10-Second Review: Porta Via, Palm Desert
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.
Closer Look: Del Rey at Villa Royale, Palm Springs (part 2)
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.
Hotel Review: Villa Royale, Palm Springs (part 1)
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.
Motel Review: Cuyama Buckhorn, New Cuyama, CA
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.
Quick Look: Hotel Cerro & Brasserie SLO, San Luis Obispo
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.
Closer Look: Stonehouse Restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch, Montecito
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…
Hotel Review: San Ysidro Ranch, Montecito
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...
Review: Addison, San Diego
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.
Quick Review: Valle, Oceanside CA
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.
Drink of the Week: The Bilbao at Fellow, Los Angeles
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.