A TASTE of Costa Mesa!

My very first staycation this year was in Costa Mesa, so I was super excited to drive north again and check out the town. This visit’s main purpose was for the Taste of LA at The Met in Costa Mesa; an extravaganza tasting experience from all around the area.

For this visit, I stayed at The Westin South Coast Plaza, aptly named for it’s close proximity to South Coast Plaza Mall, a shopper’s dream! When I checked in to the Westin they told me that the temperature of the pool was 84 degrees! I couldn’t wait to get in! What’s really cool about the pool area here is that despite being able to hear the traffic on the {dreaded} 405, it feels like a perfect little oasis! The only thing missing was a hot tub!

My cozy room on the 14th floor, which overlooked the inviting pool, had plenty of seating with a loveseat and chair, plus the desk and an ottoman tucked away. I knew I’d be excited to climb into the king size bed after my day of exploring, and boy was I right! Ending a busy day in a comfy bed while watching TV is my jam. The sweet little bonus was the lavender balm left on my nightstand; a rollerball with a mix of essential oils including lavender and chamomile for a relaxing sleep. And how cool is it that the Westin has an online store where you can purchase all the luxurious items they use in their hotel from towels to bedding, bath essentials, robes, and more. They use white tea scented products which reminded me of my favorite perfume, Bvlgari White Tea.

I popped over to Pizzeria Ortica, just one block away from the Westin, for a bite before Friday night’s Taste hours. This restaurant is cute and quaint, great for happy hour in the bar or a date night. I sat near the window watching people pass by while I sipped my Sauvignon Blanc and waited for my Margherita pizza to arrive. I’ll have to try some pasta and dessert next time.

The opening night of the Taste of LA was packed with eager patrons. As I maneuvered through the crowds getting a lay of the land, I could hear some tunes from the live band. The event had a fun light-up step and repeat with a red carpet for the perfect photo op. Next up, was finding the Travel Costa Mesa booth which wasn’t a booth but more of an installation, complete with seating and a fun selfie station. The best bite of the night was the Jamón Ibérico from Vaca.

Saturday morning started with the BEST treat of all, breakfast in bed! Room service makes me verrrry happy! So I kicked off another busy day with a classic egg breakfast. I’m always thirsty so I ordered all the drinks from orange juice to a cappuccino, and best of all champagne! Because YOLO! And did you spy the rock candy for my cappuccino? So fun!

Now that I had some morning fuel, I was ready to conquer day two of the Taste. Round two included samples of tacos, coconut shrimp, wine, chicken sandwiches, and even a personalized cutting board. This event was full of fun with great food and drinks, musical acts, and cooking demonstrations. I can’t wait for next year’s Taste of LA!

While standing in line at the event, I overheard some chatter about a great place to grab a margarita and some fresh Mexican food. So I checked out of my hotel and drove right over to Playa Mesa, which has such a cute decor inside with succulents and fun pops of color. A fellow foodie and I sat down with some guacamole and chips, refreshing cocktails, and some super tasty tacos! For sure I’ll be coming back for more!

This #eatcation wouldn’t have been complete without making one more stop. You’ve heard the phrase “when in Rome…” right? Well, in this case, it’s “when in Costa Mesa” because my sweet and savory pie friends from Pop Pie Co. just opened up a new shop in Costa Mesa. It’s the same great pie with a shiny new location!

That’s a wrap for this trip, but you never know where I’ll be staying next! I had a blast here and I’m kind of a fan of Costa Mesa if that wasn’t obvious. There’s always a lot of fun things to do here and great places to eat, as well as being just inland from Newport Beach! I just have one question for you, if you could have an #eatcation anywhere, where would it be? Drop a comment and let me know!

Until next time, happy eating and staycationing!