by Sandra Crittenden

The quintessential dining experience in Willamette Valley is to enjoy the tasting menu with pairings at  The Painted Lady . I made sure to book this reservation as soon as I knew the dates of my trip. The restaurant is located in Newberg in a Victorian house which was the inspiration for the name. In American architecture, a painted lady is a term for Edwardian or Victorian homes that were painted in three or more colors to enhance their design features. We arrived for dinner shortly before 8:00 and were immediately ushered to our table upstairs. This dining area was filled with cozy couples enjoying the full tasting experience which was perfect for us as we were there to do the same. An array of canapes immediately arrived to our table along with our water and the assurance that our first wine pairing would be delivered shortly. Our wine selections began with Régis Minet Pouilly Fumé Vieilles Vignes 2014 which would accompany both the mixed canapes and the asparagus-based am...

Our most exciting discovery was a group of restaurants that I found while googling best breakfasts in Santa Monica. They feature local produce, meat and artisan baked goods, most of which is organic. The search had led me to Huckleberry , a bakery and café on Wilshire Blvd not too far from our hotel . It was our favorite breakfast that we had while we were there. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures that day (it was very early) but if you are in the area, it is one that you should not miss. We enjoyed a few different pastries along with hot breakfast dishes like the poached eggs and market vegetable bowl with basil pesto and parmesan cheese, everything we tried was fresh and flavorful. Also serving breakfast in this group is Milo & Olive , a restaurant I had on my list for a potential pizza night. We didn't end up doing that but we did enjoy a late breakfast/brunch there one morning which they serve from 7-11 AM daily. I enjoyed the creamy polenta and poached eggs...

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Thomas Hill Organics Bistro and Wine Lounge in Paso Robles, a farm-to-table restaurant dedicated to showcasing the bounty of California's Central Coast. Thomas Hill Organics opened in 2009 and quickly became the must-do restaurant when visiting in the region. Eight years later, they are still at the top of the hip dining scene that they helped to create in the small friendly town. I highly recommend that you add it to your itinerary if you are traveling to Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo. The menu changes regularly as new ingredients come in and go out of season, you can check out the current menus on-line to have an idea of what to expect. I was there for a four course dinner that was paired with local wines, here are some highlights from that meal. The Rosé de Pomar 2016 from Pomar Junction Vineyards made from 100% Syrah provided a refreshing start and was a perfect complement to the strawberry gazpacho. The Niner Marsanne...

My husband has a big birthday coming up and he wanted to celebrate in Aspen with some friends. One of our friends was familiar with the Hotel Jerome and he not only recommended it but also set up our stay. We arrived to Aspen around 9:00 in the morning and we were picked up by Vanessa, one of Hotel Jerome's drivers. She waited on our luggage with us and brought us promptly to the hotel. The hotel was built in the 1880's by one of the owners of Macy's department store. It is a smaller boutique hotel with only 94 guest rooms. It has been fully renovated while maintaining its original masculine Victorian style. We were extremely pleased to be accommodated with an early check-in on arrival. The room was comfortably sized and attractively decorated with a modern lodge look complete with faux animal heads. We freshened up and hit the streets. The Hotel Jerome has a fantastic location in downtown Aspen on Main Street. It is in easy walking distance to the Rio Grande Park, As...

We decided to take an impromptu vacation after our college kids' finals this year. They wanted to  relax on a beach and we were lucky to find space awaiting for us at the Ritz-Carlton on St Thomas in the U.S Virgin Islands for a few days escape. This hotel reminded me of a smaller version of The Ritz-Carlton in Maui.  After checking in, we walked out back to survey the beautifully landscaped grounds. An infinity pool led the eye out to sea. The beach was wide with comfortable lounge chairs with optional shade tops. It was well attended with offers to bring food, drinks, towels, etc.  We spent the majority of our time on the property. The food options at the Ritz-Carlton in St Thomas were varied enough to keep our small group happy for our short stay. I enjoyed the Carribean lobster dinner at Bleuwater and the fresh fried fish wrap at Sails , in particular. We snacked on chips and guacamole by the pool. Enjoying the array of adult beverages kept our col...

I am no stranger to the delights of a Ritz-Carlton stay but the El Dorado Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico exceeded my expectations. My husband and I arrived late in the evening with a small group of friends. We were celebrating a momentous birthday for one in our group. We were quickly checked in and settled into a spacious and welcoming room. Our comfortable accommodations along with the lulling sounds of the sea right outside our terrace quickly put us to sleep after a long day of travel. We awoke the next morning and found ourselves in paradise. The casual elegance of the room along with the capacious bathroom made a perfect temporary home. We fueled up for our day of fun with the breakfast buffet at the hotel. Omelettes to order, prosciutto and an array of fresh fruit and pastries became the way to start off each morning. We spent most of our days enjoying the grounds; we biked, we swam and we napped poolside. The complimentary guava popsicles were a treat to look f...

