A taste of the VIP lifestyle in sunny California

Sipping a glass of champagne at the Beverly Wilshire, I casually turn in my chair to spot the first celebrity of the trip. "The Eagle has landed," I whisper to my group. It is our secret code to tip others off without seeming uncool. After all we are now in California where winter boots are a distant memory and movie stars are regular sightings.

None of us are rich or famous but over the next week we are getting a peak at what it feels like.
Savouring the last drop of my luscious Moet Golden Night, I secretly watch Christopher Plummer chatting with a friend at a nearby table. THE Blvd lounge exudes that movie-star feel where anyone could walk through the doors and it wouldn’t be a surprise. Elvis Presley, Warren Beatty and John Lennon livedat the hotel for a time and Pretty Woman was filmed here. But alas, no Richard Gere or Julia Roberts sighting tonight.  For true VIP treatment, a night must have many pleasures and next is a preview of celebrity chef Curtis Stone’s new restaurant Maude, also in the heart of Beverly Hills. His dad Bryan is here so it’s definitely feeling very exclusive at this 25-seat restaurant. Nine courses later, with Stone serving me personally, I am feeling pretty special. 

What! What!! We are all squealing like schoolchildren the next night as we walk into our private suite at Staples Centre. If you don’t see a celebrity at this place on Lakers night then you really have bad luck.   Leather couches, fully stocked bar and best of all – a prime view of Jack Nicholson will spoil anyone. You can actually go online and see a “seating chart of the stars”.  I do recall there was a basketball game going on. 

But while LA and Beverly Hills are where the stars come out to be seen, their true escape is about an hour and a half away in Santa Barbara County – often referred to as the “The American Riviera” for its sparkling seaside views, lush gardens and dramatic mountains. Stars like Oprah and Brad and Angelina have homes here, but it’s also the place to get hitched. Icons like Clark Gable and Sir Laurence Olivia have been married here and more recently,   Gwyneth Paltro and Sandra Bullock chose this as their “I do” destination. 

The celebrity treatment was in full force from the moment we stepped into the lobby of the magnificent El Encanto Resort with its panoramic views of Santa Barbara. I am approached by one of the many staff on hand to greet us.  Someone asks my name and quickly nods.  “Yes, Miss Haigh come with me. And off we go. No check in at registration (those details can be sorted out later).       

As we enter my jaw-dropping bungalow, a very efficient employee offers to unpack and iron my clothes. Umm, recalling how I had stuffed everything into my bag the night before, I thought it best to pass. Besides the infinity pool awaits. Upon my return, the fireplace is lit, a jar of chocolate treats on the table and a note that says “sweet dreams Sherri”. Sweet indeed.  

While I hit the closing night party but I couldn't help sneaking way to visit the legendary Purple Room, where Frank and Dean were regulars. A sign on the wall quotes Dean Martin "I once shook hands with Pat Boone and my whole right side sobered up." A local sitting at the bar said she had met both crooners and Martin was her favorite calling him "a true gentleman".

Modernism Week held in February highlights some of the incredible architecture through guided tours. Included in the tours are stunning homes like the Edris House, owned by JR Roberts, former mayor of Sausalito. He was on hand for our private tour and loved showing us around his fabulous home with its breathtaking views.

First stop is Les Marchand Wine Bar and Merchants which is co-owned by SOMM star Brian McClintic. SOMM is a documentary about four men preparing for the most grueling wine exam possible - the Master Sommeliers.  To date, only 214 have passed. Spoiler alert - McClintic passes and he is with us today to provide us with some very helpful tasting tips. Next was lunch at The Lark for one of the best lunches of the trip. The Housemade Parisian Gnocchi was my favorite.
 
The best is yet to come...El Encanto
 
The new El Encanto (where Clark Gable stayed) re-opened this spring.  Purchased by Orient-Express, the company spent seven years and more than $130 million to bring El Encanto to its current state of magnificence. Checking into my jaw-dropping bungalow, a very efficient employee offers to unpack and iron my clothes. Umm, recalling how I had stuffed everything into my bag the night before, I thought it best to pass. Besides the infinity pool (or let's call it a slice of heaven) awaits. As the sun sets, we meet in the lobby bar for panoramic views of Santa Barbara before heading to dinner at the famous San Ysidro Ranch. After some urging, the staff at the Ranch gave us a tour of the Kennedy Suite where JFK and Jackie stayed on their honeymoon.
 
The Sideways Tour
 
The next day I am dragged kicking and screaming from El Encanto but quickly cheer up when I see the Sideways tour is about to begin. An academy-award winning film, Sideways put several local restaurants and wineries on the map and made Pinot Noir a media darling. As it turns out 2014 is the 10th anniversary of the film. We start off with lunch at Los Olivos. For Sideway fans, this is where the double date occurs. Outside the restaurant is the alley where Miles launches his verbal assault against Merlot. For fun, I stood in the alley and replicated the scene. There were a few strange looks, but it must have been folks who didn't see the movie.
 
Nearby Foxen Winery is where Miles and Jack decide to help themselves to the product. The outdoor benches make it a great place to enjoy the wine and the 80 degree weather which we do.
 
The grand finale of the tour is HitchingPost2 and co-owner Gray Hartley, who makes a few cameos in the film, is on hand for our entire dinner. The bar is exactly as I remember it from the film where many of the scenes from the movie were filmed. Hartley shows off a grand bottle signed by all the stars and talks about the attention the film generate for his restaurant which they still enjoy to this day. In fact, as part of the film's 10th anniversary, Hartley said he is planning a reunion party for the cast at his restaurant later this year. I salute him with my Pinot Noir.