Croce’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar is Ingrid Croce’s tribute to her late singer/songwriter husband, Jim Croce.
Baby Boomers will nostalgically remember Jim Croce for his hit songs like, Time In A Bottle, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song, and many more.
Jim Croce tragically died in a plane crash just as his career was beginning to explode, and today Ingrid’s restaurant sits precisely where the two of them had whimsically entertained the idea of starting a restaurant years before.
Ingrid Croce:
“Years later, with hopes of keeping Jim’s music alive and of building a tribute to his life and music, I was called by a friend who told me she knew of an open storefront for rent in the dilapidated Gaslamp district. When I went to look at the space, I realized it was located on the same corner where Jim and I had stopped a dozen years before. It felt like an omen. Building a restaurant and bar there would be the perfect tribute to Jim and a wonderful opportunity to help revitalize downtown San Diego.”
Today, San Diego’s Gaslamp District is bustling with life, and Croce’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar is smack dab in the middle of it all.
As we left our car with the valet, and crossed 5th street to the restaurant, there in the middle of all of the activity was Ingrid Croce. She wore a beautiful red dress, was busily personally meeting the guests, and making all feel welcome in this, the centerpiece of her professional life for the past 25 years.
Ingrid was expecting us, and happily had saved us a table under the restaurant’s red sidewalk awnings.
As we settled ourselves, we enjoyed watching massive numbers of humanity stroll by on this famous boulevard, and ordered ourselves each a glass of wine.
The waitstaff was very attentive, and before we got too involved in our meal, Ingrid popped over, made certain that we were comfortable, and told us that she would spend a few minutes with us after we enjoyed our meals.
By this time, in our 10-day tour of San Diego, we had indulged ourselves in five consecutive nights of fabulous dining and therefore were determined to keep our cuisine on the lighter side.
Rather than our typical choice of beginning with salads, we shared Tempura Calamari with Red and Green Jalapeños (with oregano marianara parmesan). YUM!
Alaskan Halibut
For our main courses, Carol went with Sesame Seared Sashimi Ahi (with basmati and wild rice, teriyaki beurre blanc and Asian salad), while I went for the in-season Pan Seared Alaskan Halibut(drizzled with a Meyer lemon Riesling syrup served with roasted fingerling potatoes, grilled asparagus, sauteed red bell peppers, micro cilantro and Meyer Lemon zest).
Both dishes were totally delicious, and we greatly enjoyed sharing each others fare as we took in the atmosphere of this wonderful place.
Croce’s Restaurant was hitting on all eight cylinders as the food was great, and the setting made the experience all the more memorable.
With unrecognized willpower, we resisted dessert and opted for coffee drinks in Croce’s Jazz Bar. It had just turned 8:30, and it was time for the jazz band Primo to liven up the crowd with their interesting improvisations. The place was hopping, and we very fortunate to find one lone stool around the bar which we made a beeline for.
This is the type of place where the atmosphere invites a conversation with the person next to you. Besides, the place was so busy, they were in your “personal space” anyway, so you might as well make a conversation out of it. The moment Carol hit the stool, as she loves to interact with new people, she found quick friends in an interesting couple from Oregon.
For the next hour or so, we enjoyed the music, sipped on our coffee drinks, watched the couple from Oregon share five different menu items, and overall just had a great time in the heart of San Diego’s Gaslamp District.
When you visit San Diego, you must visit the Gaslamp District at night. And, the best seat in town to start such an evening is dining on the sidewalk, on the corner of 5th and F, under the red awnings of Croce’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar.
It’s fabulous and we highly recommend it.
Disclosure: this fabulous dining experience was compliments of Croce’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar. Thanks Ingrid! We had a fabulous time, and your cuisine was fantastic.
I just shot this photograph of Mesquite pods in our backyard.
July in Scottsdale, Arizona: Mesquite Pods, Monsoons, and Incredible Resort Rates
The month of July generally marked a very important time in the life of Arizona’s ancient Hohokam Indians.
First of all, the area’s plentiful mesquite trees are currently dropping their pods as the monsoonal winds begin their annual visit and shake the trees of this precious fruit. These pods may not look like much to you, but to the ancient Hohokam they were a important staple of their diet. The Hohokam woman would gather these pods, grind them in stone mortar and pestles, and make a flour very rich in much needed protein in their diets.
