Ready for a Road Trip?
Wanderlust with Us Issue IX - May 22, 2020 | Road Trip Edition
Typically we’d be packing up our cars and heading down to Lido House in Newport Beach or up to our favorite spa getaway at the Enchantment in Sedona for Memorial Day weekend. But this year, holidays are a bit different, so instead we are dreaming of all the road trips we will be taking this summer and fall. This Wanderlust With Us issue is road trip themed as we take you on the ultimate cross-country journey from Charleston to Napa and you won't even have to stop for gas on the way!
What We're Watching....
This Academy Award Best Picture winner tells the story of an abrasive, egotistical car salesman, Charlie, who learns his estranged father has died and bequeathed all of his multi million-dollar estate to his other son, Raymond. Charlie then kidnaps Raymond and they set out on a cross-country road trip together as a threat to obtain his Father’s sizable inheritance. As this American road comedy-drama film unfolds across the country Charlie’s finds himself becoming protective of Raymond, and grows to truly love him. Who can forget the iconic scene showing these brothers riding the escalator into the casino in an effort to beat the house at blackjack? Take your chance at luck in Las Vegas and stay at the iconic Bellagio hotel the next time you feel like rolling the dice.
The quirky road trip gone awry earned Oscars for Alan Arkin and for best screenplay and it’s well deserved. The family at the edge of insanity travels from New Mexico to Los Angeles to fulfill a young, quirky girl's pageant dreams. It’s funny, endearing, and original. While their family overnights in a Scottsdale motel, we recommend you overnight instead in a villa at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain.
A classic film of two best friends, played by Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, on a wild ride to say the least. Follow their route along the Grand Canyon but end your journey at the luxurious and remote, Amangiri. This sanctuary spans 600 acres of wilderness in Canyon Point, Southern Utah, with adventure or relaxation at your fingertips.
Take a road trip up the California Coast to the Santa Barbara wine country. Find out how this movie put such a dent into Merlot sales, they’ve never recovered. Before he was on Billions, Paul Giamotti played a quirky oenophile who’s depression is equally matched but his buddy’s libido – the same one who is getting married in a week. For your own Pacific Coast road trip, we recommend stopping at Rosewood Miramar Beach along the way.
Off the Shelf
The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport by Carl Hiaasen
What makes a better road trip than travelling all over the US from Florida to Pebble Beach to experience some of America’s best golf courses? Hiassen is well known for his witty backbiting novels, and his memoir returning to the game of golf for the first time since he was child is even more fun than his fiction.
Beach Music by Pat Conroy
This three generation family saga takes you to the coast of South Carolina returning to one of Conroy’s favorite settings from The Prince of Tides. Whether, it’s the charm of Charleston or the white sand seashores around The Sanctuary Kiawah Island, we think it’s the perfect summer to fall in love with a great read and the South Carolina coast.
Route 66
You've packed up the car and you're ready to drive cross-country on the adventure of a lifetime....the only thing you need now? The ultimate Spotify road trip playlist! From Chicago to LA, more than two thousand miles all the way...get your kicks on Route 66!
On The Road Again - Canned Heat
Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
Highway to Hell - AC/DC
Slow Ride - Foghat
Runnin' Down A Dream - Tom Petty
Life in the Fast Lane - Eagles
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
Paradise City - Guns N' Roses
Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
Fly Away - Lenny Kravitz
Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
Hit the Road Jack - Ray Charles
Little Red Corvette - Prince
Holiday Road - Lindsey Buckingham
Run Like the Wind - Christopher Cross
One Way or Another - Blondie
American Pie - Don McClean
Route 66 - Chuck Berry
It's Not Delivery, It's Homemade!
We have been ordering A LOT of takeout from our local pizzeria recently and as much as we love Grimaldi's or Spinato's it can get expensive. Luckily for you, our partners at Meadowood Napa Valley are sharing their perfect recipe for homemade pizza. All you need is a glass of wine to pair with this and you will be transported to a Napa winery in no time.
