JET SETTING FOR TURKEY SANDWICHES

For the last few days, it's been turkey leftovers at my house...everything from the traditional platter, to turkey pot pies, and of course lots of turkey sandwiches!  Thanksgiving really is my favorite holiday of the year for this reason.  I LOVE turkey sandwiches with stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo!  Often during the year, if I hear about a good turkey sandwich I'll have to try it.  I love the turkey sandwich at McNally's Tavern outside of Philly (love the name too! ;-).  McNally's Tavern is home to The Dickens- their version of Thanksgiving All Year Long with turkey and cranberry sauce (ask them to add mayo if you like)...it's delicious!

 Now, as I start to think about planning my annual winter trip out to L.A., California, I am adding Capriotti's in Beverly Hills to my list of places to try.  This place is known for its Bobbie- a nationally acclaimed best seller that has homemade turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo on it.  This looks like one mean turkey sandwich and it has my name written all over it. Watch out Bobbie...you are going down!

Have any more L.A. food suggestions? Jet Set Smart would love to know about them!

By the way, the answer to the "Think You're a Jet Setter Prove It" post from Tuesday is The CN Tower in Toronto!  Congrats to those who got it.  Jet Set Smart is working on a giveaway for the next "Think You're a Jet Setter Prove It" post...stay tuned!

SANTA YNEZ BASICS

Santa Ynez, California has become one of my new favorite obsessions on the west coast. The Santa Ynez Valley is located in northern Santa Barbara County (about a two hour drive north of L.A) and is the heart of Santa Barbara's Wine Country. If you've seen the movie Sideways, then you'll know what I'm talking about (refer to Sideways post). Why Go:
The Santa Ynez Valley has more than 100 wineries which feature some great white and red wines (more than just Pinot Noir- if you saw Sideways, you'll know what I'm talking about). Even if you are not a wine lover, you'll enjoy the landscape of rolling hills and farms. The Santa Ynez Valley is naturally beautiful beyond words or pictures. Need I say more?When to Go:

Really any time of year is good to visit...this is California, my jet setters! Winter months are chillier and the grapes are off the vine, but the rates are cheaper. Spring, Summer & Fall are obviously warmer and when you can see the vineyards are their peak...it's up to you! Below is a temperature guide to Santa Barbara county to help you decide what you like.

Where to Go: Santa Ynez Valley has six towns, all cute and quaint in their own way:Los Olivos: Where I recommend you stay. It has art galleries, boutiques, restaurants and wine tasting rooms.
Solvang: A Danish-inspired town (see picture above) that truly looks and feels like you are in Holland. There are Danish bakeries and restaurants, shops, museums, wine tasting rooms, and dozens of places to stay.
Santa Ynez: Really sweet little turn-of-the 20th century village that reminds you of what life was like back in the old west. There are a couple of restaurants, inns and boutiques here.
Buellton: Big town that you can almost just drive through and not stop to check out, other than The Hitching Post restaurant which was featured in the movie Sideways.
Ballard: A really small town with only two restaurants, a bed & breakfast, and a little red schoolhouse which is still used.
Los Alamos: With only a seven-block long main street, this town also has a western feel, a historic train depot, shops and restaurants.

Where to Stay:
We rented a house through Home Away. It was located in the town of Los Olivos and was absolutely perfect in every sense of the word. The house was close enough to town that you could walk and it had an infinity pool...so nice!If that's not for you and you prefer to stay in a hotel rather than someones home, then the place I suggest to stay in Los Olivos is at the Fess Parker Inn.In Santa Inez, I would say to stay at the Santa Ynez Inn.If staying in Solvang is something you want to do, I would recommend staying at either the Wine Valley Inn & Cottages...Or the Hadsten House Inn & Spa. I'll have more on the wineries we visited, where to eat and where to shop in the Santa Ynez Valley in the coming days!

SIDEWAYS

Do you remember the movie Sideways? It came out in 2004, so it's sort of old, but anyway, it's about two guys who head to California's wine country in the Santa Ynez Valley for a week for a bachelor party before one of the guys gets married.

The reason why I'm asking is because I just jet setted there and I have to say it is an awesome place! I have been to Napa Valley before and it is gorgeous and worth checking out, but Santa Ynez is a lot less commercial and has so much natural beauty...plus some pretty awesome wine too I might add! If you are ever on the west coast near L.A., then I definitely say you MUST go to Santa Ynez Wine Country. I will have more about this amazing place in the next couple of days...so stay tuned.

In the meantime, if you haven't seen the movie, then I suggest renting it, and even if you have seen it, watch it again, because you'll know exactly what I'm talking about in my posts!

