Ventana
48123 Highway 1, Big Sur
667-2331, www.ventanainn.com
In Spanish, ventana means window. With a dinner reservation in Big Sur, Ventana means taste buds are about to be pampered. Executive Chef Paul Corsentino and his Avengers-esque team of sous chefs and cooks, rewrite their menus (breakfast, lunch and dinner) depending on the season and their creative juices. A blend of traditional French execution with California culinary originality creates challenging choices for hungry eaters. This dining experience might net a celebrity sighting, but the cuisine is the real star of this show.