Tiramisu Love

Peppoli

at The Inn at Spanish Bay
2700 17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953

On our last night in Pebble Beach, my mom and I drove along the beautiful 17-mile drive at sunset and arrived at The Inn at Spanish Bay for dinner. We had to choose between dinner at Roy's--which served Hawaiian fusion cuisine--or at Peppoli--a rustic italian restaurant named after a vineyard in Naples. The choice was easy.

Unfortunately, the lighting in the restaurant was really dark so my pictures did not turn out very well. Fortunately, the food was amazing and the ambiance in the restaurant only added to the experience. My mom and I both had wonderful glasses of the house Chianti to start off with.

Vongole e Cozze alla Calabrese

Mussels and clams steamed in a spicy shallot-saffron broth

Our appetizer of mussels and clams left us speechless. The spicy broth was so complex and savory that we soaked it all up with some bread.

Rigatoni di Aragosta

Australian lobster tail, zucchini in a rich lobster sauce

Gnocchi

Tomato coulis, fried fresh mozzarella

Our pasta dishes of rigatoni with lobster and gnocci with tomatoes weren't exceptionally different but were definitely perfectly executed.

Our final dish of assorted meats from the grill was SENSATIONAL. The dish included grilled flank steak, a rack of lamb, and house-made italian sausage. I had the most amazingly perfect grilled piece of flank steak that night. It was life-changing. Sadly, the picture that I took did not do it justice.

Finally, it was time for dessert. Not being a lover of tiramisu, I was hesitant when my mom insisted on getting that for dessert. However, it was probably the best dessert I have ever had. The tiramisu was prepared table side and served in martini glasses. Layers of airy whipped marscapone and aromatic espresso-soaked ladyfingers produced heaven in a martini glass.

Ribs and Coconut Cake

The Tap Room

at The Lodge at Pebble Beach

1700 17-Mile Drive

Pebble Beach, CA 93953

Located in the main building of the Lodge at Pebble Beach, the Tap Room a favorite destination for hungry golfers after an 18-hole game. Surrounded by a dark mahogany decor and the background noise of games playing on the television, the hearty dishes offered on the menu reinforce the feeling of comfort and warmth. The finishing touch is the amazing, towering coconut cake on display that tempts anyone who walk in the door.

Classic French Onion Soup

Toasted Croutons & Gruyère Cheese

Baby Back Pork Ribs

Slow Roasted & Grilled with a Smokey Barbeque Sauce, Cole Slaw & Fries

Kobe Brie Burger

Half Pound Kobe Beef Burger, Pepper Bacon, Brie on a Brioche Bun

Maine Lobster Salad Sandwich

Served Open Face, Celery Root, Watercress & Endive Salad

Coconut Cake

with fresh berries

Stillwater Cove

Stillwater Bar & Grill

at The Lodge at Pebble Beach

1700 17-Mile Drive

Pebble Beach, CA 93953

Our first night at the Lodge, we had dinner at the Stillwater Bar & Grill. I had been craving oysters ever since I returned from Paris so I jumped at the chance of ordering some. They were delicious but not the best I've ever had. However, the arugula salad I had was amazing. The subtle hint of the vanilla bean in the vinaigrette was beautifully fragrant and complemented the grapes perfectly. Definitely the most memorable part of the meal. The manhattan clam chowder was flavorful but a bit too salty for my taste and the ahi tuna was well cooked but not anything special. The dessert, however, definitely satisfied the chocolate craving my mom and I had. I almost wanted to eat the rich chocolate sauce directly out of its cute little pitcher.

Atlantic & Pacific Oysters on the Half Shell

with Champagne Mignonette

Stillwater Red Clam Chowder

Little Neck Clams, Tomato Broth, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Garlic Bread

Wild Arugula & D'Anjou Pear Salad

Almond Brittle Crisp, California Red Grape with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Vinaigrette

Rare Seared Yelllowfin Tuna

Young Spinach, Charred Corn Relish, Bagna Cauda

Warm Chocolate Cake

with Raspberry Chocolate Sauce and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Porta Bella

Ocean Avenue & Monte Verde

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921

Before I started school again, my mom and I went to the Lodge at Pebble Beach for a relaxing spa and food-filled week. Once we settled in at the hotel, we test drove the hotel's Lexus convertible into beautiful Carmel and stopped by at this quaint and warm restaurant right on the main street in Carmel. Porta Bella, the "quintessential Carmel restaurant," lived up to its name and my mom and I had a lovely light lunch.

Seared Scallop, Prawns, and Citrus Salad

organic spinach, citrus fruit, ginger dressing

Duck and Feta Ravioli

sundried tomatoes, sage, Romano cheese

homemade and delicious--brought back memories of the fresh raviolis I bought from the farmer's market in Paris

Espresso Chocolate Mousse Cake