Holiday Gourmet Dining at L’Auberge Del Mar’s Kitchen 1540 and a Return of L’Tea by the Sea

Southern California’s bounty and a beachy lifestyle are the main inspirations for this year’s holiday season dining at L’Auberge Del Mar. Tempting feasts will lure holiday guests and gourmet diners to KITCHEN 1540. Chef Nathan Lingle has curated Thanksgiving and Christmas menus that offer seasonal entrees perfectly paired with farmstand accompaniments boosting these celebrations to new levels of palate pleasure. And, the resort’s ever-popular L’Tea by the Sea promises the young and not as young delectable afternoon treats and ocean views in the Lobby Living Room.

Thanksgiving Three-Course Dinner at KITCHEN 1540,

Thursday, November 24, seatings at 3, 5, and 7 p.m.

Chef Lingle has made it hard what to choose for each original, innovative course with starters of Sierra Gold Bellini (salmon gravlax, crème fraiche, caviar, quail egg), Blue Hubbard Squash Bisque, Rainbow Chard (Asian pear, ashen goat cheese, chardonnay vinaigrette) or Lamb Ragout (nettle sagnarelli, citrus gremolata). Entrées include Heritage Turkey with bread pudding, maroon carrots, pole beans, cranberry compote and whipped potato; Skuna Bay Salmon with matsutake mushrooms, parsley root puree, braised greens and lemon chimichurri; Beef Tenderloin served with onion ale gratin, roasted root vegetables and Stone IPA reduction; or Smoked Eggplant Tortellini accompanied by black garlic, red walnut muhammara and preserved lemon. The Sweets are Apple Cake Tatin, Goat Cheese Cake with Pumpkin Butter or Dark Chocolate and Fig Trifle. $89 for adults; $39 for children under 12, plus tax and 20% gratuity. Optional wine pairings extra.

L’Tea by the Sea Served in the Oceanview Lobby Living Room

Saturday, December 10 and 17 at noon and 2 p.m.

Delectable treats such as Cinnamon Scone, Goat Milk Shortbread and Chocolate Pomegranate Tart and savory dishes like Buffalo Deviled Egg, Cucumber Banh Mi, Blue Cheese Popover with duck confit, and Smoked Salmon Blini will delight holiday revelers. $39 per person; $49 with Champagne for the grown-ups, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Limited seating and credit card needed for reservations.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Three-Course Dinner at KITCHEN 1540

Thursday, December 24, regular dining hours; Friday, December 25, seatings at 4, 6, and 8 p.m.

Executive Chef Nathan Lingle celebrates his second holiday season at L’Auberge Del Mar with an impressive menu that is creatively different from other more traditional yuletide offerings. Guests start with King Crab with celery root and buttermilk vinaigrette, Treviso Radicchio Salad, Beef Carpaccio with horseradish aioli or Saffron Sunchoke Bisque. Next the choices are Grilled Swordfish with whipped masa, pressed pepper and eggplant escabeche; Pork NY Strip served with curried squash, root spinach, quince and date conserve; Goose Cannelloni with wild mushrooms; Wagyu Short Rib with heirloom carrots, rainbow chard and “Yorkshire pudding;” or Housemade Gnocchi with olives, kohlrabi, winter squash and kale pesto. Sweets tempt with Pear and Pistachio Tart, Egg Nog Cheesecake and Chocolate-Peppermint Bar with peppermint bark ice cream.

$89 for adults; $39 for children under 12, plus tax and 20% gratuity. Optional wine pairings extra.

For all holiday reservations, please call (858) 793-6460.

Where: L’Auberge Del Mar, 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 (858) 259-1515