Week in The Bahamas

A travel recap from The Abacos, Bahamas

The beach in front of our house

We just got back from a long, relaxing trip to The Abaco Club in the Bahamas with my husband's family. The island is beautiful and very remote, filled with tropical plants, soft white sand, and turquoise waters. Our house was right on the beach and most mornings we would eat a big breakfast together (usually bacon and eggs, although one morning we made a delicious lobster hash) on our back porch and take in the ocean views before spending the day by the pool, in the sea, or on the golf course.

Everyone was on their own schedule for lunch, which mostly consisted of simple sandwiches at home or the fish tacos at Buster's on the beach. In the afternoon and evening, we'd all enjoy a few Kalik beers or tropical cocktails - my favorite being the Bahama Mama, Goombay Smash, and Pina Coladas - and come together for dinner and games.

The view from Pete's Pub

The club was on a pretty quiet side of the island, so we rotated through our only dinner options: eating at the clubhouse, at our house, or at the only nearby restaurant, Pete's Pub. We were lucky to have local chef Chaka cook at our house for three meals and got a real taste for traditional Bahamian food like conch fritters, jerk chicken, and peas and rice. Pete's Pub was another favorite: a local bar on the beach that turns out a small nightly menu featuring whatever fresh fish they just caught, served on paper plates and eaten on self-seated picnic benches in the sand. Our favorites were the mango grouper and the triggerfish.

Abaco is truly an island paradise and I can't say enough about its beauty, friendly people, and unique Bahamian cuisine. Now that we're home, I'm looking forward to trying my hand at recreating some of our favorite dishes from the trip.

The Abaco Club

Weekend in Scottsdale

Highlights and tips from a long weekend trip to Northern Scottsdale

I just got back from a long weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona, for my husband's thirtieth birthday. The whole trip was a surprise that I'd been planning for months and I was thrilled that it all went off without a hitch. We stayed in a house in Northern Scottsdale by Troon North golf club and spent the days hiking, lounging by the pool, and the boys golfed. I wanted to keep things casual, so we just had one fancy dinner at Sassi and then spent most of our other meals at the house or in the clubhouse. We grilled dinner at our place one night and our friends pitched in to make steak fajitas and a fabulous vanilla birthday cake with fresh strawberries. It was such a memorable weekend and the perfect way to celebrate my better half.


Where to Eat:

• Sassi - Our house was a little ways from downtown, but we lucked out with this great Northern Italian restaurant close by. The ambiance is beautiful and provides great views of Pinnacle Peak, which made our pastas, osso bucco, and veal chops taste that much better.
• Pizzeria Bianco - We stopped by this famous James Beard award-winning restaurant for lunch before we headed back to the airport. The pizzas didn't disappoint, and we loved the unique combinations like pistachio and red onion.

Things to Do in Scottsdale:

• Hiking - We spent a few hours hiking Pinnacle Peak. It was definitely a workout, but the views from the top were incredible.
• Golfing - My husband is an avid golfer, which is one of the reasons I chose to take him to Scottsdale. There are so many courses to choose from, but the boys had a great time at The Boulders.
• Relaxing - The weather reached about 80 degrees everyday, so we made sure to save time to lay out by the pool and enjoy a few cocktails. There are lots of great spas nearby, too.

Honeymoon: Paris & Venice

I’ve taken a long break from writing to get married and go on my honeymoon to Paris and Venice. It’s been extremely difficult to adjust to “normal” life post-wedding and I’m just beginning to process the fairy tale three weeks I’ve shared with my husband, family, and friends. Words can’t begin to convey the deep emotions, love, and joy, I felt on our wedding day, May 18th. This is a re-cap of our honeymoon to Europe. These are some of our most memorable meals and moments on our two week trip to the most romantic cities in the world, but they only begin to scratch the surface of our once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Paris:

We stayed at Le Grand Paris Hotel across from the Opera House in the 9th arrondissement but managed to make it to most areas of the city. My favorite neighborhood was the St. Germain area, which we visited several times during the week.

