Wow, what a day. Spa treatments followed by a fancy dinner at ONYX at the Four Seasons. I am one lucky gal.
Backlit wall panels of semi-precious stones, such as carnelian and onyx, create a dramatic ambience in which to enjoy light, healthful Asian fare. Bamboo floors, Japanese antiques and dramatic chandeliers grace the main dining room, while silk lanterns hanging over the sushi bar give an exotic feel.
The evening started with a cocktail hour at the ONYX bar. I ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and sipped it slowly until we sat down for dinner. After that, I switched to sparkling water for the rest of the night. If I didn’t have a marathon to run on Sunday, I probably would have boozed face.
The meal started with a few different appetizers: Tofu Miso Soup with Nameko Mushrooms and Japanese Parsley + Dole Baby Green Salad with Button Mushrooms, Edamame, Crispy Wonton, and Ginger Dressing.
We also enjoyed THE BEST Brown Rice Risotto as an appetizer. I wish I knew exactly what was in it (besides mushrooms and spinach) because I absolutely loved it. I actually ended up eating two good-size servings of it. I would have eaten more, but I wanted to save room for the entrées and dessert.
The entrée course included a variety of dishes: Coconut Curry Chicken + Char-Grilled Tofu with Sautéed Garlic Spinach, Shredded Asian Leek, and Sweet Soy Ginger.
And Miso Marinated Black Cod with Rice Vinegar Cabbage.
Dessert was also a meal favorite for me (obviously): Thai Basil Mango Sorbet with Dark Chocolate and Caramelized Pineapple. The combination of flavors and textures was so interesting””in a good way! The cold, creamy mango sorbet jived so well with the sweet, citrusy pineapple and bitter dark chocolate. It might sound like a strange mix, but it worked!
Kristen and me!
(Please ignore my greasy-headband hair. I went directly to the cocktail hour from my massage. Let’s just say the masseuse did not go light on the oil!)
Blogger group shot!
It’s almost 2:30 AM (EST), so I’m heading straight to bed.
Good night, friends!
54 Comments
You can’t go wrong w the four seasons baby! Glad you’re having so much tasty fun.
Wow miso cod is my favorite..it’s always so ridiculously overpriced but always so worth it!
My favorite HAS to be the dessert. All luxurious that restaurant! Living the summit, I guess 😉
That food looks absolutely wonderful!
I love massages but when they take the oil into your hair and then tell you to leave it in as long as possible – ugh! It always creeps down my face and onto my forehead – not a good look!
But then your hair does feel lovely and soft once you’ve washed it out so it must be worth it 🙂
ohh wow that food looks a-maazing ! Dessert would probably be my favourite too 🙂
What a great night and dinner and the whole thing looks spectacular! I have a friend who attended the event last year and she told me it was first class all the way. Glad you’re enjoying it! 🙂
Yummy dinner! That looked like an excellent spread with so many international flavors…you got me pumped for our Thailand trip! We leave in t-minus 10 days! whoo!
Wahoo! ENJOY! 🙂
Hi Tina! (It’s Rachel from NuVal… well, not NuVal anymore ;)… I used to work at Dole headquarters out in CA! I was an intern there for a year — what an amazing place. The CEO loves Hawaii so he made the HQ surrounded by palm trees and waterfalls to look like Hawaii. They also had a farmers market in the cafeteria every Thursday. It was amazing. Also some interesting stories about the people who work there… stories for another time 😉 So glad they jumped on the blogger band wagon. Have fun out there and good luck on the NYC Marathon this weekend!
I didn’t know you interned at Dole! That is so cool!
Thanks for the NYCM well wishes! Hope you’re doing well! 🙂
that dessert looks amazing – the perfect mix of fruit and chocolate! And you are a lucky girl! Sounds like a great, relaxing afternoon!
The food definitely looks delicious. Glad all of you ladies are having fun!
What a fancy restaurant! The dessert looks like the best part! I’m glad all of you are having a great time. I’m jealous 😉
It’s so neat when my two favorite bloggers are photographed together! I am from Iowa and Iowa Girl Eats is a favorite! I hope you are enjoying your California vacation!
That dessert is calling my name. 🙂 I adore anything with sorbet and dark chocolate.
Hopefully the massage was worth all that oil? haha
It totally was!
After reading this I know need basil in the next thing that I eat and a massage.
So glad your enjoying yourself. Looks like so much fun!!
Have a wonderful time!!
WowZers–that dessert looks SO good!! Yumm. Bet that was a fun night 🙂 How was the massage?!!
It was wonderful! 🙂
I’m happy to hear you are having such a fantastic trip but I think it must be mentioned that the Dole corporation horrific human rights violations worldwide. Children as young as 8 are employed to work underpaid, 12 hour shifts on banana plantations where they are subjected to toxic pesticides and have little chance of pursuing an education. Women workers are frequently sexually abused by their male supervisors, and Dole refuses the right of its workers to unionize. While it is business savy of them to treat American food bloggers with such generosity, it is a starch dicotomy to how the people who support the success of the company are treated.
@Andi: source?
