Four days later and I am still in a food coma. Because of this, I have been pretty much lying low today, dreaming of my next destination. I know it will be somewhere tropical, where I can totally zone out and do nothing. I want it to be exotic, which means no Hawaii or Mexico but I don’t want to take a long flight (i.e no Fiji or Bali). After a much heated discussion with my somewhat particular other half, I have honed in on the small Central American country of Belize.

A mere seven hour flight from LA ( or NYC for that matter) and I have inserted myself in paradise. Belize is attractive to me because it’s located on the Caribbean Sea, the official language is English and the topography is a fantastic mix of beautiful beaches and lush rain forests. Belize is one also home to countless Mayan Ruins, which are always worth a day trip. This combination of qualities makes Belize a big possibility for my very near future.

Despite being a relatively tourist-trap free country, there seem to be luxury hotels a-plenty set up around the country. Francis Ford Coppola is the propieter of three within Belize. The oceanfront Turtle Inn, the jungle hideaway Blancaneux and the Lake Peten -front LaLancha.  All three properties are different, so before you book, think hard about the type of vacation you are looking for. After a good long search in to great spots within Belize, here are a few of the most intruguing properties I found:

If you want Rainforest, head to…

Lodge at Chaa Creek

Set on a private 365 acre nature reserve, this 23 room oasis is set at the base of The Mayan Mountain. The hotel offers many different types of activities to suit all travellers, from tours of Mayan Temple’s to nature walks to spa days…this place is set deep in the jungle though so be prepared to totally retreat from society!

Blancaneaux Lodge

Coppola, determined to find an amazing site akin to the jungles featured in Apocalypse Now, met his match in the jungles of Belize. It was here that he built the first of his three Belize properties. The hotel consists of thatched cottages which are spread all around the property. Some have river views, others are set amongst lush gardens. Perhaps it’s most enticing quality is the fact that they have an organic vegetable farm on site, which provides 80% of all the fruits and vegetables served here. Love it!

If you want beach…

Victoria House 

Victoria House is a really tiny (35 rooms to be exact) boutique hotel located on an the largest island in Belize, Ambergris Caye. The island is situated incredibly close to a beautiful barrier reef so it is ideally located for snorkeling and scuba diving. It is also the reason that Ambergris Caye is fast becoming the heart of Belizian tourism. Apparently, it’s relative seclusion ( the island is only accessible by ferry or by a teeny tiny pane ( aka, death machine) has allowed the island to retain it’s charm in the face of exploding tourism, so that is a great thing. The hotel is planatation style, and you can chose to stay in one of the casitas, the beach villas or the plantation suites. Check it out and see which style suits your fancy!

I promise this will be there last of my Thanksgiving posts but I thought it would be remiss to talk about where to eat your mains without where to get your dessert! I am an avid cook, but a terrible baker. This year, I plan on skipping any and all attempts to make a pie, a cake, a cookie or any other dessert-related item. I suck, they are always terrible. I liken them to pumpkin flavored cardboard. There is hope for people like me. There are cake shops all over the City of Angels which are currently scrambling to put together special delicious treats specifically for Thanksgiving. Here are four places that can be your saving grace come dessert time.

Vanilla Bake Shop- West Los Angeles

Offering Pumpkin Pie Mousse, Pecan Pumpkin Cake and Pumpkin Cheesecake as a special treat for the Holiday.

Sweet Lady Jane - Mid City

The mother of all cake shops in Los Angeles is offering up tasty Thanksgiving delicious-ness. Forget the canned pumpkin and give them a call and make your life easier.

Lark Cake Shop -Silverlake

Calling all East- Sider’s…head to Lark for great seasonal items that won’t break your bank. I get all my b-day cakes from here and they have never disappointed.

Sprinkles Cupcakes- Mid City

LA’s answer to Magnolia Bakery, this fantastic cupcake shop is offering up ginger-maple, pumpkin and orange-cranberry cupcakes just for the Holiday. Grab a box and head to dinner, you are guaranteed to be the most welcomed guest in the whole place!

While I’ll be partaking in a more traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year (i.e homemade with all the fixings), for those who wish to skip the countless hours of preparation and dirty dishes, the website Open Table has put together a list of restaurants in the Los Angeles area offering turkey dinner. Check it out here and see if anything strikes your fancy!

