The Colorful Flavors of Rome

Traversing the labyrinthine streets that make up the City of Rome, it is impossible to ignore the gastronomical common denominator that seems to light up everyday Italian life. Young lovers, families and children, the elderly, and the ever-present tourist, share a mingled passion for the smooth, cool, delicious treat called Gelato. We even watched President Obama’s beautiful daughters, recently in Rome with media in tow, stalwartly traipsing along to sample some.

Throughout Rome there are numerous establishments on every corner and at least one in-between, that offer this sacred pastime. In a multitude of colorful and sometimes elaborate decors, quantities of flavors are displayed like religious icons. Every serving, no matter how humble, seems to encapsulate a tradition steeped with carefree joy and the hopeful promise of another life cherishing moment

The origin of Gelato meaning “frozen” in Italian dates back to the 16^th century and is loosely credited to Bernardo Buontalenti, a Florentine, who apparently succeeded in delighting Catherina dei Medici with his invention.  A Sicilian named Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli was said to be the first to offer it to the public and when called to Paris in 1686, he opened “Café Procope” which quickly became the haunt of the Parisian literary. The Italian art of traditional Gelato making has been passed on from father to son, up to the 20th century, when many Gelato makers began to emigrate and take their skill to the rest of Europe.

Gelato doesn’t contain as much air as ice cream in the United States so it has more intense flavor. Because it is made with all natural ingredients and has less butter fat content with fewer calories, it’s also healthier than American ice cream. Therefore, this sacred Roman pastime, that allows life to begin anew with every flavorful scoop, can be safely savored without worry that Italian waistlines will become as overly realized as their memories.

Laws Railroad Museum

What a surprise to discover this hidden gem just outside of Bishop, California, 4.5 miles from 395 on Highway 6. This sudden outcropping of historical buildings seemingly in the middle of no where, is a precious reminder of days long gone by. I was so impressed with its charm that I couldn’t help myself from taking a walking tour and meandering down this outstanding tribute to the West’s glorious past.

In April of 1880 the new railroad town named Laws was built in anticipation for the rails to reach there from Mound House, Nevada and in 1883 the first train arrived.  The depot, agent’s house, section boss’s house, outhouses, water tank and turntable were all ready when it arrived. The town of Laws quickly grew to include barns and corrals, two general stores, a rooming house, eating house, hotel, boarding house, pool and dance hall, blacksmith shop, post office, barber shop, powder magazine and warehouses.  Many of the ranches surrounding Laws used the railroad to ship their crops. Today the bright green, Slim Princess sits on the rails as a silent reminder of the time when the Owens Valley depended upon the railroad for contact with the outside world.

Finally in 1959 the railroad ceased operation mainly due to the local mines closing, trucking becoming cheaper than rail freight and the fact that the City of Los Angeles bought most of the valley for water rights. Most of the buildings were salvaged except for the depot, agent’s house, oil and water tanks and the turntable. The Laws Railroad Museum is California Historical Landmark #953 and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior and it depends on donations so admission is free.
It is open all year and visiting hours are 10 am to 4 pm  www.lawsmuseum.org

ART AND HIGH DRAMA IN COSTA MESA

When you live in Santa Barbara, California, what you leave behind is hard to beat.  But…our recent weekend in Costa Mesa – City of the Arts, left our senses craving for more.

We arrived at the South Coast Westin Plaza – 686 Anton Boulevard (714) 540-2500, to a fabulous deluxe room on the fourteenth floor with a 180-degree view. Having a mere fifteen minutes to rest before joining our hosts in the lobby, we sat down on the Heavenly Bed, a Westin trademark for comfort. It was when our eyes rested upon the do not disturb door tag, simply labeled, “peace”, that the essence of the Westin hit us like a ton of solace.

This beautifully remodeled hotel is located 5 miles from John Wayne Airport; a stones throw from the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and a walk across the Peace Bridge to South Coast Shopping Plaza. The centerpiece is its magnificent waterfall that originates from the mouths of seven sculptured Neptune Water Spouts by Betty Daveport Ford and cascades in adjustable torrents, two stories downward to the Waterfall Terrace adjacent to the lobby bar gives Niagara Falls a run for its money.

Costa Mesa has one of the few lima bean producing climates in the world and at one time the Segerstrom Ranch was the major producer. However, since those days, the soul purpose of this amazing family dynasty has been to create a world-renowned center for the arts and over the years, land has been sold off or donated for that ever-expanding vision.

Keeping track of the Segerstrom Family and other private and corporately funded donations and the buildings and theaters encompassing this center, is nearly impossible to choreograph. The developmental sequence of Orange County Performing Arts Center at Segerstrom Center for the Arts and its 46,000 sq ft of community plaza is something like this:

In the beginning…land was sold to May Company and Sears for one dollar because anchor properties were needed to cement the overall vision.  The May Company (now Macys) and Sears, initiated South Coast Plaza and still own the land they sit on. Today the plaza includes some of the largest grossing retailers in California and the US. On the weekend before Christmas this mall was jumping so fast, I ran for my life to the nearest exit.

