Recently, I attended Afternoon Tea at the reopened Hotel Bel Air.  The bar was set high because in prior years it was known for the best Afternoon Tea in Los Angeles.  The drive down Stone Canyon Road in Bel Air with its gated homes set the tone.  We had made great time on the freeway and had time before Tea to wander the hotel and relax in the lobby before our Tea.

We were seated in the Wolfgang Puck restaurant rather than the garden room because it had been raining.  The tea was from Art of Tea and our favorite was the HBA Rejuvenation which was a very smooth herbal tea with apricot essence, lemon myrtle, rooibos, and rose hips (no need for cream or sugar).  Instead of the traditional three-tiered server, we were served each sandwich separately on our plate by a parade of waiters.  I can say that we felt very pampered by the service.  The 6 different sandwiches were small “tastings” which was perfect for me.  Our favorite was the Sourdough Grilled Cheese w/caramelized onions.

The very best item was the Sour Cherry Blueberry Scone which was not your traditional scone.  It was very crunchy on the outside and moist/creamy on the inside – it reminded me of the Kouing Aman from Bouchon in Beverly Hills.  The 6 desserts were also bite-sized and our favorite was the Meyer Lemon tart.  After Tea, we wandered the magnificent garden before beginning our journey back home.  I wish we had more choices for Afternoon Tea in Palos Verdes but until then, I continue my quest “off the hill”.  (Click here to read my prior article).  And I continue to dream of that delicious Sour Cherry Blueberry Scone – it still makes my mouth water.

I love Afternoon Tea.  I find it very relaxing and it leaves me feeling pampered yet energized.  In my quest to sample all local offerings, I have learned that Afternoon Tea is what you see above.  High Tea is actually a supper meal.  The closest location for Afternoon Tea is Trump National, however, it is served during regular lunch hours.  Mar’sel at Terranea would be a perfect location (which I have suggested to management) but I have not seen any movement there yet.  I have had to widen my circle out of Palos Verdes in my search for Afternoon Tea.

Yesterday, I had an excellent Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills.  It is my new favorite.  Four of us drove to Beverly Hills on a Sunday morning and there was no traffic – love that.  We had reservations for the noon seating and were taken to two facing love seats near the fireplace yet overlooking the garden.  The little sandwiches were delicious.  The scones were served with Devonshire cream, lemon curd and/or jams – all fabulous.  The small-bite desserts were so flavorful and satisfying that you did not need more.  Oh yes, the tea – we each chose a different pot of tea and shared.  My favorite was the vanilla black tea.   And when we left the hotel, a long line of limousines were picking up guests to take them to the Grammy’s.  That added some excitement.

I have also enjoyed Afternoon Tea at Montage in Beverly Hills, The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Langham Hotel in Pasadena, Millennium Biltmore in LA, SLS Hotel in LA, Royal T in Culver City, The London West Hollywood and some locations out of state/country.  You can see that I am very serious about my quest.  Next on my list is the newly reopened Bel-Air Hotel, which I hear used to have a great Afternoon Tea.  I am waiting for them to begin offering it again.

May you be blessed with peace, love and joy for Christmas and the New Year!

I will be spending time with my family and friends over the holiday and will be back with a new article on Monday, January 3rd.

Photo courtesy of Arvin Design

Palos  Verdes homes are being decorated for the holidays.  It  puts a smile on my face and gets me into the holiday spirit whenever I see one of these homes.  I have included a few of my favorites and I am sure we will be seeing more in the coming days.

This is my favorite time of year and I am grateful to the Palos Verdes homes owners who are taking the time to make their homes so festive for the holidays as it brings so much joy to those of us who see them.

I’m thankful for my family, my friends and the people who make my life special.  Thank you for being part of my life.  May your holiday be filled with joy and your home warmed by love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

While going green is not always possible during the holidays, there is a new sense of localism which is getting rave reviews.  Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is helping to support our local businesses with PVP Coupons.  Instead of running to the large malls, fighting with the crowds and trying to find a  parking spaces, why not shop here in Palos Verdes?

Palos Verdes homes owners can find over sixty different coupons from retailers, restaurants and service providers by going to the Chamber’s website at www.palosverdeschamber.com.  Click on the PVP coupon link and you can find coupons for a variety of goods and services.  Shopping local helps our community keep these smaller stores in our mall and shopping centers.  You’ll find that the customer service is great and it helps to employ our own Palos Verdes residents.

