AT&T Pro-Am Golf Tournament 2015

Can anyone believe we're already in the second week of January? How many people are still sticking with their New Year's Resolutions? I broke my No More Starbucks resolution already, as I pulled up at the drive through to order a Grande Blonde Roast and a breakfast sandwich! FAIL! While the beginning of the year is typically the most opportune time for some people to begin new habits - there are 11 other months in the year to try something new! And as January comes and goes, we always have February to look forward to. For us here in the Carmel / Pebble Beach Area, February is synonymous with the AT&T Pro-Am Golf Tournament, an event featuring professional PGA stars, a field of amateurs, and even a group of celebrity players, some of whom make appearances every year!

The event is played at three courses in Pebble Beach - the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course and Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course, and is typically attended by about 150,000 spectators! Past winners of the event include legendary golfers like Jack Nicklaus (three-time winner), Tom Watson (two-time winner), Mark O'Meara (five-time winner), Payne Stewart, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III (two-time winner), Phil Mickelson (four-time winner),and Dustin Johnson (two-time winner). An event featuring some of the world's best players on some of the world's most extraordinary golf courses? I couldn't come up with a reason NOT to attend!

Last year's Winner, Jimmy Walker

For those who aren't quite as enthused by golf, you can always find entertainment in the form of the celebrity rounds. This year, some of the celebrity players in attendance include sports stars like SF Giants' Pitcher Matt Cain and Catcher Buster Posey, Actors Josh Duhamel, Ray Romano and a beloved favorite of the event - Bill Murray. To see a list of all the players, visit the AT&T Pro-Am Website.  

Actor Josh Duhamel at Last Year's Event

What makes this year's AT&T event extra special is that it happens to fall on the 3-day Presidents Day Weekend, the Saturday of which is Valentine's Day! For most of you, it means you can stick around for the Final Round on Sunday and not have to worry about getting yourself home in time for work the next day! Why not make Valentine's Day special for the golf lover in your life, and plan a trip to the area for a relaxing weekend here with us at Tradewinds? A shuttle is available to pick you up and bring you back, and we are offering special packages for those who want to come a little earlier for the practice rounds during the week.

The Golf, Romance and 3-Day Weekend Package includes a relaxing 4 night stay in a luxurious King or Queen/Queen Room, a box of gourmet chocolates, a split 90-minute massage and (2) week-long shuttle passes for the tournament (tournament tickets not included). Rates for this package start at $1600.

We are also offering a package so you can Watch the AT&T Pro-Am without the Crowds. This package includes a one night stay in a luxurious King or Queen/Queen Room (Sunday through Wednesday), and two 1-day tickets to the tournament practice rounds, held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Rates for this package begin at $319.

If you are interested in coming for this event, we highly encourage you to call us as soon as possible (831) 624-2776.

Until Next Time...

The Staff at Tradewinds

Mondays on Mission Street: L'Escargot

It's hard to believe we are in the final few days of 2014! We hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season, whether you were celebrating Hanukkah, or Christmas or any other special occasion. We've been exceptionally busy there at Tradewinds, as Carmel has been bustling with visitors for the holidays. As mentioned in our Holiday Dining post, we strongly encourage you to make reservations for New Years Eve and New Years Day if you are planning on eating out. Today, we are happy to present one of our Mission Street neighbors, L'Escargot, as this week's "Mondays on Mission Street" featured business.

L'Escargot

Mission Street at 4th Avenue

(831) 620.1942

Hours:
Open Daily for Dinner at 5:30 PM

A picturesque, quintessential Carmel Cottage nestled in a small courtyard on Mission and 4th is where L'Escargot calls home. A traditional French country-style bistro, L'Escargot consistently serves some of the best food in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea.

The restaurant offers an a la carte menu with traditional appetizer, salad and entree selections, as well as their "Bistro Menu," a fixed price menu offering a 3-Course Meal for $36/person. As a connoisseur of French cuisine, I love to try the same dishes at different restaurants to get a feel for the restaurant's style and creativity. I'm always "trying a bit of everything," which is why I end up with three appetizers, an entree and a dessert every time I go out to eat!

The appetizers are outstanding, from the French Onion Soup, to the classic Escargot (which lives up to the restaurant's namesake), to the Veal Sweetbreads, cooked with mushrooms in a Madeira cream sauce.

Entrees are equally as delicious - not exactly the healthiest cuisine, but definitely tasty. Seafood options include a local Petrale Sole with a lemon caper beurre blanc and Monterey Sand Dabs with house made tartar sauce. For fans of poultry, the restaurant offers a Pan Roasted Duck Breast, Roasted Chicken with mashed potatoes, and Chicken in a black truffle cream sauce. Rack of Lamb, Medallions of Veal and Rabbit Fricassee round out the protein options.  They also offer their house made version of Cassoulet, a traditional French bean stew with sausage and poultry.

