>> scenes from san francisco

The General Store in The Sunset: me likes.

Mollusk Surf Shop rules.

Post-run grilled cheese at Outerlands and a quick pop into the Heath Ceramics factory in Sausalito.

>> son of a gun

Photos by EaterLA.

Matt and I went to the newly opened (late Feb) Son of a Gun (8370 W. 3rd St, LA) last weekend, and despite the fact that most people had to wait 30 minutes or so to be seated (with a reservation!), we LOVED it. In fact, the shrimp toast sandwich with siracha mayo has been on my brain ever since. If your wildest foodie fantasy is combining carbs with seafood in multiple ways (mine), then definitely check it out. The interior design by Ruth De Jongis is East Coast-y and eclectic with a few hints of California—all their plates are Heath Ceramics—which I loved.

>> deer path inn

I recently heard my hometown hotel, The historic Deer Path Inn, was being renovated— and not just new carpeting and thinner TVs, but renovated by Monica Pedersen, an HGTV Designer. I emailed her a few questions about how she would take on such an quaint hotel that people love for its charm and refusal to modernize.

The hotel opened in 1929 and quickly grew to become one of the most popular pastoral escapes for Chicagoans willing to make the 30-mile drive north. Modeled after the mid-15th-century Manor House, a half-timbered and stucco Tudor home in Chiddingstone, Kent, England, the inn features authentic detailing, including stone fireplaces, leaded windows, beamed ceilings and an extensive collection of antiques and artifacts that evoke the atmosphere of an English country estate. But to me and my family, it's all about heading downstairs to the White Hart Pub for a beer and burger.

LG: Have you done hotel design before?

MP: No, this is my first leap into hotel design.

LG: What is the plan for the hotel and why the renovation now?

MP: The plan is to update the hotel’s guest rooms, bathrooms and some of the public spaces not only through décor but also by offering guests updated services such as WiFi. We are doing it now for a couple of reasons. 1 – It’s long overdue – the décor is feeling a little tired. 2 – We need to stay competitive with the other hotels that have recently popped up in the area.

LG: Any modernities that are going to be added to the British Country decor/design? And if so, how do you walk that fine line of upgrading in style/technology without downgrading the classic integrity of such an old hotel?

MP: The design will still reflect the classic look of an English Country House. Given the architecture and history of the Deer Path Inn doing anything but that would be a crime.

LG: One of my favorite things to do when I’m in town visiting my parents is to go to the White Hart Pub in the basement of the Deer Path Inn, any changes in order down there? (Please say the cast-iron baked feta will still be there, it’s my favorite!)

MP: Yes, the cast iron baked feta will still be there. We also have sushi from the former sushi chef from the Peninsula Hotel. Next time you should try the Pub Burger, it’s the best burger on the North Shore. Nothing is changing about the White Hart Pub (did you know it has a sister property in England that it was modeled after?). But the Hunt Room next door has been completely redone – tufted leather seating, nailhead trim, lots of bar space, great energy – it’s getting great reviews.

LG: What items will you (the hotel) be splurging on and where can you cut corners on such a large project--and how can that be applied to any home renovation/remodel?

MP: We splurged on bedding from Anchini, natural stone in the bathrooms and durable grasscloth wall coverings. The bedding is extremely comfortable and luxurious, the tile work gives the bathroom instant luxury and everybody appreciates a great bathroom when they are traveling. Since the hotel is old, the weighty grasscloth wall covering hides some of the unwelcome signs of aging. You can always find a deal on art frames – if a frame is beautiful, the artwork inside will look more expensive. Also, you don’t have to have different art for every room. Once great piece can be digitally reproduced on the cheap. There is also this great website that I am working with, MasterCard Market Place, which is open to all MasterCard cardholders. The site offers deals and coupons from thousands of merchants I love like Home Depot and Target.

LG: Will you be adding any vintage/found/flea market sourced items to the hotel? If so, do you have any strategies when looking for those sorts of objects d’art, etc.?

MP: Yes, I have filled many of the bookshelves with old pewter pieces, serving trays, and antique books that I’ve found at these kinds of places. When I shop at thrift, flea market or garage sales, I keep three things in mind. Is the item something that I can cash and carry? Is it versatile? Meaning, can it be moved into different spaces? Is it priced right? You would be shocked at how many people walk off with property that belongs to the hotel like pewter jugs, plates and old books. If I don’t spend a lot, the loss isn’t as great.

