Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. From Shell Vacations Hospitality.

Fewer things make me happier than a long weekend. The time off is reward in itself, but going on a trip is even nicer. For those of you who have the time (and money), here are a few travel deals to keep you sane…at least until Tuesday rolls around.

Terranea: Looking for a staycation in the L.A. area? Terranea in Rancho Palos Verdes is offering its Sunset Package, which includes the daily resort fee (I *hate* these things!) and a $75 dining credit, for $375 per night. Use your dining credit toward one of their special meals this weekend, which include a barbecue and a luau.

Las Vegas: Willing to drive a bit farther? Head on over to Las Vegas, where you can find some great deals. Expedia has the Sahara going for as low as $74 per night, which could be great if you don’t plan on spending a lot of time in your room.

Arizona: Want to go even farther? Shell Vacations Hospitality‘s Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix has rooms starting at $59 per night, with one-bedroom suites at $79 per night and two-bedrooms suites at $129 per night. Each suite has a full kitchen or kitchenette, living area, and either a balcony or patio overlooking the courtyards and golf course. And there are no resort fees!

I was invited to try out the food and drink at both places last week, and I came away from the experience pleasantly surprised. These restaurants — the Mexican La Sandia and the Latin-Asian fusion Zengo — are nicer than your usual mall joints, with some pretty respectable cocktails, too.

We started out with cocktails and appetizers at La Sandia. My favorite drink was the cucumber-serrano martini made with mezcal, cucumber, serrano chili, citrus and chili piquin salt on the rim. I love spicy hotness as well as cucumber in my drinks, so this was the prefect combination. I also really enjoyed the shrimp quesadillas made with shrimp, Mexican cheeses, black bean puree, chipotle aioli and topped with crema and avocado. So tasty!

La Sandia cocktails

Moving on to Zengo, which is a small plates concept, where I ordered an orange and jalapeno cocktail that I liked for its combination of sweetness, tanginess and spiciness.

Orange jalapeno cocktail

As for the food, the edamame slathered in X.O. sauce (Chinese spicy seafood sauce) is a nice twist on the traditional soy bean appetizer. The fusion sushi rolls — both the Volcano Roll, with seared salmon, peekytoe crab, cucumber and chipotle aioli, and the Vegetariano Roll, with grilled asparagus, red pepper, avocado and lemon-sake aioli — were surprisingly good (I’m always a little weary of fusion-y rolls, you know).

Edamame with X.O. sauce

Volcano Roll

Other menu highlights include the Peking duck-daikon tacos with duck confit, orange-coriander sauce, curried apple slaw and daikon slices, and the crispy tofu topped with napa cabbage, lemon aioli and sesame-chili sauce. Both were light in flavor, mostly because of the lack of carbs. The Scallops Al Mojo de Ajo, with seared scallops atop a bed of bacon-corn-edamame salsa, roasted garlic soy and yuzu-sriracha aioli, were also good, though I found the contrast between the warm scallops and the cold “salsa” to be a bit off-putting. Too bad, because the flavors were nice.

Peking duck-daikon tacos

Crispy Tofu

Scallops Al Mojo de Ajo

Overall, while I didn’t love every dish that I tried, there was enough good food and drink between the two restaurants that I would definitely go back. Next time I’ll try the guacamole prepared tableside at La Sandia. I’m a sucker for guac.

South Coast Plaza. From Examiner.

This is interesting…A party at Saks Fifth Avenue‘s South Coast Plaza location tomorrow, Aug. 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with the Kogi truck, a steel drum band, live DJ, photo booth fun, Guitar Hero, models and champagne. The event will span all three levels of the store, too. Now, I don’t know about you, but when I think of Saks — at the fancy-pants South Coast, no less — Kogi and Guitar Hero aren’t the first things that come to mind. Models and champagne, sure, but food trucks and video games, no. But who am I to say it’s not a good thing? If you stop by, let us know how it went!

