Food, glorious food
I love this time of year. The decorations are nice, shopping and gift giving are pretty fun and, sure, it’s great to see family. But there’s one big reason I look forward to the holiday season each year, and that’s food. I attend all the parties just so I can see who’s serving what. I start thinking about the holiday menu weeks in advance. And I crave the treats and recipes that are brought out only once a year. I admit it - I am a foodie. So when I travel, I often decide where to stay based upon which hotel has the best restaurant. From world-famous dining to hidden gems, some of the best places to eat can be found in hotels.
I’ve mentioned it before, so I’ll start with one of my favorite restaurants ever: Asia de Cuba, at the Mondrian in Los Angeles. As its name suggests, Asia de Cuba offers a fusion menu blending Asian and Cuban/Latino flavors. Never mind the excellent service, the Philippe Starck-designed dining room, the relaxing outdoor patio or the movie star at the table next to you. All that’s nice, but once you take your first bite of sticky rice, juicy duck or perfectly cooked ahi, you’ll forget your surroundings. Sure, Asia de Cuba is all about the scene for some, but the food is fabulous. And you get lots of it — the entrees are huge and are meant to be shared family-style. But good food + large portions + VIP scene = expensive, so be prepared for a big bill. (If you can’t get to Los Angeles, Asia de Cuba has outposts in many other Morgans hotels, such as the Clift in San Francisco, Morgans in New York and St. Martins Lane in London.)
Another see-and-be-seen restaurant with amazing food is Nobu, at the Metropolitan in London. The simple interior is the perfect backdrop for Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s artistic and delicious sushi creations. If you’re scared of raw fish, don’t worry. Nobu also features great vegetable tempuras, and the Peruvian ribeye steak and Wagyu beef are mouthwatering.
And as long as you’re in London, you shouldn’t miss the experience that is afternoon tea at the Palm Court at the Ritz. While it’s not a full meal, you can still stuff yourself on scones and clotted cream, traditional finger sandwiches and pretty pastries. There’s also a nice selection of teas, of course. But don’t expect to just show up at the Ritz and grab a seat for this British ritual. For one thing, reservations are a must, as tea at the Ritz is popular with both tourists and locals. Plus, there’s a formal — and well-enforced — dress code, which makes this experience even more special, in my opinion.
Hop across the Channel to Paris and you can enjoy the dishes of Alain Ducasse at the Hotel Plaza Athénée. This restaurant was recently redesigned by Patrick Jouin, and beginning January 1, 2008, Alain Ducasse will be a smoke-free environment. Yes, it’s a fancy restaurant, and it’s French, but the staff members here are quite helpful and warm. Ducasse uses only the freshest ingredients in his unfussy, traditional French dishes. The tasting menu is a great way to sample his fare. Sadly, you will need to refinance your house to eat at this restaurant, and even serious foodies often consider it overpriced. Still, it’s an experience!
Back in America, but no less fancy and delicious, is Victoria and Albert’s at the Grand Floridian Resort at Disney World. Again, it’s all about the experience here. V & A may be in casual Florida, but there is a strict dress code. Dinner can last for hours, but you never get tired of the amazing food or relaxing and romantic atmosphere. The restaurant offers a multiple-course prix fixe menu that’s ever-changing and always interesting, and you can choose to add wine pairings to your meal if you like. You’ll read the menu and find dishes you recognize (steak, Dover sole, etc.), but when they’re served, they look and taste like nothing you’ve ever had. Plus, there are always a couple of more adventurous dishes to try - sweetbreads, anyone? The service here is well-timed and unobtrusive. You’ll notice that your drink is never low, your plate never in the way and the proper cutlery is always in place, but you never seem to notice the staff hovering over you. Make sure to order coffee after dinner for a special surprise.
A hidden secret is the Steakhouse at Harrah’s in Reno, Nevada. This restaurant serves traditional steakhouse fare, and it just tastes great. Try the creamy five-onion soup baked in a Caruso onion or the escargots as a starter. The servers here also do great tableside dishes, such as a fresh Caesar salad, steak Diane and flambéed desserts. There’s something to be said for any restaurant with an unpretentious atmosphere and not overly adventurous menu that still manages to serve some of the best-tasting food found anywhere.
If you really want to get away from pretension or too much of a scene, but still enjoy wonderful food, then you should visit the Darby Field Inn in Albany, New Hampshire. The Darby Field’s restaurant provides an amazing view of the fall foliage, but the food is just as amazing. A line on the restaurant’s Web site sums up the menu well: “Sometimes traditional, sometimes innovative, but always delicious.” My mother highly recommends the chicken saltimbocca, and she’s a very trustworthy gal. The Darby Field offers special dinner packages for its bed-and-breakfast guests, so ask about them when making your reservations.
And last but not least, there’s Las Vegas. Las Vegas offers some of the best hotels and the best restaurants in the world, all in one location, so I could write a column on this town alone. But for now, I’ll give a quick mention of some of my favorites.
* The Venetian offers Thomas Keller’s Bouchon; innovative seafood at Aquaknox; and a varied menu and huge portions at the casual Grand Lux Café.
* Mon Ami Gabi at Paris serves great French food on its patio overlooking The Strip.
* The Food Network’s “Too Hot Tamales” cook up fresh and zesty Mexican food at Mandalay Bay’s Border Grill. Also at Mandalay is Charlie Palmer’s Aureole, with its stunning wine list and even more stunning wine stewards.
* And Picasso at the Bellagio offers gourmet food served under the artwork of Pablo Picasso.
I now feel stuffed just thinking about all these fabulous restaurants. It’s nice to know that after you eat and drink way too much at any of these venues, it’s only a short walk to an equally great hotel room. And that, dear readers, is my definition of bliss. So if anyone wants to give me a great Christmas present, I’ll take a weekend at any of the above, please.
What’s your favorite hotel restaurant? It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, as long as it has great food, great service and a great atmosphere. Put it in the comments section below or post a comment in our Tripso forums.
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Hi Anita
Have you tried El Bizcocho at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego? This restaurant is AMAZING fine dining. The tasting menu is just spectacular and truly pleases the palate! We live locally and always choose El Bizcocho for our special occasions. The Inn also just remodeled their rooms and they are gorgeous now too. Check it out at http://www.ranchobernardoinn.com.
Cheers!
Julie & James