Filtering by Tag: resort

PHOENIX: A Food-Lover's Staycation at the Arizona Biltmore

November 10, 2017 / Christina Barrueta

There are few properties in the country as stunning as the Arizona Biltmore, which debuted in February of 1929 to much fanfare with a three-day grand celebration attended by celebrities and socialites. This unique property was designed by architect Albert Chase McArthur, who had studied as an apprentice draftsman under Frank Lloyd Wright (Wright also briefly served as a consultant). Nestled within 39 sprawling acres of picturesque landscape, this breathtaking landmark endures as a symbol of timeless luxury, now proudly welcoming guests as a prestigious Waldorf Astoria Resort. I was recently invited to experience its beauty, and fell in love with this gorgeous resort and its historical Hollywood glamour.

Our staycation began as we checked into our haven of relaxation, a spacious room with a Paradise Pool view. A grand corner patio stretched along the entire length of the building, where we settled in with a glass of wine to soak in the surroundings.

Our room overlooked Paradise Pool (one of six pools) with a 92-foot water slide, swim-up bar and luxurious pool-side cabanas complete with flat screen TVs, private bathrooms, and attentive Pool Concierges.

Guests can also enjoy two PGA 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, the award-winning Spa Biltmore, and lawn games such as chess, a putting green, croquet, or simply relax on the Squaw Peak Terrace and admire the views.

Croquet

Squaw Peak Terrace

I had a chance to take the fascinating History Tour, offered to both guests and the public every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10 am. Our hour-long tour was led by Ruben Hill, who regaled us with tales of past and current celebrity guests as he pointed out interesting features such as the Mystery Room (a former Prohibition-era speakeasy), "Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers," a stained glass mural comissioned from an original sketch by Frank Lloyd Wright and gifted to the hotel by his widow, Wright lithographs from the Wasmuth Portfolio displayed in the restaurant, a recreated study, exclusive 400-square-foot private cottages, and the Catalina Pool, a favorite of Marilyn Monroe and where Irving Berlin penned "White Christmas." He also shared and historical anecdotes and architectural details such as gold leaf ceilings and the iconic molded-concrete Biltmore Blocks that were cast on site.

Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers

Wasmuth portfolio

The Study

Exclusive cottages

Catalina Pool

Historic photos

This stunning property is also home to a gifted chef and what has quickly become one of my favorite Arizona restaurants - Wright's at the Biltmore. Chef Brian Peterson and his team have created a menu of delicious dishes befitting this beautiful setting. One afternoon I took advantage of the Fifth Hour at the Wright Bar, a Waldorf Astoria tradition offering guests a sophisticated cocktail-and-bar-bites combination. At the Arizona Biltmore, this is available Monday through Friday, 5 to 7 pm. I enjoyed sunset views as I sipped on a well-crafted Desert Moon (red wine, gin, spiced simple syrup, apricot, and chile-coffee bitters) paired with foie gras croquettes with a mushroom demi-glace, and a refreshing Beer Collins (beer, gin, elderflower cordial, fresh lemon juice, and tiki bitters) partnered with addictive crispy chicken skins draped in a creamy smoked cheddar sauce.

You'll want to make a reservation for dinner at Wright's at the Biltmore to fully experience Chef Peterson's dishes, which can be ordered a la carte, or as a special tasting menu.

On our first visit, we were blown away and exceptionally impressed with Chef Peterson's artful and creative combination of flavors. Here were some of our delicious highlights:

An amuse of lobster stuffed-cilantro crepe topped with ancho chile, orange powder, and caviar.

A superb lobster and potato salad with blistered tomatoes, epazote, and tangy salsa lizano sauce.

Creamy foie gras torchon with honey blueberry cake, fig and melon salad, and spiced candied pepitas.

Roasted scallop with masa-dusted fried octopus, black bean puree, sweet corn relish and salsa negra.

Jon expertly paired our wines (tip: ask for him when you make a reservation!), and we ended our magical night with a perfect finale of a classic souffle with crème anglaise.

Check back as I recap a special wine dinner featuring Antinori Wine Company to kick off the 27th season of their Winemaker Dinners.

