Visiting Carmel by the Sea

Visiting Carmel by the Sea

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17 Mile Drive Stop in Pebble Beach

California is beautiful.

A few hours north from Los Angeles and it's just more so. Driving up PCH and Highway One is just stunning in so many ways.

From the cliff-side rugged beaches, to the cerulean blue water, to the freshness of the air caressing your face as you zoom past the hustle and bustle of city life, experiencing California by driving through it is the best way to do it...

And when you keep driving north, past Los Angeles, Ventura, Pismo Beach, Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo...you arrive at one of the most beautiful places in California: The Monterey Peninsula.

Drive west into the peninsula and arrive at the crowning jewel of the Monterey Bay: Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Sunset from my balcony at Hofsas House in Carmel

A quaint town, and as the name suggests, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a seaside village located in the Monterey Peninsula known to charm their adult childless travelers, dog-loving couples and girlfriends escaping their 9-5 routines with boutique shops, art galleries, upscale restaurants and wine tasting rooms.

For us, it was the perfect getaway from Los Angeles.

Dog-friendly Amenities at Hofsas House

Looking to reboot after a long semester in school, my hubby, Maya and me, made arrangements with the Bavarian-inspired Hofsas House Hotel, which planned every last detail of our dog-friendly getaway.

We were excited to stay at the Hofsas House, a family-owned hotel, because it has been a Carmel staple for 60 years that continues to impress guests with it's warm hospitality and small town charm.

The Hotel has an European-style Inn look and the rooms have a unique flair created by the in-house decorator - the matron of Hofsas House. 

Our suite-style dog-friendly room also had a private balcony overlooking the pool, a fireplace, large bathroom, cocktail area and wetbar. 

Wifi was also available throughout the property and easy to access; although, with the beauty of the sunsets and sunrises, I can't say that we used it much.

Upon our arrival to Carmel, Hofsas House greeted us with a Monterey wine and cheese selection from The Cheese Shop in Carmel set-up in our room, which was a welcome afternoon snack before we got dressed to go to the pool.

Maya was also greeted with the Hofsas House 'Tail Wagging Package,' which included a special dog bed, collapsible dog bowl, treats, and a letter from the hotels pet concierge that included a few insider tips and recommendations!

The Monterey Wine & Cheese Pairing ($30) can be added to your stay

After an hour or so poolside, we gathered our things and returned to our room to get ready for dinner. Unlike Los Angeles, however, once you arrive to Carmel, you rarely use your car.

We simply got ready and walked with Maya to La Dolce Vita, a lovely dog-friendly Italian Restaurant that also hosts live music.

Parmesan Calamari Steak over a bed of Risotto

Carmel is also a safe and hospitable town that made us comfortable enough to explore the small streets with Maya in tow before we headed back to our room that evening....and then something amazing happened: The TV was turned off before we went to sleep. That's when I knew that we had fully disconnected and were enjoying our time together.

The next morning I woke-up with the ocean breeze softly swinging the hotel curtains, and the seagulls making their oh-so-famous ocean-sound in the background. 

I left hubby and Maya in bed, and walked to the lobby where Hofsas House provides daily continental breakfast -with a selection of European pastries, fruits, juices and coffee- that you can take back to your room. 

Instead of hanging out with the other guests, I took a breakfast tray and set-up in our balcony while Hubby and Maya cuddled a bit longer. 

That afternoon we walked with Maya to the main area of town and stopped by various wine-tasting rooms with our 'Wine Tasting Passport,' which gave us the opportunity to walk through town and try different wineries from Central California.

We also viewed a few galleries and did a little shopping at Kris Kringle of Carmel, Diggidy Dog Boutique and Lula's Chocolateries. By midday we had a light take-out lunch from Salmuria Luca and later stopped by to taste the yummy organic juices from Carmel Belle.

By early evening we headed back to Hofsas House to get ready for dinner at Abalonetti Seafood, located at Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, which was a short drive from Carmel.

