Riviera Hotel South Beach
Off the main thoroughfare, and into a more quiet neighborhood, the sounds of a two-man island-style band can be faintly heard, beckoning curious wanderers to wander in to relax and enjoy the sounds, the atmosphere, and the Cuban cuisine. The Riviera Hotel South Beach consists of three buildings in the Art Deco style that's consistent up and down South Beach. Painted white on the outside, the walls are curved, and the floor tile is made of jewel tones flecked with stones. The varied colored tile begins and ends sporadically, creating beautiful abstract shapes -- a masterpiece of timeless 40s art.
The Cheshire Tastes, St. Louis
“Do you love what you do?” we asked. “You have to . . . to really do it well,” Executive Chef Rex Hale said, smiling. Between intervals of purposed movement, he would come and sit calmly with us in the restaurant Basso. There was a passionate energy about him that reminded you to really focus on the flavors you were experiencing. As Executive Chef for all the restaurants at The Cheshire, a boutique hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, it is this man’s pride in his work, his love for all things taste, and deep passion for his craft, that are the constant undercurrents of his confident and calming presence. They are the impetus that keep the engine of the entire operation running magnificently.
The Cheshire, St. Louis
I was about to board a nonstop flight in April 2016 from San Francisco to St. Louis, when I got a call from my mom. She was thinking about heading back to work on a project an hour south of St. Louis that we had been working on together for several months. She wanted me to come back with her--the next day. At that point I had been gone for 13 days. Before I made it to the Bay Area, I was at a wedding in Chicago, and before the wedding in Chicago, I was working with her on the project. My largest suitcase was packed for cold and warm weather, and with formal, beach and business clothing.
Ambassador Hotel, Tulsa
When we arrived at the tall brick building there was anticipation of two things--seeing our best friends, and getting water. Fast. July, 2016 was hot, and Oklahoma heat is even hotter. When we walked under the canopy and into the doors of The Ambassador, cool swept over us. With eyes adjusting, a sigh of relief gave way for us to take in the luscious lobby before us. The Mediterranean style was inviting, even understanding of the heat, with beautiful whites and neutrals seeming to say “come sit down and cool off a bit.”