InDELible Magazine Del Holidays 2018 | Page 29

We are still talking about it. Dessert was decadent and so delicious as pastry chef Yasmine presented a duo of crème brûlée and chocolate lava cake – amazing!  And to top this off, The Del surprised all of us with the most incredible chocolate mousse cake with a soft mango center and crispy almond topping with a Happy Anniversary The staff made the planning so fun and easy, leaving no detail to chance. Chef Stefan sent us some themed menus to tempt our taste buds. During our call to finalize the courses, Chef shared great ideas about incorporating seasonal vegetables while still taking into consideration our dietary preferences. F We came up with a delicious menu that included everyone’s favorites.  That afternoon the staff arrived and or my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary we wanted to surprise them with something unique and intimate. With so many beautiful choices i n San Diego, we decided that a staycation with a small dinner set up our table for 10 on the patio, overlooking the sand and sea. At sunset, we toasted with a special signature cocktail – a gorgeous “Tonic + Gin” with housemade tonic, mint, wheels of lime, ribbons of cucumber and dropper of cucumber elderflower bitters. Delicious. party could be fun and relaxing… and it Then Chef prepared a butter lettuce was! The iconic Hotel del Coronado was salad with hearts of palm, pear and the perfect choice – it was close to home, bacon nuggets, perfectly paired with a yet it felt like we were a million miles away in 2014 Cakebread Reserve Chardonnay. that idyllic beachfront villa. As a family, we The bacon vinaigrette dressing was a have shared so many great memories at The big hit. For the main course, it was surf Del, so what better place for such a special and turf with seared scallops and tender occasion? What made it extraordinary was braised short ribs. Lucky for us, Chef staying at Beach Village for the first time and sourced some beautiful, early season having our own private chef come to the villa truffles that he served with creamy potato and cook for us. risotto and divine trumpet mushrooms. message in chocolate. It was almost too pretty to eat. Wow, what a special treat! From planning to execution, the food and service far exceeded expectations. Our children were even invited to join in the prep with Chef sharing some knife skills and cooking tips. The staff were all lovely and so accommodating to every little request. We also enjoyed fabulous wine pairings—arranged by The Del’s sommelier- and an incredible Croft tawny port to complement the dark chocolate of the anniversary cake. This intimate private patio dinner overlooking the ocean and magnificent Coronado sunset was a magical experience that honored my parents 50 years of marriage in a special way. The beautiful oceanfront setting on the villa patio with candlelight, a glowing fire pit and seashells adorning the table was exactly what we had hoped for. We loved every minute of it. My family will always treasure this memory. Sincerely, Pia Lucey and family 619.522.8100 | HOTELDEL.COM 29