Abalonetti Seafood has incredible service and even a dog-friendly menu for our four-legged companions. Of course we couldn't resist and ordered a burger patty dinner for Maya - that was served on a doggy saucer. 

As for human food - what can I say? We're huge seafood fans, and Monterrey never disappoints, but Abalonetti Seafood elevated the pier-side dining experience.

As most weekend getaways tend to be, they seems too short when it's time to go home. 

But before we headed back to Los Angeles, we picked-up a packed lunch at 5th Avenue Deli to enjoy at the dog-friendly leash-free beach with Maya.

This was Maya's first time being off leash at a beach, and trust me, she truly enjoyed every moment of running around the white sand dunes of the Carmel Beach!

Before we left Carmel, we drove through the 17 mile drive (Pebble Beach) and took Highway 1 from Carmel to San Luis Obispo. Although it added a couple of hours to our drive back home, the view was entirely worth it!

To plan your visit to Carmel and the Monterey Peninsula, contact Hofsas House and ask about their weekend getaway promotions or add-on's to make your stay more memorable. That's exactly what we did - and it absolutely made our stay more remarkable because we left the planning to them.

Web: http://www.hofsashouse.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hofsashousehotel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hofsashouse

Ana Lydia

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Miss Asia Kinney models for Coach

Miss Asia Kinney models for Coach

I'm excited to get reacquainted with COACH by way of Lady Gaga's ADORABLE French Bulldog Miss Asia Kinney, the first furry baby star in a series of Steven Meisel COACH ads launching July 2015!

As a proud furry baby mama myself, I'm happy to see a Lifestyle Brand celebrating the love and beauty of our beloved furry baby's, while at the same time giving to the Chicago French Bulldog Rescue (frenchieporvous.org).

This new ad campaign will also introduce #coachpups, a series of online activities for fellow dog lovers, opportunities for Instameets, special talks and other events hosted for the good of our furry babies. 

I'm sure Princess Maya Candice will be participating in one, or several of these meet-ups...maybe on our way to get ourselves one of those pretty new COACH handbags ;-)

Ana Lydia

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Princess Maya wishes you a Happy National Puppy Day

Princess Maya wishes you a Happy National Puppy Day

From my little family to yours, wishing you a National Puppy Day filled with wet kisses and lotsa love.

Ana Lydia

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Healing with Maya

Healing with Maya

After the passing of Chatito, I had several well-intentioned folks giving me advice to help me "move on."

"He was just a dog," someone told me.  "You are acting ridiculous," the caller added as I sobbed uncontrollably on the other end of the phone.

Yes, Chatito was physically a dog, but he signified so much more than the sum of his legs and arms (AKA paws).  When he died, a piece of me also died.  It's hard to explain, but a whole chapter of my life ended when Chatito left me.

Unfortunately, his death didn't just touch me, it also affected my home.  My hubby was just as broken as I was, but as a man, he couldn't show it like I did.  "Maybe we should get you another dog to help you get over Chatito," my hubby told me a couple of days after Chatito died.

"I don't want another dog, I want Chatito," I pleaded like a teenage girl.

"I can't get you Chatito back," my hubby told me as he rubbed my head and tried to console me, "but we can get Chatito a sister."

A sister.

We "won't be replacing Chatito," my hubby tried to explain.  "Gettting a puppy will help you share your love with a puppy that also needs love...Chatito would want you to get another puppy..."

"Why prolong the pain?" the same friend that was with me when Chatito took his last breath asked me.

"The only way to help you heal will be to get another puppy," my MIL told me.

"You have to get her another dog," my brother told my hubby.

"You have too much love to give not to have a dog," a friend told me.

Maya Candice, named after Maya Angelou and Chatito, the brother she never met

As we began the healing process and went through the motions after loosing our little man (as we were prone to call Chatito), a three-month old Boston Terrier came into our lives.

A bit soon I think...and yes I am feelings the pangs of guilt...

But then I look at her big hazel eyes after she wipes the tears from my face when I tell her about Chatito, the brother she never met...

