Words by Andrea Gemmet
What kind of traveler are you? When life gets hectic, maybe you dream of a quick escape to a beautiful resort where you can relax and indulge in a little pampering. Or does the thought of so much uninterrupted downtime make you antsy? At Cavallo Point Resort and Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, unique classes offer a chance to try something new while enjoying top-notch amenities, gracious guest rooms and fine dining. They’re perfect for those who thirst to learn new skills—and prefer doing it in gorgeous surroundings.
Food with a View
I step inside the historic barracks that once housed Fort Baker’s enlisted soldiers, awaiting instructions from a man in uniform. Our leader Tim Grable, resplendent in chef’s whites, issues us sturdy Cavallo Point aprons and glasses of wine. After we’ve fortified ourselves at the charcuterie board, he addresses the troops and goes over our plan of attack. The mission? To get our hands dirty making a variety of tasty dishes under the patient tutelage of this friendly former director of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in San Francisco. Once our mission is completed, we’ll assemble around the huge dinner table and enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito occupies the decommissioned Army base at the mouth of the Golden Gate—a strategically important location with unbeatable scenic value. Hugging the hilly rise above the Marin Headlands, it’s hard to look away from the ever-changing view of the Golden Gate Bridge as the fog advances and retreats while ships sail past and San Francisco’s skyline gleams from across the Bay. Spread across a mix of historic and newer buildings, Cavallo Point has all the amenities, from tranquil day spa and gym to top-notch restaurants and a fleet of e-bikes for exploring the trails. But for any foodie, the pièce de résistance is the Cavallo Point Cooking School.
Cover Photo and Cooking Photo Courtesy of: Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
I’ve come for the Global Dumpling Adventure class, trying my hand at stuffing empanadas with crumbled chorizo, rolling out tender samosa dough flecked with nigella seeds, crimping the edges of potato pierogi and wrestling Nepali momo into their distinctive round shape. My husband is busy cranking out shrimp gyoza like a pro at one of the stations laid out at the back of the room. Our fellow students have also come in pairs, from couples on a date to anniversary outings and no fewer than four birthday celebrations, which inspires an impromptu toast and a boisterous round of singing. One fellow student tells me she’s here for the seventh time, and it’s easy to see why she keeps coming back. It’s a convivial evening with a friendly group, and the range of cooking classes designed by Chef Tim is broad and tantalizing: Spanish Table, Seoul Food Sunday, Lunch in Paris, Izakaya Favorites and Destination Sicily, to name just a few.
After we polish off our dessert of Fuji apple hand-pies and head back to our spacious room, the turndown service has lowered the shades and closed the curtains but we can’t resist poking our heads out onto the balcony for one last look at that spectacular view before turning in for the night.
Savoring Sausalito – Cavallopoint.com
Photography Courtesy of: Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
Ball’s in Your Court
The Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay may boast an eye-catching golf course overlooking the Pacific’s crashing surf, but I’ve got my eyes on a bigger ball. A pickleball, to be precise. After years of hearing about “the fastest growing sport in America,” it takes the Ritz’s pickleball package to get me out on the court. One of the oceanside resort’s more unique offerings, it comes with a paddle, court time and an hour’s instruction from the in-house pro, Kevin Harrington.
Since I haven’t enjoyed (or even attempted) a racket sport since high school badminton, I bring along my 22-year-old daughter who took tennis lessons as a child. I’m counting on her competence as a distraction if I turn out to be completely hopeless. I shouldn’t have worried. Kevin proves to be an excellent teacher, with a knack for delivering clear directions and confidence-building praise. He swiftly takes us through the basics and before we know it, we’re doing well enough to play an entire singles game. A miracle has happened: I’m having fun.
I now know where to find the kitchen, how to dink and that the rules for when a ball is out are much more forgiving than they are in tennis. I may not be fully converted, but now I understand why people like pickleball so much. And you can’t beat the location of the Ritz Carlton’s outdoor courts. The Coastside’s cool breezes and fog-filtered sunlight have never felt more welcome than when you’re darting around the court working up a sweat.
Photography Courtesy of: Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
We reward ourselves with a three-course dinner at Navio (five, if you count the amuse-bouche and delectable mignardises), savoring the exquisitely prepared dishes and attentive service along with the dramatic sunset view of coastal cliffs, white-topped waves, lush golf greens and peach-tinted fog. We also have a great view of the hotel’s bagpiper, who plays a nightly serenade to the setting sun. Sated, we head to our room, the gleaming marble bathroom’s soaking tub the perfect balm for tired muscles.
Throughout our visit, the Ritz Carlton’s vaunted hospitality is on full display. Everyone at the Ritz is referred to as a lady or a gentleman—the staff, the guests, probably even the dogs—and treated accordingly.
No visit is complete without a stroll along the property’s coastal trail, so after indulging in room-service breakfast the next morning, we head out to stretch our legs and fill our lungs with fresh ocean air before heading home.
Have a Ball – Ritzcarlton.com