You can win any Perricone product valued at $150 or less. Need helping choosing? How about the Perricone Evening Repair, which works to smooth and illuminate while you sleep? Sounds good to me.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post by Aug. 24 at 11:59 p.m. PST stating why you’d like a particular product (remember, it can’t cost more than $150).

2. Either follow me on Twitter or “like” me on Facebook.

That’s it. I’ll pick a winner at random and make the announcement on Aug. 25. Good luck!

**Contest is closed.**

UPDATE: Congratulations to Sacha of Swirl Smell Slurp!

The Skillet, with roasted new potatoes, bacon, cheddar poached eggs, gucamole and chipotle sour cream.

Located in a small shopping plaza behind Laguna Hills Mall in Orange County, Break of Dawn is a local gem of a restaurant for breakfast and lunch. With the entrees divided into the two main categories of Traditional and Savory, Chef Dee Nguyen uses bold flavors and Asian influence to take his dishes to the next level at accessible prices. The result is not simply fusion food, but rather a hearty Asian and American meal.

Upon entering the restaurant, patrons are greeted by the warmth of a wood interior and paintings featuring different sayings in brush script, each intimating the close relationship that Chef Nguyen has with food and its importance in our lives. This being Southern California, i.e. perfect weather fairly often in a life’s-not-fair way, there is also outdoor seating available with shade and a pleasant fountain nearby.

Chef Nguyen continues the appreciation for aesthetics from the dining room to the dishes being served in it. A former chef at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, Nguyen’s attention to detail is preserved in the presentation. Sauces are distributed in pleasant patterns and the food itself is placed artistically, eliminating the need for garnishes — that is to say, not only will you love how it looks, but you’ll also literally clean your plate.

Standout dishes include the Mac and Cheese, Sausage and Rice, Benedict, Corned Beef and Smoked Salmon. The delightfully subtle scallion puree used in the Sausage and Rice is amazing. If you don’t see a small bottle of the homemade Vietnamese Dragon Chili at your table, make it a point to request it. The French Toast Creme Brulee is quite rich and is best shared. Cocktails, made with soju, are also available, including blood orange mojitos and Asian or Bloody Marys.

Mac and Cheese, with Sicilian sausage, short rib, bacon fried eggs, smoked gouda-tomato carbonara

Sausage and Rice, with Portugese-Hawaiian sausage, green papaya and sesame salad, scallion puree and fried eggs

The Benedict, with soft poached eggs, grilled potato bread, smoked ham and Asian pesto hollandaise

Smoked Salmon, with coriander cured salmon, oatmeal galette, herb poached egg, fennel seed tomato and preserved kumquat

Open from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, it is easy to make this place a weekly habit. The food is great, the atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed, and dining here won’t break your bank account. The only thing you have to do, which might be difficult for some more than others, is wake up some time before midday. It is called Break of Dawn for a reason, after all.

Note: All photos by Eros David.

One of those special grand opening events will be taking place at Bloomingdale’s (yes, Bloomies!) with Nation LTD, the luxe basics brand. Designer Jen Menchaca will be offering styling tips, and there will be a giveaway contest with the chance to win one of three “Summer Survival Kits” filled with Nation LTD tees (retail value $325). The first 50 purchasers will receive a free denim Nation LTD tote, and Bobbi Brown makeup artists will be on hand to offer beauty tips and to give out mini Crystal Lip Glosses. If only I didn’t have to go to work tomorrow!

Friday, Aug. 6
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bloomingdale’s at Santa Monica Place
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA, 90401

Recess Nail Spa. From Green L.A. Girl.

I recently checked out Recess Nail Spa, an environmentally friendly nail salon not far from the Beverly Center, and came away impressed. For one thing, the space is huge — it looked about three times the size of a typical nail salon — and it was much more luxurious, with plush chairs and flat screen TVs. Aside from actual spas, I have never seen a dedicated nail salon look so nice.

