The morning started with breakfast in the executive lounge
at the Ocatilla section of the Arizona Biltmore. The selection rivaled many
restaurant buffets. I sat down with my croissant, yogurt and fruit alongside
Susan Campbell, my friend and fellow travel writer, and Becky Blaine of the
Biltmore.
Ocatilla was opened in 2009 as a preferred club for guests
who wanted a more personalized experience. The section has its own pool and
executive lounge, with access available for all staying in the building.
Everyone also gets extra amenities, such as complimentary shoe shining, clothes
pressing, coffee with your morning paper and a concierge available to you at
all times.
I was surprised to learn just how much American history was
in this Waldorf Astoria property. It had been designed by architect Frank Lloyd
Wright and owned by William Wrigley, giving this Phoenix hotel some Chicago
ties. To further the connection, the Cubs have spring training in the area and
baseball fans often stay at this hotel to catch their favorite major league
team in the off season.
Becky also told us about how John McCain gave his concession
speech on the lawn of the Arizona Biltmore, and both Oprah and current
president Barack Obama have been guests. I was also interested in the Hollywood
& Wines events that give guests access to some top stars performing
under the stars, like CSI’s Gary Sinisse.
The only thing that wasn’t great about our second day at the
Arizona Biltmore was something no one had any control over – the weather. There
was still record breaking cold, along with rain. After taking a brief tour of the property, we
decided to spend the rest of the day indoors – at the spa.
I was battling a sinus infection that was threatening to put
a damper on the week. Fortunately, I discovered a temporary remedy that was
readily available – eucalyptus steam baths.
The spa at the Arizona Biltmore introduced me to them and they became
part of the daily ritual. There’s no doubt those steam rooms got the credit for
my making it through (and enjoying) the trip, but the Biltmore also threw in a
heavenly spa treatment.
The treatment was the Dreamcatcher and it was definitely a
dream come true. Using a combination of hot stones, hot towels and a gentle massage,
I was relaxed from the tip of my toes to my scalp by the time I was done. I headed to the relaxation area after for a
cup of tea and felt like I could just melt into a comfortable cocoon forever!
I did eventually leave the spa and get ready for dinner at
Frank & Albert’s, also on the Arizona Biltmore property. This restaurant
gives a new meaning to the word comfort food and Latif, our waiter, made sure
we tasted a good deal of the menu.
I started off with a Prickly Peartini which had just enough
fruit for a slight sweetness. It went well with the bread selection, served
with a tasty pesto aioli. The Green Chili Empanada was excellent, and though I
thought the Violet Flirtini was too sour, Susan enjoyed it after she finished her Wild Raspberry Ale.
The food continued to come with a sweet and flavorful
meatloaf, perfectly cooked short ribs and decadent Duck Fat French Fries and
mac and cheese. We also had a basket of Oversized Onion Rings that Susan said
were incredible and couldn’t stop talking about.
I had a Nutty Irishman Coffee while we both attempted to get
our appetite back for dessert. It took quite a while, but eventually we managed
to get through the scrumptious Sundae Sampler – Cherries Jubilee, Strawberries
Romanoff, Bananas Foster and Crêpes Suzette! Other desserts on the menu included Butterscotch
Pudding and Homemade Twinkie & Jam.
Despite the obvious food (and sugar) overload, I managed to
sleep well my last night at the Arizona Biltmore, dreaming about massages and
hoping the Sanctuary at Camelback would be just as wonderful.
No comments:
Post a Comment