The Montecito Inn, one of Santa Barbara’s landmark boutique luxury hotels, tastefully combines the history of Charlie Chaplin, who built the in Inn in 1928, with an elegant Mediterranean charm.

My husband Jim and I feel fortunate to already live in Santa Barbara and when it comes time to plan a romantic getaway, we often find that Santa Barbara is so beautiful why not have a “staycation” in our town of paradise. This time we chose The Montecito Inn. Being of Mediterranean descent and film lovers, we also enjoyed the Mediterranean design and the feeling as if we had stepped into a time capsule of Hollywood’s Golden Years of Film. We enjoyed the Charlie Chaplin movie posters in the hallways, the original and still operating 1927 Otis elevator, the history about Charlie Chaplin and the Inn’s first guests that ranged from the Who’s Who of Hollywood’s Golden Years such as Carole Lombard and Norma Shearer.

In our room, black and white framed photos of Montecito of yesteryears decorated the wall, which helped us picture what the Inn’s surroundings once looked like. The Inn is located on Montecito’s upscale Coast Village Road and back then it was called Old Coast Village Road and was the only major highway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. For guests, The Montecito Inn’s location is ideal since it is only steps away from fine dining, boutique shops and a breathtaking beach. The beauty of the Santa Barbara with its majestic mountain views, beaches, culinary and cultural offerings makes the area a destination for travelers around the world and especially those in California looking for a romantic getaway.

Danny Copus, General Manager of the family run Montecito Inn says the Inn has a variety of accommodations. “We have room styles for everyone from those on a weekend getaway to a those on a longer trip to ‘A‘ list celebrities who enjoy staying in the private Tower Suite apartment.” The inn has 61 rooms that include 9 luxury award-winning suites.

Bedroom inside the Tower Suite apartment at the Montecito Inn

Marble Bathroom witha Charlie Chaplin touch in one of the Montecito Inn suites

We enjoyed touring the property and seeing the suites with their arched windows, French doors, spacious Italian marble bathroom with spa bathtubs and many of the suites had custom fireplaces. The Tower suite apartment has 2 bedrooms, a sitting room, kitchen, dining area and stunning views of the ocean and mountains that can be enjoyed on the patio.

At the Montecito Inn, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Our room was a Mountain View Queen with lovely views of the Mountains and colorful window flower boxes.

Enjoying a goddess moment of relaxation in our cozy Montecito Inn room.

Our Queen Mountain View Inn Room

The Mediterranean style furnishings were elegant and our bed plush. I enjoyed a relaxing bath in the sunny bathroom decorated with hand-painted tiles. The service of the staff was excellent and we enjoyed the self-serve gourmet coffee and herbal tea that was available anytime in the lobby. In the morning we had a continental breakfast in the light filled Montecito Café, which is located within the Inn. The Montecito Café is independently owned by husband and wife team Mark and Margaret Huston, both graduates of the California Culinary Academy, who create a simple and delicious California-Mediterranean menu. Many of the café’s menu items are available on the Inn’s room service menu.

Being locals we have enjoyed many delicious meals at the Montecito Café located within the Inn – including one of our first lunch dates that included their delicious spinach & grilled homemade lamb Sausage salad with marinated tomatoes, olives with a lemon goat cheese dressing. I enjoyed learning the history of the café’s beautiful fountain filled with fresh flowers. Before the hotel was renovated, it was the site of a wishing well that inspired Richard Rodgers to write the song “There is an old hotel with a wishing well.”

Standing by the beautiful fountain in the Montecito Cafe located in the Inn that marked where a wishing well that Richard Rodgers wrote about in a song once stood.

We were charmed by our visit to the Montecito Inn, and our wishing well wish would be to return to the Montecito Inn and the Montecito Café again in the future.

If you’d like more ideas on romantic getaways, tips and delicious date night recipes, sign up for my e-newsletter on the homepage of RomancingTheTable.com and you will also receive downloadable bonuses that include my date night scheduler and 12 tips for happier times at the table.

For more information on the Montecito Inn go to www.MontecitoInn.com and for the Montecito Café go MontecitoCafe.com. To read the fascinating history of film pioneer Charlie Chaplin click here.

My wish for you is that by the end of reading this you will be inspired to create your own romantic getaway and romantic dining experience to reconnect and celebrate someone you love.