After five days in wine country, my husband and I headed to San Francisco for our final night in the Golden State. We were wanting the high quality, innovative cuisine for which the city is famous but after a lengthy drive we were also wanting a more casual atmosphere; Rich Table was the perfect choice. This small, noisy restaurant is located on Gough Street. Its open kitchen and close quarters encourages informality and guests may feel comfortable striking up conversations with those seated nearby. We were seated at the communal table right next to where Chef Evan Rich was overseeing the kitchen. We opted for the Chef's Pick menu with the added beverage pairings, our own creative thinking was flagging from a bit of travel exhaustion. We feel we made a great choice, check out the pictures in the video clip. As soon as we relinquished control over our dinner, the food and wine began to flow. We were immediately poured a glass of 2014 Broc Cellars Sparkling Cabernet Franc ...

In historic Healdsburg, the h2hotel was my choice for lodging during my recent trip to Sonoma County wine country. I loved the eco-friendliness of this boutique hotel along with its clean, modern interior design. In addition to the excellent location and the cool decor, the service was top notch. I was assisted with restaurant reservations, spa appointments and accommodated with an early check-in time. I enjoyed both dinner and breakfast at the Spoonbar restaurant located in the hotel lobby, the food was interesting and delicious. It is a top nighttime destination in town, the bar is happening and all the tables are full, so, reservations are recommended. A fantastic breakfast buffet which includes hot dishes cooked to order is free for hotel guests every morning. h2hotel - A highly recommended hotel; good food, hip ambience, clean, comfortable rooms and a great location! Spoonbar - A highly recommended restaurant and bar; innovative local cuisine with a good wine list and a c...

Hugh Davies and Sandra Crittenden After spontaneously booking our trip to Napa Valley during Harvest and then seeing the difficulty in getting hotel rooms, I started making dinner reservations as quickly as I could. I also started checking for events. I had been disappointed that I couldn't fit a trip to Schramsberg into our tasting schedule so I was excited to see this paired Schramsberg dinner with winemaker, Hugh Davies at the Meritage Resort. I immediately booked a place at the table. We arrived promptly at 6:30 to enjoy our first glass of Blanc de Blancs and passed hors d'oeuvre out overlooking the vineyard. We met a nice couple from Chicago before moving down into the Estate Cave for dinner. Mystical mood lighting set the stage for the next glass of sparkling. It created a beautiful ambience but it was not the best lighting for food pictures. I ended up sitting directly across from second generation winemaker, Hugh Davies.  I was impressed with the quality of ...

After a phenomenal first day of wine tasting in the Napa Valley, along with an array of some excellent local cheese in the late afternoon, we found ourselves in the unfortunate position of not being as hungry as we would have liked when it was time to "get our  Bouchon  on."  It was an early reservation and, in spite of the plush surroundings,  the restaurant had a bit of a happy hour feel . We decided on the "build your own" cold seafood platter and some of the area's famous sparkling wine to get our evening started. A local couple at the next table struck up a conversation as soon as our order arrived. We had a great time discussing the Napa restaurant scene with them while enjoying our dinner. Bouchon: Highly recommended- beautiful dining room, excellent service, fresh seafood, a great wine list and friendly locals! Side Note: We, of course, also enjoyed Thomas Keller's famous boxed fried chicken at Addendum for lunch one day and Bouchon B...

On a recent trip to Napa Valley, my husband and I decided to check out the  Michelin-starred restaurant,   Auberge du Soleil . In addition to the amazing views that summertime dining on the terrace provides, the   menu  showcases  local ingredients prepared with Mediterranean flair  by  Chef Robert Curry .  It was our first night in town and we had big plans for touring and tasting on the following day. We arrived for an early alfresco dinner at 6:15pm on the covered terrace  overlooking the lush resort grounds with the expectation that our multi-course meal would keep us there until sunset. The dinner options at Auberge feature a choice of either a three course meal for $110 or four courses for $130. You can also add an extra gourmet touch to your dinner with extravagant add-ons like c aviar with all the traditional garnishes, fresh truffles to top your entrees or an extra course of cheese for an extra fee. There is a Chef's selection ...