Secondly, we are just coming out of our “foresummer” season which is very hot, very low humidity, and absolutely no rain. In late June, early July, the winds will made a sudden shift from the west, and will begin to blow in a circular fashion from the south and east bring much needed moisture to the hot dry Sonoran Desert air from the Sea of Cortez producing our annual monsoon season.
These monsoons will bring cloud cover to cool the earth, rains to water the lands, and each evening provides an opportunity to see a lightening show like you have never dreamed possible.
In my opinion, and contrary to many unenlightened travelers, July is a wonderful time to visit Arizona for three reasons:
You haven’t lived until you witnessed a monsoonal storm.
No crowds! The town is relatively empty as travelers are predominantly venturing elsewhere, and as many locals head for higher, cooler lands.
And most importantly to a traveler, our world famous resorts are offered at discount prices. It is entirely possible to secure lodging in a world-class Five-Diamond Scottsdale resort at only $99 +/- per night right now.
Therefore, I warmly (no pun intended) welcome you to come visit my hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona in July. I promise, you will thank me later.
How would you like to stay in one of San Diego’s earliest Victorian mansions, and have a butler at your disposal 24/7?
Sound cool?
Well, you can absolutely do that when you stay at Britt Scripps Inn.
This Bankers Hill Victorian mansion was built in the late 1880s, and at the time was the most expensive home ever built in San Diego. Amazingly, the home has only had four owners in all those years. Today, in the hands of owner Gordon B. Hattersley, III, the home remains resplendent in its Victorian charm, yet brought very modern with a $6 million overhaul.
Each of the Inn’s nine stately guest rooms have been lavishly furnished with original period pieces, each room is very unique in its character, and the finest of soft goods have been obtained. Yet, you will enjoy 12 foot high ceilings, complimentary wi-fi, flat screen televisions, and a bed that will leave you comfortably in a fetal position until long after sunrise.
When you do manage to scrape yourself from the 1,000 count sheets, rub the sleep from your eyes, and meander past the vintage signed 1883 Steinway piano, you will find that a most wonderful breakfast is about to be prepared for you by the Inn’s own chef.
Now THIS is living!
The Britt Scripps Inn in conveniently located within easy walking distance of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park, and only a mile away from the city’s bustling Gas-lamp District.
The Parlor at Britt Scripps Inn
Another reason we love to stay at properties of this type is the intimate setting, and the opportunity to meet interesting people from all over the world. During the Inn’s 5:30 – 7:00 hors d’oeuvres, we were privileged to meet an attorney and his wife in town from the South, as well as a young couple where she was a producer on the television show, The Biggest Loser. The six of us had a wonderful visit before Carol and I had to whisk off to dinner.
Note: click photograph(s) for a much larger view!
We bring home many great memories of our stay at Britt Scripps Inn. The staff was most gracious, and impeccable in their service. The intricate, original hand-hewn redwood woodwork in the dining room, parlor, and especially the majestic stairway will remain long in my memory. The wall of antique stained glass lite by the morning sun was simply stunning, and I loved the massive Camphor tree that was planted in the side yard in 1887!
It is seldom that you get a chance to enjoy such a historic mansion in such an intimate setting. In my opinion, you would be absolutely bonkers not to spend some time in this elegant estate hotel during your visit to the San Diego area.
We loved our stay, and if we had ten thumbs we would give Britt Scripps Inn “ten thumbs up”!
Disclosure: this wonderful lodging was provided by Britt Scripps Inn. Thanks!
When today’s baby boomer contemplates a vacation at a luxurious location, the enlightened hotelier will profoundly understand that this particular client is not only looking for the best of amenities, but is likely most of all looking for a remarkable experience.
You see, when we stayed at the La Valencia Hotel, we didn’t bring any amenities back home with us, except for a used bar of Gilchrist & Soames soap, but we left the La Valencia Hotel will a passel of the most wonderful memories.
And wonderful memories are fickle things. They don’t just happen. You must go out of your way to create a special memory. And, the special memory must be sought after with a spirit of giving, rather than a desire for accolades.
I am very pleased to report that the La Valencia Hotel understands these things very, very clearly, and that Carol and I now possess the most wonderful memories of La Valencia Hotel, and further, greatly desire to visit again.
Also, this 1926 historic hotel not only possesses the character and feel of a centuries old Mediterranean resort, with its proud perch upon the crest of La Jolla Cove, but its sirens call has been alluring not only Hollywood’s rich and famous for decades, but has endeared itself to the hearts of many thousands of loyal patrons as well.
