was a nice diversion to be out of the city and among giant trees.  Although there were still lots of people.  And we had to walk as far to parking and back as we did through the national monument.  Many of the side paths were closed during our visit, but the main path was still open; however, I wish more of the side trails would have been open where you could have left the crowds behind and done more serious hiking.  But none-the-less a beautiful thing to see.

We drove back through Saucilito, but it was so crowded we just drove right through and back into San Francisco.  We parked between Golden Gate Park and NOPA where we brunched.  I had Butter Basted Farm Eggs – Roasted Spring Onions, Romesco and Crispy Polenta, with a side of bacon, it was decadent, crunchy, but not overly filling or heavy. MMMMMM. But Hubby really beat me, he got the Chili Braised Pork –Purple Runner Beans, Chard and Buttermilk Biscuit and that was killer good, rich in flavor, but nicely balanced with the beans and greens that weren’t done in a heavy way. I want to try to make this at home.

After our quite filling, but not heavy brunch we explored the portions of Golden Gate Park that we previously hadn’t gotten through.  We visited the conservancy of flowers to look at their orchids and the exhibit on Wicked Plants.  We walked through the dahlia gardens and explored for a bit.  We then went back to the car by way of Osso & Co a fantastic dog store where we picked up some goodies for Max.  We did not get him one of the amazing dog houses they had there, but you never know, he might get one in the future, they were amazingly chic.  We then drove and checked out the shops around Hayes Valley, a very hipster area with great boutique shops.  There is a very good guide here.  I really loved Stark Home Furnishings.

We were so tired from all the walking we crashed at the hotel for a nap.  I had really considered visiting the excellent Nob Hill Spa, and looking back I can’t imagine why I didn’t.  The spa is beautiful with an amazing view from the pool.  And the treatment rooms really pretty.  Next time this will be a done deal.  My sore legs and tired feet could have used some pampering!

That night we had reservations for Boulevard, but neither of us felt like fancy, so we went and had spring rolls at the Slanted Door, which were killer good (we should have just eaten dinner here) and then we had fish tacos a hot dog and fries at Gott’s Roadside, which was good, it was, but not anything as good as the rolls at Slanted Door and the amazing smells emanating from that place. I am still regretting not eating at the Slanted Door right now.

We then wandered our way back up Nob Hill, we stopped in Chinatown to pick up a few goodies before the stores closed.  I got a silk pouch and jewelry roll for travel that pair exceedingly well with my Michael Aram Hartman.  And got some cute gifts for friends and loved ones that you can’t get in our area.

The next morning we wandered Chinatown and I bought some jewelry from an exceptional little jewelry store off the beaten path where you can find nicer things than the junky shops that are mostly visible.  I also drooled over a beautiful gold desk with with cranes for my guest bedroom.

We had a chinese pastries, a mung bean cake for me and a bbq bun for Hubby, and ate an early lunch before the airport at San Sun, which I highly highly recommend. They have some amazing noodle dishes, and that’s what I would order here. The broth, noodles and meat choices were great. You pick the broth-meat, then you pick your noodle type rice noodles, thin or wide, egg noodles, etc, etc, and you can do a combo, they also have some specialty noodle dishes. They have a huge menu so there is other stuff, but most people around us were also slurping up different noodles. Even at 11:00 a.m. people of all ethnicities came wandering in for a meal.  The flavors of the broth were complex, but so comforting.  We then headed off to the airport where I picked up  some dinner at the Napa Farm Market in the airport which had some really nice looking meals- for me roasted chicken, roast potatoes and asparagus.  They even had gluten free cupcakes.  Surprisingly fireworks from a plan are not as cool as you would expect.  Just little poofs of light far far away.