The Arizona Biltmore Hotel is located at 2400 E Missouri Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85016. For both dinner and room reservations, call (602) 955-6600. Reservations at Wright's at the Biltmore can also be made through OpenTable.

I received a media invitation and my stay was complimentary.

Comment 0 Likes

tags / Staycation, Wright's at the Biltmore, Arizona Biltmore, Arizona resort, resort

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

June 22, 2016 / Christina Barrueta

I was once at a media event where we introduced ourselves around the table by telling the group what our favorite Arizona summer pastime was. For me? Staycations. A New England native, I never take for granted the beautiful resorts we have in our Sonoran Desert backyard with their panoramic vistas, signature amenities, and culinary delights designed to be enjoyed under swaying palm trees and colorful sunsets. You'll find all this and more at the luxurious JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. In addition to six on-site restaurants and lounges and the 28,000 square foot Revive Spa, the lush resort grounds include 36 holes of championship golf and eight tennis courts. If your idea of relaxation is lounging by the pool, then the JW Marriott Desert Ridge is for you, with three and a half acres of pools, including the Mesa Pool, Wildfire Pool, Sidewinder Pool, Lazy River Outdoor Pool and the Revive Spa adult pool. There are also two whirlpools, a Lazy River, Serpentine Waterslide and a Kids Splash Pad.

While I have visited in the past to enjoy the relaxing setting with cocktails or dinner, this would be the first time staying overnight for the true resort experience.

We checked into our bright and spacious corner suite with a sitting room and expansive marble bath.

We were also greeted with an array of welcoming nibbles and a bottle of the property's exclusive twenty6 wine.

It was the perfect respite before meeting with Kimberly Geng of the JW Marriott and Chef de Cuisine Chris Neff of Meritage Steakhouse to tour the onsite Chef's Garden. Chef pointed out a large mesquite tree which serves as a natural canopy for al fresco dinners. Serendipitously, Monika Woolsey of Hip Veggies was visiting and explained how she was surveying the tree for the next harvest of mesquite pods for stonegrill's signature mesquite pancakes. Fruit, citrus, herbs, and vegetables grown in this organic garden make their way into many of the restaurant dishes, and herbs such as lavender, mint, rosemary, thyme, and hyssop can be found in Revive Spa products and treatments.

We were also joined by Horticulture Supervisor Candace, whose expertise and knowledge, combined with Chef Christopher Neff's culinary talent, spoil guests with fresh-from-the-garden delights.

"This is a much more involved chef's position," Chef Neff noted as he spoke about pickling green strawberries, harvesting honey and making honey vinegar, and his current favorite garden vegetable, colorful purple and orange carrots. He shared a useful tip - "I love carrot greens and making pesto with them."

I spent a wonderful afternoon sampling and learning about the delicious organic treats grow on the property, such as tomatoes, kumquats, onions, edible nasturtium flowers, grapes, asparagus, eggplant, peppers, and artichokes.

After working up an appetite, it was time for lunch at stonegrill. Previously known as Blue Sage, the recent renovations are beautiful: Sleek, airy, and modern inside and a picturesque oasis outside.

We settled in on the patio overlooking Sage Court Lawn surrounded by the sounds of chirping birds and bubbling water features as we started with Arizona cheddar fondue with crumbled chorizo and tortilla chips, washed down with cucumber-serrano margaritas.

In this pretty setting, stonegrill serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and features Southwest-inspired cuisine. Though we were enticed by items such as the Southwest Chopped Salad with anasazi beans, roasted corn, and poblano-lime dressing or the Bison Burger with chipotle mayo, avocado, and local goat cheese, we settled on two recommendations from our friendly server Franklin. And he steered us right, because they were winners. After polishing off our cheese fondue, we dove into flavorful pulled chicken enchiladas enrobed in a bright and spicy green chile sauce, and tacos stuffed with tender ropa vieja beef short ribs with salsa verde and red chile rock shrimp garnished with cilantro-lime crema. The perfect ending? Cinnamon sugar-dusted churros with spiced chocolate sauce, orange cajeta, and a double scoop of coffee ice cream.

Strolling back to our room, we made a note to return to spend some time in the striking twenty6 lounge. It boasts 26 wines by the glass, a patio overlooking meandering waterways, and live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

I also had a chance to visit the gorgeous Revive Spa. Although I didn't have time on this staycation, I'll be returning to spend an afternoon which will be sure to include a blissful Sami Zen body treatment, lunch at the Spa Bistro, and cabana time at the adults-only Revive Spa Pool.

Relaxation Lounge

Spa Bistro

For pre-dinner cocktails that evening, we visited the JW Griffin Club. For a daily $65 per person membership, guests are granted exclusive access to the Griffin Club which includes a concierge, business services, hosted bar, and amenities such as breakfast, lunch, afternoon hors d'oeuvres, chef demonstrations, and dessert buffet. The patio also offers a scenic view of the property where we enjoyed a glass of wine.

Dinner at Meritage Steakhouse at the Wildfire Golf Club with Chef Chris Neff was so spectacular that it deserves its own feature. Click here in the Dining Out section for details of an incredible meal at the hands of this gifted chef. I just wish I hadn't waited so long to discover this hidden gem! One highlight was chef's sophisticated take on lobster mac 'n cheese with poached cold-water lobster tail, sweet corn ravioli, and rich shellfish velouté decorated with red chile oil and fresh chives.

The next morning I joined vivacious Carol Baetzel of CBPR for breakfast at stonegrill for those mesquite pancakes I had heard so much about. And they didn't disappoint. These signature gluten-free pancakes were light and fluffy, sweet and nutty.

We also enjoyed fresh watermelon and prickly pear juice, mimosas, and huevos rancheros on this lovely spring day.

It was a superlative ending to my first, but not last, staycation at the grand JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Whether you're a local or out-of-town visitor, this fabulous resort should be at the top of your list.

The JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort is located at 5350 East Marriott Drive in Phoenix, Arizona. Reservations can be made online or by calling 480-293-5000. For special summer rates and packages, visit this link.

I was hosted by the JW Marriott Desert Ridge and my experience was complimentary.

Comment 1 Likes

categories / Staycation
tags / staycation, resort, JW Marriott Desert Ridge, stonegrill

Scottsdale: Staycation at The Phoenician

September 09, 2015 / Christina Barrueta

I've been a longtime fan of the beautiful Phoenician property (see my 2009 review of J&G Steakhouse in AZ Wine Lifestyle here), but had yet to stay as an overnight guest. Recently, we enjoyed a summer staycation, and I quickly learned that I've been missing out. As a Boston visitor and now resident of Phoenix, I thought I was familiar with the many beautiful resorts we have here in Arizona, but I need to spend more time at The Phoenician. Some of the things I learned that make this gorgeous resort stand out:

The expansive resort grounds are situated on 250 acres at the base of Camelback Mountain.
On-site Jokake Inn, a historic adobe house built in 1926, which became a tea room and then later a hotel, can be seen in the popular 1987 film Raising Arizona.
There is a two-acre cactus garden featuring 250 labeled varieties of cacti and succulents. You can stroll at your leisure, or join a tour led by the resident horticulturist.
The boutique hotel The Canyon Suites within the resort is one of only 115 Forbes Five-Star hotels in the world.
The Phoenician serves a traditional afternoon English tea in the Lobby Tea Court.
At sunset on Friday and Saturday afternoons, guests and locals are invited to attend the fascinating Flight of the Phoenix bird show. The Phoenician houses 16 birds of prey including owls, falcons, vultures, and hawks.
The luxurious finishes and furnishings include a striking lobby of Carrera white marble, a Serenity Pool lined with shimmering Mother-of-Pearl tiles imported from Italy at a cost of over a million dollars, and 11 Steinway pianos scattered about the property.
The Phoenician has a multi-million dollar art collection - from French tapestries to Navajo rugs, from watercolor paintings to bronze sculptures - with guests welcome to a self-guided audio tour. Those who take the tour also receive complimentary tickets to the Phoenix Art Museum, a Phoenician partner.