As a Mediterranean-California home cook and newlywed of almost two years with a passion for celebrating love, life & delicious food, I love taking romantic getaways with my husband James and sharing our dining, destinations and recipes so you can do the same. While I always look forward to our weekly date nights that include a romantic meal at home or at a restaurant, (we take turns planning them and we love Mediterranean cuisine) there is something magical about getting away from it all together to reconnect and celebrating our relationship. And for my single readers, remember a solo trip just for you or with friends is a great way to celebrate your own loving self and friendships.

FOUR SEASONS RESORT THE BILTMORE SANTA BARBARA

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For a First Class Luxury Getaway and Dining Destination Getaway, I highly recommend The Four Seasons Resort – The Biltmore Santa Barbara. The hotel is a Spanish Colonial treasure built in 1927 that recently completed a comprehensive $240 million renovation. I am happy to report that Owner’s Ty Warner’s vision of restoring this “jewel of the American Riveria” back to its glamour and grandeur of its golden era has been a success. I was also glad to discover that The Biltmore is a “Green” Hotel that makes it a priority to create environmentally safe procedures.With picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains, red roof tiles, ivory adobe and graceful archways, – it is a luxurious and intimate retreat. After our heavenly couples massage we were ready to enjoy our romantic dinner. (See prior post on couples massage in private spa room)
The Fours Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara has a wonderful restaurant called Bella Vista. My husband Jim and I enjoyed a first class romantic dinner we shall savor in our memories for a very long time. The presentation by Sous-Chef Tory Martindale was true artistry. The California atmosphere was heavenly with views of the ocean, palm trees and sunset followed by a full moon. Some of our menu highlights were fire roasted pepper and goat cheese soufflé, a delicious chilled heirloom tomato soup, a wild salmon with Yukon potato and herb fennel salad and a mango-lychee panna cotta dessert and dark chocolate soufflé with vanilla cream and raspberry that captured the best of Mediterranean California cuisine has to offer. I was delighted when Bella Vista agreed to provide my readers and listeners with the recipe below.

To hear my Romancing the Table® interview with chef Tory Martindale, click here for a replay of the show where I talk with Tory about our Bella Vista dinner, what inspired him to become a chef, and how you can make the Chilled Heirloom Tomato Soup we enjoyed at home. I hope this story inspires you to plan a romantic getaway for you and your beloved wherever it may be and may you one day be able to visit my beautiful town of Santa Barbara and dine at Bella Vista or stay at The Four Seasons the Biltmore.

» Click here for the Chilled Heirloom Tomato Soup recipe

Check out this video I did as AphFoodite™ – the Greek goddess of food, romance and love – that was filmed in Crete.

What brought us to Crete? My husband Jim and I were delighted when the Pan-Cretan Association of America (through the Greek Trade Office and the Greek National Tourist Organization) invited us on a press trip to the wonderful island of Crete during the summer.

Filming a segment about the Mediterranean Diet & Lifestyle at Kosta Mare Palace Resort & Spa

Cynthia at the Minoan Palace of Knossos

During our visit to Crete, we enjoyed the beauty, romance, culture, history and cuisine of Crete. Back in 2006, we spent part of our honeymoon in Elounda, Crete after being married in a Greek island wedding in Santorini. We were very happy when we returned to Crete and had the opportunity to visit a variety of wonderful new locations. We discovered that Crete has something for everyone – from the finest hotels, located on the magnificent Mediterranean Sea, to the agro-tourism farms/wineries to the archaeological splendors of Knossos Palace and the Herakleion Archaeological Museum.

We particularly enjoyed the hospitality shown to us whether it was from an owner of a hotel, agro-tourism farm, or even a psaro-taverna (fish restaurant).

Cynthia smiling after talking horta with a real Cretan Yiayia.

Click here to see a video filmed in Santa Barbara and Crete that includes my award-winning horta (greens) recipe.

2011 UPDATE: This month is also National Mediterranean Diet Month (Med Month!) created by Oldways, a world-renowned source of Mediterranean diet information, “to highlight the healthy Mediterranean Diet and its lifestyle practices.” It is based healthy foods “that have traditionally been consumed by people living in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.” In celebration of Med Month I have also posted my video on Romantic, Healthy and Delicious Mediterranean Date Nights with recipes.

The quintessential romantic table at Manousakis Winery (Nostos Wines) near Chania.

Agreco Farms, an agro-tourism site.

