Courtesy of The U. S. Grant

I had the great fortune of planning a holiday party held last week at The U. S. Grant Hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp District!  It was a fantastic evening and the staff of the U. S. Grant made it even better.

During the planning process the Catering Manager, Rita Moore, was so delightful and helpful.  We explained what our theme was and how we wanted a menu that tied to our theme.  After discussing things with the chef, Rita came back with some fantastic ideas!  And the tasting delivered on how delicious the dishes sounded!

The U. S. Grant Lobby

We ultimately decided on a Pumpkin Ravioli with Spinach paired with a lovely sauce.  And this was just the appetizer!  The main course was a Short Rib and Sea Bass combination with purple Peruvian Potatoes and market fresh veggies.  The combination was perfect!  The entire dinner was a definite people pleaser!

The night of the event, the entire staff was on point!  They delivered on customer service and they were always there for us.  From the valets who helped us unload our vehicles to the wait staff who were on top of the service, it was a treat to experience the professionalism everyone had.

One of the awesome perks about the U. S. Grant are the Event Planner Suites!  They are an additional charge, but it was worth it to have a “go to” room for storing the favors and centerpieces until we were ready for them.  And also, it was awesome having a room to get ready in which was just across the hall from the ballroom.  It was also a secure place that only a couple of people had access to, so we could leave valuables there and not worry about them!

If you are looking for exceptional customer service, professionalism, an elegant venue and great food then you must consider The U. S. Grant!

During my trip to Napa last month our first stop was Mumm Napa.  Now if you haven’t already figured out that I have a fondness for bubbly then you may need to read the “What we believe…” portion of the About Us page.

So needless to say I was quite content with the idea of starting my wine weekend with a bit of bubbly.

Mumm Napa Cuvée M Red

First let me say how impressed I was with Mumm Napa’s wine tasting experience! A tasting room simply will not do for them.  Mumm has a patio with tables and chairs (complete with umbrellas and misters!) at which you are free to sit, be served, and enjoy the view.  It was probably one of the most lovely wine tasting “rooms” I had been to.

On the menu that day was a tasting flight titled “Red, White and Blue.”  I was initially intrigued at what the “Blue” would be, as my partner in crime had already explained that the “Red” truly was a red sparking wine.  Well all thoughts of the “Blue” wine flew out the door as soon as I sipped the “Red”. . . Cuvée M Red to be exact!  Smooth, velvety, with just the slightest hint of bubbles. . . it instantly became one of my new favorite Sparkling Wines!  Delicious and divine, this bottle of bubbly has the slightest hint of berries which rounds it out quite nicely.  And it looks so lovely in a champagne flute too!  I can just imagine a table set in creams and whites with a glass of Cuvée M Red at each setting.

Had I realized that its availability outside the winery was so limited I would have picked up a few bottles!  But I guess that just means I’ll have to make time to for another trip to Napa. . . tragedy! 

étoile Restaurant named one of the Top Ten Romantic Restaurants in the USA – ForbesTraveler.com, February 3, 2009

étoile Restaurant recommended in the 2009 Michelin Guide for the third straight year.

“Domaine Chandon was the first Napa Valley winery to offer upscale dining…and remains the Valley’s only upscale winery-based restaurant” - Wine Enthusiast Magazine, May 2007

I COMPLETELY agree with all of the above!  I was lucky enough to have dinner here one evening during a trip to Napa.  Hands down, one of the BEST meals I have ever had!  At étoile they know food and service very well.  But we’ll just chat about the food!

Courtesy of Chandon.com

Starter Course
Poached Lobster and Galia Melon green apple · ginger · estate basil
Domaine Chandon Carneros Unoaked Chardonnay 2007

Absolute PERFECTION!  The combination of flavors was ever so delicious and perfectly complimented the lobster.  Everything was in perfect balance.

