Beyond infinity
Caruso Belmond, Palm Springs properties, Maria Isabel, House of George W. Davies, Duke's Malibu, MORE
One fresh PROMPT for which we seek your intelligence:
What’s your favorite restaurant that you’ve ever visited on your travels?
More answers or questions? Hit reply or email found@itsfound.com.
GETAWAYS • Italy
Above Amalfi
After landing in Naples at dawn, bleary and disoriented after a red-eye, I found the road to Ravello perched a thousand feet above the Amalfi Coast, a vertiginous hour-long journey to the Caruso, A Belmond Hotel. Set inside an airy 11th-century palace with creamy stucco walls, terracotta roof, and tile floors, framing incredible views of the turquoise Mediterranean Sea, the arrival perked me up. As did being escorted to a table on the patio at the cliff’s edge for breakfast, feasting on that view (above) as well as an elegant buffet of cured meats, cheeses, fresh fruit, pastries, and eggs made to order alongside espresso and Champagne.
I was traveling with my best friend ahead of a week-long sailing voyage through the Gulf of Naples, and we wanted a soft landing. Our spacious superior suite and its marshmallow-like king-sized bed with a minimalist wrought-iron canopy proved to be just that. A Juliet balcony and porthole-style windows looked out to the astounding coastline and sea. The dining and seating area, as well as an enormous bathroom with separate vanities, a rainfall shower, and large tub weren’t bad, either.
Soon, we made our way through the gardens to the enormous infinity pool perched on a cliff, around which life at Caruso revolves. There’s perhaps no setting more sublime to lounge a day away over rosé and sparkling water, snacking on olives and crisps. Our favorite meals at Caruso were set here, casual lunchtime pool breaks at the patio restaurant with a simple pasta pomodoro or buffalo-mozzarella Neapolitan-style pizza alongside local wine and freshly baked bread.
Another great way to spend an afternoon is exploring the town of Ravello. An uncrowded, unhurried, far cry from the tourist hordes in Amalfi below, its home to an 11th-century cathedral, gelato stands, quaint restaurants, and shops. The region is known for its colorful, hand-painted ceramics. I was so charmed by Caruso’s espresso sets, complete with cup, saucer, and adorable lids that I bought my own in town. Now, whenever I indulge in a post-lunch espresso break at home, I’m immediately transported back to that easy life in Ravello.
Beyond the beautiful setting, another thing that sets Caruso apart is its hospitality; warm, astute, intuitive. A half hour never passed before someone was there to see if we needed anything at all (sunscreen, more sparkling water, a restaurant recommendation) in a gracious, unobtrusive manner. In the evening, upon returning to our suite, we were almost always greeted with a little surprise: sweets, sun hats, or stationery. The charming waiter who served us lunch by the pool was the same to shake up our cocktails in the evening at the bar.
In the garden on the way to the pool, we noticed a bronze bust we assumed must be someone important to Ravello’s history or the hotel itself. Upon further inspection, the plaque next to it bore this quote: “I wish I could stay at the Hotel Caruso in Ravello for the rest of my life.” It was merely testimony from a happy guest. We joked that we couldn’t wait until our busts were unveiled next to his. –Shayne Benowitz
→ Caruso (Ravello, Italy) • Spring rates from $988/night.
REAL ESTATE • California
Three for-sale properties in Palm Springs that came to market in the last month.
→ 353 W Via Sol (Palm Springs) • 4BR/3.1BA, 2623 SF house • Ask: $2.295M • south-facing mountain views in Vista Las Palmas • Days on market: 9 • Annual tax: $4995 • Agent: Scott Ehrens, Compass.
→ 3075 Goldenrod Ln (Palm Springs) • 3BR/3.1BA, 2707 SF house • Ask: $4.15M • main house + guest house, designed ‘for living in rhythm with the desert’ • Days on market: 31 • Annual tax: $13,642 • Agent: Brady Sandahl, Keller Williams.
→ 979 Las Palmas Estates Dr (Palm Springs, above) • 4BR/4.1BA, 3400 SF house • Ask: $5.75M • in gated ONE Las Palmas, ‘mid-century inspiration with contemporary execution’ • Days on market: 32 • Agent: Brady Sandahl, Keller Williams.
GOODS & SERVICES • Big Ticket
Select answers to the FOUND Routine query, What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
→ ANNEY NORTON, founder & CEO, Dream Tea NYC (NY): My Contax T3 film camera. I bought it as a gift to myself when I graduated from my master’s at NYU. I did a lot of research and found mine on eBay from a Japanese seller — they tend to take the best care of these cameras. It’s become my favorite way to capture moments with friends and family, and when I’m traveling.
→ RODRIGO HECHT, founder & owner, Cotidiano (Miami): I treated myself to a ticket to the Miami Open finals, because every once in a while, it’s worth stepping away and enjoying something at that level. On the health side, I invested in a Bemer system to help with my back pain, which has been a real game-changer, given how much time I spend on my feet. And living in Key Biscayne, I decided to buy a golf cart to make getting around easier and more efficient.