Homemade Pizza from Meadowood Napa Valley
Making the Dough
Ingredients:
3 1/2 Cups Caputo Flour (can substitute all-purpose flour) + Extra for dusting later
1 Tablespoon Salt
1 Cup Warm Water (should feel hotter than your body temp, about 110F)
1 Teaspoon Honey
1 Teaspoon Yeast
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil + Extra for coating during rising
Instructions:
Preheat Oven to 450F - 500F
Preheat your cast iron pan inside the oven.
Combine the flour and salt.
Combine the warm water, honey and yeast and let sit for 5min.
Add yeast mixture to the flour mixture and mix until combined using a fork or your hand.
Add olive oil and mix for 6-7min.
Place dough in an oiled bowl and rub top of dough with more olive oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place somewhere slightly warm where it won't be disturbed.
Let rise for 90min. The dough should be about doubled in size.
Turn the dough out onto a smooth surface and portion into desired size. We split ours into three even pieces and this worked well for our 10" cast iron pan.
Roll each portion into a tight bowl using the smooth surface to help turn the dough.
Place on an oiled tray and cover loosely with plastic wrap so not to smash the dough but taking care to make sure they are completely covered and not exposed to air.
At this point you can choose to refrigerate your dough to use at a later time if you were to make the dough in advanced. Otherwise, place the tray again somewhere warm and undisturbed for 90min.
Making the Pizza
On a floured surface, press portioned dough one at a time into a flat pancake and push outward with your fingertips to form your desired sized pizza, turning over and flouring as needed.
Carefully remove the cast iron pan from the oven and place on stove top. Add olive oil to the pan and immediately place the pizza dough into the pan, directing it away from you.
Use a spoon to help you shape the dough in the pan, pressing it ups the sides. Add your desired sauce, cheese (we used fresh mozzarella although dry mozzarella would likely work much better) and toppings. We made plain cheese and we made one with whatever we had in the refrigerator and all of them tasted delicious!
Brush the edges with olive oil and carefully place the pan back in the oven. Cook on the bottom rack for approximately 12-16min, or until edges are golden brown.
Transfer to a cutting board, slice and serve.
Up With a Twist of Lavender
Big Sur is known for its gorgeous views but what better way to drink in the sweeping sunsets than with a Sierra Mar Lavender Martini in hand. Our friends at Post Ranch Inn, nestled high above the cliffs, have shared this delightful cocktail recipe with us for your next at home happy hour. We cheers to you and when you are ready for a romantic escape, take a drive up to Big Sur and visit this luxurious and intimate resort surrounded by redwoods, mountains and Pacific Ocean views.
Sierra Mar Lavender Martini from Post Ranch Inn
Ingredients:
2 sprigs of fresh lavender
1 small sugar cube
Crushed ice
2 oz. vodka
Splash of Sierra Mar Lavender Mix (1 part concord organic grape juice, 1 part chambord)
Directions:
With a wooden muddler or the back of a spoon, press together the lavender buds of 1 sprig and the sugar cube in a martini shaker. Pour in ice and vodka and shake vigorously. Strain well and serve up. Garnish with lavender sprig.
Behind the Scenes at Peninsula Beverly Hills with Offer Nissenbaum
Our Behind the Scenes hotel series was so well received that we will continue to do this weekly with all of our amazing partners from around the globe. This week, we are talking with Offer Nissenbaum, Managing Director at the Peninsula Beverly Hills. We wanted to hear how Offer and his hotel operated during these past few months.
"During the pandemic our hotel has never closed, so we’ve continued to service guests throughout. We were motivated to stay open for two reasons: first commitment to the health and safety of guests and associates, some of whom were not able to return home, so they needed a place to shelter in place. We wanted to provide a safe home away from home for them. Second, the ability to continue to provide employment, and to keep over 100 individuals actively working. Since the Peninsula has self-contained villas on property, it has been very appealing since guests can avoid public spaces and come and go without even entering a lobby. They even have their own self-contained air conditioning unit. Personally I have been more physically active hiking, biking, running, even walking more places. It’s been great having all three kids of my kids back at home. "
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