The Bistro Menu features salad and other light appetizer options, a selection of entrees as well as your choice of dessert.

Round out your meal with a bottle of wine (we hear they sometimes offer half-priced wine on wednesdays) and have a relaxing meal, with great service and a charming ambiance.

As always, if you are planning a trip to the Carmel area, give us a call here at Tradewinds, we would be happy to help you organize a memorable stay in town.

Until Next Time...

The Staff at Tradewinds

Mondays on Mission Street: The Carmel Plaza

In the spirit of the Holiday Season, today's "Mondays on Mission Street" column is all about SHOPPING! Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea is home to myriad clothing boutiques and specialty shops, and The Carmel Plaza, specifically, is the epicenter and home to some of the area's best shopping in terms of variety and quality.

The Carmel Plaza

Ocean Avenue & Mission Street

831.624.1385

The Carmel Plaza is an outdoor shopping center, with beautiful floral accents, a cozy, cottage-like exterior, and both upscale and casual shopping options. The Plaza is home to contemporary stores such as J Crew, Anthropologie, Kate Spade, Cole Haan, as well as luxury stores like Tiffany and Co., and Bottega Veneta. Many stores you would find in a metropolitan area have found their way into this charming shopping complex in the heart of downtown. 

In addition to the plethora of apparel options, The Carmel Plaza is also home to specialty beauty retailers Cos Bar and L'Occitane. Both of these offer luxurious cosmetic and bath amenities, and cater towards a more pampered clientele. 

Boutique linen and home furnishing stores, as well as the popular cookware store, Sur La Table, round out the retail experience.

Take a break from a day of shopping and enjoy a coffee at Carmel Coffee and Cocoa or a bite to eat at Flying Fish Grill, Bistro Beaujoulais, or 400 Degrees Burgers.

Other activities include wine tasting at Wrath Winery and cheese sampling at the world renowned gourmet Cheese Shop.

Carmel Plaza has something for everyone and should be on every visitor's itinerary!

Our Holiday Dining Guide

Season's Greetings, Everyone!

We are making our final push toward the end of the year and are currently working on some new packages and specials for all of you to enjoy here at Tradewinds. We are really optimistic about what 2015 has in store for us!

While many of you will be celebrating the holidays with friends and family, cooking and entertaining during this most festive time of the year, others will be traveling or simply looking to dine out. We want to take as much of the headache and stress out of the equation as possible. With that said, we have compiled a list of the restaurants that will be open over the holidays and hope you will find this information useful as you plan your visit to the area.

Christmas Eve, December 24th
- Anton and Michel
- Christopher's  (5 - 9 p)
- Pacific's Edge
- Aubergine 
- Grasing's 
- Il Fornaio 
- Flaherty's (open until 7:30 p)
- La Bicyclette (lunch hours only)
- PortaBella (11:30 a - 9:30 p)
- Merlot!
- Grill on Ocean Ave
- Forge in the Forest
- Andre's Bouchee (open until 5 p)

Christmas Day, December 25th
- Anton and Michel (3 p - 9 p)
- Christopher's on Lincoln (5 - 9 p)
- Pacific's Edge (prix fixe, $110/person)
- Aubergine (9 pm seating available only)
- Grasing's (2:30 p - 8:30 p)
- Il Fornaio 
- Flaherty's (open until 7:30 p)
- PortaBella (2 p - 10:00 p)
- Merlot! (special menu available)
- Grill on Ocean Ave
- Andre's Bouchee (open for dinner)

New Years Eve, December 31st
- Anton and Michel
- Basil (special menu)
- Christopher's on Lincoln (5 - 9 p)
- Pacific's Edge (5:30 - 9:30 p)
- Aubergine 
- Grasing's
- Il Fornaio 
- Flaherty's 
- La Bicyclette 
- Casanova
- PortaBella (11:30 a - 12 a)
- Merlot!
- Grill on Ocean Ave
- Forge in the Forest
- Mundaka
- Flying Fish Grill
- Andre's Bouchee
- L'escargot (5 p - 9 p)

New Years Day, January 1st

- Anton and Michel

- Basil (special menu)

- Christopher's (5 - 9 p)

- Pacific's Edge (5:30 - 8:30 p)

- Aubergine 

- Grasing's

- Il Fornaio 

- Flaherty's 

- La Bicyclette 

- Casanova

- PortaBella 

- Merlot!