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Day two began with me sleeping in for a delightfully long time, only to wake up and find it was still quite early on the West Coast- I love that! We got ready and headed down to the Farmer’s Market at the Ferry Market Building.  First up was some delicious dark chocolate almond brittle from G.L. Alfieri Nuts & Fruits, which may be one of the tastiest and most addicting brittles I have ever sampled.  They also have a great selection of nuts and spreads, but that brittle will be ordered for holiday events!  We then sampled some beautiful peaches, then it was on to Ex-Absinthe/Arlequin pastry chefLuis Villavelazquez’s Les Elements Patisserie where we had an amazing strawberry jelly doughnut and lamb turnover.  We knew strawberry was the way to go as the day before we could see beautiful fresh strawberries all over the fields.  And that filling was fresh and delicious.  The Lamb Turnover was also good, wish I could have toasted it just a little, but was a nice savory morning bite.  I am so sorry to say I can’t figure out who I got the lovely little macarons from in front of the building, which is a real shame as she also had some lime caramel which was so good, Hubby loved that.

Inside the building we had an amazing hot dog at the Prather Ranch Meat Co. hormone and antibiotic free, with a great crispness, but juicy beef taste.    Across the lane I slurped down some fresh, briny oysters at the San Francisco Fish Company.

We sampled some Pepples Doughnuts, which may be my favorite cake doughnut of all time and right up there in my top three of all doughnuts.  I am very sad they don’t ship (it’s not sustainable, I know, I know).  But their cake was moist and not overly dense and their flavors were magical, made from fresh and wonderful product, like meyer lemon or green tea.  If anyone going to SF wants to ship me some of these home, you are more than welcome.  I will repay the favor somehow, someway.  Having just eaten an awful large amount of gluten for my system (I only had bites of things, but it adds up, luckily I stayed lactose free and that seems to be more of a problem for me) I picked up a Mariposa sandwich made with Boccalone salami for later.

We then stepped outside and as it had gotten a little later there were hoards everywhere.  Luckily we made it to Primavera for great lemonade and tea.  I had the Chi Chi Rodriguez which may be the best peach tea I have ever tasted (do you see a pattern here?) .  I wish I could get this stuff bottled.  It has all my drink loves- tea, ginger and peach all rolled into one delicious, balanced drink that I had to ration so I didn’t down it in seconds.  Stepping back in we stopped in McEnvoy Ranch and Heath Ceramics, which is just so special they will get their own post just for them.  I also found a wealth of new cookbooks I NEED (def. NEED- something I want very badly, and must acquire because it is superawesomefantabulous)(nevermind that my cookbook shelf is packed to the rim).  To balance off the meatasticness of the morning we stopped in DELICA to get some salad, I got mine in the form of spinach and sesame, but they had a seaweed salad that looked super healthy and good too- next time!

I would have bought so much more except we were going right from there over to the SFMOMA and then to Golden Gate Park!  But most everyplace, but Pepples, ships so I am in luck, plus I couldn’t eat any more and needed to burn off some calories walking.  The SFMOMA had the Gertrude Stein collection visiting and the number of rare Matisse and Picasso’s was just phenomenal.  There was also a beautiful Monet Lithograph with so many colors.  The permanent collection was also very interesting with a lot of work that was beautiful and thought provoking.  One of the fun moments was seeing the Matthew Blarney work, the person the internets always confuses my Hubby with.  After all that walking I needed a short break to rest the footsies.  We were close to Press Club, a fantastic wine bar with a by the glass list that just makes me happy.  The staff has wonderful knowledge of all the tastes and provides very helpful feedback without being wine pontzs.  It has a dark, but very clean and modern  wood motif, with back lights and matte wine bottles in khaki colors.  It is a great place to sit and relax, there are multiple bars and many seating areas.  And just so relaxing.

After this I ate my Mariposa sandwich at Golden Gate Park.  Umm, this is incredible gluten free bread.  It makes me cry that they are so far away.  They do ship though.  It is so much like real bread.  It is chewy and light and airy with good pull and texture.  Why can’t this place be at a Farmer’s Market here!!!  It was soo good.  The sandwich rolls were especially good, so much better than anything I have found.  If anyone wants to go in on a shipment with me let me know!!

