As the sun comes over the hills of Southern California,
Beverly Bass dons her running shoes for her daily trek through the island of
Coronado. Depending upon her route, she may pass by what has always been the
town's landmark, a vast and elegant resort stretching along the crystalline
sands of the Coronado seaside. It is the Hotel del Coronado, and it is more than
a magnificent landmark to Beverly Bass.
For twelve years, Bass was the food and beverage director and
senior vice president at the famed resort. The job was the pinnacle of her
twenty-year career in hotel food services which also included positions at San
Diego's Half Moon Inn and the Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel. Now retired from
the Del, Bass has turned her creativity and experience toward other endeavors,
including the writing of The Hotel del Coronado Cookbook. As exciting as
the writing project may be as it comes to publication, Bass will tell you that
there is a purpose to her book other than just sampling some the hotel's
excellent menus.
"My main personal interest is entertaining, with
special emphasis on theme parties. Most of my time is spent creating and
developing new recipes in my recently remodeled kitchen which has been turned
into a demonstration kitchen equipped with all the modern conveniences. Since
Coronado is a party city, it has been easy to attract hundreds of guests in
small groups to enjoy theme dinner parties."
Her themed celebrations have included the Del's Centennial
Dinner, birthday parties for celebrities, and special occasions focusing on
holidays. Bass takes a comprehensive approach to entertaining, going beyond just
the menu. She holds every detail to the theme, from invitations and decorations
to the attire of the guests.
Keeping up with her profession is not just an exercise in
creating elegant and delectable dinners. She is also a member of The American
Institute of Food and Wine and the International Association of Culinary
Professionals. Among her other memberships, she is active in the Coronado and
San Diego community through the Coronado Women's Club, the Crown Garden Club
of Coronado, and The Charter 100, a selective organization of women business and
professional leaders from all over the country.
When she is not hosting parties or demonstrating new recipes
in her kitchen, this California native will enter an occasional 10K race. If she
is feeling really ambitious, you might see her in a half-marathon, as long as it
doesn't interrupt her weekly tennis game with her husband.