In 1979, the Segerstrom Family donated five acres for Orange County Performing Arts Center. Segerstrom Hall an exquisite fan shaped theater with an orchestra level and three rising tiers of 3000 seats, is host to International Dance and Broadway Theater throughout the year. The massive, Fire Bird, by Richard Lippold, 120’ long and 60’ high with a 100’ wingspan and an 18 carat gold beak, adorns the interior and exterior, as it soars through the glass in astounding beauty. The private Center Club at the lower level contains the largest collection of Plenaire Art in the area and Founders Hall, a black box-style theater space for approx 300, also resides here.

In 1998 an additional parcel of land was deeded for the concert hall and in 2000, main visionary, Henry Segerstrom, donated 40 million dollars, the largest charitable cash gift in Orange County history and in 2003, it was appropriately named, Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.  The lobby has one acre of earthquake safe suspended glass, an aluminum leaf ceiling and award winning, Constellation, a spiral of LED Swarovski crystal with 300 faceted Baccarat crystal pendants by Francesca Bettridge.

Architect Cesar Capelli with sound professionals, created a totally acoustically based design, including 128 adjustable concrete and wood doors and terrazzo floors designed in waves that match outdoor plantings. Under each French imported chair for seating 2000, are re-circulating tunnels for better airflow.

There are adjustable soundproof drapes, four reverberation chambers and a 4322 pipes organ, and to top it off, 3 acoustical, concrete brushed, aluminum louvered ceiling canapés, that are raised or lowered individually for sound control. It is breathtaking.

Samueli Theater with separate entrance has a multi functional 500-seat theater, the result of a ten million gift from the Henry Samueli family. In addition there is the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge Education Center, a 200-person studio performance space and the Boeing Education Lab. Each year more than 500,000 students and educators are benefited from these educational facilities.

My favorite for its intimacy is the South Coast Repertory begun in 1964 by David Emmes and Martin Benson is in the Folino Theatre Center.  This houses the 336-seat George and Julianne Argyros stage and the Segerstrom Stage, a 507 seat larger, technically perfect theater. SCR has introduced 100 new plays and received the Regional Theatre Tony Award for Distinguished Achievement in 1988.

Land laughingly referred to as “the croquet field” is intended for an art museum when enough money wills.  The already placed entrance is, The Connector by Richard Serra, a ten million sculpture donated by the Segerstrom family comprised of 5 metal plates, 80,000 pounds per plate, that are 66’ tall. The base is 20’ to 4’ at the top and standing inside, one looks to the sky through a pentagram serenaded by an awesome echo chamber.

With an Art Walking Tour that takes about an hour, one can feast on sculptures by Jean Dubuffet, Henry Moore, and Joan Miro among many others.  The California Scenario Garden by Isamu Noguchi, a sculpture and horticultural landscape, is unusually beautiful.

Not to be outdone, Costa Mesa has some of the finest cuisine on the South Coast and we can attest personally to three culinary gems.  The Charlie Palmer Restaurant at Bloomingdales in South Coast Mall is run by 27 year-old, chef Amar who let slip his take on Costa Mesa’s culinary palate as, “simplified-one of a kind taste.”

Leatherby’s Café Rouge located in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall extended a delicious brunch and at the Westin, Pinot Provence, with chef Lulu De Rouen, whipped us up a last meal to die for. All in all there are at least 20 exceptional restaurants, ten minutes in any direction.

With our aesthetic senses craving more, we are seriously considering the 2009 De-Stress for Less Drive & Dine offered from Jan 1-Feb 28 with ten luxury hotels of Best of Southern California, and South Coast Plaza merchants, offering all sorts of incentives.  However, if we choose to accept the challenge, it would be the Heavenly Beds and the central location of the South Coast Westin that would lure our stay in this amazing City of the Arts. www.TravelCostaMesa.com

THE PHOENICIAN – EPITOME OF EXCELLENCE

On earth as it is in heaven truly describes The Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.  At the base of Camelback Mountain, surrounded by the stunning Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale’s Valley of the Sun, nine miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, this amazing utopia leaves no luxury stone unturned.

The Phoenician is part of the Luxury Collection of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which includes 70 exceptional properties in more than 25 countries. (It might be fun to put all of them on your bucket list)! The Phoenician’s Main Building has 454 guest rooms, 12 luxury suites, two presidential suites and the nearby Casitas contains 107 guest rooms and 12 suites.