Golden Gate Park was beautiful, the conservatory had an amazing exhibit on Wicked Plants!  They also had amazing orchids and temperate gardens.  They also had a beautiful Dahlia garden, one of my favorite flower varieties.  The Japanese Tea Garden was very neat, but I felt the one in Sydney and the Huntington were better.  The other gardens weren’t very well kept, but still nice to walk around.  I think they have probably suffered from some budget cuts.  After all that walking we headed back to the hotel for a pre-dinner nap, as it was a long day in beautiful sunshine.

Then the cherry on the sundae was dinner at Incanto!  I love me some tasty salted pig parts.  And I really like Chris Cosentino’s philosophy towards food.  The dinner was stellar, the Chef was in the kitchen.  Starting with the wonderful foccacio bread and tapenade.  Then moving onto a country harm puree with spring root vegetables.  This country hame puree was a delight, like really good grits, but smoother, denser, creamy, but in an amazing savory way.  I also had the lavender lemonade, which just hit me, as did the puree as something I must make, they were just simple wonderful pleasures.  I then had the pork shoulder with onion, apple and greens which was dense with meat flavor, but very light with simple, balanced flavors.  Hubby had the ragu and that was rich and just homey and wonderful, like a hug from your fat aunt, it consumes you with a joyful fullness.  It is simple, complex food, the technique is impeccable, but the food is honest and not overdone.  Too stuffed for dessert we headed for Clock Bar for some liquid dessert, it was ok, drinks were good, but atmosphere just needed something, it was too hotely, although trying so hard not to be, I would rather do the Top of the Mark and have the view.

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2. San Francisco Report: The 2011 Great Adventure Day 1 We had a pretty amazing trip to San Francisco.  Between...

We had a pretty amazing trip to San Francisco.  Between the day-trips, the food, the shopping, the attractions, it was just a really great trip.  I found so much great stuff I have to cover it day by day.

We arrived in San Francisco airport around 10:00 a.m. West Coast time and hit the road for Carmel and Monterey.  Of course I was starving, really starving, but didn’t want to ruin a nice lunch on the coast.  So Hubby suggested we stop for an In and Out Burger, as I had never had one.  There isn’t one in the city, but using the great app Next EXIT we found one off the highway on our way.  The app is excellent in places where they don’t label the exits or you just want to see what else is out there, beyond the signs.  It gives you the options and when you pass the exit it moves to the next.  We split a hamburger with fries.  The fries were really light and crisp and not overly salty like so many french fries.  The burger tasted fresh, with actual ripe tomato, the sauce was ok- I would save the cals and add ketchup or mustard.  It was definitely good for fast food, but not something to go out of your way for.  Then we headed through Santa Cruz and down the coast for Monterey.  If you can hold your hunger a little bit there are some amazing looking road stands on that drive out in farm country.  You could see them picking the fresh strawberries and artichokes, mmmm.

Monterey is incredibly touristy, mind you, but the aquarium is really fantastic.  I have been to aquariums all over the world- because yes I am five inside- I love aquariums like some people like art, or shoes or breathing.   But because I have been to so many, I have a fairly high standard at this point.  The Monterey Bay Aquarium is spectacular.

But to be honest one of the things that makes it spectacular is the restaurant.  Oh no not the cafeteria- the real restaurant.  You have to go to the hostess stand and then wait a bit, but you can look through the aquarium then.  Then you sit down with an amazing view over Monterey Bay with otters playing in the bay, and not just a couple, but piles of them.  There were seals swimming around and sunning themselves the birds flying in and out of the kelp beds fishing.  This might be one of the most fantastic dining spots for a nature enthusiast.  (Bring good binoculars, the ones on the table are not adequate.)  They serve wine and beer, have fantastic organic and local food and desserts.  I had a lovely California Bass, pan roasted with sauteed vegetables and roasted potatoes and a reduction sauce of butter and apricot.  It was an incredibly high end lunch that was relaxing and just amazing looking out watching the bay teeming with little otters playing in the sun.  The exhibits are quite breath taking, they light the exhibits so well and they have a huge section of things you can TOUCH!  If you have a small child, or a me, expect to spend a whole day here.  Check out my pics for some of the amazing exhibits from seahorses to jellyfish.

