Welcome to Curated Travel! The blog is created by Heather Lindstrom, founder and luxury travel advisor, at Curated Travel. Heather shares travel inspiration, tips, and wanderlust inspiration with readers and clients on the blog.
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I've been asked to share my fantasy dinner party.
Who would I invite?
My fantasy dinner party will be held in Italy and definitely somewhere near the water. I'd have to choose between Positano and Lake Como--each classic Italian beauties--and on my itinerary for summer travel
Read MoreTo say that I had a good time spending an afternoon in the studio with Courtney Gray--the artist and entrepreneur behind gracyc glass--would be an understatement. Courtney is warm, effervescent, smart and talented. Did I mention she is hysterical? I felt like I had known her for years within minutes of meeting her. Courtney showed me around her home studio; being based at home is her practical solution for staying in touch with family life, while still having the opportunity for late-hour artistic inspirations. Courtney is based in Chico, Northern California, and has garnered quite a following in the community and beyond.
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When Scott and I started seeing each other, I lived in the San Francisco bay area and he lived in Chico, about 2 hours away. One Tuesday he called me and said, "I can't wait until the weekend to see you. Let's meet in the middle for dinner tonight". To be honest, there is a whole lot of nothing in between, but we did some research and luckily we discovered Louis Cairo's Steakhouse in Williams, just off Interstate 5. With cheery red checked tablecloths, delicious pastas and steaks, and the GLOW of a new love, it was a memorable evening to say the least. As we walked away from our table that night, the gentleman sitting across from us said, "If you don't want her, I'll take her". To that I say, "Thank you sir!" We not only had a full blown love affair going on but also a new spot for dinner right in the middle. Flash forward 17 years and now we make the drive to Louis Cairo's a few times a year to meet up with friends who live in the bay area.
The hour long drive is definitely worth it and you never know what you might see along the way. There must a a story behind this Porsche emblazoned with "Polizei" --German for police.
Welcome to Williams, California.
It's conveniently located just off Interstate 5.
I believe it's mandatory for a country town to have a water tower.
Williams has a water tower.
The main drag....
Tonight it's a double date...
and no, I don't own cowboy boots.
Neither does Scott...
but we are always warmly welcomed at Louis Cairos.
It is always so good to see our friends,
Dean and Kathryn
Suspenders are always a good option in town.
After a few minutes to catch up, we are seated in the dining room at Louis Cairo's. I don't see the red and white checked table cloths anymore and they've definitely zhushed the place up a bit over the last decade or so.
Lucky us, our warm and lovely server, Rita, took wonderful care of us all evening. Rita introduced us to Shed Horn Cellars wine.The cabernet sauvignon was lush and complex. We were saddened to hear that the winemaker/owners, Michael and Adawn Wood, had just lost their home and winery in the Middletown fire. Michael reported to the SF Chronicle that he was helping save other homes without realizing his own home was burning. He said fortunately they have good insurance and will be able to rebuild. They had completed most of the harvest for the season so the wine-making will continue.
As for the fare at Louis Cairo's--fresh salads, Italian pastas and extraordinary steaks are on the extensive menu. The Louis Bread is powerful--loaded with garlic. Let's just say it's best for all (or none) to partake. We always dive in! Care for a mint?
A hidden gem right in the middle.
See you again in a couple of months Louis Cairos!!
Have you discovered any hidden gems lately?
Happy October and welcome to the 6th installation of our Lifestyle Linkup #stylefocus!!
I'm finding lifestyle inspiration from the beauty of an autumn sunset from our deck, the french inspired courtyard at my mother's house, sunny gerber daisys and my sister, Heidi's, rustic pumpkins.
Thank you for joining Jennifer of A Well Styled Life and myself for the linkup this month. Check back and watch the collection grow over the weekend. Add your instagram links as well as blog links and use the #stylefocus.
Looking forward to catching up with your beautiful blogs over the weekend!
I’m finding some fashion inspiration in the monochromatic color palette again this season. This image is from Elle Czech of the iconic model, Karolina Kurkova. This is monochromatic style done to perfection.
Read MoreOur 15th wedding anniversary started as a typical day around the house. A quick kiss for luck and we were off to work. Scott and I had celebrated our 15th a bit early with a swanky summer vacation to Riviera Maya, so we wanted to keep the actual day of our anniversary, September 10th, more low key.
Read MoreScott and I had the pleasure of hosting house guests for the long weekend. It was late summer and the weather was picture perfect for poolside lounging and some outdoor fun in Chico. My sister, Dorie, and her guy Michael, were up from Newport Beach for the weekend and I wanted to create a “sunny escape” for my special house guests. My first step is to prepare the guest room. Freshly washed linens, fluffy towels, candles and fresh flowers are a must. For this visit I added some lovely dark calla lilies to the mirrored bedside table.
Read MoreAre you in the mood for something fresh, healthy and easy to make? Scott and I learned to make one of our favorite go-to summer dishes on our recent trip to Riviera Maya. We took a cooking class with chef Nicholas at Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita. At the last second, I flipped on the video camera on my phone to capture the experience. I'll also share the recipe at the bottom of the post.
Read MoreIt's that time of year when my skin starts to feel more dried out than the Sahara desert. With summer temps above 100 degrees, lots of pool time here in California, as well as a sun-filled getaway to Riviera Maya, my skin is thirsty for a powerful moisturizer. It's also important to me that what I put on my skin is good for my skin and the rest of my body.
Read MoreFor the final evening of our vacation in Riviera Maya, we chose a sunset sail at our resort, Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita. The turquoise waters, gentle tropical breezes, friendly service, bubbly champagne and new friends made it the best way to usher in the evening.
Read MoreAlong with pristine beaches and turquoise Caribbean seas, Riviera Maya is also famous for the archaeological site at Tulum. This ancient Mayan fortress city and port, built late in the 13th century--during the post-classic period-- was known for trading in jade and turquoise from the seaside location. The city is surrounded by walls of limestone on three sides and is nestled next to a beautiful beach
Read MoreThe final stop on our summer getaway to Riviera Maya was unforgettable. We started with an enjoyable week at Secrets Silversands, then made our way to Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita for five days. This oceanfront boutique hotel is one of the most luxurious travel experiences ever for us. With just 90 suites, and all-inclusive luxury, we felt completely pampered. As we had hoped, this was the perfect spot to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary.
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