Happy New Year! As we close the book on 2005 and get ready for 2006, we thought it would be fun to re-cap our favorite hotels, meals and wines of 2005.
Here they are:
Best Meals of 2005
1) Aujourd'hui - Boston, MA: Top-notch service and perfectly prepared, elaborate dishes from appetizers through dessert. Our third visit to this outstanding restaurant didn't disappoint!
2) MIX - Las Vegas, Nevada: Unique "champagne bubble" decor at the top of The Hotel (Mandalay Bay) with amazing views of the strip. A savory spicy thai beef salad and the most tender of beef tenderloins with blac truffles and foie gras make this restaurant worth the exorbitant prices.
3) The Herbfarm - Seattle, Washington: A visit to the Herbfarm is more than just a meal - it's a culinary adventure. This evening-long experience began with a stroll through the extensive herb garden (with a few fresh samples along with way) and cultimated with the "Basil Banquet," where we enjoyed dishes infused with all types of basil - from lemon to chocolate (who knew there were so many kinds of basil!!). Each of the courses was paired with outstanding wines from around the world.
Best Hotels of 2005
1) The Phoenician - Scottsdale, Arizona: Stunning desert views from our terrace in this spacious luxury hotel room with a spa tub and extra-comfortable king-sized bed. Nice pool with good food/beverage service - and spotting the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team catching a few rays was a nice bonus! Romantic terrace bar with live music.
2) The Four Seasons - Vancouver, BC: We spent our one-year anniversary at this oasis in the heart of Vancouver. Upon arrival, the hotel upgraded us to an elegant one bedroom suite on a high floor (with two bathrooms!) and sent us complementary champagne and strawberries for our anniversary. We savored them as we watched a glorious sunset over the city.
3) The W Hotel - Seattle, Washington: We've stayed at several W Hotels and are consistenly impressed with the combination of chic style and excellent service (many hotels do one or the other well, but not both). Even though it took us a few minutes to get our room due to late checkouts, we ended up with a nice corner room with floor-to-ceiling window views, a luxurious king-sized bed, and designer bath products.
Best Wines of 2005
White: Cakebread Cellars, 2002, Chardonnay Reserve, Carneros, Napa Valley
Red: Tremani, 2003, Pinot Noir, Hansen Vineyards, Russian River Valley
Best Wine Shop of 2005
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