Welcome to San Diego
When last we left our bloggers, they were NOT going to Australia for the Wine Media Conference due to a delayed visa. Naturally, it came through after we canceled our plans. #FML. But never fear! We are scrappy people and bounced back from the disappointment with a trip to San Diego. And Mexico. We stayed at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, a hotel that consists of a development of small cottages that surround the original building on the site name, Morada. Morada was designed by Lilian Jeannette Rice who was one of California’s first architects. She was known for creating the masterplan for the town of Rancho Santa Fe as well as the inn and many other buildings around town.
We were surprised by our room, the Honeysuckle cottage as it included a kitchen, living room, dining room, 2 bathrooms, two patios as well as the bedroom. Naturally, this meant we would be food shopping for breakfasts and snacks. Oh. And wine.
But first, we had to get through the first evening.
Now, you'll don't know us yet (ok, maybe some of you do), but at I am somewhat political. I have been a Democrat since I discovered all the mumbo jumbo that I had been taught from conservative parents about who was the worthy and unworthy poor was completely wrong. I learned this by living in a mixed-race, middle-class neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. When I arrived in Chicago in 1984 and drove up Stony Island Blvd, I was in fact terrified by what I saw. But that gave way to meeting all kinds of people from all kinds of walks of life and finding that the vast majority of them were more like me than I had been led to believe.
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Keeping that in mind, I discovered that our hotel was hosting some sort of dinner/fundraiser by none other than Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Senate and was being hosted by former Congresscritter Darrell Issa. ugh. Kevin felt the need to get me some liquor before I got too tense.
I started and finished my meal at the restaurant (named Morada as an homage for the original building that housed it) with the special Manhattan made with house blend bourbon from Woodford Reserve. It was just what a girl needed. Kevin had a double Kettle One with lots of ice and a lemon wedge. You will soon learn that Neuman's have a thing for ice. They like it. A lot.
We each started our dinner with the tortilla soup. Mine was plain, Kevin had added chicken. It was delicious and flavorful. For dinner I had the Ahi Bowl. The spa option. It was a mixture of edamame, watermelon radishes, cucumbers AND pickles in a miso soy dressing and was topped with avocado and ahi tuna. So. So good. Kevin had the spicy Thai eggplant with chicken. I was put in charge of wine. I selected a lovely dry German Riesling. It was perfect with seafood but also the spice of Thai food. Yum.
Now that I was calm and full of tasty food, we headed back to our room where we immediately fell asleep without another thought of elitist politicians. The end!