I got a manicure and pedicure, courtesy of a gift card I won at The Fashion Frontline launch party. I got the the Basic Manicure, which includes a mani, hot towels and massage, and the Basic Pedicure, which includes a pedi, scrub, hot towels and massage. I had two people working on me at the same time, and both did a great job. I chose a pink-coral color from SpaRitual, which according to its website, is a vegan nail polish line free of synthetic dyes. I’ve noticed that the color doesn’t chip as much as it wears away from the tips. Recess also carries Zoya, which is free of toluene, formaldehyde, phthalates and camphor. You also get your choice of lotion for your massage, with scents that are sweet, spicy or citrusy.

I was also happy with the service. Even though I came in without an appointment less than an hour before closing time, the salon accommodated me and didn’t make me feel rushed at all.

Through the end of August, the salon is offering a special on the Basic Manicure for $20 and the Basic Pedicure for $30. If you want to save $5, just forgo the hot towels. I’ve had similar manis at actual spas (and even ones that weren’t as good) for much more. This is a great deal. I just may have to make this a regular part of my beauty regimen!

Savor Los Angeles, a showcase of L.A.’s sweetest of the sweet, is hosting its first event this Friday, July 30, at Miauhaus photography studio. There will be all kinds of desserts, including those from BabyCakes, Frosted Cupcakery, Gotta Have S’more, N’iceCream, p.o.p. candy, Plaisir, Popcakes, Pure Cheesecakes, Sweets for the Soul, The Crosby and XT Patisserie. According to press materials, these companies were chosen “for their emphasis on fresh and organic ingredients, alternatives to high-fructose corn syrup, vegan offerings, presentation and design, and good ol’ overall yumminess.” Sounds good to me! There will also be coffee from Intelligentsia, champagne and paired beverages, sparkling juices from IZZE, a cheese and fruit bar, drinks from PAMA liqueur, raffles, music, a photo booth, gift bags, and Boxed water.

The regular ticket price is $35, but Goldstar is selling tickets for $21. Not too shabby, eh?

Details:

Miauhaus
1201 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Friday, July 30
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The meals, which usually take place on the Westside, are $35 for four courses plus a couple of amuse bouches. This generous amount of food coupled with more-than-competent cooking makes this one of the best values around.

The dinner that I attended earlier this month in Santa Monica was Asian-inspired, but there was a level of inventiveness that made this better than your typical Asian fusion meal.

We started off with two amuses, or “lil bites,” as the chefs like to call them. Then we moved on to our first course of squid and konjaku noodles, which are made from yam flour, accompanied by a dashi chorizo sauce, some of which was encapsulated in little bubbles. It was a light yet flavorful dish, and the different textures were a nice element.

Squid and konjaku noodles

Our second course was another tasty gem: a shrimp and corn fritter served with asparagus in corn consomme. So simple, yet so delicious! I just were there had been more of it.

Shrimp and corn fritter with consomme

Our main course consisted of grilled bass served with Chinese pea shoots, dashi and macerated purple potatoes. The flavors were good, but I didn’t love the texture of the macerated potatoes. Though the use of dashi with the potatoes tasted good, some of the little piles were drier than others. But everything else was spot-on, including the fish, which was moist and flaky.

Grilled bass

The red bean tapioca cake for dessert was really a standout. I love red bean, and I love tapioca, so making them into a cake by topping them with a light, flaky almond pie crust that is reminiscent of a Chinese almond cookie made me infinitely happy. I could have eaten this for days.

Red bean tapioca cake

Supper Liberation Front’s menu changes all the time, so check its website for details. On Aug. 4, the chefs are presenting a special five-course, $60 dinner at Library Alehouse in Santa Monica that includes Allagash beer pairings. With items including lamb two ways and foie gras gelato, as well as the always delicious Allagash, this meal is sure to knock your socks off. Purchase prepaid tickets here.

To read about a different SLF meal, check out LAist’s post.