Our Ocean Front Villa
Sea Lions in Scripps Park
Note: click on photos for a larger view.
As Carol mentioned in the video, and I hope you noticed from my photographs, this is a remarkable property in a remarkable location.
While this hotel lies centrally located in the wonderful town of La Jolla, what you should also know is that right outside the back gate of the La Valencia Hotel is Scripps Park.
Scripps Park is a wonderful place to walk along the ocean boardwalk and smell the salt-sea air, listen to the sea gulls, watch children playing soccer, watch countless divers, snorkelers, and fisherman moving about in the ocean, and best of all, watch the wonderfully entertaining sea lions.
When considering a room in La Valencia, as with any historic hotel, make certain to discuss your room’s dimensions, and in particular, the room’s view. Rooms at La Valencia range from 250 sq. ft. street front rooms, to massive suites overlooking the ocean. You will want to be certain that you get the best view that your budget will allow.
The La Valencia Hotel is a most enchanting place. I highly recommend that you give their link a click and poke around their website. But most of all, if you find yourself headed towards Southern California, we highly recommend that you give them a visit for yourself.
We highly recommend the La Valencia Hotel.
Disclosure: this wonderful experience was provided by the La Valencia Hotel. Thanks!
One of the great contributing factors to the joy we experience as we roam around the world are the many wonderful, and completely different fine dining restaurants we get to visit.
After we got ourselves settled in our La Valencia Hotel Ocean Villa, rather than take the elevator, we climbed the steps up to the restaurant where they perched us directly in front of the window with a majestic view of the Pacific Ocean, and the beautiful sunset that was currently on dazzling display.
With a nice glass of wine in hand, we began to peruse the menu, and opted to start out with the Mediterranean Room’s very popular Mediterranean Spreads (tzatziki, melitzanosalata, tramasalata and hummus with house cured olives and homemade pita).
Mediterranean Spreads
As you can see in my photograph, these spreads were beautifully presented, and even more delightful to the taste!
Moving along in our epicurean journey, we next decided to share Pickled Baby Beets (gorgonzola dolce, candied pecans, chive pesto, wild baby arugula, citrus crème fraîche). Wow! We love beets, and this dazzling display of various colored beets was a treat to the eye and palate.
We oft enter a restaurant with the intention of sharing the whole meal, but the main course is generally where we will have our path divided.
In this case, Carol was seduced by a Roast Prime Rib Eye Filet (macaroni and goat cheese gratin, haricot vert, oven dried tomato, herb roasted shallot), while I was listening to the siren’s song of my oft tendered Paella Valencia (local seafood, shrimp, lobster, scallop, shellfish, sausage).
Carol’s eyes rolled back in glee as she savored her filet, while my piping hot dish of paella kept my discriminating palate happily surprised with each bite.
Neither of us completely cleaned our plates for two reasons:
We couldn’t
We were instructed to leave room for the Mediterranean Room’s banana cream pie. We both always follow instructions. Yeah, right!
I think there exists in the heart of every chef an evil troll who delights in the remote possibility that they might make actually make someone explode with the size of their portions. Really, I think it’s true.
As we began to discuss with our waiter our desire to simply share one dessert, we could tell that his lips were moving, but he knew better.
As Carol’s decaf coffee appeared, along with my double decaf espresso, up shows our waiter with not one dessert, but two!
See, I told you that most chefs have an evil streak in them.
Well, not wanting to be insulting to the chef, we gathered up our forks and began to dive into Banana Cream Pie (white chocolate curls, banana ice cream, and butterscotch sauce), and I think we also actually heard our taste buds sing for joy as we sampled Goat Cheese Strawberry Cheesecake (dark chocolate balsamic sauce (oh my!), candied pistachios, and strawberry mint tartare).
Oh my sweet, delectable desserts, how I love thee!
Well, what a remarkable evening. A beautiful Pacific Ocean sunset, a most wonderful meal, the company of my bride of nearly 25 years, and the magnanimous hospitality of the La Valencia Hotel’s Mediterranean Room.
Sublime, and highly recommended!
Disclosure: this wonderful dining experience was provided by the La Valencia Hotel. Thanks!
The Roaming Boomers
As we left our car with the valet, and crossed 5th street to the restaurant, there in the middle of all of the activity was Ingrid Croce. She wore a beautiful red dress, was busily personally meeting the guests, and making all feel welcome in this, the centerpiece of her professional life for the past 25 years.