- Grill on Ocean Ave

- Forge in the Forest

- Flying Fish Grill

- Andre's Bouchee

We love tradition here at Tradewinds - in fact, the hotel itself is a family tradition - owned and operated by the same family that built it in the 1950's. What are your family traditions? Perhaps you should consider making Carmel a part of your holiday plans!

Until Next Time...

The Staff at Tradewinds Carmel

A Winter Storm Update

After a day of gusty winds and heavy rainfall, we welcome the light drizzle we are experiencing today. The rain should pass by the end of the day and give way to some sunshine just in time for the weekend!

Thankfully, the storm did not do as much damage as we had anticipated; however, it did bring down some trees and branches around the Monterey Peninsula. A stretch of Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo to the Coast Gallery in Big Sur remains closed as of today and a small stream flood advisory was issued. Be sure to check the news for updates and road closures if you are headed to the area!

This photo was taken in Pacific Grove yesterday when the rain subsided for a moment and allowed for a beautiful rainbow to be cast over Lovers Point Beach.



This Weekend in Carmel: 12/12 - 12/14

The winter keeps humming along as we get even closer to the end of the year festivities, including both Christmas and New Year's Eve. This weekend's events reflect the height of the Holiday Season, and we hope some of you will be able to join us in celebration!

Hand Crafted at the Barnyard
Barnyard Shopping Village
Friday 5:00 - 9:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The opening evening party of this pop-up store at the Barnyard will offer food and libations. Throughout the weekend Hand Crafted will offer handmade items from local artists.

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The Talbott Vineyards Holiday Affair
Talbott Vineyards Carmel Valley Tasting Room
Saturday 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Mary Chamberlin of "The Traveling Soup Pot" will be sampling White Turkey Chili and Tortellini. The event will also feature live music, jewelry and samples from Gil's Gourmet.

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The Nutcracker at Sunset Center
Friday and Saturday 7:00 pm
Sunday 2:00 pm
Dance Kids of Monterey presents the 21st year of its Nutcracker production. Accomplished professional dancers lead a cast of 120 locally trained pre-professional ballet dancers in the holiday classic. Tickets can be purchased through the Sunset Center website.

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Santa's Fly-In at Carmel Valley Airfield
Saturday 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
For the 56th year, Santa and Mrs. Claus will travel by helicopter through the sky and touch down at the Carmel Valley Airfield to meet everyone. Once on the ground, they will hop in their sleigh and parade through the village to the Community Center on Ford Road, which will be followed by a holiday bazaar at the Carmel Valley Youth Center.

Mondays on Mission Street: Casanova

Food has always been a huge part of my life. Every family gathering, celebration or special occasion somehow revolved around food. Perhaps it was because my dad was a chef, or because my mom managed restaurants, that somehow, so many of my memories are sparked by names of restaurants and favorite dishes. I am ecstatic to be able to present to you the first restaurant I think of when I am planning a special occasion, and this week's "Mondays on Mission Street" feature, Casanova Restaurant.

Casanova

Mission Street & 5th Avenue

831.625.0501

Hours:

Lunch -

Dinner -

Casanova is a Carmel Institution. A bold statement, maybe, but well-deserved. For years, I have attended everything from engagement parties, to birthdays, to anniversaries and graduation parties, and Casanova has proven time and time again to be more than capable of hosting the most joyous of occasions. With its cozy, romantic ambiance, its great service, impeccable French country-style décor, and amazing rustic French-Italian cuisine, Casanova really embodies traditional European dining.

Begin your meal with the spinach gnocchi, a light, doughy pillow of potato pasta served "au gratin" style. The parmesan cream sauce is ever so delicately salty, and creamy, and if you're anything like me, you will want to take a loaf of bread and soak it in this deliciousness.

The lunch menu features items such as the classic Croque Monsieur, Beef Ravioli, Shrimp Scampi, and a personal favorite of mine  - Steak Frites.

The dinner menu features heartier fare - classic pasta and meat dishes with both French and Italian roots. The Seafood Linguini is a personal favorite and features lobster, clams, mussels, prawns and a white wine & Meyer lemon cream sauce. The Wild Mushroom Pappardelle and Wild Mushroom Risotto are both great options for vegetarians and equally as delectable as their omnivorous offerings.

For those with a bigger appetite, I highly recommend the Braised Beef Short Rib with new potato and mushroom accoutrement. They offer additional carnivorous entrees such as Lamb, Duck, Salmon and Pork - classic dishes created to evoke the most memorable European-style dining experience.

I must note that their wine list is impeccable as well, but I suppose it doesn't hurt that the owners also call "Georis Winery" their own! Casanova is the definition of romance and charm and a definite must for all of those looking to have the quintessential Carmel experience.

If you are looking to celebrate something special, let us here at Tradewinds know, and we will help you plan the ultimate getaway!