Oldways created the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid along with the Harvard School of Public Health. According to the pyramid, we should eat mostly vegetables, legumes, grains, fruits, herbs, spices, and healthy fats such as olive oil on a regular basis. Seafood should be eaten at least twice a week, poultry, diary, and eggs consumed daily to weekly, and red meats and sweets should be on the menu less often. Being physically active and enjoying meals with others is also an important part of the pyramid and the Mediterranean lifestyle.

James and Cynthia enjoying fish, horta, Greek salad and Octopus seaside in Crete.

Outdoor whirlpool & fireplace at Hadsten House Inn & Spa

My husband James & I enjoying the Inn's outdoor fireplace

Hadsten House Spa Suite Room

Romantic Spa Suite Whirpool for Two

At the Hadsten House Inn & Spa affordable doesn’t have to mean without luxury. Whether you are a searching for an affordable staycation where you vacation locally or you are traveling from out of town to visit the beautiful Santa Barbara wine country/Santa Ynez Valley of California – The Hadsten House Inn & Spa is delightful destination/staycation.

After noticing an ad in the newspaper that the Hadsten House Inn & Spa in nearby Solvang was offering specials, I did further research. Their special one-night dinner package included lodging, dinner for two at their restaurant, wine and cheese in the afternoon and a buffet breakfast ($189 during the week and $259.00 on a weekend (double occupancy). I also discovered that the Hadsten House Inn was a former motel that underwent a year long renovation to transform it into what their website describes as a “luxury boutique lodging destination.”

Since my husband James and I had many “home dinner dates” and we had just completed major work projects, we thought an “extended date night” getaway at the Hadsten House Inn would be ideal.

My husband and I always look forward to our weekly date nights. On Sunday, we sit down for 10 minutes to discuss the activities of the upcoming week and to schedule our mid-week together time and our weekly date night. Each week, we alternate who plans the date night. The person in charge either makes dinner or makes a reservation and also selects the entertainment. We make sure to discuss the ideas with each other to make sure we’ll both enjoy the plans. Many of our date nights are home dates of a delicious home-cooked meal and movie. Staying in allows us to save up our money for dinner out and/or buy tickets to a film festival, concert, play or an overnight getaway.

We both agreed an overnight date night would be a great idea. Since it was my turn to plan, I made the reservations and we were soon in the car enjoying the thirty-mile drive from Santa Barbara to the Santa Ynez Valley – a scenic route of landscapes reminiscent of the old west.

The Hadsten House Inn & Spa is located in Solvang, which is a European Village in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country. The climate and location is great for outdoor activities from strolling to cycling to visiting the nearby wineries, many who offer discounts to the Hadsten House guests.

Once we arrived at the Inn, we took a tour of the property that included a day spa for massage, an indoor pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi area with cozy seating by two fireplaces and a delicious restaurant.

We were pleased with our spa suite room that included a decorative fireplace and a Sanijet Jacuzzi that had plenty of space for two (The spa suite upgrade costs an extra $50 and is well worth it.) Our European style bedroom included French furnishings, a luxurious and comfy custom bed with high thread count sheets, and a second decorative fireplace that produced glowing flames with a flick of a switch. The interior design touches also included crown molding and a stylish armoire.

Enjoying our delicious date night dinner during our stay at the Hadsten House Inn & Spa

Since James and I were in much need of some down time together, we decided to relax on site by enjoying the restaurant and in room spa. We found the in-room Jacuzzi to be a wonderful way to relax together. For our one night package, we received dining vouchers, which listed a nice selection of California-Mediterranean appetizers, entrees and desserts included in the package. You are free to substitute other entrees on the menu for an extra $10 (The menu can be viewed at www.HadstenHouse.com).

Hadsten House Restaurant

My husband enjoyed the pork chops cooked to perfection and served with an apricot and fig chutney, roasted potatoes, baby carrots and asparagus. James said the pork chops were some of the best he had ever tasted. The house salad of chopped greens, chopped tomato and cucumber with goat cheese had a delicious twist of a creamy sherry dressing. For dessert, James ordered the bananas foster which came in a puff pastry with fresh bananas and strawberries. Since I have a wheat gluten allergy, I asked for a fruit salad. The chef created a layered fruit and whipped cream parfait. James and I found both desserts to be amazing. All of our menu selections were offered in the dinner package.

Delicious Banana Foster

If you’d like more ideas on romantic getaways, tips and delicious date night recipes, sign up for my e-newsletter on the homepage of RomancingTheTable.com and you will also receive downloadable bonuses that include my date night scheduler and 12 tips for happier times at the table.