This would also be an excellent opportunity to visit a new business at The Promenade (550 Deep Valley Drive, Rolling Hills Estates).  The Book Frog bookstore will have its official grand opening this Friday, November 25, 2011.  It’s located on the second floor above Williams-Sonoma and is owned by two former Borders’ employees.  The Book Frog is a real plus for our Peninsula; it’s so handy for our students (and their parents) rather than driving to Del Amo for a bookstore.

Let’s think local this holiday season and help to build  a stronger community by keeping some of our one-of-a-kind businesses here in Palos Verdes.

Photo courtesy of Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

This is the beginning of my favorite time of year – the fall holidays which then turns into the Christmas holidays.  I love the holiday season.

Wishing you a frightfully fun  holiday today.  Happy Halloween!

At the risk of sounding cranky, I can’t wait for Daylight Saving Time to be over.  I am looking forward to getting up in the morning with dawn already breaking rather than getting up in the dark.  I don’t even mind the fact that the evenings will be darker sooner; it will just remind me to finish up earlier and get to bed at a reasonable time.

This year the clocks will be moving back one hour early Sunday morning, November 6, 2011.  Halloween Trick or Treaters in Palos Verdes this year will be starting out while it is still light outside which will be different.  It’s hard to make those carved pumpkins look scary in the daylight without the candle’s glow.

How and why did Daylight Saving Time begin?  I found an article on the National Geographic site (click here to read) that explained that Benjamin Franklin is credited with this idea.   “While serving as U.S. ambassador to France in Paris, Franklin wrote of being awakened at 6 a.m. and realizing, to his surprise, that the sun would rise far earlier than he usually did. Imagine the resources that might be saved if he and others rose before noon and burned less midnight oil, Franklin, tongue half in cheek, wrote to a newspaper.”  During World War I, the U.S. Government standardized Daylight Saving Time and made it optional for states to observe it.  During World War II, Daylight Saving Time was mandatory year-round!  Afterward, it went back to being optional but in 2005, “the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was enacted, mandating a controversial monthlong extension of daylight saving time, starting in 2007.” – thus our late ending of DST this year.  If you have traveled to Hawaii or Arizona, you probably have noticed that they are the two states that do not observe Daylight Saving Time.

The City of Palos Verdes recently published an article in its Newsletter for Palos Verdes homes owners on Summer Safety Tips.  It’s a good reminder on how to celebrate the warm weather safely.  Their tips were:

1) Always wear protective gear when riding a bike or scooter, rollerblading or skateboarding.

2) Stay safe in the sun (and clouds) by wearing sunscreen of at least SPF 15.  Be sure it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Always remember that the sun is the strongest between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

3) Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of hydrating fluids throughout the day.  In extreme temperatures, intensive activity should be kept to a minimum.

4) Always supervise children in or around water.  Infants and toddlers should be within an arm’s reach from an adult that can swim.

5) Be aware of an increase in fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.  Wear repellent with a low concentration of DEET and spray on the outside of clothing and on unbroken skin.

6) Remove all flammable hazards, such as dead brush and vegetation, around your home and property.

8) If you have a fire hydrant on your property, be sure to clear the area surrounding the hydrant to ensure easy access.

Photo courtesy of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt is located in Redondo Beach just a short drive for Palos Verdes homes owners.  A neighbor recommended I try this ice cream at this location which has been opened just in year.  It is fabulous!  I went twice in one week.   It was named the best ice cream worldwide by “10 Best of Everything, An Ultimate Guide for Travelers” by Nathaniel Lande & Andrew Lande published by National Geographic.

The ice cream is “made fresh every day on the premises” according to the Handel’s website and that is how it tastes – creamy, smooth and dense yet it melts quickly compared to other ice creams.  There are so many flavors you won’t be able to choose. Some flavors seem to rotate and I am waiting for the German Chocolate Cake ice cream to come back.   If you don’ t mind standing in line,  $2 buck Tuesdays (every Tuesday) is a great way to try out new flavors.  Their website also offers coupons (click here to view Handel’s coupons).

Handel’s Ice Cream is located at 1882 South Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach 90277; phone number is 424-247-8861. There are four walk-up windows to order ice cream and no indoor seating at this time.  Their original store was in Ohio and they have ice cream stores in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Virginia and now in California.  Lucky us!

Photo courtesy of Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt