Carmel Magazine

Winter 2017

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152 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7 Ghirardelli family. Touches that honor La Playa's roots as a private home permeate the landscaping, furniture, and design throughout the property. "We really try to make it feel like a home, where people aren't rushed," says Crowe. "It's why we have so many little places where people can hang out and linger, either alone or in small groups, like in the library, in front of the fireplace, or outside in the different courtyards." Cour tyards abound in the one square mile that is Carmel-by-the-Sea; in fact, there are 42 picturesque passageways and hidden g e m s t h r o u g h o u t t ow n , a l l l i s t e d a t carmelcalifornia.com with accompanying maps and descriptions. Especially romantic is the Spanish style cour tyard at 7th and Dolores, where Joe Mora's terra cotta sculpture "El Paseo" depicts a cour ting couple bowing to one another. A leisurely stroll, or paseo, through town can stir up an appetite, and Carmel Food N othing says romance like pampering your beloved with experiences that are uniquely "your thing," like your song, rituals, and in-jokes. Your very own love story. If your thing is lingering over the morning paper, the large sunlit wooden table at Il Fornaio's Panetteria/Bakery Café is the perfect place to cozy up for coffee for two next to the warm fireplace and enormous bouquet of fresh stargazer lilies and gladiolas. To woo the wine lover in your life, a romantic walk pairs perfectly with a self-guided passport to the many tasting rooms throughout town, available for purchase at the Carmel Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. Wineries and tasting rooms across Monterey and Carmel Valley make for great day trips, and also offer the chance to later revive your memories via seasonal wine club shipments right to your home. A particularly personal and private dining experience can be found at Van Gogh's Table in a secluded room at the romantic Casanova restaurant. The room is decorated in the French country style of l'Auberge Ravoux, the table's previous home, and where the Dutch artist ate his last meals during his final days. "What is important is that the client has the opportunity to speak to the chef prior to din- ner and talk about favorite childhood memories, and the chef then takes the concepts and presents them in menu form," says Casanova owner Walter Georis. The dinners range from five to twelve courses, and no two menus are alike. During dinner, Executive Chef David Baron sits with guests to talk about the inspiration behind his custom creations. The evening ends with a signed complimentary copy of the book, "Van Gogh's Table at the Auberge Ravoux: Recipes From the Artist's Last Home and Paintings of Café Life." The only thing that might top that magic is returning to a specially decorated hotel room by Romantic Celebrations, where husband-and-wife team Brian and Heidi Borgia create mem- ories, often while a couple is out to dinner. "It's a really nice gift for both people to enjoy," Brian says, "and makes it like your romantic lair." At the pinnacle of privacy is Big Sur's Post Ranch Inn, which offers hideaway and romance packages, accommodations in secluded free-standing structures, and also the option to book one of two completely private houses, each featuring spectacular ocean views from both inside and out, and access to all the inn's lavish spa, dining, and turndown services. Big Sur's The Post Ranch Inn is situated 1,200 feet above the ocean. The nature- inspired architecture and hot tubs make for a uniquely romantic experience. Stepping Up the Romance Game Photo: Kodiak Greenwood Carmel Food Tours offers a stroll through downtown while enjoying restaurants, wine and shopping. Photo: Sarah Rouse Higgins

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