Okay, so I know that that is not how Hal David actually wrote that but I thought Santa Fe replaced San Jose quite nicely. Before making her way to Washington DC, my sister resided briefly in New Mexico. Until then, I had never really found any reason to venture to those parts of the Southwest. During her time there, I had the pleasure of making the rounds of New Mexico and it was then that I fell in love with the beautiful town of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Like so many others before me, I was taken by the spectacular topography, arts and culture which make Santa Fe a destination that continues to draw people from all over the world. Because of the city’s thriving tourist population, there is no shortage of beautiful hotels and restaurants to explore. Here are a handful of places worth staying and eating upon arrival.

Where to stay:

1. Inn of The Anasazi

This Inn is owned by the Rosewood Group ( the fab hotel group behind San Ysidro Ranch) so you know it is going to be good stuff. Located right smack in the middle of the main square in Santa Fe, you will find no better located hotel if you are looking to be in the heart of it all. Decorated in traditional pueblo style, each of the Inn’s 58 rooms offers luxury amenities and kiva fireplaces. While there is no shortage of great food in Santa Fe, the Inn boasts one of the best and most reputable restaurants in the city, simply called: The Anasazi Restaurant and Bar. 

2. Encantado Hotel and Spa

Encantando is pretty new to Santa Fe. It only opened in July of 2008 but it has already garnered tons of well-deserved attention. Encantando is more secluded and resort-like than the Inn of Anasazi so you will need a car to take you to the town’s center. Set in the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, this 65 “casita” resort boasts views of the stunning mountains as well as the the Rio Grand River and Valley. (Duran, Duran..eat your heart out!). Wood burning fireplaces, soaking tubs and flat screen adorn each room and there is a great spa on site along with several dining options. If you are looking to have a tad more romance and relaxation, Encantado might be your best option. 

Where to Eat:

Lunch

1. Tia Sophia’s

2. Pasqual’s

Dinner

1. The Anasazi Restaurant and Bar

2.La Casa Sena

3. Coyote Cafe

Here are a couple of other snaps of the city, taken by my o-so talented Brother-in-law, Alex Thorne. He also snapped that awesome pic of the truck in the beginning of the piece as well. Did I mention Santa Fe is home to over 230 art galleries? Just making sure….

In the November issueof Bon Appetite, there is a great article on ten country inn’s specializing in gourmet cooking. Click below to read. There are some great places on the list and I felt it was worth circulating:

http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2008/11/culinary_country_inns

I have always been a fan of mid-century modern furniture. My house is filled with pieces I have purchased over the years. Sadly, getting a piece of good quality mid-century modern furniture can be quite pricey. In my quest to bring my costs down, I went on the hunt for a great store that specializes in mid-century inspired furnishings along with replications of pieces from that era. That place is a store in LA called Room Service.

Owners John and Taryn Bernard design most of the furniture themselves and most of the pieces can be customized. I have shopped there for years and have always been satisfied. I was delighted to find that in addition to being a furniture store, they also own and operate five vacation properties in the Los Angeles and Palm Spring area. Each properties is different, but their design is rooted in classic mid-century modern style. All of the furnishings are provided by Room Service. These homes are funky, retro, luxurious and just down-right cool. Their one LA property is located in the Hollywood Hills, and it is appropriately titled  “The Pad”.  It features views of the Hollywood sign, three king bedrooms, flat screen TVs, a Bose sound-system and Sub-Zero appliances. It is a perfect place to throw a private party or spend a week relaxing.

Casa Verona, The White House, The Pink Door, The Lodge and The Park complete their collection and these are all located in Palm Springs. In two weeks I will be heading to Casa Verona for the weekend (more on that when I return) and I am really excited about it. I have to say, for the how cool and well-appointed these places are, they are really well-priced. All the Palm Springs locations are three and four bedrooms and feature pools and spa’s, BBQ’s Fireplaces and more just generally awesome stuff. Prices vary by house but winter rates go for about 3,000 per week and summer rates drop down a but from there. Unfortunately, I am unable to grab pics off their website to show you just how great these homes really are but click here and you will be taken to their website with a full photo gallery of each property. Prepare to be transported to another place and time.

