The Rustic Root

You know why I love instagram?

It's for very similar reasons as to why I took up blogging - 

it's nice to have a record of some of my favorite times in life, 

nicely organized in chronological order.

Every once in a while I scroll through my feed and smirk at how much has changed over the past several years, 

and how much has remained the same. 

I may not be into club hopping every weekend any more, 

but I still cherish nights out with my ladies.

 Nowadays, we'd much rather go out to a nice dinner and enjoy a few glasses of wine than get crazy on the dance floor,

and it seems like some of the industry leaders in San Diego are heading in a similar direction.

A few weeks ago we checked out Rustic Root,

a new Gaslamp staple, brought to you by the RMD Group.

The company, which owns some of the biggest night spots in San Diego (Fluxx & Sidebar),

has recently opened Don Chido (mentioned in this post) and says they don't plan to open more clubs in San Diego,

but intend to continue to expand their restaurant holdings.

Something I can really get behind, because if the first two restaurants tell us anything,

there are only good things to come. 

Rustic Root showcases a dynamic menu of rustic American cuisine, 

with a spotlight on locally sourced meats, produce, seafood, and house-made ingredients. 

In other words, it's a smorgasbord of great flavors. 

We ordered a bunch of dishes and shared them family style,

which worked out great for a group of six girls. 

My favorites of the night were the Carnitas Bao Bao Sliders - so much flavor with each bite!!

The decor is quirky and modern,

and I'm so excited to check out the rooftop patio that will be unveiled in June!

It will be perfect for the summer,

and for that matter, all year round, since San Diego continues to spoil us with glorious weather no matter the season. 

Rustic Root

535 5th Ave.

San Diego, CA

Spa Days are the Best Days

Is there anything more relaxing than spending a whole day lounging around in a cabana

in between heavenly rub downs and lavender showers?

Probably not. 

I'm a firm believer in spalidays,

and the spa at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is one of my new favorite spots in San Diego. 

The luxury hotel recently underwent a $12 million renovation,

and I was asked to come check out the spa,

since you know... I'm an expert.

It truly made for a perfect day though. 

The sun was shining, the birds were chirping,

and as soon as I slipped into that robe I felt like I was in paradise. 

The menu of services is impressive,

making the decision nearly impossible.

But alas, I came to my senses and settled for the hot stone massage. 

Holy moly.. can I just tell you,

I feel like I couldn't even walk afterwards?

Why? Because I was THAT relaxed. 

I practically floated out of that room, and on to the patio,

where I had a nice little salad waiting for me in a cabana. 

So shi shi shi, you know what I mean?!

I'm one of those people that can't lay around for too long without getting restless,

so after a little while I decided to go explore around the hotel grounds.

Beautiful.

Reminds me of the Spanish countryside, with a modern twist. 

I already have plans to go back and check out Morada,

the newest restaurant on the property that offers a locally sourced California inspired menu that is constantly evolving. 

You guys need to follow suit.

Bliss!

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

5951 Linea Del Cielo

Rancho Santa Fe, CA 

East Village Tavern and Bowl + Giveaway!

When was the last time you went bowling?

I must admit, 

it's been a while for me, 

mostly because the bowling alley right by my house is very..... vintage. 

Smelly shoes and greasy food is not exactly my idea of a good time,

but fortunately, East Village Tavern and Bowl is a game changer!

A few weeks ago they invited me over for some bowling, dining and drinks,

and I had SUCH a good time. 

This is not your average bowling alley. 

It's super modern, has good music, yummy drinks, and delicious food! 

No more greasy pizza and flat pitchers of beer for you!

And guess what? 

To help spread the fun, I'm hosting an AMAZING giveaway!

Get the party rollin' at Tavern and Bowl with 5 of your closest friends,

cause you can win 1 lane for 2 hours and bowling shoe rentals,

plus 2 flatbread pizzas & 2 soft drink pitchers.

Approximate value of $180!

Redeem at any of the four locations,

Costa Mesa, East Village, East Lake or North County. 

To enter, simply leave your Name and Email in the comments below. 

Giveaway will run from the time this post goes live, until Friday, May 22nd,

and I'll personally contact the winner as soon as it's over. 

Good luck!

Farmer's Market Burrata - burrata cheese and heirloom tomatoes, topped with basil puree, with roasted garlic and grilled bread.

East Village Tavern and Bowl

930 Market St.

San Diego, CA

In Love With..

via

-I decided to pass on the Apple watch.. for now. But I am quite smitten with the new MacBook. Gold?! I think I decided what I'm getting myself for my birthday.

-Tried out a few new places around town lately and here's what I recommend:
1. Quartyard - I love my dogs. You love your dogs. We all love our dogs. And alcohol. Combine the two and taking your pooch to the park just got a whole lot more interesting!
2. SuperNatural Sandwiches - hidden in between the military base and a million random businesses, is a tiny deli that serves up the most legit seafood sandwiches. With shrimp chips! I tried the siren and the griffin so far. Both are ridiculously delicious. Go there. Now!
3. Don Chido - I know that there's like a gazillion a-ma-zing taco shops sprinkled all throughout San Diego, but sometimes a gal wants to feel classy when she's shoving a burrito in her mouth. So she devours this burrito at a Mexican restaurant instead. Don Chido is located in the heart of the Gaslamp district, has killer carnitas and an awesome bar. Olé!

-I've been on a reading kick lately. I finished Girl on the Train in like.... a day, and now I'm completely sucked into Killing Kennedy. I can't say that Bill O'Reilly is my favorite person on the planet, especially not when I listen to his interviews... however, this is a damn good book. So easy to read, and I'm actually learning and retaining everything I probably should have learned and retained in my U.S. History class in high school. Better late than never!

-Were you obsessing over MET Gala coverage this year? I was. Let's talk about the battle of the booties. Who wore it best?
Jlo, Kimmy or Bey? 

Sycamore Den

Are you guys watching the last season of Mad Men?

Does anyone else feel like they're on the verge of depression because you don't want the show to end? 

Only three. episodes. left. 

I love that the last stint takes place in the 70's. 

Such a fun decade!

Do you want to time travel there?

You can. Sort of. 

I recently stopped by Sycamore Den to try out a cocktail or two,

and instantly fell in love with the ambiance. 

The cocktails are awesome, 

with the Wolf Ticket being the most popular.

Grab a seat by the giant fire place and roast up some smores (the Den will provide all the ingredients!),

or just chill by the bar and take in the music of the piano. 

Definitely adding this place to my list of go-to's when I need to unwind!

Sycamore Den
3391 Adams Ave.
Normal Heights, CA 92116