A Chef's Dinner at Newly Redesigned L'Ermitage Beverly Hills

Step inside a beautiful chef’s dinner at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills to fête the unveiling of the hotel’s newest signature eatery, Costa Covo, and sleek lobby lounge Alcova—complete with a custom Negroni cart to serve up bespoke beverages tableside. Led by Executive Chef Todd Matthews and designed by New York-based studio Champalimaud Design, the refreshed space is the perfect place to slip away and soak in some quiet luxury—flute of bubbles in hand.

With a sumptuous spin on Italian favorites and Mediterranean cuisine, each plate—from primo pastas and housemade foccaccia to a buttery Branzino—is prepared with traditional and seasonal ingredients, served alongside curated cocktails from a robust beverage menu and special selections from the elevated wine list.

Come for the coastal cuisine and look forward to the debut of the property’s newest poolside paradise, Pozo, opening in January 2025 as part of the 2 Michelin Key hotel’s recent brand refresh.

Scroll to the end for more images.

“We’re excited to welcome our guests and local community to experience what we’ve been working on behind the scenes here at L’Ermitage,” shared Executive Chef Todd Matthews. “At Costa Covo, we’ve focused on drawing a spotlight on the fresh, vibrant ingredients home to the Southern California region in a coastal Italian lens, while Alcova is where you can wind down with a cocktail in hand over shared plates. For us, we hope to create more than a meal, where people can connect and relax in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.”

Located on the left-hand side of the hotel’s newly redesigned lobby space, Costa Covo offers a refreshingly simple and delectable take on coastal Italian cuisine with subtle hints to the shared bounty of the Mediterranean Sea. Italian plates with classic and seasonally inspired ingredients are served alongside daring cocktails and a wine list highlighting new-world Italian and French varietals. Executive Chef Matthews brings his diverse culinary expertise to Italian cuisine, from market-fresh crudo and perfectly prepared cuts of beef to artisanal desserts. The menu highlights his passion for handmade pasta, featuring standout creations such as the Grano Arso Orecchiette in garlic sauce with shishito peppers, bottarga and pangrattato and the Tagliolini al Limone with preserved lemon, Parmigiano Reggiano topped with caviarf or a refined touch.

The restaurant seamlessly blends European elegance with California modernism, creating a refined yet welcoming ambiance. Drawing inspiration from art director Cedric Gibbons, Costa Covo pays homage to Hollywood’s golden age through hand-applied silver leaf ceilings, fluted pilasters, and bespoke bar chairs. A striking landscape photograph by Amir Zaki joins a ceramic commission by Roger Herman to bring contemporary character into the space. Rich accents of velvet persimmon are enhanced by textures of lacquer and onyx, adding layers of warmth, while furniture inspired by Jean-Michel Frank and Gio Ponti, complemented by soft, residential-style lighting, invites guests to feel at home. For an alfresco dining option, Costa Covo also features an intimate outdoor seating space surrounded by lush greenery. The restaurant can accommodate up to 95 guests with partial buyout opportunities available.

Situated on the right-hand side of L’Ermitage’s lobby space lies the hotel’s new lounge, Alcova, which will offer an intimate escape accommodating only up to 16 guests. With creative direction led by Executive Chef Matthews, at Alcova, guests and locals alike will savor specialty drinks and elegant small plates such as Sterling Osetra Caviar with Potato Chips and Whipped Crème Fraiche; Pecorino Toast with Whipped Ricotta and Truffle Honey and Arancini filled with Smoked Mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes. The experience is completed with a custom Negroni trolley, that will serve specialty cocktails tableside, providing a delightful pause in the day and a moment of unexpected pleasure.

Alcova transitions from a comfortable living room in the afternoon, ideal for small meetings and conversations, to a candlelit lounge in the evening, where a custom fireplace sets a warm and inviting atmosphere. Its design features green velvet sofas inspired by Jean-Michel Frank, 1940s walnut and leather armchairs and walnut flooring, creating a timeless and chic aesthetic. A yin and yang wall provides an element of privacy, while a curved alcove showcases a glazed ceramic piece by California artist David Hicks, adding a focal point to the room.

“We approached the design for L’Ermitage Beverly Hills with a vision of creating a series of intimate, stylish spaces that embody the property's residential feel, perfect for both entertaining and fine dining, while showcasing a thoughtfully curated art collection,” said Ed Bakos, Partner & CEO, Champalimaud Design. “Inspired by the elegance of the 1920s and 30s, we chose sumptuous materials and refined proportions that balance comfort with craftsmanship, emphasizing simplicity and sophistication.”

The most gorgeous gift bag, carefully curated with special pieces especially created to evoke the spirit of L’Ermitage Beverly Hills.

A Retro Photoshoot and Collab with The Beverly Hilton Hotel

When The Beverly Hilton asks you to do a retro photoshoot, you say yes!

With its signature swinging ‘60s vibes and visions of sophisticated glamour around every corner, checking into The Beverly Hilton is probably the closest any of us will ever come to actually turning back the clock and taking a trip back in time to Hollywood’s Golden Age.

To showcase the hotel’s recent collaboration with Hollywood Classic Cars, I had so much fun styling and modeling two retro looks to complement my two very special costars—a red vintage Porsche Cayenne and a baby blue 1959 Corvette.

I’ve always dreamed of becoming a Bond Girl, which was the inspiration behind Look #1, while Look #2 had me feeling like one of the original ladies who lunch, like Babe Paley or one of Truman Capote’s Swans—with plenty of Chanel accessories, of course.

