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Tag Archives: hotel
Best of 2018
As 2018 draws to an end, I would like to share its highlights with a year-end roundup of the best food, drink, and travel related treats that I came across over the past 12 months. Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Beer, Best of 2018, Best of the Best, Coffee, Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Pizza, Podcasts, Pubs, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel
Tagged BARS, beer, Best of, Best of 2018, Best of the Best, brunch, burgers, CAFES, CHEAP EATS, cocktails, coffee, Drink, Food, hotel, hotels, ice cream, London, luxury, pizza, Podcasts, pubs, resorts, restaurants, Shopping, tea, Travel, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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The American Bar at the Stafford London Hotel
Classy cocktails and a mighty burger were hallmarks of my al fresco dine at The Stafford London Hotel’s historic American Bar. Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged BARS, burgers, cheeseburgers, cocktails, Drink, Food, hamburgers, hotel, hotels, luxury, restaurants, reviews, st james's, St James's Place, Stafford, Stafford Hotel, Stafford London, Stafford London Hotel, SW1, SW1A 1NJ, The Stafford, The Stafford London, The Stafford London Hotel, Travel
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(Northern) California Dreamin’ | Mendocino
Mendocino is coastal nature at its most glorious. If you enjoy the open air you’ll be spoilt for choice, with an abundance of forests, rivers, beaches, dunes, cliffs and canyons open to the public and impressively cared for by the California State Park Service. Continue reading
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Posted in (Northern) California Dreamin', California, Drink, Food, Hotels, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Travel
Tagged (Northern) California Dreamin', california, cannabis, coast, coastal walks, coffee, Food, Forest, Glendeven Inn, Golden Gate Bridge, HIghway 1, hotel, ice cream, Judith Schrut, llamas, marijuana, Mendocino, nature, organic, Pacific Coast Highway, Redwoods, restaurants, road trip, seaside towns, Shopping, Travel, West Coast, Wild Fish, wildlife
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Best of the Best of 2017
I hope the year was as fun and delicious for you as it was for me, and I look forward to sharing more amazing experiences with you in 2018. Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Beer, Best of 2017, Best of the Best, Coffee, Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Pizza, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel
Tagged BARS, beer, Best of, Best of 2017, Best of the Best, burgers, CAFES, CHEAP EATS, cocktails, coffee, Drink, Food, hotel, hotels, ice cream, London, luxury, pizza, pubs, resorts, restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Best of 2017
As the end of 2017 draws to a close, I’d like to take a moment to highlight the best food, drink, and travel related treats that I came across in London and around the world over these past 12 months. Continue reading
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Posted in Bars, Beer, Best of 2017, Best of the Best, Coffee, Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Pizza, Pubs, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel
Tagged BARS, beer, Best of, Best of 2017, Best of the Best, burgers, CAFES, CHEAP EATS, cocktails, coffee, Drink, Food, hotel, hotels, ice cream, London, luxury, pizza, pubs, resorts, restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Theo Randall at the InterContinental Reopens – Still a Great Place for Italian Cuisine
Taking stock of a decade doing delicious justice to classic Italian dishes, Theo Randall has reopened his restaurant at the InterContinental after an interiors refurb and the addition of a few new menu items. Great news! And the best news about the reopening is that Chef Randall has managed to maintain all the qualities that already had made his eatery one of my favourite places for Italian food. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged hotel, hyde park corner, INTERCONTINENTAL, INTERCONTINENTAL LONDON PARK LANE, italian cuisine, italian food, italian restaurant, italian wine, London, ONE HAMILTON PLACE, park lane, restaurants, reviews, sommelier, theo randall, theo randall at the intercontinental, Vittorio Gentile, W1, W1J 7QY, wine, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Happy 150th to The Langham London
One of London’s most lauded luxury destinations, The Langham, celebrated a stately 150 years as a hotel last week. I tagged along for some of the birthday fun and had a peek at what’s new and upcoming for this upscale mainstay of impeccable hospitality. Continue reading
