I have said this before about being in Orange Country, you can thumb your nose at us all you want (Angelinos I’m looking at you) but I have some of THE BEST chefs and restaurants right in my own backyard. Starting with Jeff Armstrong Executive Chef at Splashes in the Surf and Sand Resort, Laguna Beach.

Last month I was invited to join a small group of LA and Orange County food bloggers for what promised to be the perfect fall evening in Southern California at the Surf and Sand Resort. Sunsets, cocktails and an ocean front seafood BBQ, you would be crazy to say no to an invitation like that. I’ll let you in on another local secret, the best weather in So Cal usually happens late September early October. During this time of the year you can always count on a little revisit of summer temps coupled with the dry warm off shore winds we call, Santa Anas. Its these winds that provide THE MOST spectacular sunsets by gently pushing all the smog over the ocean creating a spectacular orangery veil of haze. Camera in hand I made my way to the lounge, 15FIFTYFIVE grabbed a Musa Mule which is made with banana infused vodka, housemade gingerbeer with fresh lime. I settled into one of the comfy overstuffed couches and starting snapping a few photos. The golden hour was fast approaching. I sat and watched the waves thinking to myself how lucky I am to have grown up in the area. I have lived in this area for almost forty years now and I never tire of the view. I could have taken a nap in that warm sun if they hadn’t of whisked us away to dinner. 15FIFTYFIVE is a great place to hang out in and of itself! Give me a sunset, a couch and a cocktail and I am a happy girl.

We were given a quick tour of the resort rooms at the Surf and Sand Resort on the way down to the oceanfront pool. Talk about relaxing.

The serene neutral palette of the resort rooms has inspired compelled me to trash my entire bedding ensemble at home and start anew, more on mission that later. I am already obsessed with finding the perfect sea-foam green and the rooms at the resort are filled with varying degrees of it from throws to shelled lamps.  I did linger in the rooms a bit I’ll admit, the rest of the guests had made their way to the pool but I couldn’t help myself, everything I came across was so beautiful how could I NOT photograph it. Glistening palm frawns, freshly stacked pool towels, reflecting pools and crashing waves, I was on major sensory overload. I almost (almost) forgot to sit down and EAT.

True Story.

I mean how can you not want to shoot every square inch of this place.

On the Menu:

BBQ OCTOPUS with white bean and citrus salad and herb oil

GRILLED RED SNAPPER with salsa verde (chef’s recipe coming!!)

LOCAL FISH CEVICHE

GRILLED SHRIMP SKEWERS with grilled pineapple salsa

ROASTED CORN SALAD

CHERRY YUZU PUNCH (chef’s recipe coming!!)

Executive Chef John Anderson is hot newcomer on the Orange County scene. Raised on farm his grandfather showed him how to create a fine cut of meat. Jeff previous kitchen homes include Troquet, Red Pearl Kitchen and Whist at the Viceroy Hotel. “There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burgers, shrimp sandwich. That’s, that’s about it.” – Bubba, Forrest Gump 

from Pastry Chef Ryan Velilla

WHITE CHOCOLATE BAVARIAN SHOOTERS

S’MORES TARTS

SAVORY APPLE TARTLETTES

Thank you event sponsor The OCeanfront OCs Luxury Coast and Food <– click for more information about Orange County’s top chefs and stellar coastal cuisine. Also a big thank you to Beverage Director RJ Bear for an incredible feast both gastronomically and visually! This is actually the second resort (check out my stay at Temecula Creek Inn this past summer) that I have visited that is part of the JC Resort family.

Surf & Sand Resort & Spa
1555 South Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, California 92651
Phone: (949) 497-4477
http://www.facebook.com/SurfandSand

The above post was not a sponsored post. I was not compensated for my review of the resort or its restaurant, I had an exceptional meal and this is my personal experience.