• L'Avant Comptoir - Extremely tiny wine bar with outstanding small plates and daily specials. They don't take any reservations and there are no seats so we waited outside for fifteen minutes before they opened to get the best spot at the bar. Everything we had was mind-blowing, but some of our favorites were the ham and cheese croquettes, the whole shrimp, and the pork belly (especially when eaten with their free crusty bread and spicy mustard). This was our favorite meal of the trip and we can't stop talking about it.
• Verjus Wine Bar - Their sit-down restaurant is one of the hottest reservations in town, but their no-reservations wine bar is also excellent. It's owned by an American couple and the staff is super friendly. We met a friend here for dinner and had some great wine and split a bunch of plates. Our favorite was the fried chicken (we ended up getting three orders).
• Pascade - This was one of the most unique experiences of the trip. We came here for lunch and split two pascades, which are similar to a dutch baby or light pancake that's stuffed with a bunch of sweet or savory ingredients. We had one filled with duck, foie gras, duck egg, and greens and one with mango, banana mousse, and ice cream.
• Pramil - We made reservations for this meal well in advance and treated it as one of our fancier meals of the trip. It has a Michelin star but the prices are extremely reasonable for their three-course offering. Everything was very rich and indulgent, including the foie gras with smoked eel, the white asparagus soup with foie gras ice cream, and the scallops with morels and potatoes.
• La Fontaine de Mars - This is a cute, typical French brasserie that serves classic dishes in a very Parisian setting. It's a great spot for Americans looking for old-school French dishes, which seem to be disappearing off of most menus. Our favorites were the eggs baked with red wine and bacon, the duck confit, and the isle flotant ("floating island") dessert.
• Rue Mouffetard - I had been dying to go to an authentic Parisian open market and this was a dream come true. The street is lined with farmers selling fresh produce, fish markets, bakeries, and all types of street food. We split a roast chicken and potatoes that we ate of a bag with our hands and it was one of the best food moments of the trip.

Venice:

We had the best time staying at Hotel Ai Reali, a beautiful new hotel conveniently located between the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square. My husband lived in Venice for five months in college and was able to take me to all of his favorite spots around the city.

• Pizza Al Volo - This was my husband's favorite pizza place when he lived here and we ate here nearly everyday of our trip. It's nothing fancy, but the pizza is excellent and locals are always stopping by to get a slice to go or to eat in Campo Santa Margherita. I tried a bunch of flavors, but my husband swears by the tuna and onion pizza (sounds odd, but definitely give it a try).
• Mille Vini - Great wine shop down the street from the Rialto bridge. The owner was extremely knowledgeable and friendly and treated us to some generous glasses of free wine, homemade salami, and olive oil tastings. We took a bunch of products home with us, including a local red wine, limoncello, and a few bottles of olive oil.
• Al Covo - Beautiful atmosphere, impeccable service, and delicious food made this one of our favorite meals of the trip. We both got the three-course option, which we felt was a great deal considering the quality. All of our dishes were outstanding, but some of our favorites were the clams and white beans, the monkfish, the vanilla panna cotta, and the buffalo ricotta cheesecake.
• Da Fiore - This is the most elegant restaurant in Venice and the service and atmosphere was truly exceptional. It's a splurge to dine here, but the risotto with shrimp, zucchini, and squash blossoms was the best rice dish I've ever had. The John Dory with grapefruit sauce was also a favorite.
• Alle Corone - This restaurant is located in our hotel but is turning into one of the best restaurants in the city. Prices were very reasonable, portions were large, and the service was extremely accommodating (they even gave us complimentary glasses of limoncello to end the meal). They offer a good mix of traditional Venetian dishes and classic fine dining. We especially enjoyed the sardines in sweet and sour sauce, the steak, and the rack of lamb.
• Ostaria Boccadoro - We stopped here on a whim after noticing several locals dining out front and  it turned into one of our favorite meals of the trip. The restaurant is family owned and the food was all spectacular. The linguine and clams were the best we've ever had.

