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The view from Highway 46 from Paso Robles to Cambria

I’m back! Rory and I have returned from our honeymoon, which we split into two parts: the California central coast and Oahu, Hawaii. This post will focus on the first half of our trip.

While both of us had driven to and from Northern California many times, neither of us had spent much time on the central coast. And because Rory had a short film screening at the Santa Cruz Film Festival, we decided we would take our time — a whole week — to drive ourselves up there, stopping along the way to enjoy our beautiful state. And what a beauty she is. The cute towns, the gorgeous coastline — I would do this drive again in a heartbeat.

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L.A. Market, Chef Kerry Simon’s restaurant at the JW Marriott hotel at L.A. Live, is now being helmed by Chef de Cuisine Nona Sivley of Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen” fame. The restaurant’s menu reflects Sivley’s Southern roots with a California flair, ending up with mixed results. There were some dishes here that I loved, but there were also some that missed its mark.

What I loved:

This gnocchi and lump crab appetizer was unique and absolutely delicious. The gnocchi was pillowy, and the addition of kumquat and micro basil was a pleasant surprise and nicely complemented the truffle parmesan cream sauce.

Gnocchi

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San Juan Marriott. From Don Riddle (Flickr).

Through June 12, Marriott International Inc. is offering a “Deal of the Day,” with up to 60 percent off rates at a different Caribbean, Hawaii or California hotel each day for 24 hours. Other deals that’ll be offered include free nights based on a minimum length of stay, and free services and amenities. You can find the deals starting at 7:00 a.m. on either Marriott’s Twitter feed (@marriottintl) or at www.MarriottDealoftheDay.com. Today’s deal is 10 percent off daily room rates to $167, with a fourth night free on either a pool- or ocean-view room and free daily breakfast for two at the San Juan, Puerto Rico, Marriott. Though Marriott won’t release the locations of the hotels beforehand, the company says most will be beach resorts. You’ll have to find your own way there, though.

Of course for L.A. locals, the Westin Bonaventure has been giving away free rooms since March via its Twitter feed (@thebonaventure).