“We had a packed itinerary for our weekend, starting with dinner at the chef’s counter at the hotel’s flagship restaurant Manzanita, a Saturday morning private ski lesson, lunch on the slopes and apres-ski champagne.” — The Taste SF
Architecture, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Purchasing
Lake Tahoe, California
January 2010
A warm color palette combined with textured, natural materials creates a luxurious dining environment inspired by the surrounding mountain resort of Lake Tahoe. The open kitchen is the heart of the restaurant, showcasing acclaimed chef Tracy Des Jardins’ organic cuisine.
Highlights of the design include an exposed bark edge wood slat ceiling farmed from locally grown and replenished trees, a polished stainless steel soffit punctuated with glowing manzanita trees, and a reclaimed tree slab chef’s table providing an intimate and personal dining experience at the expo kitchen. Warm concrete floors with mosaic tile accent bands complement the angles of the surrounding mountains.
Every table has a view, from the step up booths along the kitchen wall that are upholstered in a wonderful cotton chocolate corduroy with matching leather seat, to the flexible seating in the center of the dining room, to the generous 2-top settees along the window.