Brad A. Johnson
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Brad A. Johnson

Food & Travel

Brad A Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
  • Writing
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California Restaurants

77 posts

10-Second Review: Porta Via, Palm Desert

  • June 26, 2022
  • Brad A. Johnson
The new Porta Via restaurant in Palm Desert is not just the hottest reservation in the desert right now. It is also a masterclass in midcentury design.
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Closer Look: Del Rey at Villa Royale, Palm Springs (part 2)

  • June 4, 2022
  • Brad A. Johnson
Del Rey is a sexy little speakeasy and tapas bar tucked inside the beautiful estate of Villa Royale in the heart of Palm Springs. Both the drinks and food are very good.
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Hotel Review: Villa Royale, Palm Springs (part 1)

  • May 30, 2022
  • Brad A. Johnson
Villa Royale originally opened in 1947 in the heart of Palm Springs and became a magnet for Hollywood stars of the era. New owners brought it back to life in 2018. Although not exactly 5-star quality, it is rather fabulous.
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Motel Review: Cuyama Buckhorn, New Cuyama, CA

  • December 27, 2021
  • Brad A. Johnson
The 21-room Cuyama Buckhorn is a mid-century motel redux in the boondocks of California’s high desert, midway between San Luis Obispo and Maricopa. Nobody travels to this remote hideout by accident. You really must make an effort to get here.
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Quick Look: Hotel Cerro & Brasserie SLO, San Luis Obispo

  • December 26, 2021
  • Brad A. Johnson
Although its debut was inauspiciously timed (coinciding with the beginning of the pandemic), the 65-room Hotel Cerro and its beautiful Brasserie SLO have breathed new life into downtown San Luis Obispo on California's Central Coast.
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Closer Look: Stonehouse Restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch, Montecito

  • December 18, 2021
  • Brad A. Johnson
I don’t believe there’s a better restaurant in Santa Barbara than Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch. The food is truly outstanding. The service, impeccable. The wine list, world-class. And the…
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Hotel Review: San Ysidro Ranch, Montecito

  • December 17, 2021
  • Brad A. Johnson
San Ysidro Ranch is a world unto itself. It’s that unique place on the outskirts of Santa Barbara where Southern California merges with the European countryside. It’s where John and Jaqueline Kennedy honeymooned...
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Review: Addison, San Diego

  • December 4, 2021
  • Brad A. Johnson
Nine years had lapsed since my last visit to Addison in north San Diego County, so when the restaurant recently earned a second Michelin star, I wondered what has changed. I fondly remembered chef William Bradley as an absolute master of French haute cuisine. Apparently, a lot has changed since I was last here.
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Quick Review: Valle, Oceanside CA

  • November 19, 2021
  • Brad A. Johnson
Inspired by Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe where the chef first made a name for himself, Roberto Alcocer’s cuisine at the new Valle in Oceanside is intensely farm-to-table. It is uniquely Mexican, distinctly Californian and not always what it appears to be.
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Drink of the Week: The Bilbao at Fellow, Los Angeles

  • November 16, 2021
  • Brad A. Johnson
At Fellow in Los Angeles, The Bilboa is a modern riff on a gin martini made with rosemary-lemon-infused vermouth. It is herbal and citrusy and floral and fresh yet also surprisingly viscous and creamy, making it extremely enjoyable to sip.
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Cancún’s original grande dame changed its banner from The Ritz-Carlton to Kempinski during the pandemic, but little else has changed (except maybe some upgraded furniture in the rooms and a fresh coat of paint). Posh as ever. Lovely beach. Same staff. Same owner, whose classical art collection alone is worth a look if you've never seen it. You would wander the halls for days looking at art at this hotel. Old-money Cancún at its finest. ⁠ 44 3
Serenity. Checked into the new @waldorfastoriacancun on the outskirts of Cancún for a little pampering. It's lovely. A world away from the hectic hotel zone. I felt like I had the entire hotel to myself. ⁠ 68 2
Cochinita pibil with black-bean soup and wood-fired tortillas at @kinichizamal. Tasty detour. ⁠ 61 3
Nobody walks more than a block or two in Espita. Hardly anyone drives. Motorized trishaws are the preferred mode of transport. That last photo is the country road to Espita, which is located about halfway between Merida and Tulum in the Yucatán. ⁠ 54 0
Is this the prettiest avocado toast you've ever seen or what? That tiny spoonful of chile oil on the right side is more than enough. A perfect breakfast by @chef.jorgeildefonso and chef @_josehauvidal at @casonadeloscedros_restaurante in Espita, Yucatán. ⁠ 45 0
In the middle of seemingly nowhere in the Yucatán jungle you'll find the small, traditional pueblo of Espita, and that's where you'll find @casonadeloscedros_restaurante, an incredible little restaurant by @chef.jorgeildefonso (with chef @_josehauvidal on the pass), tucked inside an amazingly charming inn. This is essentially the only restaurant in town, and it is the very reason to make the journey. ⁠ 116 5
Brad A. Johnson
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Writer. Photographer. Traveler. Restaurant Critic.

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