For more information on the Hadsten House Inn & Spa go to HadstenHouse.com. As of this writing the specials included our one-night dinner package, a two-night spa package, a wine country getaway and a two-night golf package. They also offer AAA & AARP midweek pricing.

–Cynthia Daddona

During the course of one’s lifetime we will all have eaten many meals whether alone or with others. Some which are ordinary and others quite special. The mere scent and taste of a certain food or even a photo can transport us back to a wonderful food memory which includes the people, the food and the location.

A Greek salad or horiatiki (villager salad) is what I love to make at home as often as possible. Its gorgeous colors and shapes of ripe tomatoes, green or red peppers, Kalamata olives, cucumber slices sprinkled with Greek oregano and lemon juice and completed with a glisten of olive oil and creamy feta cheese (made from goat and or sheep’s milk) are a feast for the senses. It is also take me back to my wedding and honeymoon on the Greek islands of Santorini and Crete and our recent trip to Naxos and Mykonos.

Watch the video below and join me as we enjoy a Greek salad by the Mediterranean sea at a Greek taverna, Alexandros, located in the Little Venice section of Mykonos:

» Click to watch the video

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Our Greek village salad in Mykonos is another precious deposit into to our romantic culinary food memory bank.

Remember you can create or recreate your own wonderful food memory at home or while traveling as well.

– I want to share with you a simple and easy recipe to make your own Greek salad which I now call:

"A Grecian Goddess Greek Salad."

- Go to the recipe section of this website to view this and all the delicious recipes.

- You can also watch clips of another culinary travel memory we had in “A Greek Islands Destination Cooking Class” DVD which was filmed in romantic Santorini, Greece and chosen the #1 NY Times About.com culinary travel gift.

If you any questions or a culinary food memory you would like to share email me at cynthia@moderndaygoddess.com

Romance, Relaxation & Gourmet Dining.

My husband James and I were delighted with our experience at Secrets Capri Riveria Cancun, an all-inclusive ultra luxurious resort located on the Mayan Riviera on 71 oceanfront acres. This adults-only resort is a romantic, relaxing, first-class getaway.
The cuisine was delicious, gourmet, healthy and well presented. The overall resort service was top notch. The Mexican Mediterranean architecture surrounds a scenic pool and a white sand beach offers thatched umbrellas and couches to lounge on by the sea,

When we mentioned prior to our arrival that we were recent newlyweds and that it was also my husband’s birthday, we were greeted with a honeymooners banner on the door and balloons in the room on the day of his birthday. Our room had a fabulous view of the ocean, the resort and the pool. We had a four-poster bed and a full Italian marble bathroom.

The resort activities where the staff “shares a secret” included everything from how to sculpt towels into love swans, to cooking classes to couples massage to dancing. The activities were low key so you could still relax by the pool and beach if you weren’t participating in an activity. The resort also has a variety of beach, land and water activities including complimentary golf at Cancun Golf Club.

One of the highlights is the resorts lovely spa – where you can experience a romantic couples massage side by side under an atrium directly on the beach. It was a wonderful feeling knowing my love and I were receiving massages at the same time.

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The other highlight of our stay was Secrets’ all inclusive dining which included five gourmet a la carte restaurants with menus offering Seafood, Mediterranean-Italian, Pan-Asian and Mexican cuisine plus a sumptuous buffet and 24 hour room service. Our two favorites were Oceana and Portofino. At Oceana, we celebrated my husband Jim’s birthday with a romantic table for two on a private balcony overlooking the pool. At Portofino we enjoyed Italian cuisine and experienced a private romantic dinner for two with a menu designed by the talented chef in Portofino’s wine cellar (available for an extra charge.) Overall, I enjoyed presentations and flavors of the Mediterranean Mexican dishes that utilized an abundance of fish, seafood and fresh produce. One of my favorite desserts was the flan. For variety, there was an outdoor dining event held on the beach for the guests complete with a live show of talented dancers. There was also a Mexican buffet by the pool that was a colorful feast.

Secrets Capri Riveria was exactly what we were looking for – a resort that offered first class amenities such as romantic and delicious dining options, couples massage and a tranquil environment. This allowed my husband James and I relax together, spend time on the beach, in the pool, dining, reading and just enjoying being together. What a lovely trip first class Mexico offers for couples wanting romance, relaxation and gourmet dining.