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This past trip to NYC, I spent a lot of time on the Lower East Side. Since I was there to attend the music festival CMJ, it made sense that I would focus my trip in that area as all the clubs have been relegated there. The Lower East Side is constantly evolving and in the few short months since my last visit, a whole new crop of restaurants have popped up. One of the standouts is a new eatery called Allen & Delancey. Not surprisingly, it is located on the corner of ..er..Allen and Delancey. Although the name is straight forward, the cuisine is anything but. I haven’t seen this creative of a menu in a really long time. Before I get to that though, I need to spend a minute on the restaurant decor.

Allen & Delancey is exactly the type of restaurant I look for when I go to NYC. It is a perfect ante dote to the busy, bustling and noisy city. The restaurant, which is tucked at the end of Allen street, is really non-descript from the outside. If you blink, you just might miss it. There is no sign to speak of.. just the soft glow of dim lights peeking out behind thick curtains. Step behind those curtains and you enter into a cozy den lit mainly by burning candles. The effect is wonderful- a perfect refuge to escape the madness of the city. We showed up rather late for dinner so we were able to get our pick of tables. We settled on a quiet corner table, settled in and began our eating adventure. 

I was feeling open-minded that night and I feel like that might be the best way to approach Allen & Delancey. The menu is really interesting and in almost every dish, there was one ingredient I have never heard of. There is actually an appetizer which contains leaves. ( I did not order it, I was not feeling like foliage). What I did decide on for a starters was caramelized bone marrow, caviar and shallot puree. It is considered one of their “signature” dishes and I can see why.  It is truly delicious. Each flavor was delicate and subtle and they blended together seamlessly. Neil Ferguson, who  spent a good deal of time under the tutelage of Gordan Ramsey, has really done an amazing job conjuring up a brilliant menu.

For my mains, I moved on to lamb chops with braised middleneck, olives and tomato confit. The lamb was made to perfection and the braised middle neck provided a nice compliment to the lamb. I completed my meal with a delicious Syrah recommended by the fabulous wait staff. I was totally taken by Allen & Delancey. It’s a really, really well done restaurant tat combines great food with incredibly warm decor. It’s a tad on the pricey side but it is worth it..particularly if you are looking for a romantic place to take your significant other. This place is tops. Dinner for two w/ a glass of wine $160.00.

Allen & Delancey - 115 Allen Street. NY, NY 10002

Uggh! Update! It turns out that Neil Ferguson has resigned from his post as head chef of Allen& Delancey as of October 28th, 2008. He is moving to the Soho House. Hopefully the restaurant will remain faithful to his delicious recipes. See here for full details on his move.

I am sleepy. It is day 14 of my 15 day journey which has taken me everywhere from Washington DC to NYC to Palm Springs. I am sleepy…can I say that again? The good news is that in the final leg of a fairly exhausting journey, I got lucky and get to stay in one of my favorite places in California: The Parker Palm Springs. It’s been a couple years since I visited the property and I am happy to say that the hotel has stayed on the up and up. The Parker remains one of the most unique, well decorated and comfortable places in the Palm Springs area.

Since I am here for a work retreat, I have been spending A LOT of time on the thirteen acre property. I have hit every pool, lemonade stand, croquet field and bar this place has to offer. I sat by the fire pit. I rode bikes. I dined at Mr. Parker’s. I sat in the steam room. I have left no Parker stone unturned. It has been fabulous. Here is why it is so great; The Parker has managed to create an amazing vibe. At every turn, there is a an undiscovered space which is private, luxurious, funky and lounge-tastic.

I think this is best attributed to designer Jonathan Adler, who spared no expense (both creatively and probably financially) when setting out to design The Parker. Adler is a designer known for conjuring up a vibe from year’s past and when I say his signature style is reminiscent of something you would have found in the living rooms of Janis Joplin and Jimmy Hendrix in 1969, I ain’t lying. Immediately upon entering the enormous red-orange doors to the resort, you enter into a design time warp. Adler left no detail out and the result is a really fun time. 

While the rooms are comfortable, calm and inviting, I would urge you ( if you can stand the heat) to spend as much time in the common spaces as possible, as this is where the Parker really shines. An added bonus of venturing from your room is that the Parker staff is very accommodating and friendly. I have wanted for nothing since I have been here. The night receptionist actually remembers my name, it’s like Cheer’s in here. Okay, I am gushing…it’s a sign of my lack of sleep. Night Night.