CSI DMC recently spent some time catching up with one of our favorite California culinary partners. When it comes to sharing creative food concepts, Courtney Ikeda shares that Chef Coffman is always busy creating “imaginative and responsible menus with layers of flavor that will wow your senses.” Their goal is to share the passion that they have for food, while staying true to core values like sustainability and making sure that food is locally sourced, fresh, and within season.
Aside from working with CSI DMC, Courtney enjoys spending her time at the Carlsbad Flower Fields. She describes it as “one of the most breathtaking views in southern California.” Courtney continues, “On a hillside overlooking the coast, you can surround and indulge all your senses with 50 acres of a rainbow of ranunculus flowers.” For Courtney, living in a state with nearly perfect weather, means that she can spend plenty of time outdoors. She shares, “Here, in the southernmost corner of California, with cross-border experiences in Mexico just a few miles away, we enjoy quaint oceanside towns, picture-perfect beaches, trendy urban neighborhoods, acres of wilderness; including mountains and the desert, tantalizing diverse cuisine, and family-friendly attractions like the San Diego Zoo and the USS Midway Museum.”
Shares Courtney, “There are so many things I love about this region! For example, San Diego hosts a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, The Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.” She adds, “California is the only state that has hosted both the summer and winter Olympics. Los Angeles hosted the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics, while Squaw Valley hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.”
The CSI DMC team works closely with our hospitality partners, and it’s always so refreshing to learn they are as excited about California as we are! It makes creating exceptional experiences for our clients all the more rewarding.