Chef
Alexander La Motte Star of Hotel Californian
The
famed Hotel
Californian, designed by local architectural firm
DesignArc and developed by Michael Rosenfeld sits on the site
of the original Hotel Californian at 36 State Street, with the
original facade being skillfully retained. The official opening
in October adds one more irresistible attraction to Santa Barbara's
popular waterfront and Funk Zone area. Overseeing the menus
for the newest Santa Barbara Hotel is Executive Chef Alexander
La Motte.
Hotel Californian Santa Barbara
Alexander
La Motte is executive chef overseeing all of the hotel's culinary
operations, including its exquisite Mediterranean and Contemporary
American restaurant and the gourmet café, as well as
a hands-on role creating customized offerings for special events
and celebrations. He was executive chef at the Four Seasons
Hotel San Francisco, where he leads all culinary operations
and was instrumental in the reconceptualization and conversion
of the former Season's Restaurant to MKT Restaurant - Bar, now
a top-rated San Francisco Steakhouse.
La Motte graduated with honors from The Culinary Institute of
America and went on to intern at prestigious New York City dining
bastions Jean George and Daniel Boulud. Moving to Napa Valley,
he embraced roles at Thomas Keller's Per Se and The French Laundry
in Napa Valley where he served as chef de partie. La Motte also
served as the saucier at Café Boulud in Palm Beach, Fla.,
sous chef at Daniel Boulud Brasserie in Las Vegas, chef de cuisine
at The Park Chalet in San Francisco, executive sous chef at
The Clift Hotel in San Francisco and executive chef of the Four
Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California.
Brunch on Goat Tree Cafe
La
Motte brings his sterling pedigree, expertise, and passion to
the Hotel Californian, to establish the top culinary destination
in Santa Barbara and central California.A property created with
a real love for California in mind, and fascinating design touches
reflecting the unique beauty of Morocco is now an exquisite
new addition to the Santa Barbara community. From top to bottom
the design is smart, sophisticated and sensually delightful
with views of the Pacific Ocean from the rooftop that are simply
breathtaking.
The hotel is part of three corners that also includes 20,000
square feet of commercial area featuring meeting and event spaces,
a fitness center, a fashion boutique and two restaurants: Goat
Tree open from 7 a.m to 9 p.m. daily and Blackbird, open only
in the evening from 5 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Goat Tree Cafe
The
Goat Tree Restaurant, offering good food with a Moroccan twist,
features restaurant dining or on their charming outdoor patio
overlooking Street toward the wharf. Their menu is filled with
healthy and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner items. A breakfast
of quiche with onions & bacon, arugula salad and a cup of
amazing fresh fruits is a start to a perfect day in Santa Barbara.
They offer a variety of amazing chef inspired dishes like fish
stew-Bernard, rabbit & squid with crispy couscous, quinoa
tabbouleh salad, lamb meatball sandwiches, and all the usual
healthy favorites locals love.
Pastry Chef Benjamin Kunert, formerly Executive Pastry Chef
with Hotel Atlantis and Giardino Group in Switzerland, is the
main man for fresh bakery goods and pastries throughout that
are magnificent. Goat Tree also offers a selection of cold-pressed
juices and smoothies. This is a delightful breakfast or brunch
experience to start the day in Santa Barbara.
Blackbird Signature Restaurant
Signature
restaurant Blackbird could be seen as a place where contemporary
meets casual, with a full menu to please any taste, from beef
to seafood paired with great salads and vegetable dishes it's
all delicious. The room design is chic attractive but very comfortable,
with a full bar. Located one block from the Pacific Ocean it
offers the opportunity to take an after dinner walk along the
beach.
The hotel detailing, including arches, deep-set windows, terra
cotta roof tiles, copper gutters, decorative wrought iron, and
plaster cornices and finials, in the 121 rooms and entire property
are reminiscent of what has become known as Santa Barbara style.
The interiors were done by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, and are
exquisitely Moorish-inspired. More than two million pieces of
interior tile were used throughout the hotel.
A not to miss escape at Hotel Californian is Majorelle Moroccan
style spa, where Chef La Motte also creates divine small plates
for guest to enjoy in the spa or while relaxing on the rooftop
pool following treatments. Majorelle is a dream venue straight
from Moroccan heaven with a surreal waiting room covered with
hand-made blue and white tiles and exotic designer seats under
one of he most exquisite light fixtures you may ever see. The
service menu includes services and products from around the
world. They are using the very finest skin care products available,
and have hired expert therapists for all treatment needs. From
purist oil blends for healing to a fun Funk Zone Massage is
will please. For reservations and information visit: www.thehotelcalifornian.com.
The
Hotel Californian
36 State Street
Santa Barbara CA 93101
(805) 882-0100
www.thehotelcalifornian.com/
By Bonnie Carroll
About Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since
1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll's
Life Bites News - www.lifebitesnews.com,
does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes
to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle
publications. Her first children's book C.C. Charles was published
in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact
her at Contact her at writebc@aol.com.