Weekend Review: California's Central Coast

Smoked Salmon & Smoked Shrimp Tacos from Ruddell's Smokehouse in Cayucos

My fiance and I just got back from a wonderful trip up California's coast for my birthday. I had wanted to keep it relaxing, so we planned a few major elements (a night in Ragged Point, a tour of Hearst Castle, and a birthday dinner at the Cass House Inn) and left the rest of our days open for whatever sounded good at the time. We took an impromptu trip to Paso Robles for lunch and wine tasting at Justin (and nearly cleared them out of their 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon), watched whales breaching and elephant seals sunbathing, and sat on a cliff overlooking the ocean while the sun set. We were lucky with our meals, mostly taking restaurant suggestions from locals which led us to plenty of freshly caught seafood, homemade sweets, and locally-raised beef, but the real food highlight was at the Cass House. Located in a historic building in Cayucos, we enjoyed four courses and wine pairings of some of the best food I've had anywhere. The service, thoughtfulness, ambiance, and perfect Wagyu beef tenderloin made the meal into my top three dining experiences of all time.

Leg of Lamb & Goat Cheese French Dip from Artisan in Paso Robles

Pork Belly & Heirloom Beans - Course 2/4 at the Cass House Inn

Crab Cakes with Spicy Remoulade at Robin's in Cambria

Week Review: Minnesota

Lobster & Egg Crostini from Bar La Grassa

Early Morning View of the Lake

I just came back from our annual trip to Minnesota for the Fourth, which is quickly becoming my favorite trip of the year. Most of the time was spent on Lake Sylvan but we still managed to get in a couple great meals in the twin cities. The lobster and egg crostini from Bar La Grassa was one of the most complex, delicious bites of food I've had in awhile, and no trip would be complete without a juicy lucy burger (the cheese is stuffed in the center of the burger and also melted on top). Before heading up to the lake we stopped off at the Minneapolis farmer's market for some fresh ingredients to make large batches of green bean salad, roasted corn, and steaks with mushroom red wine sauce. The food was great, but it was the time spent relaxing and enjoying friends and family that made the trip so memorable.

Uff Da Juicy Lucy Burger from Blue Door Pub

Lake Sylvan

Crab Ravioli and Pappardelle with Veal Ragu from Bar La Grassa

Weekend Review: Santa Ynez

Hamachi Sashimi with Avocado and Crispy Shiitakes at The Ballard Inn

Seared Scallops with Bacon and Chard at Seagrass

This past Memorial Day weekend started off with a surprise proposal from my boyfriend (now fiancé) in Santa Barbara, at one of my favorite bed and breakfast hotels, The Upham. Everything following it was a whirlwind of celebrations featuring excellent food and drinks. We spent the first night eating seafood and sipping champagne over a private, romantic table at Seagrass. The rest of the weekend was spent with our family in Santa Ynez Valley, where we went wine tasting, played some heated rounds of dominoes, and enjoyed some very memorable meals. It was a weekend I'll never forget, and we're already itching to go back again soon.

Prosciutto, Roasted Pepper, and Mozzarella Sandwich from Panino

Chicken and Shrimp Souvlaki with Tzatziki and Grilled Vegetables at Petros

Incredibly Decadent Spinach and Cheese Tortellone from Trattoria Grappolo

Weekend Review: San Francisco

Pork Chop & Pappardelle with 9-Hour Bolognese at Nopa

I just got back from visiting some friends in one of my favorite cities, San Francisco. I usually try to go at least once a year (see my last trip here) and visit my favorite haunts like Pacific Heights, the Ferry Building, and Ghirardelli Square. This trip was especially busy and full of Cinco de Mayo, Kentucky Derby, and a friend’s birthday parties, so I didn’t get a chance to make it to as many meals as I had hoped. My favorite food highlight was a long, late dinner at Nopa, where we shared a variety of dishes including one of the best pork chops I’ve ever had. I’m dying to go back and spend some more time there, but in the meantime I think I’ll enjoy some of the goodies I brought back home: cheese from Cowgirl Creamery, salami from Boccalone, and the famous gingersnap cookies from Miette.