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Posted in Celebrities, Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged Albert Roux, Artesian, BARS, Celebrities, CHERISH FINDEN, Drink, Food, hotel, hotels, Lady Gaga, langham, langham hotel, London, luxury, marylebone, MICHEL ROUX JR, restaurants, the langham, The World's 50 Best Bars, Theo Walcott, Travel, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Dammann Frères Teas at the Sofitel London St James’s Rose Lounge (espressoCrazy)
Man cannot live on coffee alone. And as much as I tried (often succeeded) in doing so, I must admit it’s nice to have a cup of something else every once in a while. Horses for courses and all that … Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, espressoCrazy, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants
Tagged afternoon tea, Dammann Freres, Drink, espressoCrazy, espressocrazy.com, Food, hotel, illy, London, luxury, restaurants, reviews, Rose Lounge, Sofitel, Sofitel London St James, st james's, SW1, SW1Y 4AN, tea, Waterloo Place, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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La Vie en Rose Afternoon Tea at the Sofitel London St James
On now and running throughout May is a new floral-inspired La Vie en Rose afternoon tea at the Rose Lounge at the Sofitel London St James hotel. I got a taste of this limited run luxury a couple of weeks back and very much enjoyed it. Here’s a waft of what made it such a treat for me. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants
Tagged afternoon tea, Dammann Freres, Drink, Food, hotel, London, luxury, restaurants, reviews, Rose Lounge, Sofitel, Sofitel London St James, st james's, SW1, SW1Y 4AN, tea, Waterloo Place, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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London Daily Photo: A View from Radio Rooftop Bar
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Posted in London, London Daily Photo, Photography
Tagged hotel, London, London Daily Photo, london photographer, ME London, Photography, Radio Rooftop Bar, street photography, Лондон, لندن, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Did Madrid: Más Favor!
A mid August weekend in Madrid did Kemey and I both a world of good and turned out to be a fantastic way to celebrate her birthday in style. Being there for the Fiestas de la Paloma ensured the city was just that much turned on and revved up for fun. But I reckon anytime of year is an excellent time to explore this spirited Spanish city. Continue reading
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Posted in Did Madrid, Drink, Food, Restaurants, Spain, Travel
Tagged Did Madrid, esmadrid.com, Fiestas de la Paloma, Food, hotel, Madrid, restaurants, spain, spain.info, Travel
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Did Madrid: Too Hot? Not!
We were in town for the Fiestas de la Paloma (part of Kemey’s planning – I can take no credit). As one of Europe’s biggest street parties, lots of people reckon it’s the most important festival in Madrid, if not the whole of Spain. We had a blast wriggling our wee hours way through the neighbourhood of La Latin – nexus of the celebrations – and being part of the festivities. Continue reading
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Posted in Art, Did Madrid, Food, Hotels, Museums, Restaurants, Spain, Travel
Tagged Art, Did Madrid, hotel, Hotel Hospes Madrid, Hotel ME Madrid, hotels, Madrid, Madrid Food Tour, Madrid Segway, museums, restaurants, spain, tapas bars, The Roof at the Hotel ME Madrid, Travel
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Did Madrid
Kemey and I are both enthusiastic fans of Spain. It’s very much one of our preferred destinations for holidays and city breaks and is a country we both know fairly well. However, Kemey had never been to (but always very much had wanted to visit) its dynamic and dignified capital. So back last month, to celebrate her birthday, we headed to Madrid for a long weekend of food, fun and flamenco. Like me, after my initiation to the charms of this magic place some years ago, Kemey was wowed. To be sure, our magnificently Madrileño weekend won’t be our last! Continue reading
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Posted in Did Madrid, Drink, Food, Hotels, Museums, Restaurants, Shopping, Spain, Travel
Tagged BARS, british airways, Did Madrid, Driven A to B, esmadrid.com, Exprés Aeropuerto, Food, hotel, Hotel Hospes Madrid, Insider’s Madrid, Madrid, Madrid Food Tour, Madridcard, Naiara Garro, restaurants, Sarah Canet, spain, spain.info, tapas bars, Travel
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Win Dinner for Two and an Overnight Stay at The Tommyfield London Pub
