Page 205 - WDT MAGAZINE PORTUGAL

Most Le Blanc packages include a resort credit purchase “by invitation only”. I opted to cozy up at
valid for extra treats: everything from treatments the Farm Bar with a “Carrot Farmarita,” Flora’s spin
at the spa to off-property excursions. The hotel on the traditional margarita, made with the juice of
provided a driver and arranged a visit to San Jose just-picked farm carrots. It was art served in a salt-
del Cabo about 15 minutes from our hotel. Tuesday rimmed Mason-style jar. I didn’t linger: I had a
is Ladies Night in San Jose – with free or dinner date back at Le Blanc – not at one of its
discounted drinks and eats for women. On restaurants –but a special affair with visiting chefs
Thursdays, November through June, starting at 5 representing Certified Angus Beef. Such events
p.m., there’s a popular Art Walk. On other days, aren’t unusual at Le Blanc, I learned.
pick up a galleries map and set out on your own Guests dined under the stars on five different
walk. That’s what I did – and it was a colorful cuts of CAB (Certified Angus Beef) paired with five
delight. (I found my map at the Patricia Mendoza cabernet sauvignons. It was a prime experience.
Gallery, in the heart the art district. One of the most interesting and delicious dishes of
Patricia knows everybody in San Jose and the evening was only peripherally related to beef:
happily provides advice for those embarking on Served on a bed of risotto, garnished with a dollop
self-guided art tours. The art in her gallery is of perfectly seared beef bone marrow, “escamol” is
contemporary – and the cocktails at her adjacent the edible larvae and pupae of ants harvested from
snack bar make you glad you’re traveling with a the rootsof agave plants. For me, it was another
designated driver. One artful cocktail starts with exquisite Los Cabos surprise.
almond tequila and fiery green chiles; ask for the After dinner, I stopped for a nightcap at Blanc
“Due de Chiles” margarita.) Stage, where there’s live music until 2 a.m. nightly. I
My next stop was Flora Farms. It appeared like ran into Allie and Clay Nyberg from Houston. They
an oasis at the end of a dusty, winding unpaved were doing their best to stretch the third night of
road in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna their six-day honeymoon. I’d met the newlyweds
Mountains northeast of downtown San Jose. The the prior evening, snuggled on Le Blanc’s beach,
farm got its start in 1996 when Gloria and Patrick holding hands, listening to the sounds of waves
Greene from California’s Sonoma County started crashing. “It’s even more perfect than we expected,
growing organic produce for their small San Jose “ Allie said. “The service is phenomenal. The spa is
del Cabo restaurant. Within five years, they were amazing; we’ve been twice. We’ve been horseback
providing premium organic and heirloom riding and tomorrow we’re doing a sunset cruise.”
vegetables for a slew of top local chefs; they moved The last evening, they agreed, would be
their San Jose restaurant to the farm. reserved for Los Cabos’ prime attraction:
Today Flora Farms harvests more than 100 relaxation. They’d be back on the beach, holding
varieties of herbs and vegetables. It includes a hands, enveloped in the rhythmic sounds of the
nearby 150-acre ranch that produces poultry (and surf, pondering brand new memories that will last a
eggs) plus hormone- and antibiotic-free meats for lifetime.
its popular on-site grocery and Flora’s Field
restaurant. Even the ice cream here is made in IF YOU GO
house, with ranch-produced cream, eggs and
seasonal fruits. An all-inclusive stay for two at Le Blanc Spa
Resort Los Cabos usually starts at about $500 per
Flora’s Field Restaurant offers the ultimate in night, per person, based on double occupancy.
farm-to-table dining. You’ll need a reservation; 600 Discounted packages, which often include a
were booked on the Wednesday evening in March generous resort credit, may be available online.
when I visited. Seating is open-air, tucked away in Goto to www.leblancsparesorts.com/los-
nooks and alcoves – so there was no sense of a cabos/en/offers . Before you buy, comparison shop
crowd. (Foodie alert: Executive Chef Guillermo at www.costcotravel.com , which sometimes offers
Tellez is a graduate of the cooking school at value pricing on Le Blanc packages that include
Beringer Vineyards in the Napa Valley.) airfare.
Flora’s visitors can sign up for cooking and Find out more about Flora Farms and book
painting classes, farm tours, medicinal plant walks classes, tours and restaurant reservations there at
or even a massage at the small spa. They’ll also find www.flora-farms.com .
a selection of boutique-style designer shops and a
few cottages available for fractional ownership Learn more about Los Cabos at
www.visitloscabos.travel.

204 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2019