SO CAL SO GOOD

ANDREW FRASER VISITS THE GORGEOUS GOLDEN STATE

WORDS: ANDREW FRASER

While most places in the world have their good points, California differs in that it is pretty damn impossible to establish a bad point. Wealthy, abundant, ridiculously well-endowed, sunny all year round, incredible food, thrill-a-second cities, and stuffed with rural splendours – it’s no wonder that Californians are so pleasant.

Attitude flew over with Air New Zealand direct from Heathrow to LAX in their specially designed new Premium Economy Spaceseats, which offer 50 per cent more legroom than economy, and to be honest were barely a hop and a skip away from business class in terms of comfort and service. Attitude noshed on confit chicken thigh on kumara miso mash with edamame beans, wilted spinach and chilli pickled shiitake mushrooms with red dates, among other delicacies, on the way to two of SoCal’s perfect hotspots.

NEWPORT BEACH:

Home to The O.C. and The Real Housewives of Orange County, Newport Beach is where the yachters meet the surfers in one sublime and chichi, sundrenched cocktail of cute. Witness local delicacy the frozen banana, a piece of ingenuity first pioneered at a place named Banana Roller Rama back in 1963. Every gay man has his preferred way to dip his banana, but mine, after being smothered in hot melted chocolate, was rolled in toasted peanuts, coconut and smashed Oreo. Yes, you really are in the land of plenty. Make like a local while here and go on a yacht cruise of Newport Harbor (hornblower.com), where group cruises or bespoke trips around the beautiful waterside can be accompanied by canapés and champagne. The harbour offers sailing, fishing, rowing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. Newport Beach’s actual beach is an incredibly thick slab of custard sands, lapped by crystal seas overpopulated with tousle-haired hunks in lycra surfing suits so clingy when wet that, frankly speaking, they save your imagination the bother of wondering. You can also arrange a thrilling private helicopter ride over this pristine coastline (ochelicopters.com).