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Saturday, September 15, 2012

Love Happy Hour - Ink & Vine - Road Trip to Solvang: Wine and Happy Hour

Road Trip to Solvang: Wine and Happy Hour

Road Trip to Solvang: Wine and Happy Hour
by Maren Swanson




This crazy LA heat wave has made me sluggish, tired and unmotivated. Not that I'm surprised - these symptoms bother me every year around August. So instead of complaining about it, I'm making an impulsive decision to take a cool drive up the PCH and head to the Danish town of Solvang. Solvang has become one of my favorite road trips to make while I've been living in California. About two and a half hours drive up the coast, one can escape to wine country for tastings, shopping and even "happy hour." Once you enter town, you can't help but notice the large windmills, red and white flags and wooden clogs that decorate the quaint area. Tourists, local and international, feast on ethnic dishes and visit tasting rooms laced throughout town. Let's just say "charming" is an understatement.

Usually my boyfriend and I stay at the same place, The Wine Valley Inn. We love it there; cottage style rooms, coi ponds, fireplaces in the rooms, free breakfast and a friendly staff. Last time we arrived, the concierge recommended that we check out their wine bar in the side lobby room. During the weekdays, 5pm - 8pm and on the weekends, 5pm - 9pm, you can sip and mingle with other hotel guests at the Wine Valley Inn with glasses of wine available for $8. However, from 5pm - 6pm nightly they host a happy hour with $3 glasses of wine - now you're speaking my language!




The lobby has cozy sofas, a crackling fireplace and complimentary cheese and crackers available for noshing. Antique furniture with modern embellishments create an inviting atmosphere with a romantic tone that sets the mood for most of the couples attending. Everyone just seems a little more in love than usual (and possibly just warm and fuzzy from their earlier tastings). One of the pairs we met shared their love story of meeting in high school and gave their advice for sustaining a long-lasting relationship - I definitely took notes.




The bartender, whom had worked there for years, offered us recommendations for the best local restaurants and activities. After chatting up some of the other guests, we returned to the bar a few minutes past the hh, but we were still allowed a $3 pour. Everyone we met was super friendly and the lobby get- together was a great idea, considering most of the tasting rooms in Solvang and neighboring towns close around 4 or 5pm. Plus, you can purchase bottle of local wine in your room for as low as $15!




Besides our hotel happy hour, we will be excited this weekend to hit up some other local wineries in Lompac, Los Olivos and Buelton. Tasting rooms including Lincourt, Foley, Epiphany, Qupe and Consilience are definitely on our list. After booking an affordable room for your visit, you can pay anywhere from $10 - 20 (higher for premium wines) for individual tastings and after hitting a few vineyards, sharing is not only economical, but a good idea all together. If you are the adventurous type, hit up the newly renovated Chumash Casino right in town with excellent food and plenty of slot machines.


So, what are you waiting for? The words: ROAD TRIP are calling your name. Take a break from the heat, get in your car and take a picturesque drive up north. Plenty of wine, stellar views and friendly people may just be in your short term future.





1564 Copenhagen Drive
Solvang, CA 93463
(323) 662-9024


Follow me @MarenSwanson


Friday, September 7, 2012

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Soleto Happy Hour - Downtown Los Angeles

Soleto - Happy Hour
by Maren Swanson




Dear Love,

I envy the Downtown Los Angeles lifestyle; everyone walking with purpose, unending options for drinking recreation and there's just a completely different type of energy than my WeHo neighborhood. As much as I would love to frequent a city with over 100 happy hours, I find myself lazy when I consider the lengthy, congested drive down the 101 South to rendezvous with DTLA. However, sometimes if something is good enough, you just make the extra effort.



With my weakness for pizza and buzz of a great happy hour, I couldn't resist the idea of checking out Innovative Dining Group's new Italian concept, Soleto - even if it meant leaving my comfort zone.

The moment I entered Soleto, I immediately noticed the grandiose bar as the focal point of the restaurant. Afterwork bar guests crowded the oval showcase of liquor bottles and not an open seat was to be found, so my friend and I choose a high top table nearby to feast our eyes on people watching and conveniently, the happy hour menu. The quirky and mis-matched lights, high ceilings, business suits and antique details of the place made Soleto feel slightly New York to me - ah, the benefits of escaping to Downtown LA!


Made from the skins of Sorrento lemons, Limoncello is usually served as an after dinner cordial, but with the addition of ginger ale to lighten it up, Soleto's Limoncello Sprizter for only $3 was a great start to our meal. Next, we dove into ordering some tapas with the $5 shrimp oreganato, $8 antipasti platter and $4 white bean hummus. Our shrimp oreganato was served skillet style with hand-torn croutons; butter, garlic and pungent aromas made even my mouth feel naughty. The hummus was simple, a more conservative dish than the last, but the elegant antipasti platter was sublime. A melange of grana padano parmesan, marmalade, salami, prosciutto, broccoli rabe and golden toast points were my food pornography collection come to life.


I knew I couldn't leave without trying one of their wood-fired pizzas, so we continued our meal with the Spicy Speck Pizza (not on the hh menu). The pizza was delivered to our table hot out the oven and and stayed true to its name: spicy (we were warned). To wash down my next slice, I opted for the $3 white peach sangria. The summer wine cocktail was a great balance for the hot-head chasing pizza fanatic in me. A side order of the grilled oyster mushrooms with a white truffle lemon vinaigrette was aromatic and savory, but parts of the dish tasted a little on the salty side. Lastly, I relished the the fresh beets tossed in a light vinaigrette and sprinkled with small pillows of herbed goat cheese - just lovely.



Next time, I will try sitting in the patio area. A quick peak outside promised views of the architectual skyline - formidable.




Without a moment's hesitation, I can promise I will be back. Soleto's first impression of great food, ambience and service will no doubt rally me back for return visits, however, next time I'm trying trusty Wilshire Boulevard.


XXOO,


Maren





Soleto
801 S Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 622-3255






Lovehappyhour.com - LA's Premiere Happy Hour Search Site Featuring Over 1,000 Happy Hours Within 50 Cities in Los Angeles County


Soleto on Urbanspoon