TERRANEA

L.A. is one of my favorite cities, but like all cities, from time to time, you want to venture outside of the hustle and bustle to a more relaxing place. On my last trip to L.A, my family and I got to escape to one of the most serene places...the Terranea Resort.Terranea is a brand new resort (opened just seven months ago) which is located in Rancho Palos Verdes, California (about a 45-minute drive south of L.A.). Terranea Resort is a 102-acre resort which sits right on the Pacific Ocean, so your views from just about everywhere at this resort are of ocean and sky. You will be hard-pressed to find a place more beautiful, more romantic and more relaxing than this, especially this close to L.A.!

Terranea Resort has 360 rooms and suites, 20 bungalows, 32 villas and 50 casitas...90% of them are ocean-front. The decor of the resort is Mediterranean-style, and let me tell you, you could truly mistake this setting for being on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. We stayed in a three bedroom casita which was so big, it felt like a house. Our casita had three bedrooms, each with their own bathroom with jacuzzi tub and private balconies facing the Pacific.

We had a great kitchen with fabulous appliances. The kitchen was also stocked with dishes, glassware and pots, so if you wanted to you could cook and entertain just like you were in your own home.

Just off of the kitchen was the beautiful living room with a fireplace, and another balcony facing the Pacific Ocean. Words cannot do this place any justice! As soon as we arrived and checked out our beautiful casita, we headed to Nelson's to have a bite. Terranea Resort has eight dining spot options ranging from a coffee house to a high-end French restaurant. Nelson's is a great place for lunch, and like almost all the views from Terranea Resort, the view from Nelson's is just perfect...right on the ocean.

The food includes a lot of Southern California favorites. We had chipotle shrimp tacos, seared ahi tuna sandwiches, great bbq salads and sweet potato fries. Afterwards, we walked around Terranea to check out all of the great amenities including three pools...

The Spa at Terranea which has a Spa, Fitness and Wellness Center and Salon...There's also a 9-hole, par 3, oceanfront golf course...And hiking and walking trails that line the Pacific.

We stayed at Terranea Resort for only one night, and while the stay was short, because the place is so incredible, it felt as though we were there for days by the time we checked out. I can tell you that we will be back here for sure in the future. If you get the chance, make sure you spend some time at Terranea Resort, it will quickly become one of your favorite jet set destinations too!

L.A.'S HYATT REGENCY CENTURY PLAZA

Where: Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, California, 90067
Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza is a great place to stay in L.A. If you are a business traveler, then you will fall in love with their Full Service International Business Center, their Hertz Rental Counter, and their Multi-lingual staff for starters. For me and my husband, our stay at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza was for pleasure purposes, and I have to say, it was an excellent choice for us. It's location is perfect- right next to Beverly Hills...so that means we were close to Rodeo Drive, and not far from all of the sights we wanted want to visit when we were in L.A. First Reaction: When you first pull up to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel and walk into the lobby, everything about it is grand (even the address...Avenue of the Stars). The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza is a landmark hotel that first opened its doors back in 1966. Various celebrities, Presidents and foreign dignitaries have stayed here...so it's nice to add yourself to that list too, huh?Room Reaction: After a hard day of work and meetings, or a long day of touring the city, you want a big, plush, comfortable bed to return to...and that's exactly what you'll find here! In fact, the beds at The Hyatt Regency Plaza are referred to as the Hyatt "Grand Beds," and take it from me, they are so grand and relaxing that you will find them hard to get out of. The room decor is stylishly contemporary, yet traditional. Some of the perks in the room that I loved were the iHome alarm clock and 32" LCD flat screen HD t.v. Our room had two private balconies where I got to soak in the beautiful views of L.A. The marble bathroom had over sized bath towels (AMAZING), and deluxe Portico toilet tries.