Located just five minutes from London’s Waterloo and owned by Renaissance Pubs, The Tommyfield now fully embraces its coaching inn roots by becoming a luxurious city crash pad as well as a cracking London local. Tempted? Keep reading to find out how to win a free night’s stay plus dinner for two at this ace Kennington pub! Continue reading
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Posted in Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, Hotels, London, Pubs, Restaurants, Travel
Tagged competiiton, contest, dinner for two, Food, hotel, hotels, kennington, London, London blog, pub, pubs, renaissance pubs, restaurant, restaurants, RT to win, south london, The Tommyfield, tommyfield, twitter competition, WATERLOO, Win a Free Dinner for Two, win a free night in a london hotel, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Made in Mayfair Insider Experience with Intercontinental and London Luxury Quarter (OneTravel)
The InterContinental London Park Lane hotel has teamed up with London Luxury Quarter to create custom made “Made in Mayfair Insider Experience” tours. From Britain’s oldest family run perfumery to bespoke shoes that take nine months from order to delivery, … Continue reading
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Posted in Design, Fashion, Hotels, London, Luxury, Shopping, Travel
Tagged Floris, Foster & Son, Gieves and Hawkes, hotel, hotels, INTERCONTINENTAL, INTERCONTINENTAL LONDON PARK LANE, London, London blog, London Luxury Quarter, luxury, made in mayfair, Made in Mayfair Insider Experience, mayfair, ONE HAMILTON PLACE, OneTravel, park lane, perfume, savile row, shoes, Shopping, st james's, W1, W1J 7QY, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Win a Bijoux Afternoon Tea for Two at The Langham London
London’s historic home of the afternoon tea, The Langham London, is preparing once again to launch its annual Bijoux Afternoon Tea with Champagne Laurent-Perrier. To be served in the refined and elegant setting of the hotel’s Palm Court, the specially themed “Summer Season” tea will be available from 15 May to 6 July and priced at £52 per person (£65 with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Brut). But guess what? Here’s a chance for one lucky reader to win tea for two for the price of a tweet. Continue reading
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Posted in Chocolate, Competition, Drink, Food, Freebies, Hotels, London, Luxury, Restaurants, Travel, Wine
Tagged afternoon tea, art deco, bijou afternoon tea, CHERISH FINDEN, chocolate, competition, contest, Drink, Food, free, freebies, hotel, langham, langham hotel, London, London blog, luxury, marylebone, palm court, Pastry Chef Cherish Finden, retweet to win, RT to win, tea, tea for tea, the langham, top london afternoon tea, twitter competition, Win a Bijoux Afternoon Tea for Two at The Langham London, win a free afternoon tea at harrods, Win Afternoon Tea for Two, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Portugal Please: Herdade da Malhadinha Nova
My Portuguese adventure coming to a close, I was left with only one more night to savour before flying back to Blighty. Good thing my last night was in an absolutely fantastic setting! Otherwise, I might have started to doubt for a second the hospitality show to me throughout this lovely little country as well as the foodie expertise that’d gone into the execution of my Festival of Food itinerary. As the trip unfolded though, I never once questioned the restorative benefits of my adeptly planned week-long ramble through Portugal. Indeed, I arrived back home eager to share the stories of my time abroad. The story I’m sharing today is one of a luxury homestead that’s an easily recommendable destination: Herdade da Malhadinha Nova. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, Luxury, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Travel, Wine
Tagged alentejo, Alentejo Festival of Food, beja, Chef Joaquin Koerper, crème brûlée, Drink, farm, Festival of Food, Festival of Food and Wine, Food, Herdade da Malhadinha, Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, hotel, Hotel Flor da Rosa, Hotel Pousada Flor da Rosa, hotels, Joaquin Koerper, luxury, Malhadinha, portugal, Portugal Please, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, pumpkin ice cream, quinto, red wine, restaurants, road trip, Shopping, sunvil, Sunvil Festival of Food, Travel, travel blog, vineyard, wine, winery
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Portugal Please: Eggs-cellent Time in Portalegre
