Our overbooked pace can melt the days. It’s good sometimes to simply stop, take a breath and look around. It’s rare to find a place so near yet far, a place to stay a while and listen.
My story about a distant place, which appeared in the 2014 Travel Tales & Summer Camps issue of the Palisadian-Post, sent me far away without going far. Through the kindness of the Post, I was given a “staycation” at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, including a suite for the night and dinner at its restaurant, FIG.
I have lived here most of my life but I had never stayed there, nor had we dined at FIG. My wife Gail and I were more than ready to get off the grid for a while. We were grateful for this opportunity to do something we would not ordinarily have done for ourselves.
Travel involves moving, but it is also a state of mind. We resolved to experience this “staycation” as if we were far away.
It was easy enough to believe we were in a different place when we pulled on to the grounds. The driveway was divided by a giant Sycamore, glowing in the afternoon light. I remembered reading that there had been a hotel on this same spot a hundred years ago, when Santa Monica was a long day’s dusty ride from downtown Los Angeles.
As we entered the lobby it felt open, as if it were a part of the garden. We were shown to our suite near the top of the Ocean Tower, high above the beaches of Santa Monica Bay, winding toward the Palisades and Malibu. It’s remarkable how a change of perspective can alter an experience. The window was floor to ceiling glass, a door to our private patio with an unobstructed view of the expansive coastline, high enough above Ocean Avenue that the buildings below seemed unfamiliar. The room was contemporary and comfortable, with all the amenities one would expect at a fine hotel.
Saturday evening we walked around the gardens until it was time for dinner at FIG. We were seated on the enclosed patio, the area lit by candles reflecting in the pool. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. We had read glowing reviews of Chef Ray Garcia’s dishes prepared with great ingredients in a straightforward manner, focused on taste above all. We were not disappointed. The sauces were absolutely remarkable, each one subtle but distinctive.
I started with the Roasted Tomato Soup with mascarpone and basil, which was delicious. Gail had the Carlsbad Mussels prepared with Chablis and Tarragon, then the Idaho Trout with Brussels sprouts, radishes, bacon and brown mustard. I had the New York Steak, which was cooked to perfection. We repeatedly remarked at the creative combinations of tastes. The ambiance was lovely, we had a wonderful meal, and we will certainly return to FIG.
The next day was Mother’s Day, so our daughters Rebecca and Alex picked up my mother and joined us for brunch. Afterward we walked outside and along Palisades Park, watching the Ocean below.
We felt so lucky to live where we do, and grateful for the opportunity to get so far away on our staycation.
©2014 Eric Lawton. All rights reserved.
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