Yes, I have too much love to give...we have too much love to give.

And so it was...and so it is...

A new chapter in my life...and a little girl to share our love with...

Welcome to our home Maya Candice!  May our love give you many years of happiness in our family.

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Chatito Died

Chatito Died

Chatito a couple of hours before he died managed to lift his head one last time

It's funny how life is: sometimes you are up, other times you are so low you feel like you are walking among the swamp monsters.

To merely state that this year has been a roller coaster with more valleys than peaks, is to understate the extreme lows I have been going through.

But, regardless of how low the valley's were, I always had two things to look forward to at the end of each day: The "rock" that was laying in bed next to me (AKA my hubby), and the undivided attention and never ending love from Chatito (our pug baby).

Truth be told, it was only three weeks ago that we came back from vacation a day early, not only because we have to deal with my step-daughters heart surgery (more of that later); but because we were anxious to pick-up Chatito from my moms (who was babysitting).

"I can't wait to have him play with us in bed..." my hubby told me as we rushed home to pick-up Chatito.

And so it was - - - a shorter vacation and very little relaxation due to both personal and professional issues that had to be dealt with while I was away (I told ya'll this year was hellish!).  But at least, we had our four-legged son excited to see us!

I'll never forget our drive home after we picked up Chatito.  He was sitting in the middle of the both of us as we drove home.  He sneezed on the both of us (because he never learned to kiss us), and looked up at us with his big brown eyes as-if-to-tell-us "don't ever leave me again."

We didn't plan on it - especially not me.

With the news that my stepdaughter would be flying-in only a couple of days later to prep for her second heart surgery (see above -hellish year!), my plans were to work from home.

All seemed fine (drama aside!), until only a few days later Chatito woke me up after throwing-up in our bed.  At first I was mad (who wants to be woken-up at 3 a.m. to clean-up after anyone), but then I worried when he continued to throw-up the entire night and well into the morning.  Regardless of how mad I was, "surely Chatito ate something he shouldn't have;" Chatito seemed to want to get closer to me - more so than usual.

"Don't worry," my hubby told me.  "Chatito probably ate something he shouldn't have."

That morning, Chatito and I followed our usual routine: he looked at my from our bed while I showered and changed, then had our usual morning walk. He even walked down the stairs.

Little did I know how sick he really was.

Three conference calls, and one meeting later, my step-daughter and I drove Chatito to what would be the start of the two most miserable days of my existence.

Outside of having the most unsympathetic and incompetent veterinarians ever, the animal hospital staff didn't do a single thing to guide us through what would be Chatito's last day with us.

Dr. Loo, a name that will be forever engraved in my memory, was a cold and heartless bitch. She is someone that I will never, ever, forgive for being the cause of Chatito's painful night.  His last night.

Remember, until that day, Chatito had been a healthy pup.  Sure, we had a cancer scare last year - but his tumor was removed.

But wait - any good Vet would put two-and-two together.  Again, Dr. Loo was anything but a cold, money-hungry junior vet. According to her, she couldn't diagnose him "without blood work," and "maybe an "Xray."

So my question to her was: "what the heck have you been doing to Chatito for the last hour?!"

Being a little OCD, I knew Chatito's medical history by heart.  And if I forgot anything, I had the assistance of my pre-vet studies step-daughter.  In other words, we wanted to know what was wrong, and treat it.

Simple.

I wanted Chatito to go back to where he was the day before: a happy, healthy and playful pup that was wowed by everyone that met him at the Santa Monica Food Truck lot.

I wanted Chatito to go back home and roll in bed with us.

I wanted Chatito to grow old - and live to be at least twelve years old.

What happened, instead, was that we took control of Chatito's health and avoided any "work-up" done by the vet that was quoted as at least $1,000 (one thousand dollars!), without any hope that we would know, and fix, what was wrong with Chatito.

Almost $300 dollars later, Chatito was sent home by a Vet's assistant - because Dr. Loo never came back to talk to us after she quoted us $1,000.