Next on my Portugal Please road trip itinerary was the southern and sunny region of Alentejo where the appetising promise to “road test” the new Festival of Food offering from British tour operator, Sunvil, lay ahead. First stop in this gorgeous land of cork farms and vineyards … of ancient Moorish ramparts and prim churches hiding grandiose interiors … was the hilltop border town of Portalgre where I arrived just in time to attend the annual and eggy Feira de Doçaria Conventual for a taste of traditional sweets from the region and more. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Easter, Food, Hotels, Luxury, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged alentejo, Alentejo Festival of Food, baroque, crato, custard, Drink, easter, Feira de Doçaria Conventua, Festival of Food, Festival of Food and Wine, Flor da Rosa, Food, Hospitallers, hotel, Hotel Flor da Rosa, Hotel Pousada Flor da Rosa, hotels, luxury, Order of Malta, portalegre, portugal, Portugal Please, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, pousada, Pousada Flor da Rosa, restaurants, road trip, Shopping, sunvil, Sunvil Festival of Food, Travel, travel blog, wine
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Portugal Please: Coimbra
Capital of Portugal during the Middle Ages with a historic UNESCO World Heritage Site university established in 1290 (making it the fifth oldest in the world), Coimbra is a city steeped in age old tradition yet imbued with a youthful spirit. Continue reading
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Posted in Art, Drink, Food, Graffiti, Hotels, Luxury, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged Amália Rodrigues, Art, bar, baroque, Biblioteca Joanina, Café Santa Cruz, centro, centro de portugal, centrol, coimbra, Dão wine, Drink, fangas, Fangas Mercearia, Fangas Mercearia Bar, Food, Graffiti, hotel, Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas, hotels, library, luxury, Mercearia, pedro and ines, petiscos, portugal, Portugal Please, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, Quinta das Lágrimas, red wine, restaurants, Shopping, street art, sunvil, tapas, Travel, travel blog, UNESCO, unesco world heritage site, University of Coimbra, wine
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Portugal Please: Suckling Pig Paradise, Bairrada
From Aveiro, I drove south to the town of Mealhada for a meal that had me squealing with piggy delight. Mealhada and its region of Bairrada (still within the greater region of Centro) seem to be the suckling pig capital of the world, where the main drag through town is lined with restaurant after restaurant boasting leitão à Bairrada (as suckling pig is called there). For my feast, I paid a visit to one of the most popular and best established eateries, the rather prosaically named Restaurante Típico da Bairrada. Continue reading
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Posted in Design, Drink, Food, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged Bairrada, Bairrada wine, Casa de Santar Reserva, centro, centro de portugal, centrol, Dão, Dão Sul, Dão wine, design, Drink, Encontro 1, Food, Global Wines, Global Wines/Dão Sul, hotel, Leitão, Leitão à Bairrada, mealhada, pork, portugal, Portugal Please, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, QdoE, Quinta, Quinta do Encontro, red wine, Restaurante Típico da Bairrada, restaurants, Shopping, sparkling red wine, sparkling wine, suckling pig, sunvil, Travel, travel blog, wine, winery
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Portugal Please: Charming and Cheeky Aveiro
Know as the “Venice of Portugal,” Aveiro is an attractive little coastal canal-crossed town in the Centro region of Portugal. I spent a couple of days in this part of the country, marvelling at how awesome the region was yet how largely undiscovered by tourists it seemed to be. Pretty, walkable and full of lovely shops, bars and restaurants, Aveiro was a particularly fine place for my introduction to the area. Continue reading
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Posted in Art, Design, Drink, Food, Hotels, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged Art, art nouveau, aveiro, caldeirada, centro, centro de portugal, centrol, design, Drink, Food, hotel, Hotel Moliceiro, hotels, O Bairro, o bairro restaurante, ovos moles, ovos moles de aveiro, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese fish stew, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, restaurants, seasfood, Shopping, sunvil, Travel, travel blog, venice of portugal, wine
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Portugal Please: Morgadio da Calçada
Situated atop a plateau yielding (yet more) beautiful panoramic views of the Douro River and its undulant valley, the tiny ancient village of Provesende was my final stop in the area. Here I took a quick wander round the village and a proper snoop inside 17th century mansion (with contemporary accommodations) Morgadio da Calçada. Continue reading
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Posted in Design, Drink, Food, Hotels, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Travel, Wine
