California Dreamin'
Imagining mom's perfect birthday. Plus, wellness getaways, a listen on Ukraine and an addictive show.
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You’re drawn to the ocean like a fish to water, and so beachside accommodation—Portola Hotel and Spa—is a must. Your cane is unsteady in the sand, and so we especially appreciate the proximity of the pavement to the water here in Monterey. Better yet, as an animal-lover who can’t get in the water, you’re ecstatic that you can see so much marine wildlife from shore—sea lions and harbour seals sunbathing on the rocks and sea otters playfully dipping in and out of the water. It’s one of the few places in the world where we can get so close to these wondrous creatures while staying dry.
It’s also one of the best places in the world for seafood, with restaurants like Wild Fish, Valley Kitchen and Lucia sourcing from fish purveyors within the state. Sierra Mar is one of your favorite dining experiences so far, not only for the farm-fresh fare but because of its location cliffside overlooking the ocean through floor-to-ceiling windows.
We eat local seafood everyday, which pairs well with the white wines of the region. Wine tasting in San Luis Obispo’s wine country, we’re careful (and embarrassed) to spit out the reds, since they give us both headaches, an intolerance I inherited from you. Since you can’t drive, we’re shuttled between Tolosa and Wolff wineries in a charming sidecar attached to a motorcycle. It’s a wild ride through SLO’s verdant rolling hills sprinkled with vineyards that leaves you winded and breathless.
From SLO to Carmel-by-the-Sea, you love the slower pace of life here—you never feel rushed on the sidewalk like you do back home. The latter quaint village fulfills your affinity for fairytales, with its endearing cottages and cobblestone streets. You love that our place to call home—Lamp Lighter Inn—has roaring outdoor fireplaces to keep you toasty and a resident cat, Shadow, for cuddles. Your sweet tooth is satisfied with the pastries from Carmel Bakery and British treats from the historic Cottage of Sweets, a traditional British sweet shop that dates back to 1899.
Today, on your birthday, I wake before you to sneak out and get you a slice of the chocolate fudge cake from Alta before they close in the afternoon. They’ve got a line so I figure it must be one of the city’s best. We end the day exactly as you like it, watching the waves roll in against a blush pink sky, the sound of sea lions barking in the distance as the sun encroaches the horizon.
Happy would’ve-been birthday mom.
Best,
Anna
Published 📝
Forbes - Padma Lakshmi on Food and Fashion
As a fan of Top Chef and the food travel docu-series Taste The Nation, I couldn’t turn down a last minute opportunity to interview Padma Lakshmi. But what I didn’t know, until I began research for the interview, was that Lakshmi’s background is actually in fashion. With both food and fashion acting as expressions of creativity, it felt fitting (no pun intended) to discuss where the two intersect for Lakshmi, in light of her recent collaboration with Madewell. I also got her hot takes on cultural appropriation and representation in both industries.
“I cook all types of food—I cook Greek food, Italian food, Moroccan food, Mexican food, Indian food—I don’t eat the same thing all the time. I don’t want just Indian people to enjoy Indian food, I want everyone to enjoy Indian food and discover it. I feel the same way about Ayurveda or yoga or beautiful textiles. The problem comes when you utilize these ancient methods, design patterns or ingredients and you don’t acknowledge the heritage that comes with it.” - Padma Lakshmi.
Forbes - This Urban Resort Is Setting The Standard for Pandemic Wellness
To be honest, I’ve been disappointed with Toronto’s hotel scene. As one of the most cosmopolitan destinations in the world, I would expect we’d have way more bespoke properties that represent the vibrancy of our city. I was pleasantly surprised by Hotel X Toronto, a giant property set on the CNE grounds, removed from the bustling downtown core.
You know a hotel is doing something right when it’s frequented by locals. With 10XTO housed onsite, the 90,000-square-foot fitness facility attracts residents of the surrounding condos to its Olympic-sized tennis courts, hot yoga studio and state-of-the-art gym. For those looking to staycation or work from their hotel room, Hotel X’s “Experience Wellness Suites”, complete with a treadmill or spin bike and workout equipment, make the perfect WFH refresh, sure to have you feeling recharged upon check-out.
Anne Helen Petersen’s Culture Study - What You Don't Know About Family Estrangement
My previous newsletter on regretting having kids resonated with a lot of you. But what about estrangement from the opposite angle—from the child’s perspective? Anne Helen Petersen shared my experience being estranged from my father, and how it’s affected my racial identity and grief.
“Because I look more Korean than white, I feel like I need to work harder to prove my ‘whiteness’ in white spaces. But because of my estrangement from my Korean side, I feel imposter syndrome whenever I'm in Korean spaces too. This leaves me forever floating in a liminal space, unable to identify with either side.”
Perhaps the tide is turning, and we are finally making space for alternative types of love and support.
“Your safety and nourishment as a child, as a young adult, as a parent, as someone with specific medical or emotional needs, as an aging person — none of it should be wholly contingent on the luck (truly!) of being born into a family that is financially or emotionally able to provide them for you.” - Anne Helen Petersen.
Forbes - The Best Wellness Getaways in North America
With pent-up demand for both travel and wellness, it’s no surprise wellness travel is booming. Gone are the days when a wellness retreat looked like a week-long intensive with a group of strangers. Hotels are upping their game, with unique amenities and services designed to leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated upon your return home. Here are my top picks:
Hotel Figueroa, Los Angeles, California
Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel, Los Angeles
The Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles
Northern Lights Resort and Spa, Yukon
Pasea Hotel and Spa, Huntington Beach
Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles
Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver
La Quinta Resort and Club, La Quinta
Carmel Valley Ranch, Carmel Valley
Watching 📺
As an embarrassed newcomer to the latest season of The Bachelor, I’ve been loving having a Hulu subscription while I’m travelling in the States. Craving something a bit more substantive to make my one month membership worth it, I started the acclaimed Hulu original Dopesick (thanks Emily for the recommendation!). Starring Michael Keaton and Kaitlyn Denver, the drama covers the opioid crisis—from its origins with Purdue Pharma to its devastating impact on a Virginia mining community to the legal battle led by the DEA. It’s dark, but gripping, like a good page-turner. The fact that it’s based on true events, makes it that much more addictive (I’m on a roll with my puns today!).
Listening 🎧
It’s been hard to wrap my head around the war in Ukraine and I still feel largely helpless. But The New York Times’ coverage via their Daily podcast has impressed me, distilling a complicated situation into digestible stories; explaining the crisis from a variety of angles—from the experience of refugees to Biden’s foreign policy to Putin’s strategy. It’s captivating, and at times heartbreaking, storytelling, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Snacking 🍌
While it’s been a month since this story came out for Valentine’s Day, I’m still snacking on many of my sweet treat recommendations while on the road. Here are some of my faves:
Dark chocolate interpretations of Reese’s PB cups and Snickers bars.
Or for the peanut-free chocolate lover: dark chocolate covered almonds and almond butter cups.
Chocolate filled with granola butter.
Protein bars that taste like churros and secretly have vegetables. Also, muffins made from veggies and on-the-go brownies.
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