h2hotel & Spoonbar
October 14, 2010 The next time you plan a trip to wine country, make Healdsburg as your home base. A new eco-conscious hotel, h2hotel, just opened three months ago with LEED Gold certification. Amongst its many amenities, they have a solar heated pool, a living rooftop garden, and yoga classes on Saturday mornings. You can also borrow bikes for three hours at a time. What a fun way to explore the area.
h2hotel's junior suite.Each of the bright and airy Junior Suites have a private balcony or patio. Local art adorn the walls, so the minimalist decor still has a colorful flair. Organic cotton robes and towels, recyclable cardboard hangers, and botanical toiletries definitely amp up the green factor. The large bathroom is lined with Heath Ceramics tiles and there's a Japanese-inspired plunge tub for you to relax in. The king bed, fitted with organic Coyuchi linens, is also one of the most comfortable ones I've slept in.
The living roof garden at h2hotel.The name Spoonbar doesn't really conjure up gourmet notes but the Mediterranean menu presents many strong dishes. Located right next to the reception area of the hotel, the restaurant is a popular gathering place for tourists and locals alike. Plus, mixologist Scott Beattie (formerly of Cyrus) can whip out some mean cocktails.
The lovely floral mural at Spoonbar. It took two days to construct this display.The refreshing Siddartha was an amazing concoction of Hangar One Buddha's Hand Citron, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, gin, lemon, Thai coconut milk and lemon verbena. The coconut milk added a delicate, fleeting sweetness that I really enjoyed. It really hit the spot on a warm evening.
There is a large appetizer selection, so you can definitely fill up without even touching the main plates. Our small bites plate had a fun assortment of mini lamb meatballs, spiced Marakesh gigante beans, crispy rock shrimp, and marinated local eggs. The creamy local oysters and Humboldt scallops were nicely chilled, refreshingly sweet and minerally.
The runaway favorite app was the Grilled Octopus with Cerignola Olives and Nepitella. Tender, melt-in-your-mouth octopus dancing with a wild Italian minty herb was deliciously satisfying. The portion was large enough to share with 2-3 people. If I didn't order anything else, I could eat this all by myself.
The signature main dish, the exceptionally moist Moorish-Style Gleason Ranch Brick Chicken, had a fantastic explosion of citrus flavors hitting my palate. Grilled lemon and couscous completed the plate, transporting me to Morocco. If I were living here, I'd be coming back for this chicken on a regular basis. If you prefer red met, the buttery-soft Dry Aged Creekstone Rib Eye will surely please your taste buds.
Desserts didn't disappoint either. The rich Strawberry Filled Ricotta Doughnuts sent us off to carb heaven. If you're looking for something much lighter the fruit-laden Summer Pavlova is a great option.
For an eco-chic experience, book now at www.h2hotel.com. They currently offer a Green Trail Package that features a local biodynamic/organic winery tour. You'll also get to picnic and go on a bike ride!
For editorial consideration, a press visit was arranged by a company PR representative.
Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Travel
Reader Comments (2)
Nice photos! Love that floral wall mural and the food looks delish!
That wall is soooo cute! I want one in my home! :)