TO DO
WEEKEND
HOLIDAY DURING THE HOLIDAYS
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f you don’t care about traditional holiday meals but want a quality seafood experience with an ocean view, head to NOBU MALIBU and book a stay at NOBU RYOKAN—a boutique garden haven of 16 luxury ocean-view rooms with deep teak soaking tubs and indoor-outdoor fireplaces. You can also have omakase sushi and sashimi delivered to your room from a special menu and a Japanese breakfast bento in the morning.
North The French-themed tasting menu at BELL’S in Los Alamos (which just received a Michelin star) is an obvious choice for a special-occasion meal, with Steak au Poivre and a great Pinot, but the same crew just opened BAR LE CÔTE in Los Olivos in the historic Sides Hardward & Shoes building. The stylish seafood tavern was inspired by seafood capitals of Europe and Executive Chef Brad Mathews’ menu features Santa Barbara Sea Urchin, Dry-Aged Kampachi Crudo, Beef Tartare with fried Pacific Gold oysters, and vegetarian paella with sweet corn, summer squash, and shishito. For unforgettable sweets, it’s Spanish Citrus Olive Oil Cake or a Dark Chocolate Pot de Crème with chili-spiced chocolate soil. You 30 PA S A D E N A
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might want to plan this sojourn for after the New Year when THE INN AT MATTEI’S TAVERN (an Auberge luxury resort) will be open so you can make a night of it and go wine tasting the next day. Nestled in downtown San Luis Obispo, the edible garden at HOTEL CERRO is a highlight of the hotel and its dinners with local wines at BRASSERIE SLO. New Executive Chef Derek Brooks (Resort at Pelican Hill) uses the organic produce for the property’s restaurant (and some of the rooftop cocktails and hotel spa treatments) and guests can walk through while tasting vegetables and fruits. The menu features a Port Poached Pear with Point Reyes blue cheese, Bouillabaisse, and Black Truffle Honey-Glazed Salmon. While the hotel is currently not serving breakfast, newly opened bakery SLO DELICIOUS next door has an array of treats, from Chocolate Molten muffins to croissant sandwiches and coffee cakes. The property is centrally located and only a block or two from GRANADA HOTEL & BISTRO (same owner as Skyview Los Alamos and Hotel Ynez), which features a brick patio for brunch with Fried Chicken and Waffles with a Bacon Bloody cocktail.
JEUNE ET JOLIE: DEVIN CASTANEDA; BAR LE CÔTE BONWING LEE; CHARLIE’S AND THE ROOFTOP BAR: JASON DEWEY
For drivable dining destinations with amazing holiday feasts, we rounded up some new hot spots within a few hours of Pasadena, and old favorites worth a revisit. BY C A R O L E D I XO N