Chatito was a rag doll - pumped-up with liquids and anti-nausea meds.  I held him in my arms, as did my stepdaughter and my hubby when he got home.

Again, trying to reassure me, hubby told me "Don't worry.  Chatito is just weak because he didn't eat and he threw up all night."

I wanted to believe him - but as the evening approached and I took Chatito downstairs to go to the bathroom, I felt a cold damp feeling on my chest.  Chatito had lost control of his bladder and had peed on me. This was completely unlike him - he had never lost control of his bladder - especially not on me!

I then placed him on the grass and noticed his glazed-over look, and immediately felt it - Chatito was dying.

I cried.  Actually, I whaled. Loudly, uncontrollably, and without any reservation.

Chatito looked at me, but was too weak to do anything else. I cried at him, screamed at God: "why would anyone take the one soul on this God green earth that gave me so much happiness?"

My neighborhood friends saw the spectacle I was making of myself, and my hubby was quick to run downstairs.

"Calm down," he told me, "he will be OK by the morning."

But that was not to be.  While my hubby and me slept, Chatito was bleeding from the puncture wounds that were meant to hydrate and heal him.

At 5 a.m., I woke-up to find a trail of blood from Chatito's bed to our bed, and Chatito completely lethargic slumped in a corner.

The rest of the day is a blur.  But I know this much:

I took Chatito to the same vet I went to only a few hours earlier.  The new vet walked-in half-an-hour after Chatito and I did.

She wanted to run more tests.

Hubby calls.  Friends call.

Hubby show's up.

Vet tells us that "Chuck is a very sick pup."  That was the first of many times I corrected the vet on Chatito's name.

We are left alone.

Vet tells us that she "ran an ultrasound," a test, we later found out, that wasn't suggested or done the day before.

Vet can't tell us what is wrong with Chatito - unless she runs more test.

"What can it be?" my hubby asked.  "Chatito was fine two days ago..."

We tell her -again- everything I told the vet the day before.  Everything I told her hours before.

I am inconsolable.

Hubby is ready to sell anything we have to save Chatito - if we can save him.

No answers.  We have been at the vet for hours.

We just want Chatito to go back to normal.

The vet finally tells us what we should have been told a day before:  Chatito's stomach lining is five times the thickness of a normal pup.  It's probably cancer.

Cancer.

"Cancer is what caused his throwing up, and what caused his bleeding," she said.  "He's a very sick pup."

"Why didn't anyone tell us this yesterday?" I asked her through my tears.

The vet slumped her shoulders and quickly defended Dr. Loo.

My hubby and I looked at each-other and quickly stated what we had talked about before: "With such a low survival rate of dogs undergoing chemo or radiation, we have decided that Chatito will not go through either treatment."

"If you don't want to treat him because of the money, then your best solution is humane euthanasia," the vet told us.

I wanted to punch her and go out to the VCA emergency room and scream to everyone: "LEAVE!"

"Bring us Chatito NOW," I told her. "We will take Chatito to his own vet and decide what to do..."

"Well, if its because of the money...money being a concern..." the vet added.  At this point, every ounce of my being hated her, hated VCA and loathed Dr. Loo - the Vet that started this chain of events.

The vet then told us that she was "doing us a favor, not charging us," and that she would send Chatito with some pills that could "hopefully pep him up a bit."

According to her, Chatito "may live a week, maybe longer."

We paid the "online price" for these pills.  Again, as a "favor," and took Chatito home.

The rest of the day was a mixture of (more) raw emotions, hopeful prayers, and then finally coming to terms with what was bound to happen that day: Chatito dying.

And, on the afternoon of Thursday, October 11 of this year, I held Chatito and kissed him while he took his final breath.

My little man, the love of my life, the sun in my eyes, my best friend, and my twin soul died.

Chatito died.

My stepdaughter, a dear friend, and Chatito's girlfriend Daisy were with me when Chatito died in my arms.

With Chatito's death, a whole part of my life died...