Short Rib & Butter Bean Huevos Rancheros at Bin 38

Gorgonzola Sausage Flatbread & Fries with Lime Aioli at Nopa

Miette Gingersnaps, Boccalone Salami, & L'Amuse Gouda from Cowgirl Creamery

Crab & Shrimp Sandwich from Pier 23

Weekend Review: San Diego

Seared Scallops with Corned Beef Hash & Jalapeno-Chorizo Corn Off the Cob at Searsucker

I just got back from a weekend get-a-way to San Diego with my boyfriend, where we spent our days touring Cabrillo National Monument and the world-famous Zoo, exploring the Gaslamp District, and (of course) eating delicious food. Highlights included a casual lunch overlooking the ocean at Point Loma Seafood and an exciting dinner (and some stiff cocktails) at the newly opened and wildy popular Searsucker restaurant. And no trip to San Diego would be complete without a California burrito (beef, french fries, guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream in a tortilla) and some ribs from Phil's BBQ.

Baby Back Ribs from Phil's BBQ

Oysters on the Half Shell at Point Loma Seafood

Shrimp & Grits at Searsucker

California Burrito at Porkyland

Weekend Review: Virgin Gorda

Harissa Grilled Oysters and Pork Belly from The Sugar Mill

View of the Bay from our Villa

I just got back from a week-long vacation in paradise, also known as Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda, with my boyfriend and his family. It's a remote island in the Caribbean (we had to take two planes, a puddle jumper, and a boat to get there) and as a result, it's difficult to get a lot of fresh food delivered there regularly. I was warned that our meals might be hit or miss, but was pleasantly surprised by some of the delicious and inspiring dishes I had on our trip. I loved all of the region's fresh fish, which was the perfect thing to eat right on the beach on a warm night. I also got to enjoy some more innovative and modern cooking, like pork belly with harissa grilled oysters, that reminded me of the type of restaurants I love here in L.A. Now that I'm home, I can't wait to get back in the kitchen to try and recreate some of these meals,  although there's no way I can match the ambiance.

First Plate from the Pavilion's Thanksgiving Buffet - (clockwise) Shrimp Cocktail, Roasted Pumpkin Cous Cous, Asian Chicken Salad, Heirloom Tomato Caprese

Grilled Swordfish, Lentils, & Salsa Verde from The Sugar Mill

Roast Duck Breast, Potato Pancake, Champagne Cabbage, Orange Jus at The Sugar Mill

Sunset in Little Dix Bay

Made-to-Order Bananas Foster at the Pavilion's Thanksgiving Buffet

Lobster in a Coconut-Kaffir Lime Curry at Chez Bamboo

The Sugar Mill's Coffee Creme Brulee with Mocha Ice Cream

Weekend Review: Santa Barbara

Chorizo Quesadillas, Guacamole, Chicken Tacos, Poblano-Onion-Cheese Melt, & Salsa at La Super Rica

For a brief period in my childhood I lived in Santa Barbara, CA, and it's still one of my favorite cities in the whole world. I usually make a trip up there a couple times a year and always make sure to visit a few of my favorite restaurants. I went up this past weekend to visit one of my college roommates who recently moved there and had so much fun showing her some of my favorite haunts and discovering some of hers. First up was La Super Rica, which is home to the best Mexican food I've ever eaten. It's been a family-run operation for several decades (you can see the grandmother making homemade tortillas in the front window), was one of Julia Child's favorite restaurants, and features authentic no-frill Mexican food. For dinner, she took me to Olio Pizzeria and we felt like we were transported back to Italy with their thin-crust pizzas and lively ambiance. I was sad to leave, but can't wait to come back and visit again soon.

Smoked Mozarella, Sausage, & Onion Pizza at Olio Pizzeria

Chicken, Onion, Pepper, & Mushroom Fajitas at La Super Rica

Chopped Salad at Olio Pizzeria