The getaways issue
Best Ojai restaurants, ski hotels, Big Sur lodging; PS, Sensei Porcupine Creek, Los Alamos, The Sea Ranch Lodge, Cabo, MORE
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ABOUT FOUND • Getaways
FOUND is deeply interested in getaway destinations within driving distance (or a short flight) of Los Angeles. That means Palm Springs, Santa Barbara up the Central Coast, Napa, Sonoma, Mexico, and more. What do the regulars eat and drink, where should you stay and shop, and — to take this to its logical end — what about buying a second home of your own there?
Beyond the world of weekend escapes, FOUND closely tracks the local hotel scene and airports, and the need-to-know intel that can make or break a trip. From time to time, special correspondents will file reports from far-flung destinations like the French Riviera, because there are some experiences that transcend this mortal plane and beg to be shared.
Welcome to FOUND Getaways. As we stow your bag, make yourself comfortable.
GETAWAYS • Rancho Mirage
Sensei and sensibility
True luxury often manifests as irrational generosity, increasingly rare in modern hospitality. Such extravagance is typically born from a visionary owner — with deep pockets.
Take Sensei Porcupine Creek. Twenty-five minutes down the road from Palm Springs in the town of Rancho Mirage (and just two hours from LA), the property was Oracle founder Larry Ellison's private estate, designed for friends and family gatherings. In a relatively short timespan, it transitioned into the Sensei brand’s second outpost and a compelling alternative to the likes of Amangiri and Blackberry Farm.
Some may be lured here by golf or tennis offerings. But Sensei’s true claim lies in wellness, with three-day sessions tailored from pre-arrival evaluations. The staff includes a physical therapist who rehabilitates the US ski team, and a psychologist specializing in unwinding deep-rooted habits and re-wiring oneself.
Culinary offerings are helmed by Nobu Matsuhisa himself, delivering classics from both of his eponymously named restaurants. Sarah, who ran the room at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge, presides over dining areas.
Ellison’s (heavily Japanese) art collection elevates the entire experience. And of course, the landscape is a masterpiece unto itself: serene water features are balanced with thousands of landscaped cacti, succulents, and paired with a vast expanse of over 3,000 palm trees.
But Sensei’s true magic lies in its temporal allure. A three-night stay feels like a week away. –Colin Nagy, 11/02/23
→ Sensei Porcupine Creek (Rancho Mirage) • 42765 Dunes View Rd.
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Restaurants, Ojai
Rory’s Place, new California cuisine classic (intel here)
Pinyon, wood-fired pizza and seasonal vegetables must-hit
The Dutchess, bakery by day, Burmese-inspired fare at night
Ojai Rôtie, Lebanese-French mainstay with first-rate rotisserie chicken
Izakaya Full Moon, skewers and sashimi, washed down with sake
Farmer and the Cook, longstanding organic cafe with excellent enchiladas
Little Sama, Southeast Asian spot attached to Topa Topa Brewing Co.
Boccali’s, family-friendly Italian-American dishing lasagnas and parmesans
Tipple & Ramble, wine and charcuterie boards, Instagrammable environs
Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or email found@itsfoundla.com.
WORK • Thursday Routine
The mermaid’s call
KATHY SIDELL, owner, Saltie Girl
Neighborhood you live in: West Hollywood
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
In the morning, I typically go into the restaurant to catch up with everyone. I take a look at the books to see who’s dining with us that day, chat with our chef and GM, and say good morning to my son, Ben, the restaurant’s pastry chef.
What’s on the agenda for today?
To plan, taste, and photograph (for social) the dishes and desserts on our new winter menu.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Adam Perry Lang's BBQ pop-up. It can be up to a two-hour wait, but it's worth it — it's close to the best we've ever tasted. Then, we’re meeting cousins at Chi Spacca. They are steak people, and we all agree that the steak there’s one of LA’s top options.
Sunday night, I'm cooking a big family dinner. So I’ll stop at all my regular haunts and collect the things I need. I start early at the Hollywood Farmers' Market to see what veggies are super fresh, and pick up some fresh herbs and flowers. I get bread from Jyan Issac in Santa Monica, because they have the best and it’s worth the drive. I'll get meat from McCall’s on Montana, and, finally, I'll head to Eataly to pick up beautiful chicory, endive, and fresh burrata. I also love swinging by the Original Farmers' Market at Third and Fairfax for the beautiful nuts from Magee's House of Nuts for bar snacks.
