TRAVELS WITH JIMMY TEE - San Fransisco Tidbits

Almost everyone has been to San Francisco a number of times, so I am not going to describe the City by the Bay – rather, in this short article, I will offer a few dining suggestions which will enhance any visit.  As you know, San Francisco is an exciting destination, with a number of the nation’s top restaurants covering a multitude of cuisines and price points.  Here is where we ate on our last visit.

This was a brief trip – just an early morning Saturday flight up from San Diego and a late evening Sunday flight back.  A short stay, but what a great time, with a wonderful variety of dining experiences.

From the airport we went directly to the Palace Hotel, the pre-eminent San Francisco landmark for over 100 years.  After checking in, we confirmed our reservation for breakfast/brunch at The Garden Court.  This spectacular setting is one of the most beautiful rooms anywhere, with classic chandeliers, a ceiling of stained glass, large round tables spaced comfortably apart, and palm trees scattered throughout.  I had my favorite breakfast of Eggs Benedict and Orange Juice, but there also is a full buffet available.  Yes, The Garden Court is a bit expensive, but with great service, excellent food, and a fabulous setting, it definitely is worth it to splurge!

After perusing the boutiques around Union Square, we taxied to Swan Oyster Depot for a late afternoon treat.  Swan’s is another San Francisco institution, having been in business for almost 100 years.  The setting is the opposite of the Palace Hotel – just a narrow, nondescript room with a counter, some 21 bar stools, and a long line waiting to get in.  Of the various times that we have been to Swan’s, our average wait was over 30 minutes (you definitely need to allow for this).  However, once seated, the fun begins.  Oysters on the half shell and a beer are all we ever order, but we order several helpings with different oyster varieties.  Other guests partake of their crab, shrimp, lobster, and clam chowder dishes.  I happily recommend Swan Oyster Depot for an intriguing experience and a chance to savor a unique part of the San Francisco dining world.

The next day, after our morning Starbuck’s (one on every corner), we went to Yank Sing for Dim Sum (as I remember from Hong Kong) or Deem Sum (as they display it).  You are in a casual Chinese restaurant, but one which has a James Beard Award, a Zagat rating, and a Michelin Guide commentary.  Just peruse the dishes as they come by on the carts and select what appeals to you.  A marvelous selection of delectable Chinese hors d’oeurves, all reasonably priced – until you get the final bill and find that you have ordered twenty wonderful selections at $5 each!  A great taste treat, but do not let your eyes overpower your stomach.

Finally, I wanted to offer one other suggestion for a casual evening which we have enjoyed several times – Morton’s Steakhouse.  It’s just off Union Square and offers the usual presentation of huge servings of beef and accoutrements.  However, while we do partake of the formal meal, on this occasion we sat at the bar off the main dining room and ordered Lobster Bisque followed by Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes.  This is one of the best combinations ever, in our view.  A truly wonderful meal in elegant surroundings --  casual but refined (!) – and about 1/3 the cost of the protein-carbo packed main courses!  Give it a try – it’s a great way to visit Morton’s.

Obviously there is much more to San Francisco than described above, but this may give you a flavor of a most enjoyable brief weekend visit.

To Additional Adventures in Healthy Living,
Jimmy Tee

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Luxury Beach Resort Villas owns spectacular Villas at resorts on three of the world's best beaches and is ready to provide you with a wonderful tropical getaway.  Perfect vacations may be yours at the Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas (Maui), Playa del Sol Resort (Los Cabos), and the Westin St. John Resort (US Virgin Islands). These facilities reflect the finest in luxury accommodations. Each resort is located directly on the beach, with activities ranging from swimming with tropical fish in clear warm waters, to diving with manta rays and extensive coral formations, to just strolling on a miles-long white sand beach. You can reach Luxury Beach Resort Villas by clicking HERE for their web-site or contacting Jim Geddis (link to email) or on 858 481-8632.  And please let us know if you have any comments or questions.   

WESTIN DESERT WILLOW RESORT, PALM DESERT, CA
Yes, we know this is not a beach facility.  However, it is a magnificent new Westin resort (where we also own a Villa), with a striking championship golf course in a beautiful desert setting.  In fact, the Michael Hurdzan and Dana Frye designed course is in the rotation for such major events as the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational, the Bob Hope Classic, and the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship (the LPGA's first major Championship of the year) -- and our Luxury Villas are located right on the fairways.  You can view additional details and pictures of the resort by clicking HERE.

TRAVELS WITH JIMMY TEE - Las Vegas, Nevada

Yes – Yes – Yes!  It is possible to have a healthy, elegant, outdoors excursion to the capital of debauchery.  Las Vegas is a wonderful, exciting metropolis, with world-class restaurants, intriguing architecture, magnificent multi-colored rock canyons, and – obviously -- numerous money-sucking temptations.  The trick is to enjoy the best and resist the glitz.