Chatito showed me how to "live my life in my truth" and enjoy the peace and quiet in each day.

I will miss you my little man and will hold you close in my heart - forever.

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Restaurant Review: Cafe Chez Marie

Restaurant Review: Cafe Chez Marie

Cafe Chez Marie
Outdoor Patio

I have a big problem: I tend to keep my favorite places to myself.  I rarely, if ever, tell random people, or even my friends, where to find the best food, stiff drinks, and pretty people.  It's not that I am selfish, I simply love these places and would hate for them to change with an influx of strangers, or strange people.  (not one of the same)

Another reason for keeping restaurant secrets, is that I hate for people to judge them with their foodgnorance ruler. (Foodgnorance is a judgement ruler from someone that reviews a type of food or restaurant that they have no knowledge about.  It's akin to me judging Guatemalan food..I'm Mexican. What the heck would I know?!)

But I am going to try, really I am.  Because true to my heart, I am a foodie.  I come from a family of foodies, and make it my mission to find the best places...and get there before anyone else does.

As it's been the case for many years, and the reason I stopped Yelping: I don't read reviews from people I don't know or trust their judgement on food.

Likewise, you probably shouldn't read this (or any of my) restaurant reviews unless you care about the  quality of the ingredients, the taste and look of the dish, restaurant ambiance and the people that frequent the restaurant.

If you care about all of the above and have a special interest in Los Angeles (area) restaurants, I will be one of your go-to gals...together with a few people that I will, in the very near future, recommend that you also read and follow.  Trust me, they know food and they are good people.

This time around I am going to share one of my favorite brunch and lunch spots only walking distance from where I live:

Outdoor Bistro Tables at Cafe Chez Marie

Cafe Chez Marie

Tucked next to an office building on the north side of Santa Monica Blvd., in West Los Angeles, this charming French cottage seems a bit out-of sorts, yet perfectly in harmony with it's surroundings.

The Ambiance
The owners, both French Moroccan, are warm and friendly and know exactly what to recommend.  Which also means that they will "correct you" if you order something out-of-sorts.  For example, the last time we dined for brunch, my friends and I were starving and ordered a bread basket to start...to which the owner immediately remarked that our brunch was too heavy and ordering a bread basket would be too much food.  Sure, we appreciated the heads up, but sometimes you want to order what you want to order.

Moving on...

The Crowd
Frequent diners are either locals, like myself, or the creative and media executives that work in the nearby building.  You might also see a celebrity or two, a few (working) producers and our neighborhood pups.

Yes my friends, this is a doggy friendly location; not to be confused as a just-got-out-of-bed casual dining spot.

The Food
What can I say? The food is beautifully presented and though seemingly small portions, the food is hearty and prepared with quality ingredients.

Following are a few photos of what we ordered the last time we had brunch at Cafe Chez Marie:

Gaufre de Belgique
Belgium waffles with fresh berries, maple syrup and chantilly creme

Pont du Carrousel
Savory Crepes served with Hollandaise sauce
accompanied with an organic baby spinach with tomato, avocado and feta cheese

Oeffs Cocotte
Baked eggs in mornay sauce and Parmesan cheese,
served with petite toasts, home-made jams and fruit

Plan on leaving content after you eat at Cafe Chez Marie and never feeling like you ate too much.

The view from our outdoor bistro table

Cafe Chez Marie
10681 Santa Monica Blvd. (Cross street: Parnell)
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 475-2949

Reservations: Recommended.

Hours:
Monday-Sunday: Breakfast and Lunch - 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Dinner and Hors D'Oeuvres - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Parking: Street Metered Parking or validated parking in the building next door.

Price: Expect to spend an average of $20-25 per person for breakfast/lunch including coffee, tax and 20% tip. Dinner, not including appetizers, wine or salad, ranges from $20 to $35 including tax and 20% tip.

Please let me know if you stop by Chez Marie...and if you do, let them know "Ana Lydia the pug mommy" and blogger sent you.

Bon appétit,

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