In Love With..

Smoked Trout, Pullman, Kewpie, Parsley & Caper Shallot Salad, Trout Roe at Herb & Wood

-We're well through my birthday month, and it has been the best one in decades. Three decades to be exact... Yes kids, I am officially thirty. How wild! With that being said, the past few weeks have been jam-packed with amazing activities, and if you're interesting in hearing about what I've been up to, please, read on..

-Kicked this month off by spending Memorial Day weekend relaxing in the desert. We stayed at the La Quinta Resort, which embodies every ounce of fabulousness that is associated with being a Waldorf property. It was absolutely relaxing. I indulged in a facial at the spa, noshed on some delicate scallops at Morgan's in the Desert, and kept cool with a few vodka lemonades by the adult pool. 

-After two days of soaking up the sunshine by the pool, I decided to liven it up a bit and drive two hours northwest to LA. The highlights of spending 24 hours in the city of Angels was definitely our stay at the posh Beverly Hilton, and brunch at Republique. Thank gawd for those yelp tips, because it urged us to get to the popular restaurant a little earlier and miss the outrageous line that circles around the corner after 9 am. 

-The following weekend the girls and I jetted off to Vancouver! What a stunning city. We got extremely lucky with the weather, so plenty of outdoorsy activities ensued. It's so lush and green up there that I just wanted to be outside. Always. Since it was everyone's first time to Canada, we willingly partook in all the touristy musts: conquered the Capilano Suspension Bridge, biked around Stanley Park, and wandered around Granville Island. Some of my recommendations? The Rosewood Hotel Georgia is just stunning! We loved the convenience of having a rooftop bar, a speakeasy and one of the best restaurants in the city right there on the property. I have nothing but great things to say about our dinner at Hawksworth, which exudes excellence in every criteria - ambiance, food and service. Also had great meals (and then some) at L'Abattoir and west OAK. 

-In between the weekend trips I've been trying to get caught up with the evolving restaurant scene right here in San Diego. Let's see.... here are the places that stand out in my mind: Coasterra offers some of the most stunning views of the downtown skyline with a side of guac. Jayne's Gastropub is my new favorite hidden gem, serving an eclectic menu full of traditional English favorites, in the confines of a charming cafe setting. I opted to have my actual birthday dinner at Herb & Wood, and it was honestly the most perfect way to celebrate. Malarkey's new place is breathtakingly beautiful. From the second I walked in, I was instantly transported back to 1903, circa Picasso's blue period.. feeling like I was joining him for a chilled glass of white wine in his house in Spain, while we munch on some freshly caught seafood, blissfully unaware that the hustle and bustle of Little Italy is just outside the door. 

-This latest weekend was spent with some of my best girlfriends that came into town for the birthday festivities. We decided to get a room at the Rancho Bernardo Inn, so we could catch up at a cabana by the pool, sneaking off only to enjoy some treatments at the spa, before getting ready for dinner at Avant. It is such a beautiful property that really made our staycation feel like we were far, far away from responsibilities of real life.