"Kiowa Song" in red marble by Allan Houser at the Main Lobby entrance fountain and “Country Meal,” a late 17th century tapestry in the Lobby Tea Court:

Checking in: Lobby sitting room and terrace.

We were kindly invited by public relations director Denise Seomin to join her for tea in the elegant Lobby Tea Court. What a relaxing and fun start to a staycation. In fact, my husband was just telling friends about how much he enjoyed it. Thanks to Denise for converting my husband to an afternoon tea fan!

That night, we had reservations at Il Terrazzo, The Phoenician's Italian restaurant (open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

We had dined here once before, and I remember remarking that we needed to get here more often (I recall standout dishes such as tuna crudo with tonnato aioli and veal ravioli with Barbera wine sauce). Our dinner on this evening was no less impressive, as we feasted on chilled tomato and crab soup, Caesar salad with olive and walnut croutons, tender lamb, spring pea cavatelli, delicious snapper, juicy Cedar River beef tenderloin, and ricotta cheesecake with hibiscus caviar. What a perfect ending to our first night.

We enjoyed a leisurely morning the next day, skipped breakfast, and started our afternoon with lunch at Relish Burger Bistro overlooking the golf course fairways. Between Denise's and bartender Ruth's recommendations, we weren't steered wrong - the spiked Orange Creamsicle shake with Ketel One Oranje vodka and Grand Marnier, achiote BBQ chicken nachos, crispy fried pickles, the Wagyu beef Cowboy burger with battered onion rings, bacon, cheddar, pickled jalapenos plus an optional fried egg, and a decadent short rib burger stacked with tomato-mustard jam, boursin cheese, tomato, and arugula on a sourdough bun.

After lunch, we admired the scenery as we strolled over to the Mother-of-Pearl pool to spend the afternoon.

The beautiful setting was made even more special as we were greeted by Cabana Captain Rich Whalen with "Let me show you to your cabana and can I make you a Negroni?". It doesn't get much better than that, until he tells us that we're in time for Cookie Hour (or in this case brownies).

After soaking up some sun, I had made plans to meet a girlfriend for Happy Hour at the Thirsty Camel and the Flight of the Phoenix bird show. A bonus at the Thirsty Camel is that you may find one of the best cocktails masters in Phoenix - Robert Porter- behind the bar mixing up your drink. We found seats on the picturesque terrace as we listened to the tale of the mythical Phoenix and were introduced to some of the amazing birds that live on property - Archemedes, an eagle-owl, Zopilote Rey, a South American king vulture, and Chula, a red-tailed hawk.

A wonderful surprise was running into the two talented photographers who collaborate on the features found on this site - Debby Wolvos of DW Photography and Jenelle Bonifield of Food & Lifestyles. Negronis for everyone!

Our final dinner was at J&G Steakhouse with its panoramic views, where we dined on a few of my favorites. I love the black truffle cheese fritters, Dover sole à la Grenobloise with brown butter and capers, and sides of creamed spinach and Comté cheese potato gratin (the best gratin in town in my opinion). Delicious food, fantastic service, and a stunning setting - a wonderful last night of our staycation.

After packing up the next morning, we headed to Café & Ice Cream Parlor. For breakfast, we each ordered a flaky chocolate croissant and then a breakfast burrito for my husband and an ice cream for me. I was happily surprised to see The Phoenician carries one of my favorites - Sweet Republic, an award-winning local artisan ice cream. I had to get the Phoenician Crunch, of course.

As we prepared t check out, I read that there was a complimentary sangria class. Needless to say, we decided to have our bags held and stay a little longer for an informative lesson on sangria-making with recipes and accompanying tapas of gambas al ajillo, gazpacho, and chorizo-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates. Afterwards in the lobby, we ran into Robert, who told us in half an hour he was teaching a cocktail class at Grape and Grain. Alas, I couldn't talk my husband into staying even longer. Perhaps he was worried I would never leave.

Farewell to The Phoenician for now, but we'll be back. And I still have the spa, cactus garden, and artwork to explore.

I was hosted by The Phoenician and our stay was complimentary.

Comment 1 Likes

categories / Arizona Travel
tags / staycation, resort, arizona, phoenix, travel