Business, Business, Business: If you are a business traveler, some of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza's services will quickly become your favorite guilty pleasures. There's 24-hour-in-room service, laundry/dry cleaning, Fast Board (pre-flight check-in), Express Check In/Check Out Kiosks, Currency Exchange, and complimentary wi-fi in all public areas of the hotel. One of the best services they offer is an International Business Center which has faxing, color copying, shipping services, computers with high-speed internet, graphics services, scanners and full service printing.Jet Set Pets: If your pet likes to jet set as well, bring him or her along. The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza has something called the "4Paws" pet friendly program which caters to dogs and cats. They have everything from gourmet treats to toys and beds. Dog sitting and and walking can also be arranged. Your pampered pet will not want to leave this luxury service behind.Pool Reaction: Just re-done last year, the pool area at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza has been transformed into a "backyard oasis." There is a beautiful infinity pool, lined by lounge chairs and cabanas. The look makes you feel like you are in an uber-chic trendy hotel.Right next to the pool is an Equinox Fitness Club with everything you could imagine from work-out equipment to fun classes. There's also a Spa at this Equinox that offers every kind of beauty treatment you would desire. If you are staying at the hotel, the cost to get in is $20.Where to Dine: Breeze is the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza's signature restaurant. Here you can find eclectic California cuisine and a great sushi bar. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.The Lobby Court & Patio are very Hollywood-esque. This is a fun place to go and chill out after your day. This outside area has comfy couches and a nice fireplace. You can also enjoy cocktails and appetizers out here.
Finally, the X bar is an indoor/outdoor California lounge. There's a DJ here on Saturday nights, and this is a great place to grab a drink and enjoy some of L.A.'s nightlife.

Bottom Line: Would we return to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel? Yes, without a doubt, because it offers a good location, great amenities and excellent service. Plus, if it was good enough for President Ronald Reagan and others, then its good enough for me too! Rates start from $259 a night.

RH

If it's not fresh, seasonal, and local, don't expect to find it on your plate at RH restaurant. RH, located in L.A.'s Andaz West Hollywood Hotel gets its abbreviated name from the term "Riot House" (the hotel's nickname from back in the '70s when memorable parties were thrown there by legendary rock stars). But, in my opinion, the letters RH could also stand for "Real Healthy" because everything you eat is centered around the market to table philosophy. Each day Executive Chef Sebastien Archambault goes out to the market and meets with farmers and fisherman, chooses the best of the best and brings it back to the kitchen where he and his culinary team create masterpieces. The food is Southwestern French with a California twist (fitting, since Archambault is California born and French-trained). He also worked under French luminary Alain Ducasse and received a Michelin-Award for a restaurant he ran in Spain.The kitchen is exhibition-style so you can watch your meal being prepared. In fact, everything at RH is on display - including the fresh seasonal ingredients inside of the glass enclosed refrigerators beyond the kitchen.The restaurant is a wide open space with a bar and views of busy Sunset Boulevard. The decor of RH is clean and sleek with two long marble communal tables as you enter the restaurant, and smaller wood tables once inside. You also can't help but notice their fabulous wine collection on display in their see-thru cellar which lines you on either side of the restaurant. Speaking of the wine, their wine list features mostly California wines with a few from France (and, for a restaurant of this caliber, very reasonably priced).We ordered a bottle of their Stewart 2006 Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley area of California. It was both fruity and spicy and medium bodied...just perfect for what we were about to eat. The cost- $60 (and that was slightly more expensive than other bottles on the menu).Now to the incredible food...following RH's market to table philosophy, your meal begins with a plate of fresh vegetables. This includes tri-color carrots, purple cauliflower, radishes and cherry tomatoes (produce you don't often see in New York). The crudite is served with a sweet, yet tangy, yogurt dip with fresh mint.I ordered the Perigord Tourrain soup (traditional chicken veloute with garlic and egg whites)which came highly recommended by the staff. It reminded me of traditional egg drop soup, but was much richer and creamier. The soup is topped with small crostinis which give it a nice crunchy bite.My husband, Rich, started with the Perigourdine poached egg with field mushrooms, foie gras and black truffle appetizer - a brilliant combination of simple and exotic flavors that is impossible to describe and utterly amazing.For my entree, I tried the 12-hour cooked boneless suckling pig with artichokes and rosemary jus. Because the meat is cooked for so long and at a low temperature, it was nice and tender and it felt like it was melting in my mouth. The rosemary gave it a nice earthy flavor, not at all overpowering the dish, and the artichokes added the right amount of texture to the dish. The sliced pears on the side were the perfect sweet accompaniment to go along with every bite you take of the pork. This dish was superb!Rich ordered the homemade crispy hudson valley duck leg confit with sauteed potatoes, green onion, garlic and parsley. Another winner, this dish was perfectly cooked and balanced.Chef Archambault surprised us with his Cassoulet with duck confit. Everyone had talked about this dish when we were trying to decide what to order, and boy we were glad we got to try it. It's a traditional dish from Southern France described to us as something "your grandma would have made for you" (if you were lucky enough to grow up in the South of France). It has beans, sausage, bacon and duck confit and is topped with bread crumbs to give it a nice crunchy top. This is comfort food at its best!Warm, friendly, informative, service- in an elegant, yet relaxed way- rounded out a divine dining experience. Everything was amazing!