Ranch & Coast Magazine

Away from the bustle of downtown La Jolla, e Lodge at Torrey Pines is a dazzling Craftsman blufftop beauty overlooking Torrey Pines Golf Course, complete with elegant doormen dressed in traditional Scottish kilts. In honor of its 20th anniversary, the resort invites guests to celebrate with an all-inclusive Platinum Premier Package. is $20,000 dream vacation includes four nights in either the Lodge's 2,000+-square-foot Blacker Suite, located on the 18th green, or the 2,500-square- foot Gamble suite, both featuring a Presidential parlor, full kitchen, and two fireplaces. e stay includes daily dining for two for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus any combination of up to six rounds of golf or 50-minute spa treatments. Another denizen of Torrey Pines Road, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is a garden delight. It's a peaceful escape, yes, but don't mistake it for dull. A wealth of programming balances wellness and fitness events with just the right amount of levity when paired with adult refreshments (See: #SelfCareSunday Series installments "Boxing with Bubbly" on August 28 and "Pilates & Palomas" on September 25), and mouth-watering epicurean events are popular — and frequent sell-out — calendar highlights. Peace-seekers will find what they're searching for at the property's heated pool, and the experience is leveled up a notch with the reservation of a poolside cabana. ose desiring a toes-in-the-sand staycation should look no further than the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, a timeless destination for more than 80 years. e resort, together with its neighboring La Jolla Shores Hotel, offers waterfront relaxation and recreation, affording guests direct access to the waves as well as championship tennis courts. Eat Well Dining options in La Jolla are about as diverse as the people who visit, as global influences and discriminating tastes shape its culinary map. And while the restaurant world can sometimes lean toward fickle, many places have kept their doors open, their reservations stacked, and the accolades coming for decades. Talk about an icon — e Marine Room has been a renowned fine dining institution for more than eight decades. A backdrop of crashing waves on La Jolla Shores provides drama you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. It's earned so many awards that the restaurant's website shows them with a timeline rather than a list. Nearby, Piatti is tough to beat for those seeking authentic Italian fare, especially those toothsome handmade pastas. And in our opinion, everything tastes better when enjoyed al fresco on the patio. Unsurprisingly, La Jolla's hotels are home to some of the area's finest restaurants. On Prospect, Grande Colonial's Nine-Ten features Chef Jason Knibb's inspired farm-to-table menu that's earned high praise (including from Ranch & Coast Food & Beverage Editor Brandon Hernández, who lauded Knibb's main dishes as "memorable edible art") and loyal fans. e Lodge at Torrey Pines' A.R. Valentien has long been a cherished destination for special occasion dining, while e Grill offers a more casual — but still elevated — experience, and the Lodge's culinary events are a foodie's dream. Watch for the Playing with Fire Dinner Series, featuring collabs between e Lodge's executive chef Kelli Crosson and heavy-hitting guest chefs. On August 8, Crosson welcomes Michelin-star winner Drew Deckman. And on September 8 at Estancia La Jolla, in a third installment of another popular dinner series, Executive Chef Vincent Savignano will headline "Under the Influence of SoCal." Hosted under the stars on the resort's Olive Lawn, guests will enjoy a coursed pairing dinner inspired by the chef 's own interpretation of Southern California cuisine, accompanied by the other San Diego Noble House executive chefs from L'Auberge Del Mar, San Diego Mission Bay Resort, and Kona Kai Resort & Spa. Of course, elite award-winners and white linens aren't the only places where we like to indulge. e Cottage remains one of the most popular spots for breakfast with friends, as the regular crowds awaiting tables can attest. (Get the Stuffed French Toast. You won't regret it.) e windows of Girard Gourmet have, for decades, drawn people >> RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE AUGUST 2022 59

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