Main Course
Liberty Farms Duck Breast bing cherries · garden arugula · almond sauce
Domaine Chandon Carneros Pinot Noir 2006

It takes extremely talent to cook a duck medium rare with the skin just perfectly crispy.  If you can do that then call me over for dinner cause I would love to find out how its done!  Again, every element of the dish was in perfect harmony with the others and every bite was more delicious than the last.

Dessert
Strawberries and Cream
Creme Brulee with sliced strawberries served with a strawberry sorbet

This actually is not listed on the their menu, but I was lucky enough that they were serving it that night because it was SOOO good.  I {heart} creme brulee and this is one of the best I have ever had!

When I was done with the meal I wanted to do it all over again!  The portions are perfectly sized to leave you feeling utterly satisfied but not so much that you feel like you’re ready for a nap….because to leave one bite on your plate of any of these dishes would be a sin!  Added bonus: the wines paired with the dishes were compliments of the chef!

étoile at Domaine Chandon is a MUST if you find yourself in Napa and in need of a completely fantastic meal!

Poolside at Se San Diego

Back in January I wrote a little piece on Se San Diego, which is a new Luxury Hotel in Downtown.  At that time the place was not entirely finished (pool bar and lounge, penthouse, and a few other elements).

Well its finished now!  I was invited to their Opening Reception last night and its fantastic!  The Pool Bar and cabanas are very chic and the lounge furniture is super comfortable.  I was having visions of myself lounging by the pool this coming summer!  There is also a lounge immediately off the pool which would make an awesome space for a cocktail party.

I have not even gotten to the food and drinks!  Don’t know the name of it but I had a sparkling wine and elderflower liqueur concoction…yummy!  The most popular drink of the evening was a blueberry, acai berry and vodka beverage.  Crab Cakes with Avocado Aioli, Bacon Wrapped Scallops, Cantaloupe and Lobster Mini Salad, Steak Canapes with Teriyaki Glaze….every bite was delicious!

One of the things I loved about the party was you still felt like you were in San Diego, but with a very hip luxe vibe.

Kudos to everyone at Se San Diego for not only throwing a fabulous party last night, but for being part of such a fantastic property!  Can’t wait to see more fab events there!

My Splendid Sentiments / Photo Credit: Weddings by Jonah

We had the pleasure of working with My Splendid Sentiments on a wedding just over a week ago.  You never know what the end result will be when working with a new florist.  Sometimes they deliver exactly what you expect them to, sometimes they fall short and occasionally they blow you away.  My Splendid Sentiments blew us away!  First, their ability to work with a budget is unbelievable!  The bride had to re-adjust her budget after contracting My Splendid Sentiments, but with some changes and tweaks they were still able to deliver the bride’s vision!
The bouquets were exquisite and perfectly detailed.  I myself am not a fan of a floral bouquet bedazzled within an inch of its life.  But the brides bouquet of merlot calla lilies, black magic roses and monkey tails was exquisite.  On the occasional calla there was a trio of jewels accenting the petal and a few monkey tails sported jewels also.  But they hit just the right note of accenting the flowers and not weighing them down.
The flowers were fresh!  I have on occasion brought home a bouquet from a wedding that was left strewn around when everyone else was gone.  The white rose ones brown and die in a couple of days because the flowers are not as fresh.  The white rose bouquet from My Splendid Sentiments lasted a week.  I was even able to pull out a few roses that were still looking fresh and put them in a small vase…they’re still going strong!
And the professionalism of their staff was completely refreshing!  They worked effectively and efficiently as a team and looked like professionals.  The ladies had matching black aprons and the guys wore black polos…it definitely speaks to how detailed they are.
There was a timing issue that came up and when we told our contact about it she said, “Okay!  We’ll take care of it.”

My Splendid Sentiments is definitely on my list of quality and professional florists in San Diego!

My Splendid Sentiments
1580 S. Melrose Dr.
Vista, CA  92081
760.518.6996

Photo Credit:  Weddings by Jonah

For more images visit the My Splendid Sentiments Blog!