Summer is upon us in San Diego and with gorgeous views of the Carlsbad, California foothills, it’s easy to feel inspired. Our Diversions Sport Lounge team took this inspiration and turned it into a cocktail, the La Costa Breeze. Here’s how you can make this refreshing beverage at home.

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE LA COSTA BREEZE SUMMER COCKTAIL:

• 1.25oz Kettle One Orange
• .5oz Aperol
• .5oz Chase Elderflower Liqueur
• 2oz Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
• Served up on the rocks, garnish with orange slice

And voila! We hope you enjoy this drink as much as we do!

Have you enjoyed a cocktail or dining experience you’d like the recipe to? We’re happy to share our secrets. Leave a note in the comments for menu items you want to learn more about and we’ll happily craft a blog post for you.

To learn more about a Summer Getaway at La Costa, CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW!

Mother’s Day Brunch – Sunday, May 12, 9AM – 3PM – This annual tradition brings in hundreds of families from all over San Diego county. Mother’s Day Brunch Menu items, carefully prepared by Chef Marc Therrien and our professional culinary team include everything from Gourmet Omelets, Brioche French Toast Berry Compote and fresh fruit, to local cheese plates, tapas and sushi, to salads, a carving board and Chef’s Family Recipes. To view the full menu, click here.

Make your reservation TODAY by calling 800.854.5000

Gift Cards & Certificates – Known as a small village, La Costa Resort isn’t just a luxury resort for overnight guests. We’re home to the Nation’s #1 Wellness Spa, legendary golf courses, award-winning dining venues, retail shops (including San Diego’s only Lilly Pulitzer store, Pinkalicious), 17 tennis courts and for those overnight guests and/or members, we have 8 pools (including adults-only EDGE), (2) 100-foot waterslides, a beautiful athletic center and so much more. To purchase a gift card, simply CLICK HERE.

Flowers at La Costa – Instead of buying a bouquet of flowers for your mom this year, why not bring her to the flowers. Our grounds team works year-round to maintain the flora and fauna around property and by bringing your camera, you’ll give her visual memories that will long outlast a bouquet.

Spa Treatments – The Spa at La Costa has been ranked the #1 Wellness Spa in the Nation and we take immense pride in this title. Just in time for Mother’s Day, we’ve created 10 all-new treatments, incorporating mind-body elements fitting to our LiveWell programming. Below showcases our brand new body treatment named “The Art of Bathing.” Moms can relax in our hydrotherapy tub and using aromatic essences from herbs, flowers and trees, this experience will nourish the body.

Ladies Spa Day – Make Mother’s Day social and on top of a treatment, book the beautiful Luxe Lounge. Watch the hilarious Sex & the City movie while sipping a Bellini and munching on healthful bites from the Spa Cafe. If you’d like, therapists will come to you for mini treatments including scalp massage, head, neck and shoulders or reflexology treatments. To book the space or to  learn more, contact Aprille Ray by calling 760.929.6383

Shop our Retail Specials – La Costa is home to numerous boutique shops featuring top designers including Michael Kors, Trina Turk, Hale Bob, Karen Kane, Tommy Bahama, Quiksilver, Puma, Nike and more – additionally we are home to Southern California’s only Lilly Pulitzer signature store, Pinkalicious. We have shopping special all month, every month but be sure to CLICK here to learn about Mother’s Day Mimosa Events and a chance to get Lululemon products marked 50% off.

Take a Staycation – I mean, we are a resort, after all! We’re willing to bet once you spend the day, you won’t want to leave. So, don’t! CLICK HERE to learn more about our vacation packages or overnight specials.

How do you plan on spending Mother’s Day this year? Leave a note in the comments.

Recipe for La Costa Resort’s LiveWell Green Smoothie:

• 3 Cups Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
• 2 Bunches Swiss Chard
• 5 Cups Fresh Spinach
• 5 Sprigs Mint
• 10 Basil Leaves
• 1 Green Apple, Cored
• 2 Pears, Cored
• 1 Crown Broccoli

In a blender, pour in Orange Juice and slowly add the rest of the ingredients. Blend very well. (If it’s too thick for you liking, add a bit more Orange Juice to thin out).

Serve and Enjoy! *For full La Costa effect, find a hammock next to a beautifully-scented flower patch, sip, relax, and repeat!

For more recipe ideas and specials, sign up for our email newsletter.

CAN YOU NAME THE YEAR AND GOLF PRO WHO WON THE 1ST ACCENTURE MATCH PLAY TOURNAMENT PLAYED AT LA COSTA RESORT AND SPA?
Answer correctly in the comments section below and you’ll be entered to WIN (1) TWOSOME OF GOLF AT LA COSTA.*

*One comment per person. Must answer with both correct year and correct pro. Commenters who answer correctly will be entered into random drawing to be announced by 3 pm PST on Monday, March 25, 2013. Check back here then to see if you won. Employees and their immediate families (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) are not eligible to enter or win.

*Photo Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport via Golf Channel

Today’s blog post trivia was inspired by our Front Desk Supervisor, Robert. Think you can stump him on La Costa trivia? Try it…email community@lacosta.com with your own La Costa trivia and we’ll test the pro.

You don’t have to have Irish roots to enjoy this lucky holiday. A great exit from the winter doldrums, St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday about donning green, sipping cider and Guinness, and spending quality time with friends and family. And while most choose to get together over the traditional corned beef and cabbage meal, we prefer to mix things up and create our own traditions with… our own meal creations.

Who better to reach out to for a tasty alternative from the norm, but our amazing Executive Chef Marc Therrien? The head honcho in all La Costa kitchens and a Boston-transplant himself, this recipe captures the spirit of the holiday perfectly (with beer of course!). We hope you enjoy!

Pilsner & Vermont White Cheddar Soup
Ingredients:

• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 1 carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 small fennel bulb, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 4 oz unsalted butter
• 6 oz all purpose flour or gluten-free flour
• 1 pound Vermont white cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 cups fresh chicken stock
• 12 oz Pilsner
• 8 oz fine dice Virginia ham
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Worcestershire to taste
• Kosher salt to taste
• 2 oz grape seed oil

Preheat oil in heavy bottom sauce pan and add onion, carrot, fennel, ham and garlic. Saute until softened. Add butter and cook until melted, then add flour. Cook for 5 minutes and stir often. Add chicken stock and beer and heat until it comes to a boil. Turn down heat to a simmer and slowly add cheese while whisking until smooth. At this point, take off  heat and carefully puree in small batches in good blender. Pour soup back into pan and adjust the flavor with seasoning.

Serve to friends and enjoy!

Insider Secrets is a new series we’ll be sharing on our blog. Here at La Costa Resort and Spa, we have experts in any field you can think of. From golf and tennis, beauty and wellness, food and beverage, weddings, party hosting and decor, gardening and much more, we know our stuff. Leave a comment on our blog if there’s a certain industry secret you’re dying to know, and we’ll plan to cover it for you.

Today’s Insider Secret comes from our Pastry Chef, Jaimie Hileman.

Ever wonder how Pastry Chefs can cut all those mini cakes and pastries in  perfect little squares? The trick is to flash freeze the complete pastry. Then measure out and cut with a warm knife, cleaning the knife after each cut.

How about how our cupcakes are all the perfect uniform size? I use an ice cream scoop to portion the batter out into each muffin cup.

And Voila! Your dessert will be delicious and beautiful!