After this we drove through the lovely Pacific Grove with misty, rocky, craggy coastline sprinkled with beaches.  We then drove through Pebble Beach- which for us who don’t know- the whole area has quite a number of golf courses.  You have to pay to do the drive, but the pull offs and views are really quite nice to enjoy.

We then ended up in Carmel and Carmel by the Sea.  We perused lots of cute shops.  Drove by beautiful houses.  We checked out the Nielsen Brothers Market which was a combination between normal little super market and gourmet store, farmers market, but the wine selection inside was very nice, especially local wines.  Thinker Toys across the street has an amazing ferris wheel built out of Tinker Toys and a really great selection of neat toys and vintage toy items.  They had a number of cute dog shops, as well.  Lots of clothing shops and shoe shops with neat things.  But the galleries were the real draw.  We really liked the selection at   Gallery 1000 Fine Art.  So much we thought about purchasing a piece, that is unfortunately a little too big for our space.  There is also the George Rodrique- known for Blue Dog- Studio and so many other great galleries.  I almost found that piece I have been looking for to place in the dining room.

There are so many good choices of places to eat in Carmel by the Sea.  With fresh ingredients grown so close, it is hard to screw them up.  We wanted something light after a long day of traveling and we wandered into Mundaka, a Spanish tapas restaurant using local ingredients.  It was a great choice.  The setting is really nice, and food was excellent.  We had a hilarious group of neighbors in the dining room that made it quite a humorous evening, but our server was so nice and gracious (we could have asked to move to multiple other seating options, but it was like watching simultaneous train wrecks).  We started with fried squash blossoms with chili oil.  They were crisp and light with a sweet taste that balanced well with the chili oil.  We then moved on to patatas bravas which were crisp and spicy and a good version. Squash and zucchini spaghetti with almonds and pecorino were very fresh and vibrant.  Lamb chops with mashed potatoes and some herbed olive oil were cooked perfectly with nice gamey flavor, and tenderness.  The lavender pork skewers with almost a kimchi like side of greens was not what I was expecting, but a nice taste and very different. I really loved this little place and we didn’t want a huge meal, even with this we ordered to much, but it was all fresh and prepared well.  The staff was gracious and very nice.  They had a great wine list, but we stook to there homemade lemonade in preparation for the ride back to San Francisco, which was crisp and refreshing.  From the pictures, the lighting after dark seems pretty cool too, we left before dark to get home!  (Pictures from their website- not our meal.)

Last but not least: Home Sweet Home at the Huntington Hotel.  This place has quickly jumped onto my short list of fantastic hotels.  The customer service is amazing, they are so nice and personable, by the second day they recognize you.  Housekeeping was Nay, who told us if we needed anything to call her at any time.  The doormen were just friendly and helpful as can be.  The room itself was spacious and clean, with a mix of modern and antique furnishings and art.  The bathroom was huge with a large vanity, the room had floor length mirrors, a necessity in my book.  L’Occitaine amenities were quite adequate.  The view from our room was just amazing, one of the perks of being on the top of Nob Hill.  And they have a spa, that I WILL go to next time.  It looked incredible and has a pool and sunning patio overlooking the other side of the city.  The hotel and staff are amazing, this is the place to stay in San Francisco.  Below you can see our exact room and incredible view.  MMMMM, I can close my eyes and dream of this place.

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On the other hand there is one of the best spas in the United States at your fingertips in the Beaver Creek Park Hyatt, wonderful food and a view and fresh air that is crisp and clean. As far as the Aspen area goes there are a lot of different vibes.  Vail has more restaurants, more people and I think tends to be a little more 80′s yuppie, although it is SUPER pet friendly.  Beaver Creek is elegant and laid back.  It doesn’t lack in amenities, but it is a little less showy and more about having a good time in a more relaxed and less crowded area.  But the nice thing is that skiing at Beaver Creek you also get access to Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead Village lifts, as well, and the villages are easy to get to.  Beaver Creek is the perfect vibe.  They have ice skating, family events, bars and restaurants all in the village.