LG: Do you have an absolute favorite possession in your home? What is it and why?

MP: My four poster California king Farmhouse Collection bed. The distressed finish takes the pretentious appearance out of a four poster bed and the fact that it is California king makes it comfy for me, my tall husband and cat Hal.

>> wknd

Hope y'all have a good weekend. We're headed to the Venice Garden and Home Tour on Saturday followed by oysters and beer on the beach at Blue Plate Oysterette, although I think we may have to mix up a few Mint Juleps this weekend as well. Yum!

>> long beach love

Back to Long Beach for a second. Who knew how awesome it was? After the flea a bunch of us headed to 4th street and ate Vietnamese sandwiches at Number Nine Noodles, our friends Danielle and Garett then found a rad dining room table at Trebor/Nevets, and I ogled the above painted crab buoys ($125) by Elias Crouch at Shelter Surf. I also like his print 26 Flags for communication with other drifters ($25), but didn't have a good photo to post.

Now that's what I call a house boat. Image from the artist's SF-based surfboard line Crouch Craft.

>> camellia house chic

I'm loving this over-sized menu circa December 1961 from The Camellia House, the super glam restaurant once located in Chicago's Drake Hotel. The menu was stylized and designed by the infamous Dorothy Draper and is available for purchase ($75) from, where else, Paris Hotel Boutique.

Here's an old Camellia House matchbook up for auction on eBay for $3, I think I might have to have it.

>> medal detectors

Of all the many meals we consumed over the weekend, the four of us agreed last night while sipping a Sauternes that the best bite of the past 48+ hours went to the yellow tail sashimi "croque madame" at Hatfield's. Silver medal to the potato taco at Lotería Grill and the bronze was awarded to the special Sunday fried chicken at Chateau Marmont. The best design element of the weekend also went to Hatfield's with the above honeycomb-shaped chandelier/light sculpture. All that said, it is very tough to compete on any level with a warm Valentine's Day night spent on the patio of The Chateau Marmont with great friends.

>> flag pillows

Viva la flag pillow ($129).

And God save the Union Jack pillow too, but I don't know where these are from! I took the snap a few weeks back at The Larchmont Larder—I'll ask next time I'm there.

Cecconi's

I'm still catching up on new restaurants since I've been back in L.A. Today I had a perfect lunch on the terrace (did I mention it was 75 degrees and sunny today?) of Cecconi's of grilled octopus and a beet and burrata salad. I love the design and the use of turquoise against black and white. There's also a Damien Hirst piece from his butterfly series in the private dining room. Not too shabby. Thanks Dana!

Spago Bachelor Gulch

Just yesterday I had the delight of checking out the two-year-old Spago in Bachelor Gulch, CO located inside the Ritz. The food was of course insanely good, but to be completely honest with you, if I had to choose between Spago and a hot buttered rum by the lobby fireplace, I'd opt for the latter—that lobby was just too damn cozy for words. The design at Spago was pretty great though, I especially loved the use of Zanotta Sciangai coat racks ($1,064) designed in 1973. Totally and completely functional. People just tossed their coats and hats and sat down to a potato leek soup while wearing their ski boots. Not exactly Spago Beverly Hills!

Faena Hotel

From a design perspective the five-year-old Faena Hotel in Buenos Aires' Puerto Madero district is quite a scene. We didn't stay there, but we definitely checked it out while we were in town. It was designed by Philippe Starck, who used the color red like a crazy man. Naturally, to fit in to the design, the first thing I did when we got there was order a Negroni.

It was about to rain, so we huddled/cuddled with our drinks and some olives by the pool before dinner, it was tré romantico.

We originally thought we'd eat at this schmancy restaurant inside the hotel called The Bistro, but we opted for the cozier restaurant, El Mercado. Plus we were on a full-on empanada rampage, so we couldn't resist.


Plus, check the ceiling! So cool.

The High Line

After our lunch yesterday Kim and I "walked off" the calories (yeah right) at the newish park, The High Line in the Meat Packing District. The park was created on top of an old above-ground train track. The linear walking park goes right under The Standard Hotel and then to CraftSteak and 'wichcraft. Not a bad little walk.

I'm off to Palm Beach tonight, back next week!