→ HEATHER SPERLING, founder, Botanica (LA): I am a superfan of my Mill food recycler (use code FOUND LA for $100 off); it has seriously changed my composting game at home. My house is set far back from the street, and bringing the compost down to the green bin was always such a schlep. Having a Mill in my kitchen transforms food scraps so quickly, then I just pop them out the back door into our composter, and in no time have incredible compost for my vegetable beds. [spon]
RESTAURANTS • San Francisco
Ant eater
The latest restaurant from Dalida owners and chefs Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz, Maria Isabel is the refreshing and feminine Mexican seafood destination San Francisco has been waiting for. Sayat grew up in Turkey, and for years, the chef power couple has showcased vibrant Middle Eastern fare, first at their pop-up Istanbul Modern and at their stunning Presidio restaurant. Laura comes from the southern state of Guerrero on Mexico’s Pacific coast, so for their second restaurant, she’s returning to her roots.
“I hope you like bugs in your food,” Laura said when she sets down the salad, a refreshing bowl full of nopales and chayote, topped with a hot pink scoop of xoconostle (prickly pear) sorbet, and sprinkled with crispy chicatanas (ants). The duck carnitas lets you savor four different swipes of mole sauce: negro, verde, manchamanteles (the red tablecloth stainer), and blanco (often served at weddings). Of course, they’re nixtamalizing their own masa, in a sun-faded rainbow of heirloom corn colors.
We lost our minds over the fish dishes, smoked mussels cupped in a crispy corn sope, a meltingly soft cod taco with charred pineapple, and a Dungeness crab “tortita” ahogado, aka the cutest of baby crab sandwiches, swimming in bright orange chile de arbol sauce. –Becky Duffett
GETAWAYS • The Cotswolds
George’s house
George Davies, best known for his retail achievements (the octogenarian founded high-street fashion brands Next, Per Una and George at Asda), has now put his name to a very different venture, a boutique hotel in the Cotswolds, where the Liverpudlian entrepreneur has lived for the past 30 years.
On the main street of Broadway village, House of George W. Davies opened late last year in an impressive 17th-century listed building that’s been lovingly restored with 10 cosy, individually decorated bedrooms. In the main house (there are also six courtyard rooms), I stayed in the Luxe King, the only one with a freestanding bath. While the bathroom was enormous, the bedroom itself was charming and compact, with original wood beams, cleverly appointed wardrobe space and a stowaway TV that emerged at the end of the bed at the push of a button. It felt homely and warm, like a cottage.
What makes it stand out from the myriad chocolate-box hotels in the Cotswolds, though, is its fine dining restaurant, Moda, led by young chef James Wilson, formerly of The Newt. It’s open to the public and serves à la carte, but we opted for the 10-course tasting menu, a seasonal offering featuring locally foraged ingredients. –Laura Price
AROUND FOUND • Other Notable Intel & Recs
→ LA: Over the years, I’ve celebrated everything from finding an empty bar seat to my college graduation with a mai tai (or two) at Duke’s Malibu, the breezy haven that reopened last month after a 14-month closure. It’s consistently busy, but not so busy that you can’t find an open seat, at least at the bar, which is where I shouldered in on reopening weekend. On the first weekend back in service after more than a year of dealing with fires, subsequent mudslides, and repairs, the place was heaving.
→ Miami: Chef Yasu Tanaka is having a moment in Miami. His much-loved nigiri counter at the Design District’s MIA Market led to Wynwood’s easygoing (yet polished) Pari Pari last fall. Now, Tanaka steps into Yasu Omakase, a standalone omakase in the Design District, and his most refined concept yet.
→ LDN: From the chef-owner of beloved north London neighborhood Italian spot Trullo, Burro is a buzzy new restaurant in Covent Garden serving produce-led cooking. Its outdoor terrace will prove especially popular in warmer weather.
→ Napa Valley: Many resorts that market themselves as wellness destinations oversell it. Not Stanly Ranch. Nestled on an expansive property in Napa, this four-year-old Auberge property exudes wellness without fanfare. Wellness here means the restaurant, spa and pools are spaced out enough that walking to and from counts as a workout (in many cases, uphill). It’s offering a mattress so good we overslept and missed the morning yoga session.
GETAWAYS LINKS: The problem with American luxury hotels • Can I be honest about Aman Tokyo? • Is Lake Como the new Amalfi Coast? • The man who built Six Senses is back, and he’s done playing it safe • Far-flung spots that are worth the trek.
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
Miami restaurants, South Beach
FOUND’s 9 favorites in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood. In Miami, see also: Wynwood, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Little River.
Pauline (above), The Shelborne by Proper’s inspired new coastal concept by Keys native chef Abram Bissell, reserve