A.R. VALENTIEN RESTAURANT OPENS AT THE NEW LODGE AT TORREY PINES
San Diego's Newest Fine Dining Venue Celebrates California's Cuisine, Art & Architecture

LA JOLLA, Calif. (April 4, 2002) - A.R. Valentien, the signature restaurant at the new Lodge at Torrey Pines, opens today amid its breathtaking location overlooking the 18th green of the famed Torrey Pines Golf Course and the Pacific Ocean. Taking advantage of the best that California has to offer: a magnificent setting, superior produce, indigenous Craftsman-style architecture and the rich history of California Impressionism, A.R. Valentien is the latest and brightest entry into the Southern California dining scene.

At the helm in the kitchen is executive chef Jeff Jackson, formerly of Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. Jackson's menu draws inspiration from the best local provisions available each season and changes regularly depending on produce offered at local farmers markets and from small growers, ranchers and fishermen. Jackson places emphasis on basic ingredients and prepares food with minimal handling and in simple combinations to highlight the textures and flavors inherent to each element.

The spring menu reflects this straightforward yet innovative culinary philosophy in dishes such as parsley root soup, potted short ribs with tarragon vinaigrette, roasted beet and pickle, hot smoked salmon with mashed potatoes, buttermilk and chives followed by butterscotch pudding, pecan cookies and bitter hot cocoa. The restaurant's wine list compliments the menu's regional focus with a selection of California appellations, including many from boutique wineries from across the Golden State.

The restaurant itself is a tribute to Southern California heritage and Craftsman architecture, with a metal-strap post-and-beam structure, handcrafted wood-framed windows, stained-glass lanterns and a frieze painted with pine boughs. The layout of the restaurant is also conducive to elegant dining, with several small rooms and plush booths to lend intimacy.

Another highlight of the restaurant is the display of significant works by A.R. Valentien and memorabilia from his estate. Albert R. Valentien was the chief decorator of the renowned Rookwood Pottery in Ohio for more than 20 years before moving to San Diego in 1908. Shortly after, Ellen Browning Scripps commissioned Valentien to paint 1,000 native wildflowers for her private library in La Jolla, a project he completed after 10 years. Following his wildflower studies, Valentien began painting landscapes in the California Impressionist style. His botanical watercolors, renowned for their realism, are perhaps the finest representations of California flora.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines® is a tribute to the California Craftsman Movement and is modeled after Greene & Greene's famed Gamble and Blacker houses in Pasadena, Calif., two of the finest examples of early 1900's Craftsman-style architecture. The Lodge features 175 spacious guest rooms and suites, more than 13,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space, and a 9,500 square-foot full-service spa. The Lodge is adjacent to the Torrey Pines Golf Course and is within walking distance of Torrey Pines State Reserve.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines® is owned and operated by Evans Hotels, San Diego and is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World®. For reservations call 888-826-0224, or for further information contact Steve Pelzer at (858) 777-6706, spelzer@lodgetorreypines.com or visit www.lodgetorreypines.com.

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