To get there:
From Los Angeles we took a Mexicana Airlines flight direct from Los Angeles to Cancun. (4.5 hours) Then secured a driver we arranged ahead of time with the resort to drive us to the resort which was 35 minutes south of Cancun Airport and 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen. We visited the resort in December and enjoyed the sunny and warm weather. For more information go to www.secretsresorts.com

On the wrap around porch of Maples Inn

While we live in California, the state of Connecticut and county of Fairfield, is where I was born and can be quite a beautiful for a romantic getaway. In the fall with the leaves turning or the spring when crocuses are just blooming – New England can be extra quaint. Since my husband and I also wanted to be close to New York city we chose the quaint town of New Canaan which has a nearby Metro North train station that takes you into NYC in one hour.

New Canaan is a wealthy and charming suburb. It was romantic for us strolling down New Canaan’s Main Street and looking at all of the shops. We even spotted designer Ralph Lauren and his wife exiting his namesake store on Main Street looking very stylish as they got into their Porsche and drove off. We later learned he lives in nearby New York state which is close to the New Canaan, Connecticut border.

In front of Maples Inn in New Canaan, Connecticut

Springtime Crocuses on lawn of Maples Inn

For accommodations we stayed at the Maples Inn, which is a 22 room, 100-year-old inn.
It originally began as a summer retreat for the urban dwellers from New York City. The Victorian style architecture and wrap around porch reminded me of growing up in New England. The Inn had a quiet and peaceful B&B atmosphere with a self-serve buffet breakfast that could be enjoyed dining on an antique table and underneath an elegant chandelier. The staff was wonderful and we enjoyed being only a few minutes from the quaint main street of New Canaan and an hour away from Manhattan.

Maples Inn Breakfast Tea & Coffee Table with Antique Mirror

The owner Tom Kennedy, a former executive, was quite personable and said the Inn was not only great for visitors to the area but also a great place for those on a business trip, visiting family or needing long term accommodations.

We attempted to eat at the Roger Sherman Inn next door but it was closed so we went into town and had a lovely, romantic dinner at a cozy European Bistro Bonne Nuit.

Romantic Bistro Dinner for Two at Bonne-Nuit

On one of days during our stay, we went into Manhattan to explore the city. We easily took the Metro North train that took us into Grand Central station. I was delighted to have the chance to check out the station’s restoration with its new food markets. My family and I often took the train to see matinees and I commuted to Manhattan for my journalism/broadcasting work and acting classes. Another day on our trip, we visited nearby family.

A Visit to Delicious Grand Central Food Market

Restored Grand Central Station

Often people ask me for some getaway ideas, which is one of the reasons I started my blog/website RomancingTheTable.com. If you’ve moved away from your home state, it can be fun to return, especially with your sweetheart if they have never visited the area. Also one tip that helps keep intimacy alive is to add an extra day or two to spend with your sweetheart alone if you can when you are on a business trip, conference or visiting family.

See if this can work out even, if you have children and are visiting parents or relatives who are still active. After you’ve visited family perhaps they could watch the children overnight while you vacation for a day or two at a nearby hotel or inn as a couple. It can create quality time for everyone. For example, grand kids get time with their grandparents and you both have time alone together. With the current economy there are many affordable deals to be had especially during the week.

2010 LODGING UPDATE: I often do updates on properties I’ve visited and it looks like The Maples Inn is now closed. I’ve learned it is being developed into lovely condominiums with an emphasis on seniors – all while keeping it historic outer frame. As part of the process, the Maples Inn website says there will be a large estate sale of the inn’s 22 rooms of antiques on the weekends of January 29th and Feb. 7th. For couples who are antique lovers, attending an estate sale together is another romantic date idea. For more information & updates go to www.maplesinnct.com and www.dwestatesales.com.

FEELING LIKE A GODDESS
AFTER MY MASSAGE

COUPLES MASSAGE WITH VIEW

BEAUTIFUL SPA TREATMENT ROOM

The Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbara, California’s 240 million dollar renovation also included the spa. My husband James and I enjoyed a blissful couple’s massage that took place in the “Rose Room” complete with a fireplace, bathtub and ocean views. With the windows open we could see the colorful bougainvillea and listen to the waves of the ocean. Afterwards we sipped tea in the spa lounge and enjoy each other company. We had the couples massage with time to relax before our Romantic Dinner at the hotels Bella Vista restaurant. (Read next post).

Book a massage for yourself and loved one at a luxury resort or create your own day spa at home. Savor the down time together.