How about a little leisure or culture?
Our idea of family fun is going to Alhambra on a food crawl. The current places on my list include: Chengdu Taste, Sichuan Impression, Shanghai Dumpling House, Ji Rong Peking Duck, Lunasia Dim Sum, Yang's Kitchen, Kang Kang Food Court, Jiang Nan Spring, New Mandarin Noodle Deli, Xiang La Hui, Ai Wei Ju, Bistro Na's, Luyixian, Hui Tou Xiang's and Thumbling for dumplings, and Bistro 1968 and Taste of China for dim sum.
Any weekend getaways?
I love to go to Bell’s for dinner in Los Alamos. Typically we’ll stop at Super Rica in Santa Barbara on the way for some tacos, then head inland. After Bell's we go to the one bar that stays open later, The Depot, and shoot darts and pool until it closes. We spend the night at The Inn at Mattei's Tavern or Skyview, and in the morning, wake up and get the pecan roll at Bob’s Well Bread Bakery! On the way back to LA, lunch at Bar Le Côte, their seafood-focused sister restaurant in Los Olivos.
What was your last great vacation?
In July, I went to Sicily for the first time. It was magical. We stayed near Mt. Etna where the vineyards and pistachios are plentiful. We took a boat with friends to Siracusa, which has sun-kissed whitewashed walls dating back to 700 BC. For lunch, we brought on board some of Sicily’s best paninis and salumi from Caseificio Borderi. Then we drove to Noto where we had a wonderful walk through the village and a coffee and gelato at Caffè Sicilia in the center of town. And closed it out with dinner just outside of town inside an ancient palmento (where grapes were made into wine) from the end of the 18th century, called Manna Noto — taralli with almonds, stuffed pastas in sauce, risotto in a crisp cake, peach sorbet that tasted more like peach than a fresh ripe one, and butter cookies to cry for. 01/04/24
Photo: Mike Cotrone
GETAWAYS • Sonoma
Wood and water
Last summer, the historic Sea Ranch Lodge completed a multi-year renovation, offering travelers another reason to visit the idyllic Sonoma coast community it anchors.
Incorporated in the 1960s with the notion of “living lightly on the land,” Sea Ranch comprises 10 miles of rugged coastline, redwood forest, and hundreds of distinctive timber-framed homes designed to meld with its surroundings. The oasis for nature, design, and architecture heads is remote — an hour and 45 minutes’ drive from Sonoma County Airport and a solid three hours from SFO — but the trip’s well worth it.
Rooms at the revamped lodge are decked in red cedar, oak, and fir, with plush furniture and big windows looking out onto the Pacific. In place of TVs, a fireplace, a set of binoculars, and a pair of walking sticks. Outside, the coastal bluff trail winds past tide pools, windswept flora, and clusters of private homes.
The Lodge is also home to a bar, lounge, restaurant, and café, the only food and drinking establishments in Sea Ranch proper. If one tires of the middle-of-the-road fare, there’s a trusty seafood shack in Gualala, one town north, in addition to a weekend barbecue stand outside Surf Market.
With its cozy, convivial atmosphere (the bar is a popular haunt for locals), the Lodge is a fitting shelter for first-time visitors. For return visitors, a Sea Ranch home rental to fully immerse in the pleasures of this tranquilizing community might better do the trick. –Emily Wilson, 01/04/24
→ The Sea Ranch Lodge (Sea Ranch, CA) • 60 Sea Walk Dr.