Tagged discover the origin, douro, douro valley, douro wines, Food, hotel, hotels, Morgadio da Calçada, o porto, O Vale do Douro, port, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, provesende, Quinta, red wine, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Travel, travel blog, Vale do Douro, village, vineyard, vintage port, white wine, wine, wine cellar, wine maker, winery
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Portugal Please: Even More Douro Valley Quintas
No, I didn’t just lounge around at a couple of scenically situated hotels while in the Douro (although, that would be a terrifically recuperative way to spend one’s time). When I wasn’t enjoying my stay in the luxury laps of Quinta do Vallado and Quinta Nova, I was bopping all over the rest of the valley trying to visit as many different vineyards as possible – and loving every minute of it. Here are a few brief notes about the rest of the Douro Valley quintas I visited, including Quinta do Crasto, Quinta da Pacheca, Quinta do Panascal and Quinta do Seixo. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged 30 Year Old Tawny, discover the origin, douro, douro valley, douro wines, Fonseca, Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port, Fonseca Port, Food, hotel, hotels, Late Bottle Vintage, LBV Port, o porto, O Vale do Douro, port, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, Quinta, Quinta da Pacheca, quinta da pacheca 30 Year Old Tawny, Quinta do Crasto, Quinta do Panascal, Quinta do Seixo, Quinta do Seixo Wine Centre, red wine, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, sandeman, Shopping, Tavora River, Travel, travel blog, Vale do Douro, vineyard, vintage port, white wine, wine, wine cellar, wine maker, winecaching, winery
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Portugal Please: Quinta Novo de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
A lovingly restored 18th century manor cum 21st century four star hotel and the centrepiece of a lofty patchwork of vineyards rolling down to the Douro River: Quinta Novo de Nossa Senhora do Carmo was my home for a night. Leaving Vallado for a full-on day of winery visits around the Douro, my second evening in this idyllic valley wound down in equal parts elegance and comfort. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged Chef Jose Pinta, Clã Special Reserve Port, discover the origin, douro, douro river boat rides, douro valley, douro wines, Food, geocaching, Grainha Reserve, Grainha Reserve 2012, hotel, o porto, O Vale do Douro, port, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, Quinta, Quinta Nova, Quinta Nova Reserva 2012, Quinta Novo de Nossa Senhora do Carmo, red wine, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Travel, travel blog, Vale do Douro, vineyard, vintage port, white wine, wine, wine caching, wine cellar, wine maker, winecaching, winery
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Portugal Please: Sniffing Around Quinta do Vallado
After a quick sightseeing jaunt and overnight stay in Porto, I was off to the Douro Valley for a few days of scenic sipping. My first night there, I had the ultra-luxe pleasure of spending some time – and a very restful night – at Quinta do Vallado. To put it plainly, I loved everything about this place. It hurt a little to have to leave and I’m aching to return for another chance to admire in situ this wine hotel’s blend of tradition with modern design; savour more of its homey food; and, of course, enjoy its fabulous wines. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged Adelaide Vintage Port, Antónia Ferreira, discover the origin, Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, douro, douro valley, douro wines, Food, Francisco Ferreira, hotel, Muscatel Galeg, o porto, O Vale do Douro, port, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, Quinta, Quinta do Vallado, red wine, Reserva Branco, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, Sausa, Shopping, tawny port, Travel, travel blog, Vale do Douro, Vallado, vineyard, vintage port, white wine, wine, wine cellar, wine maker, winery
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Portugal Please: Porto
My Portugal Please tour commenced in the compact and cosy city of Porto, which proved to be an excellent gateway to the Douro Valley and a fine place to visit in and of itself. If you’re looking for somewhere to visit for a city break, Porto is only a two hour flight away from London with plenty to see and do and eat and drink and browse and buy. Here are some highlight from my all too brief time there. Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Drink, Food, Hotels, Portugal, Portugal Please, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged 1969 Single Harvest Tawny, beer, cheese, discover the origin, douro, douro valley, douro wines, Food, Gaia, Graham's Port, Graham’s, Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny, hotel, Hotel Teatro, Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto, IVDP, Mercearia das Flores, o porto, port, port cellar, porto, portugal, Portugal Please, portuguese, portuguese cuisine, PORTUGUESE FOOD, portuguese wine, restaurant, restaurants, road trip, Shopping, sovina, sovina beer, Sovina Cerveja Artesanal, tawny port, trael, Travel, travel blog, Vila Novo de Gaia, vinum, Vinum at Graham’s, wine, wine cellar, wine maker, winery
