Cocktails among the Cactus

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Impromptu road trip...The Main Man had to get his car serviced. No dealership where we live so we had two choices...Albuquerque, NM or Scottsdale, AZ. Scottsdale won. I found some time that he had available and it fell during the Easter weekend. I booked a room at The Sanctuary Camelback Resort and Spa and off we went.

Thru the bathroom...a courtyard with an outdoor tub!! Of course, I immediately jumped in.



Sanctuary Pool at Night...from their website.

The first night we got gussied up...I debuted my new Pisces necklace I bought from fabulous blogger Judy at Atlantis Home. She and her ridiculously fashionable daughters have a new vintage online mecca called Plain Objects that is very worth checking out.

Off we went...I had made reservations at BLT Steak...dinner menu here. We tried the Kobe beef...my second time...and I was really disappointed. It does say right on the menu that they char their steaks, but it felt like a sacrilege to turn Kobe into ash. Broiling at 1700 degrees will do that, wont it? The restaurant was beautiful...pics here...and the apps., sides and dessert were superb...just the beef was a disappointment. The Manhattans were sublime!

Next Day...Easter. Being the Heathen I am, Easter means eating and drinking all day and hoping that I don't see the Donnie Darko rabbit in my fevered dreams.


We decided to sleep late...have brunch by the pool and try every single cocktail on their fabulous drinks menu...with Dolce as our designated driver.




Brunch:

Celery Root Custard with Duck Ham and Tomato Jam

Shrimp and Lobster Frittata with Chorizo

Chocolate Truffle Cake with Ginger Creme Anglaise




After trying every cocktail on the menu...back to the room and the tub!



Sober again...

Our last day was spent driving around Scottsdale, checking out the sights. If The Main Man's car service hadn't been so ridiculously expensive, I would have bought one or two of the amazing wind chimes from Cosanti Originals. Read more about Paolo Soleri and his Arcosanti Project . It's really amazing. These bells are definitely on my Covet list. The first one sticks into the ground and the second one hangs. Are they not the coolest chimes you have ever seen??!!

Our last night we went to T. Cooks at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa. The hotel is beautiful...it reminded me of the old homes in Palm Beach. The restaurant is built around gigantic royal palm trees. We had:
Lobster & fennel bisque, garnished with lobster & fennel foam
Seared George's Bank scallops with shrimp 'Mac n Cheese'
Baked chocolate on a hazelnut espresso base layered with a marscapone mousse & tangerine jelli

I've seen this tile "rug" in a design book, but for the life of me, I can't remember which one.

Afterwards, we went back to our hotel to have a final cocktail...and The Main Man got flashed boobies by some drunk chick sitting across from us...no lie! What is up with that?! And...her mafioso looking boyfriend was snapping photos of her. Old chick gone wild...sad.

The Edge Bar from the Sanctuary website...this is the only place that they would let us bring Dolce...which was fine with us. We had a great time. It was a bit rough not having a computer. I see a laptop in my future...cheers!

6 comments:

Lucinda said...

Sounds like a great getaway. We went to Scottsdale last year, it was HOT!

molly said...

jill, i must say, you are GORGEOUS!
you look sophisticated but so much fun at the same time - and i love your hair!

judy aldridge said...

Love everything. The necklace looks great, and the pic of you in the tub is really beautiful! Looks like a great trip. I don't even think you look like a drunken gypsy;)) judy

Jill said...

Lucinda...we've decided this was the perfect time of year. Days were in the low 80's.

Molly...I adore you!

Judy...I received a zillion compliments on the necklace...thanks so much for having such a great eye and sharing it with the World!

Sister Wolf said...

You should be a Life Coach! You obviously know how to relish your life...a wonderful gift.

Jill said...

Sister...we do live in the moment...sometimes I worry that I'm not much of a planner concerning the future.