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Hotels, Big Sur
Ventana (Santa Lucia Mountains), 59-suite luxury outpost with outdoor Japanese baths and wood-burning fireplaces, $3859
Post Ranch Inn (Coast Ridge Rd), architectural gem with modernist, nature-inspired suites perched above Pacific, $2175
Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn (Rancho Grande Rd), hidden wooded lodge built in the 1930s, eclectic accommodation of all shapes and sizes, $400
Big Sur Lodge (Pfeiffer State Park), standalone cottages with fireplaces, kitchenettes, and complimentary access to nearby state parks, $449
Glen Oaks Big Sur (Highway One), refurbished motor lodge and cabins with ‘70s flair and high-end finishes, $455
Big Sur River Inn (Big Sur River), former Apple Pie Inn retrofitted with riverside suites, central restaurant, outdoor pool, $1400
Ventana Campground (Post Creek), tent-only 40-acre redwood grove offering glamping w/tent, premium linens, $240
Treebones (Gorda), oceanfront yurt village with omakase sushi bar, $425
Fernwood Resort (Big Sur River), rustic cabins, tavern and grill, and general store with ice cream and coffee, $400
WORK • Thursday Routine
First blush
MONIKA BLUNDER • founder • Monika Blunder Beauty
Neighborhood you work in: Encino
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
My workplace is always changing. Sometimes I’m on set, but lately I’ve been really focused on my brand (Monika Blunder Beauty), so I’ll either be working from home, or visiting retailers and doing trainings. It’s really an ever-changing mixed bag. That’s one of the most fun parts of this job — every day is different.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Right now I’m in the midst of testing some new formulas for the brand. I’m almost finished formulating my new skin tint, and in the final stages of a really incredible luminizing blush — both of which I’m so excited about. We also just launched our Sweet Talk Lip Oils so I’ve been meeting with editors and buyers to walk them through the new oils.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I usually do date night with my husband, or we go on a double date with our friends. Our go-tos are Shu Sushi or Il Segreto on Beverly Glen.
Any weekend getaways?
I love to go to Cabo, it's a 1.5 hour flight from LA, and once I’m there, I can really feel like I got a mini vacation. You’re in a different environment with different culture, food and amazing weather. We always stay at the Montage — I love it there because it's one of the only Cabo hotels with beach access.
What was your last great vacation?
My last amazing vacation was Africa, one of my most special trips ever. We went on two different safaris, one in Botswana and the second one was in Pekwa. We also spent some time in Cape Town at the end of the trip. 08/15/24
GETAWAYS • Airports
PS, it’s worth it
Even during its quieter moments, LAX is notorious for its ability to spike one’s cortisol levels.
PS offers a reprieve for pro travelers looking to bypass the airport’s chaos. The value proposition is straightforward: arrive at what’s essentially a private terminal, and wait for takeoff in either The Salon or a Private Suite. The Salon is comparable to a spacious first-class lounge with impeccable service. (The hospitality is managed by a former general manager of Aman hotels.) The Private Suite offers a private room that accommodates up to four people, complete with a daybed, lounger, and outdoor area.
Both options come with a premium price tag. The best deal seems to be The Salon membership, with an annual fee of $1250 a year, plus $850 per person per trip. The all-access membership carries an annual $4850 cost, plus $750 per person per trip, or $3250 per trip for use of a Private Suite.
The benefits are tangible. On a recent trip, I had my tickets managed for me, relaxed for an hour with newspapers and coffee in the Salon, and then was driven directly to an Emirates flight to Dubai for pre-boarding. For foreign passport holders, the real value might be in the service on arrival at LAX. As soon as the plane's door opens, a PS rep greets you, escorts you to a private immigration and customs area within the private terminal, and then whisks you away in a car. Invaluable. –Colin Nagy, 11/09/23
→ PS (available at LAX and ATL).
See also Nines: Greater Palm Springs Hotels.
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Hotels, ski weekend
Mollie (Aspen, CO), new-this-season downtown boutique hotel, $845
Four Seasons Resort (Vail, CO), stroll through Vail village to gondola, $2222
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek (Beaver Creek, CO), ski in/out from mountain base, $945
Amangani (Jackson Hole, WY), secluded Aman retreat outside of town, $1750
Waldorf Astoria Park City (Park City, UT), slopeside access at the Canyons, $1397
Stein Eriksen Lodge (Deer Valley, UT), ski in/out family-friendly resort, $1324
Snowpine Lodge (Alta, UT), swanky spot at a classic mountain that’s not, $1226
Montage Big Sky (Big Sky, MT), newish ski in/out contemporary resort, $1718
The Ritz Carlton, Lake Tahoe (Northstar, CA), ski in/out from midway up the mountain, $1059