Check out some stills from the shoot below, and scroll to watch some fun promo clips from the collaboration.

Watch the Bond Girl dream come true on Instagram here.

Watch the full Femme Fatale transformation on Instagram here.

Experience Mozart Magic in the Moonlight at the JW Marriott Anaheim

The Metropolis Chamber Musicians performing some of Mozart’s most memorable selections on the roof of the new JW Marriott hotel in Anaheim. Photo courtesy of Fast Forward Events.

With travel plans on hold and local mandates and restrictions ever changing, it hasn’t quite felt like a normal summer in Southern California. But celebrate we will, because it’s safe to say that outdoor events are officially back—and not a moment too soon!

I recently had the distinct pleasure of attending an open air tribute to the musical genius better known as Mozart, in a dazzling outdoor candlelight concert atop the majestic roof of the newly minted JW Marriott in Anaheim. Presented by Fever, the Candlelight Open Air: Mozart’s Best series includes four evenings dedicated to the joy of classical music (two taking place in July and two more on August 11 and 12, which you can book HERE).

As someone who has suffered from a serious case of culture withdrawal over the past year, the promise of an al fresco moonlight serenade was (literally) music to my ears.

Just steps away from Disneyland, the ethereal experience features sweeping panoramic views of Orange County, and a magical fireworks display kicks off a sublime soirée that includes selections of some of the legendary composer’s greatest hits of the 18th century, as performed by the Metropolis Chamber Musicians string quartet. With the audience framed around the stage as a performance in the round, every angle boasts an intimate view of the instrumentalists, who are bathed in the warm glow of one thousand flickering candles.

Photo courtesy of JW Marriott Anaheim.

The JW Marriott itself opened its doors in 2020, and has flourished even in a year when tourism took a major hit at the neighboring Disney theme park. The perfect spot for an impromptu staycation (or a mini getaway) the property boasts a stunning lobby featuring a sleek contemporary design that’s adorned with bold artistic features, a luxurious resort style pool studded with private cabanas, and an expansive roof that plays host to Parkestry, one of the hotel’s signature eateries. The relaxed open-air setting is the perfect primer for an evening of symphonic pleasures, with open patio seating and a full service bar to enjoy pre-concert cocktails, before moving into the garden.

Photo courtesy of JW Marriott Anaheim.

“What’s unique about our garden is that it’s surrounded by citrus and bamboo that will eventually mature and grow, so you’ll feel like you’re walking into a secret garden,” says Director of Marketing Maribel Denner.

The whimsical botanical area features four quadrants, including a succulent section, a floral section, a butterfly wall comprised of 600 titanium butterflies crafted by local artisans, and a vegetation section that bears the ingredients for the seed-to-table concept dishes prepared and served by the hotel’s chefs.

Photo courtesy of JW Marriott Anaheim.

“We’re also the first hotel that’s ever launched an augmented reality component,” Denner explains, referring to a revolutionary digital concept that launched roughly two months ago.

Throughout the garden you’ll see three Japanese art sculptures that are downloadable, where you’ll plant the seed of your imagination, and a butterfly will guide you to the next installation where you’ll choose and record a mantra.

“Eventually it will take you to a portal where you’ll see your tree grow,” she says. “The more you come, the more your tree will mature, and eventually you’ll live in a digital forest. Really what we want our guests to do is plant their digital roots at the hotel.”

Book your stay at the JW Marriott Anaheim and be sure to catch one of the two August performances of Candlelight Open Air: Mozart’s Best. Because nothing compares to a magical evening of music in the moonlight.

Candlelight Open Air: Mozart’s Best
JW Marriott Anaheim
August 11th and 12th
7:40 and 9:40 pm

CLICK HERE to reserve your tickets.

L'Hôtel | Madeline Memories at the Oceana Hotel

“In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines…”

It may not be old, or in Paris, but I’ve always loved the aesthetic of the Oceana Hotel in Santa Monica. Greenery engulfs the entire façade, reminding me of the Madeline children’s book series I adored so much as a child. The story centers on the adventures of a precocious little girl in a Parisian boarding school with eleven other enfants and their chaperone, Miss Clavel.

Madeline, the book that launched a thousand spin-offs.

The original story was published in 1939 by Ludwig Bemelmans, and has developed into a full media franchise—including sequels, spinoffs, an animated 1990s limited tv series narrated by Christopher Plummer (aka the studly Captain Von Trappe from The Sound of Music), and a 1998 major motion picture— ever since.

On a different note, I’m also loving the romantic elements of this silky Bardot midi dress, which reminds me of a refreshing scoop of glâce de pistache, or the interior of Ladurée.

Le Peignoir | A Robe By Any Other Name

Few things in life feel more luxurious than slipping into a plush hotel robe.

Fun fact: our English word “robe” (short for ‘bathrobe”) actually translates to “dress” in the French language. I’m wearing un peignoir here, which is the French word for “bathrobe,” but we actually use it in English to refer to a nightie of sorts. The kind you’d imagine worn by, say, Blanche Devereaux from the Golden Girls.

Confused yet?

If so, imagine how weird it sounded when my French ex would ask for his peignoir!

If anyone needs me, I’ll be curled up like this—why yes, I always curl up in a pair of stilettos—getting lost in Australian Francophile Katrina Lawrence’s version of Paris, via her newest memoir, Paris Dreaming—which she so kindly sent to me—and waiting for room service to bring me my hamburger—or as the French pronounce it: ham-bur-jay.

Bonne journée from Phoenix, Arizona.