@Jessica:
http://www.crocodyl.org/wiki/dole_food
http://www.bananalink.org.uk/content/view/224/135/lang,en/
http://www.business-humanrights.org/Categories/…/D/Dole
http://www.hrw.org/news/…/ecuador-widespread-labor-abuse-banana-plantations
Dole is a repeat offender on the Human Rights Watch list, a well established not-for-profit which is dedicated to defending and protecting human rights globally. http://www.hrw.org
I would alsorecommend watching the documentary “Dole, Behind the Smoke Screen” if you want to learn more about Dole’s global monopoly over the banana trade. Eye opening stuff.
@Jessica: @Andi: Sorry to leave you guys hanging. I talked to the Dole folks about these claims, and they provided me with a statement. Hopefully, it clears things up.
“Dole Food Company is dedicated to the health and safety of our 75,000 employees worldwide. Our people are our greatest asset and their safety and well-being are our highest priorities. Dole sets high standards for the Company and all of its divisions that go beyond what the law requires. In each country where the Company has operations, it complies strictly with applicable labor codes and requires that its management team reviews working conditions on a regular basis to ensure that compliance is maintained. Dole also works in collaboration with the representatives elected by its workers, practices a non-discriminatory policy, as per the principles developed in the International Labor Organization’s Conventions, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Working conditions in the Company’s facilities are designed to protect the health and well-being of all employees.
In accordance with ILO Convention 138 regarding minimum age and ILO Convention 182 on child labor, Dole prohibits child labor. The Company’s policy is even stricter for many of the developing countries in which Dole operates – prohibiting any people younger than 18 years of age from being hired or employed in any form.
Dole also has a strict Code of Conduct that all employees must sign and follow. Knowing that society plays a vital role in preserving the environment, part of this Code of Conduct states that employees are also required to comply with Dole’s environmental policy.
Many of Dole’s areas of operation consist of poor, rural communities, some of which face political and economic uncertainties. As a way to reduce the impact of these issues and improve the quality of life for residents, Dole provides a stable source of employment with wages and benefits exceeding legal standards. Many Dole operations also offer rent-free housing for employees, as well as health, sports, social and educational activities for the entire community.
More information on Dole’s policies can be found at http://www.dolecsr.com. A full list of Dole’s certifications, including from the Rainforest Alliance, can be seen at http://dolecrs.com/performance/certifications/rainforest-alliance/.”
Wow. Just wow. Everything looks fabulous! I wish I could eat there now. 🙂
Looks like an absolutely delicious meal. And your greasy headband hair looks better than my washed and styled hair, so…hahah
Haha! Thanks! It was all of that extra oil!
You are a lucky girl! Looks like a great night out!
This looks like so much amazing food! Jealous!
Looks like a fabulous dinner! I think your hair looks cute in your braid!
Thanks! 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed your day and the massage!
The restaurant looks so nice.. i would love to try the Coconut Curry Chicken and the dessert sounds fabulous!
Hope you have safe travels!
Looks like a fabulous day!
The food looks amazing! Enjoy 🙂
Oh mannn that dessert O_O YUM!
haha ah massages are the best, so funny about the oil. I wouldn’t have noticed!
Hey Tina! What plan are you using to train for the NYC Marathon?
Wow, that food all lOoks so tasty and gorgeous!
Sounds like a fabulous couple of days with lots of good food Рthe Char-Grilled Tofu with Saut̩ed Garlic Spinach, Shredded Asian Leek, and Sweet Soy Ginger looks amazing!
that looks soooo good. I am so jealous.
Looks amazing!! Have a great time!
Oh my GOSH, that meal looks incredible. I love the texture of risotto…I’m determined to make it myself some time! And cod is one of my favorite kinds of fish–so light & fresh. Mmmm.
Everything looks so unique and delicious! Good idea with the headband…I think your hair looks great. 🙂
That cod and cabbage dish looks fantastic! What a cool place to eat dinner. Dole is treating you well!
I am so jealous, that looks like the best “conference” ever!
wow.. that place looks so good. oh my, it’s 4:40 pm in NYC and your post made me soooooooooo hungry for jap food. i love the combination of spinach and mushrooms in brown rice.. sounds amazing.
It’s so awesome to see your favorite bloggers in one same photograph.
You and Kristen rock!!!
Claudia
all the way down from Perú!
ONYX looks like a scrumptious place to eat, and the atmosphere is right up my alley. I need to try that risotto immediately!
That’s funny that you said that about your hair, because I was going to comment about how pretty you looked in that picture!! Oily hair must work on you haha! 😉
Wow! What a grand adventure…looks fantastic! And to be honest I didn’t even notice the greasy headband hair…but it sounds like it was hard earned 😉
Long time reader! Always look forward to reading your posts! I am reaching out because on December 3rd I will be Dancing, Standing for 16 hrs for those who can’t. I hope you will support me and donate on my fundraising page. All proceeds go to the Children’s Miracle Hospital Networks, specifically to Children’s Hospital Boston. This is a cause near and dear to my heart, I am specifically dancing for my cousin who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and treated at Children’s Hospital Boston. I hope you will help this cause! Every small donation helps support the families and children that are treated at Children’s Hospital Boston everyday!
http://www.helpmakemiracles.org/participant/melissac
Jealous – looks like a fantastic day – I love miso soup. Love Love Love.
What a great night!! A nice spa treatment and a wonderful looking dinner!! Yum!!