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LOS ANGELES SOFITEL LOS ANGELES
As soon as I turned my hired American gas-guzzler into the hotel drive, just off the busy corner of La Cienega and Beverly Boulevards, and the valet raced up to whisk the car away, I had the sense of a well-run and efficient establishment. Then I stepped inside and saw the sleek entrance hall (pictured). When the aesthetics of ultra-modernity work, the result can be mighty impressive. Here all was dark and gleaming. And I was impressed.
My room was on the 6 th (American 7 th) floor. I recommend that, like me, you go for the back of the hotel. This ensures not only that there is no possibility of traffic noise, but also that you will have an interesting view. Apartment 717 (pictured) was a ‘Double Lighting is always of supreme importance in hotel bedrooms, and here it was good. Dimmers were attached to both the table lamps and to the spotlights positioned for bedtime reading. I approved of the soft light provided to facilitate night-time visits to the bathroom, and I was intrigued by the light which turned the window between the bathroom and the bedroom from clear to opaque. This, I supposed, was so that I could either, under the shower, retain my privacy or watch the entertainment on the 32 inch plasma screen of the bedroom television. I mention the shower. It seems that many people nowadays do not want to spend time in a bath tub, and prefer the speed and convenience of a large, walk-in shower. This is why many of the Sofitel’s rooms, like number 717, have showers and no tubs. I am a tub man myself, believing that a long soak in hot, still water is both cheaper and more beneficial than a visit to the therapist. Still, I did have here my favourite toiletries, by Roger Gallet, and the towels were the sort I like – large, white, soft and plentiful.
The Restaurant is called ‘Simon LA’, and is a venture of the chef Kerry Simon. Its cuisine is described as ‘modern American’ and the menu is presented under the following categories: appetizers, salads, wood-roasted pizzas, entrées, prime meats, pasta and sides. My three-course meal was $76, and was served to me by Lynne, a friendly waitress from Oklahoma. My opening salad typified the straightforward approach of the kitchen: the roasted beets and goat’s cheese were of good quality, had been carefully prepared and were sensibly accompanied by balsamic vinegar. Then an enormous piece of tasty beef fillet was brought with roasted onions and some excellent truffled mashed potato. Two pots contained the sauces: a béarnaise and one based upon red wine. Both were properly made. I finished with a decent crème brûlée.
I returned to the patio to break my fast, and sat next to a waterfall. I like the sound of running water in the mornings. It gives an impression of new life at the beginning of a new day. Buoyed by such poetic optimism, I tucked into the ‘American breakfast’ – orange juice, 3 poached eggs, crisp bacon, grilled tomato, brown toast, a dish of raspberries and a pot of coffee. All this was of good quality, was brought to my table and was had for around $25 (which I considered something of a bargain). I did, of course, dress properly for this first meal of the day. I do not like to appear in public without a jacket, a collar and a tie. That is my style. And I was in the City of Style, at a very stylish hotel – the Sofitel Los Angeles.
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ADDRESSES SOFITEL LOS ANGELES
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© Francis Bown 2003
What I want in Los Angeles is Style. And, this being Los Angeles, I make no apology for the capital ‘S’. In some parts of the world, I do my best to seek out subtle restraint and conservative under-statement. But the movie-makers’ town brings out my admiration for that approach which we might sum up with the words, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.” That is why I was so keen to try out the Sofitel Los Angeles. Built in 1989, it has just had a $40 million makeover, overseen by the design firms of Cheryl Powley and Yabu Pushelberg. When I was told about it, it sounded to me like my sort of place. And it was.
Impressive, too, was the welcome – particularly from Daniel Entenberg (pictured). Mr Entenberg is the Front Office Manager, a position which he fulfils with such charm and diligence that he is a considerable asset to the hotel. In this City of Awards, I thought Daniel deserved his own, for the enthusiasm he displayed for making my stay as pleasurable as possible. Indeed, the General Manager, Brent Martin, has every reason to be proud of his whole team, for every member of staff I encountered seemed highly motivated and keen to serve the guests.
Deluxe’ ($355-$535 a night, according to season, breakfast extra). It was of modest size, but the space was so well used and the colour scheme (of cream and black lacquer and brown velvet) so cleverly devised, that there was no sense of being cramped. Its air-conditioning was efficient and almost silent. The small wireless had a button marked ‘Classical’. This I pressed, and was taken straight to FM105·1, the local radio station which plays proper music. Thus I was able to lie on the chaise longue, look through the French windows at the Hollywood Hills – the hazy backdrop to the roofs of West Hollywood – and wallow in the familiar melodies of Tchaikovsky.
When I went down for dinner I was at first disconcerted by the large dining room. It was, of course, modern in design. But it was not the architectural modernity (which I liked) which made me hesitate. It was the music – of the ‘pop’ sort and rather loud. Still, the personable young Restaurant Manager, Michael Morgan, solved the problem by showing me to a table on the outdoor patio, which was blissfully free of the noise. Here I sat in a supportive chair (for which my ailing back sang a Te Deum) at a wooden table, on which were set good (nameless) glasses and a single candle.
California supplies most of the offerings on the wine list, although I noted some interesting bottles from elsewhere at friendly prices – for example, 2004 Laughing Magpie shiraz from Australia at $51 and the 1999 vintage of that fine sauternes, Chateau Rieussac, at $88. Napa Valley reds dominate, with the likes of 2003 Stag’s Leap syrah ($90), 2001 Silver Oak cabernet ($195) and 2003 Duckhorn Vineyards merlot ($167). From my own drinking, I would commend to you a big Chilean chardonnay with lots of butter and vanilla (Castillo de Molina Reserve - $37).