SO - up early and out filming the resort. It's actually quite large ... 6.5 acres ... bordering on the South Course and the National Park.
The Lodge was opened in October 2002 ... the resort is based on the early 1900s style of Craftsman style architects Charles Greene and Henry Greene, designers of the Gamble and Blacker houses in Pasadena. The Greene brothers exemplified the Arts & Crafts Movement. There are 170 rooms and 8 suites ...
There are amazing wooden beams, Tiffany style lamps and furniture that you WANT to use ... and is actually comfortable. It's homely ... and I like that!
There's a huge swimming pool ... a Spa ... a fitness centre ... and A R Valentien - one of the top restaurants in America.
So - at 1000 - I interviewed the very polished General Manager, Dan Fullen. He's been here since pre-opening ... and is rightly proud of the property.
From there - the Blacker Suite review. 2000 square feet of "home"! Working fireplaces, thick warm carpets, LARGE chunky furniture and lots of hidden electronics. The way it should be ... I can imagine who has stayed in this Suite ... but they won't tell me officially!
Jamie Cheng - hotel PR has been keeping us in order.
After lunch - over to cook with chef Jeff Jackson ... one of the leaders in the "slow food" movement -- the opposite to "fast food". He's the head chef at AR Valentien ... yummy food!
We cooked a chicken dish ... with lovely romesco sauce - I WILL TRY THIS AT HOME!
The boys then filmed the rest of the property while I prepared for a Spa treatment ... which
was a grape seed bath ... wierd but wonderful.
VERY tired tonight. Have early start ...
Song of the Day: Innuendo - Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpys1c3jCNs
Weather: F-15-tastic
my beautiful baby - a Father's Day portrait!
in front of The Lodge
Dan Fullen (General Manager)
Jeff Jackson ... slow food
US3 