It is the The Canyon Suites where sybarites will truly savor that illusory Holy Grail for that uncompromising ideal in resort stay. In 2007 after $5.5 million in enhancements, this 60-guestroom edifice with private secluded pool is located on the most scenic setting of the entire property. Within 72-hours from the time a reservation is made, a Phoenician Ambassador (one is assigned for every 10 rooms) will contact the guest to pre-assist in planning their perfect sojourn and guests can expect a chauffeured S550 Mercedes Benz at their disposal throughout their stay. In the added luxury of a Presidential Suite, guests enjoy a fully-stocked kitchen with personal chef, signature hors d’oeuvre, fresh flower arrangements, roundtrip airport transportation, a poolside cabana, personalized stationery and a Phoenician robe embroidered with their initials when they return home. Only no one will want to return home…

Every afternoon wine lovers may join in the Canyon Suites lobby for a private tasting with either Phoenician Cellar Master Sean Marron or Master Sommelier Greg Tresner, (one of only 75 in the nation to earn the title of Master Sommelier.) The Phoenician has approximately 44,000 bottles of wine and 2,500 selections in its cellar and there are 50 sommeliers throughout the property.

Recipient of the AAA 5 Diamond Award and home to a $25 million collection of fine art and antiques, The Phoenician continues to set new standards for style and service with 250 acres filled to the brim with exquisite features. Nine pools include an extraordinary Mother-of-Pearl tiled pool, cascading waterfalls, Canyon pools, 2 children pools and a 165-foot water slide. These azure gems of refreshing and pristine liquid gracefully embellish this astounding all-inclusive resort.

The USGA course offers three 9-hole, par 70 combination’s for nearly 6,300 yards nearly 150 manicured acres of lush and verdant fairways of play. This championship facility surrounded by such spectacular natural wonder will satiate any passionate golf lover. However tennis lovers take heed. The Tennis Garden features a Wimbledon championship grass court, 11-lighted courts including an automated practice court, several U.S. Open surfaces and the official Australian Open Rebound Ace surface. It is hard to imagine how much tennis elbow could be accumulated in such a paradise.

After all of the incredible athletic exhilaration a visit to the 22,000 square foot Centre for Well-Being to pamper the muscles is a definite must.  This is a peaceful sanctuary for soothing massage therapies, skin and body treatments draws from European and Eastern principles as well as signature treatments utilizing plants and minerals indigenous to the Southwest. There is also a full hair and nail salon to pamper and attend to any of those rejuvenating requirements.

Thankfully now that an appetite is established (I found mine playing hard and fast on the 10,000 square-foot croquet lawn) The Phoenician offers eleven restaurants and lounges to ensure the perfect choice of cuisine to satisfy every whim. Dining options range from authentic Italian flavors of Il Terrazzo, to the Southwest flavors of Windows on the Green. In addition, enjoy the natural beauty of outdoor dining among shimmering pools, lush gardens and emerald fairways. Executive Chef Paul Carter seamlessly guides a staff of 130 culinary professionals and nine extensive kitchen operations in this gastronomical wonderland. For the ultimate romantic indulgence couples can enjoy a candlelight experience in a secluded outdoor nook at one of the resort’s private garden retreats.

My favorite feature here (besides the 5 fabulous retail outlet boutiques) is the Cactus Garden, which covers two acres and includes 350 varieties of cacti and succulents from as far away as Africa and the Galapagos Islands.  There are 10 cacti on the endangered list, thirty varieties of rare Euphorbia and the Encephalartos Horridus here is one of only 30 in the entire United States. The wildlife is amazing with seven of the 14 known varieties of Hummingbirds as well as Cactus Wren, Woodpeckers and Chuckawalla Lizards. The environmentally designed Necklace Lagoon shimmers its way throughout The Casita area to create humidity for the tropical plants and re-circulate water for landscaping. It is home for Koi, Tilapia (small fish from Africa,) Striped Bass, Red Eared Turtles, Canadian Geese, and wild Mallards. During The Phoenician’s 1988 original construction, individuals from the island of Tonga, familiar with desert topography, comprised many of the landscape crew.

I found myself drawn often to the Jokake Inn, a small residence built in 1926 by a local artist, which stands just inside the property as a small historical icon for those of us who crave a sense of the past.

The Phoenician plays host to more than 180,000 meeting guests every year and more than 64,000 square feet of meeting and convention space accommodates all sized groups. The centerpiece of the convention facilities is the spectacular 22,000 square-foot Phoenician Grand Ballroom (in late 2009, the Camelback Ballroom will offer an additional 15,000 square feet.) Adjacent to the ballroom is the 5,525 square-foot Estrella Theatre, a multimedia center for 600 attendees showcasing the most up-to-the-minute audiovisual technology. Where visuals are paramount, The Ultra-Tech Red Rock Boardroom centerpiece of The Canyon Suites features $365,000 in cutting edge technology and design.

Words only pale in comparison to the exquisite experience The Phoenician extends.  Certainly no one alive can actually confirm a similarity to Heaven but Travel & Leisure ventured, “…the hotel pours it on. You’re in for an over-the-top experience.”

For information and restaurant reservations, phone (480) 423-2530 or visit www.thephoenician.com.