Pho Sure

Hands down the best $5 I've ever spent in New York (or ever?) was yesterday at Baoguette. My friend Kim took me out for Vietnamese sandwiches and, I'm not exaggerating, it was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had in my life. It's contents are pork terine, pate, pulled pork and fresh herbs—heavy on the cilantro. It's spicy, fresh, hearty, sweet—it's everything I've ever wanted out of life—I mean lunch. Run to 120 Christopher Street in the West Village for your own Baoguette sandwich. I think I'm getting another one today before I head to the airport. Thanks Kim, I mean really, thank you!

Langer's vs. Katz's

My friend Caleigh took me to lunch at Katz's Deli, arguably the best pastrami in New York. It was good. Very very very good. But not as good as Langer's. Langer's won out on fresher and better-tasting bread and crunchier coleslaw. That's right, I'm saying it, L.A. has better deli food than New York.

Sel de la Terre

I love weekend lunching in Boston. Yesterday we hit up Sel de la Terre and I was loving the use of vintage spritzers as wall decor almost as much as the rosemary frites. Headed to New York tomorrow and have some exciting news on the way!

Foxtails

Last night Matt and I hung out with our friends Amy and Norris Fox in their SICK downtown L.A. loft (I kicked myself 1000 times for forgetting my camera, but next time it's ON). We started the night with an apéritif of Lillet blanc on the rocks with a splash of Perrier and an orange slice served in vintage whiskey glasses. Liquid heaven. I had never had Lillet on its own before, probably since it's also so good mixed into a Bond-fan's favorite, The Vesper. Lillet on the rocks is delicious, but beware friends, Lillet packs a lot more alcohol then you'd think, a whopping 17% actually, and I can attest that I feel like I've lost 17% of my brain cells this morning—and I'm sure that has nothing to do with the several generous pours of sake we had afterwards at the Vietnamese hot spot Blossom. Ouch.

Hecky's

Just stopped into Hecky's Barbecue for lunch while waiting for our car to get serviced before our drive out. Now I'm in a food coma and can't possibly tape up any more boxes for at least an hour.

Prairie Vodka

It was a crazy weekend with Matt's graduation from business school. We ate and drank our hearts out at NaHa, The Gage, Spring, The Signature Room, and Gabriel's and it's absolutely time for a detox this week—but let's be realistic. As we clinked glasses with our families and friends people kept saying, "you're almost out of here"—meaning in less than a month I'll be blogging from L.A. (p.s. LAKERS!!!)! With that in mind I'm going to try and focus on Midwestern design and product for the next few weeks. Prairie vodka ($24 for .75 L) in particular looks really cool. The bottle design of course is fun, but the vodka is eco-friendly, kosher, and distilled from organic yellow corn and crafted in partnership with a co-op of over 900 Minnesota farmers.

Rain Crepes

I literally ate my way through San Francisco this weekend: Noodles in Japan Town, Bone Marrow at Bar Tartine, Rockfish Hash for brunch at Canteen, Buratta pizza at Beretta, more pizza at Pizzeria Delfina and every bit of it was unbelievably good. But the best meal of them all was Nutella and banana crepes eaten outside in the rain. My friend Ashley and I plopped down post-tennis at a no-name cafe and devoured two delicious crepes with cappuccinos. Best. Lunch. Ever.

Bourbon & Branch

I'm leaving tomorrow morning for San Francisco—one of my most favorite cities to visit. I'll be having a cocktail at around say 10pm PST at Bourbon & Branch with my SF-native friends Katie and Mark who will be in town from NYC. When it comes to booze, I trust their recommendations blindly. A few months ago I asked Katie what she was doing and she texted back: "Sipping a Pink Lady through a brass straw somewhere in the East Village." Bourbon & Branch falls squarely into the recent (past few years or so) speakeasy trend. Signs that you're going to one of these bars would be: they require reservations—sometimes even passwords, standing at the bar is strictly prohibited, photography is strictly prohibited and ordering a Cosmo is strictly prohibited. You can also count on bartenders (nay, mixologists) who labor over each drink order until absolute perfection is achieved. Similarly there's The Violet Hour in Chicago, Pegu Club in New York, etc., etc., etc. Some people get annoyed with the rules and the pretense of these kind of establishments, but I actually really like it.

More blogging coming soon from SF, stay tuned.