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A collage featuring two images. The top image shows several bowls of Indian food on a table, including curries and a dark green dish garnished with white shreds. The bottom image shows three ice cream cones in a black pot filled with black beans, next to a white cup of coffee and a small biscuit, all on a woven placemat. The text "Kahani - The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel" is overlaid on a brown bar at the bottom.
Dining

A New Wave of Regional Indian Cuisine

October 29, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Regional Indian cooking is having a real moment in LA, and a review of Kahani, chef Sanjay Rawat's modern Indian restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel.

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Two unique cocktails, one creamy white in a coupe glass and one dark burgundy in a wine glass, sit on a dark wooden table. In front of them is a woven basket filled with warm, puffy pita bread. The background is the soft, ambient lighting of the upscale Zaytinya restaurant
Discovery

Our Honest Zaytinya Review: Beautiful Room, Disappointing Food

October 19, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Zaytinya at The Shay has a beautiful room and real hospitality. The mezze is hit-or-miss, it's not kid-friendly, and after two visits we're not going back.

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Panoramic view of Orange County’s luxury coastline with oceanfront resorts and palm trees at sunset, representing five-star resorts like Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel and Montage Laguna Beach.
Discovery

Pelican Hill in the Off-Season: An Honest Resort Review

October 10, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Our honest, been-there-twice case for The Resort at Pelican Hill in the off-season: the rooms, the food, the pool with kids, and what it actually costs.

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A wooden platter featuring two falafel wraps, grilled chicken skewers with bell peppers, a side salad with lemon wedges, creamy hummus topped with chickpeas, and a red dipping sauce, set on a restaurant table with a blurred interior background.
Dining

Pita Bar & Grill Los Angeles: Our Family’s Sunday Spot

September 29, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Pita Bar & Grill was our family's go-to Sunday spot in Los Angeles for falafel, fries, and hummus. It has since closed, but here's why we loved it.

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A panoramic view of Terranea Resort on the cliffs of Rancho Palos Verdes with the Pacific Ocean in the background.
Discovery

The Ultimate Coastal Escape Found at Terranea

August 23, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Savor world-class dining and coastal-inspired menus while watching the sunset over the Pacific—every meal at Terranea feels like a celebration.

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Family of four dining outdoors at The Terrace restaurant at The Maybourne Beverly Hills, enjoying pasta dishes at sunset.
Dining

Luxury dinner for less? The Terrace at The Maybourne

August 19, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Golden hour promised magic and half-off indulgence at Maybourne Terrace — but our dreamy Beverly Hills evening quickly revealed the gaps between Instagram-perfect expectations and reality.

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Rugged coastal bluffs and the Pacific Ocean along the Palos Verdes Peninsula, near where Nelson's at Terranea sits.
Dining

Nelson’s at Terranea: Great View, Honest Take on the Food

July 25, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Nelson's has the best restaurant-patio ocean view in Southern California, hands down — but the food is just decent, and losing the standout green curry makes it a harder sell for lunch.

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Sunset view of the North Shore coastline near Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu
Dining

Beach House at Turtle Bay: A Beautiful View, Uneven Food

July 11, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Beach House at Turtle Bay Resort has one of the best views on Oahu's North Shore. Our honest take on why the food didn't match it on our visit.

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Turtle Bay Resort hotel building on its coastal point, with waves breaking on the rocky shoreline in the foreground
Discovery

Luxury Misses the Mark: July 4th BBQ at Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay

July 10, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

We spent July 4th at the Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay's fireworks BBQ. At roughly $360 for a family of four, the food and service didn't match the price.

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Sunrise over Kuilima Cove at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore
Discovery

Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay: The Location Is the Real Draw

July 9, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

We spent four nights at the Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay on Oahu's North Shore. The wild coastline is what makes this stay worth it, not the hotel itself.

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