As for staying there.  I, ahem, have a great connection, a very very good friend whose family has a home in Beaver Creek.  That in itself isn’t exactly roughing it.  BUT if you don’t have that kind of access I highly recommend the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek (which you can sometimes find on Jetsetter.com, you’re welcome).  There are other places to stay that are also nice, but the Park Hyatt is right there and just amazing.    The heated pool overlooking the slopes ain’t so bad, either.

Currently I don’t have skis and boots that I absolutely love, I need to trade them, and you don’t want to have to take skis all the way out and back so I recommend renting, if you have comfy boots you love take those, there are multiple places with different levels of skis to rent.  If you can get your gear here in this area, off season at a good sale time, it will probably be cheaper.  I tend to get mine in Garrett County when there are sales, I really like High Mountain Sports, they do a ski swap at Autumn Glory too.  Out in Beaver Creek we rented from Gorsuch, which is a little pricier, but also tends to have a little better equipment rentals.  They also had a super cool penguin hat I acquired.

As for eating, you definitely want to eat and drink early and often.  This is not a time to watch calories because you burn so many and you are up in the elevation, so you need to keep hydrated.  I am not a breakfast person, but I ate breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks everyday.  When you are on the slopes, definitely try to make it to Blinky’s at Arrowhead Village for a Blinky Burger.  I was trying to eat as gluten free as I can and they had a phenomenal chili that I really enjoyed.  Food in the cafeteria at Arrowhead Village ris really lacking.

If you can swing it a lunch at Beano’s Cabin is truly special.  You come in take your boots off and enjoy some great snacks and cider or hot chocolate while waiting for your table.  The kitchen has a wood burning oven and rotisseries on the wall.  They have a menu with a ton of gluten free options too, clearly marked on the menu!  This is not your normal ski food, it is a gourmet experience. I had lobster tacos one day and rotisserie chicken with potatoes and green beans the next with a wonderful reduction sauce.  This was a long leisurely lunch but it gives you the energy to go the rest of the day.

Not too far away in Edwards, the Gashouse Restaurant has a great selection of game meats and seafood.  It is a glorified bar, in the best of ways with a real local feel, animals on the log cabin walls and ski passes enameled on the bar.  The food is top notch.  We had the game platter, and even with the leaner meats everything turned out cooked exactly to the right temperature.  Although the wait can be long, the menu is varied and the bar is comfortable, it is definitely worth the wait.

We were there over Valentine’s Day and we went to the Swiss Chalet in Vail for fondue.  This place was chintzy in the absolute best possible way.  Normally this food would be a little over the top rich, but after a long day of skiing you will not believe the food you can put away and then it is great.  And they were really nice about being accommodating with my food needs, brought me extra veggies and etc.

Now after all that skiing what you need is a phenomenal spa, and the Park Hyatt has it- The Allegria Spa.  Not only are the spa treatments top notch, but they have saunas, steam rooms, mineral pools and a tepidarium.  The spa is really decorated nicely with a lot of water and stone, similar to the Nemacolin Spa, but a little more Colorado.  The massage was really warm and they had just the right touch to soothe and relax your muscles without hurting those aching shins.  It is a great place to spend an afternoon relaxing with friends.

As for ski slopes, Beaver Creek has a lot of lifts, it is well groomed and with the ability to move into other villages.  They have some nice long runs with varying expertise levels.  On holidays it gets crowded, like every ski resort, but catch it on an off weekend and ski all around the mountain and you can move through a lot of terrain.  It also isn’t so big that you can’t separate from your group for a run or two and easily meet back up.  It is a good size if you are with a group or family because you won’t get lost or end up too far from each other.  Beaver Creek’s slogan really rings true, the whole trip I felt I was wellt aken care of and I just needed to concentrate on my form they took care of the rest.  And it didn’t hurt that I had phenomenal hosts.

I don’t have a lot of pictures, but here are a few I do have:

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