PECHANGA: Jewel of the Temecula Valley TRAVELS WITH HIAN
by Howard Hian
My wife and I decided on a quick getaway to Temecula, California, to try out a spot getting good buzz, Pechanga Resort & Casino. After a speedy check-in, we headed to Kelsey’s, one of 11 restaurants. It’s a sleek American pub specializing in handcut, barbecued meats and craft beer. It was our first of three “wowâ€? food experiences. Let me recommend a meal: Start with the award-winning chili and an order of cornbread; next, order any dish that features the smoked tri-tip; finish with freshly made churros. Good food, good service ‌ enough said! We ended the afternoon at Spa Pechanga. In its calm atmosphere, one can unwind with a steam, lounge in the “quiet roomâ€? and then get pampered with your choice of a broad range of massages, body treatments, skin care or salon services. Evening found us at the award-winning Great Oak Steakhouse. Perfectly prepared prime Black Angus beef is king here and,
We ended the night at the Pechanga Cabaret, one of five bars/lounges, and listened to live music while enjoying a nightcap. After a good night’s sleep in our comfortable, quiet room and a quick breakfast at the Pechanga Cafe, I was off to a morning Hold ’em tournament. I was surprised to see about 100 players. Although knocked out 1.5 hours later, it was satisfying to compete. Surprising note: the casino is as big as the MGM Grand’s in Las Vegas and the largest in California! Bingo? Yes, we attended the matinee session (free popcorn and soda) and soon realized “This is not your grandmother’s game.� It’s speedy and hi-tech, including the option to play multiple games with an iPad keeping score. It’s a hoot. Dinner, again, was first rate. Umi Sushi & Oyster Bar features fresh seafood, a raw bar, sushi, sashimi, maki and specialty fish dishes. The menu is conducive to my favorite pastime, “grazing.� My lychee martini was followed by shrimp tempura, tuna Bingo sessions at Pechanga Resort & Casino are fast and fun. poke and a grilled shrimp salad. There’s always an end to a vacation and along with specialty drinks and an excep-T:9.5�with a choice of five classic sauces. The tional wine list, it’s no surprise they’ve cocktail and wine pours are liberal and the we finished up the next morning at the earned a AAA Four Star rating every year breads freshly baked. Save room for house PECHANGA, continued on Page 11 since 2012. Generous cuts of steak come made desserts. It’s fine dining at its best.
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