Proving that change can, in fact, be a good thing, La Valencia’s Sky Room has taken change head on and reinvented itself into one of the most unique dining experiences La Jolla has to offer. Bringing in chef Luke Johnson, formerly of Little Italy’s Red Velvet Wine Bar, The Sky Room plunged headfirst into off-the-beaten-track dining with Johnson’s cutting-edge cuisine. With the restaurant’s dramatic coastline views and sumptuous plates, The Sky Room has firmly placed itself ahead of the pack in La Jolla’s dining scene. Johnson created a multi-course tasting menu for the restaurant’s reincarnation, with a seasonal menu featuring such distinctive combinations as raw scallop with watermelon, radish and cucumber; chilled tomato soup with heirloom beans, basil and manchego; and pork belly ravioli with corn and blueberry. “Luke brings an abundance of culinary knowledge and skill to La Valencia. We look forward to the dynamic changes he will bring to our restaurants and the overall dining experiences at the hotel,” said Andrew Mosblech, La Valencia director of food and beverage. “His impressive techniques and passion for the restaurant industry will play an integral role in the enhancements currently taking place with La Valencia’s food and beverage programs.” Ranging from five to eight courses, the menu is paired with a wine list designed to enhance the flavor of each menu item, for which Mosblech collaborated with Johnson closely. Wine pairing highlights include Bret Brothers Macon Uchizy “La Martine” 2009, Cultivar Cabernet Franc 2009 and Domaine Singla Rivesaltes 2004. The drastic changes made to the menu did not come without some reservations. Mosblech, who described The Sky Room’s previous menu as “more meat and potatoes” said he was concerned about the possibility of losing some of the guests who had previously enjoyed the restaurant. “We were a little worried about those guests,” he said, “but they have welcomed us with open arms.” The cost of the complete tasting menu is $95 with an optional wine pairing for $55. The Sky Room is open for dinner Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m. For reservations, call (858) 551-3761. For more information, visit www.lavalencia.com/dining/the-sky-room.