One of my favorite parts of our mother/daughter trip this spring was our cooking class in the Montalcino region at Castello Banfi Il Borgo  with Chef Domenico Francone. He oversees everything from the cuisine served at La Sala dei Grappoli, the fine dining restaurant, to the room service for the hotel guests. We had already enjoyed a multi-course dinner on our first night so we knew that he was going to be good. We had been looking forward to learning to cook some Tuscan dishes from a genuine Italian chef ever since we started planning our trip. We met Chef Domenico out on the grounds and we rode with him to a guest house out in the vineyard. Inside a small, homey kitchen, the three of us set about creating a four course lunch to be paired with Banfi wines. As the chief cook in my own home, I was happy to sit back, sample the wine and let him teach my next generation. I did help with everything though the video doesn't show it. My favorite part was making the pasta which, odd...

During our 24 hour stay in Reims in the Champagne region of France, my daughter and I chose the tasting menu at Le Millenaire  for the one dinner that we had time for while there. This Michelin-starred restaurant by Chef Laurent Laplaige offers a regular menu along with the option of different tasting menus, we checked our opinions at the door and waited in anticipation to see what the kitchen would offer. Though the restaurant is not large, the tables are well spaced in the modern dining room. Dark carpets, neutral walls and white tablecloths add a sleek look to the elegant space. When in Reims, there is only one way to begin. Though we were touring the Champagne house the following day, we each ordered a glass of Ruinart Champagne, one blanc de blancs and one r osé to start. T he magic was quickly underway with amazing bites of deliciousness arriving to the table. We enjoyed everything though I don't believe that I can describe it all. My favorites were the delicately pre...

After our extravagant lunch, we had planned to have something fairly low key for dinner but it seems the travel gods wanted to smile upon us.  We had strolled over to the Eiffel Tower tourist-style to take some pictures at night and happened upon Les Ombres along the way. Far more modern and pricey-looking than our original street cafe plan,  armed with a credit card and  not knowing anything at all about the restaurant,  we took a chance and went in. I believe we were lucky to get in without a reservation and our good fortune did not end there.  Les Ombres is located in the  Musée du Quai Branly and  has an amazing view of the Eiffel Tower. It has an understated elegance in the dining room where the design is all about the panoramic view of the City of Light. We were seated with a prime view of our surroundings and were quickly served two glasses of Champagne and a fabulously fresh lobster salad.  The restaurant had a busy vibe and the s...

One of our favorite lunches in Paris was at the Michelin-starred  Il Vino d'Enrico Bernardo .  The restaurant states on-line that its concept is "A place for those who live the art of table sharing the pleasure of the senses and the intellect." That perfectly describes my daughter and I, so, off we went after our morning at the Louvre. The elegantly designed contemporary eatery boasts a multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings by world re-known sommelier Enrico Bernardo. We were served wine in black blind tasting glasses with each course. The menu was innovative, everything was delicious and the pairings were perfect. It was an exceptional way to continue a morning of art appreciation, the tasting lunch at Il Vino d'Enrico Bernardo is a highly recommended way to spend your afternoon in Paris.

My husband and I stayed at the St Regis  in Princeville on Kauai this past January and it makes my list of highly recommended hotels. We had gone with a group of my husband's co-workers to Maui and when that trip ended we island hopped. This was our first time on Kauai and we unquestionably have a new favorite Hawaiian island. Upon arriving at the hotel, we were greeted with kukui nut leis, a lei or necklace made from a local nut instead of the usual flowers. We checked in and headed to our junior suite which comes with butler service. The room had an understated elegance that acknowledged the amazing oceanfront view, the picture on the left was taken from the window. We indulged in a light dinner of Champagne and sushi at the bar before calling it a night. The next day started with coffee service delivered by our butler, something I could easily get used to enjoying regularly and did every day of that trip. We had a rental car so we headed out right after our coffee to exp...

I had the opportunity to stay at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui with my husband this past January. The grounds were absolutely stunning with an expansive view of the ocean, we saw whales almost every day while we enjoyed our morning coffee. Our room was comfortable yet elegant. This was not our first time in Maui but it was our first time at this resort, it is definitely the one to beat right now for us on this Island. We had the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic dinner on site at The Banyon Tree with excellent and entertaining service from Robert. We were pleased to eat again at  Merriman's  located nearby; they have a diverse wine list and fantastic local seafood. Both get crowded so make your reservation in advance. We also love Sensei  for fresh sushi though we did not have the opportunity to enjoy it on this trip. The hotel spa featured private open air couples massage rooms where we indulged in the lomilomi massage with coco butter...