From where we live in San Diego, Las Vegas is an easy one-hour flight, which allows for a great four-day weekend.  We usually leave Thursday evening in time for dinner in Las Vegas (see below), spend Friday-Saturday-Sunday hiking and sight-seeing, and return Monday afternoon – somewhat exhausted, but with a wealth of pleasant memories.

Our weekend went like this:  we arrived in Las Vegas around 8:00 pm, rented a car, and proceeded to Lotus of Siam, which is rated as one of the best Thai restaurants in the Western US.  It’s in a strip mall off Sahara Boulevard, close to the Hilton.  As with all Thai restaurants, be careful of the “heat” level that you select.  I enjoy spicy food, but when I selected a mid-range fire content for their prawn specialty dish, my wife burned her tongue (so she said) and threw beer over my head.  I thought the dish was great, but it clearly was not to everyone’s taste – be aware of a demonstrative spouse!  We also had a wonderful pork noodle dish and an innovative poached salmon creation – a truly great experience – which confirmed our enthusiastic recommendations for Lotus of Siam.

A word about accommodations – there are numerous bargains in Las Vegas, including suites at the major hotels.  An Internet search will easily turn up great deals, but they vary by the property and the date, depending on their occupancy rate for that week.  In short, you don’t need to spend extravagantly (say $75 for a suite rather than $400) to have a superior room.

There are two great areas for hiking near Las Vegas:  Red Rock Canyon (about 30 minutes to the West) and Valley of Fire (about one hour to the East).  We have enjoyed both a number of times, but this article will concentrate on Valley of Fire – our Red Rock Canyon adventures will be in a separate article.

Valley of Fire is a State park near Lake Mead – and it features fantastic sandstone formations of brilliant red, stark white, and deep black.  The layers of color are in sharp contrast and present a vivid visual spectacle.  You can drive through the park and stop at the major formations for a look and a photo.  However, this is not our choice.  The nice thing about Valley of Fire is that you can hike anywhere – no trail is required – just head cross-country in whatever direction you like.  Sand and cactus, yes, but also animal tracks, lizards, occasional snakes, and a sense of being a true explorer.

On this trip we went to the end of the road at Fire Canyon / Silica Dome, took a few spectacular pictures (the light was just right), and then commenced our hike.  It was a nice clear day, with the temperature rarely exceeding 103°.  We first climbed to the top of Silica Dome before heading Southeast towards a rock formation about two miles away.  Yes, it was hot and there was no shade, but we had sunscreen, hats, nearly a gallon of water, and a compass.  Walking across the desert sands provided stunning close-up views of stark white and brilliant red rock formations.  When we reached our objective – a sandstone mound with intricate structures dozens of feet high – we went around to a shady area and had a picnic in complete solitude.  Afterwards we headed back – again cross-country – with my compass navigation leading us directly to the car!

Over the years we have done a number of hikes in the Las Vegas area, including wonderful experiences both in the summer heat and in winter cold.  We did it, and you can do it too!  These hikes can be done by anyone in reasonable physical shape – we are far from competitive athletes, but we do maintain an active, healthy lifestyle – and I was just six months out of a hip replacement operation when we did the above hike.  As Nike says, just do it! 

Major cautionary note:  in the desert, have adequate sun protection, take more water than you think you will need (minimum of one quart per hour per person), and know where you are and how to navigate!

Finally, since this is Las Vegas, I wanted to comment briefly on shows and restaurants.  Regarding the former, our favorite show is Jubilee at Ballys.  Elaborate costumes, beautiful natural dancers, lavish routines – a truly wonderful enjoyable experience.  On the other hand is Chris Angel.  While he is my favorite magician, very creative and a great showman, he is totally in the wrong vehicle in Las Vegas.  The only possible description for Believe is “it sucks” – you have been warned – save your money.  At the opposite end, surprisingly enough, is Donnie and Marie.  They have a lively, engaged, involved, elaborate show, and they probably are the most personable entertainers in Las Vegas.  An upbeat, enjoyable presentation.

We have two favorite restaurants in Las Vegas – Bradley Ogden at Caesars Palace and the Eiffel Tower at Paris.  On this last trip I had a marvelous Beef Wellington at the Eiffel Tower while sitting in a comfortable booth overlooking the fountain shows at Bellagio.  Just a magical evening.  Pricy, yes, but well worth it!

There is much more to Las Vegas than described above, but this may give you a flavor of a most enjoyable four-day weekend.


To Additional Adventures in Healthy Living,
Jimmy Tee