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New Regional Wine & Cheese Menu at Theo Randall at the Intercontinental
Allow me to commence this rave by saying that Theo Randall’s Head Sommelier, Yuri Gualeni, is a frickin’ genius and Chef Randall is a very wise man indeed to let Gualeni do his thing. Case in point: the young sommelier’s new wine and cheese pairing that’s been “designed to be a journey through Italy’s terroir and traditions.” I tried it last night and loved every moment. Priced from £24 per person – and tailored to guest preferences – the menu includes four Italian wines paired with four regional cheeses. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged 2000 Vernaccia di Oristano, 2011 Ronchedone, at One Hamilton Place, Ca dei Frati, cheese, Contini, dessert wine, Fiori della Langa, Flor, Food, gorgonzola, gorgonzola naturale, hotel, hyde park corner, INTERCONTINENTAL, INTERCONTINENTAL LONDON PARK LANE, italian cheese, italian cheese and wine pairing, italian cuisine, italian food, italian restaurant, italian wine, Lombardia, London, London blog, Marenco, Metodo Classico, park lane, Passito di Strevi, Passri Scrapona, Pecorino Sardo, red wine, restaurant, review, Ronchedone, Rosanna, Selvapiana, Selvapiana Vino Santo, sommelier, sparkling wine, Taleggio della Valsassina, theo randall, theo randall at the intercontinental, Vernaccia di Oristano, Vino Santo, W1, W1J 7QY, white wine, wine, wine blog, wine pairing, wine tasting, Yuri Gualeni, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Dixie Detours: Sweet Shoals Music
Before our visit to the Muscle Shoals area of Alabama, I never would have imagined the music of Aretha Franklin could resonate even more with me than it already did. Goosebumps on top of goosebumps – how’s that gonna happen? But there I was standing in Studio A of Fame Studios in humble little Florence, Alabama where the mighty diva recorded such classics as Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, and something clicked in a deep and soulful sort of way. In the few days since Kemey and I checked out the Shoals, listening to Aretha’s songs has been coupled with an even deeper and more satisfying feeling than before. Continue reading
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Posted in Alabama, Beer, Design, Dixie Detours, Drink, Food, Hotels, Music, Restaurants, road trip, Travel
Tagged 20th century design, Alabama, Alabama Music Hall of Fame, ARCHITECTURE, aretha franklin, back forty, back forty beer, back forty beer company, bar, beer, birthplace of helen keller, Bob Seger, catfish, Cher, colbert county, CRAFT BEER, Deep South, design, Dixie Detours, do right woman do right man, Drink, Duane Allman, Etta James, fame studios, florence, florence alabama, frank lloyd wright, garden gate cafe, hank williams, helen keller, hotel, ivy green, kodachrome, live music, Lynyrd Skynyrd, marriott, marriott shoals, Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa, mid century modern, Muscle Shoals, muscle shoals rhythm section, muscle shoals sound studio, music, naked pig, naked pig pale ale, north alabama, northwest alabama, OH! Bryan's Family Steakhouse, Oh!Bryan's, Otis Redding, pale ale, paul simon, Percy Sledge, recording studio, restaurants, road trip, Rock 'n' Roll, rolling stones, rosenbaum house, sheffield alabama, shoals, soul music, spa, steakhouse, sticky fingers, still crazy after all these years, sun ra, Swampers, swampers bar, Swampers Bar & Grill, tennessee river, the Osmonds, the shoals, TOM JONES, Travel, travel blog, tuscumbia, tuscumbia county, Wilson Picket
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Dixie Detours: A Cajun Good Time in Lafayette
It’s a down home kind of place, Lafayette, where a koozie for your cold one is handy asset indeed. Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Dixie Detours, Drink, Food, Hotels, Music, Restaurants, road trip, Travel
Tagged bayou, Blue Moon Saloon, Blue Moon Saloon and Guesthouse, cajun, cajun country, cajun food, CRAFT BEER, Deep South, dixie, Dixie Detours, double wide, double wide band, envie american pale ale, Food, frog legs, hard country, henderson, henderson lousiana, hotel, lafayette, lake henderson, live music, lousiana, marriott, mcgee's landing, music, new iberia, parish brewing co, restaurants, road trip, SpringHill Suites, SpringHill Suites Lafayette, SpringHill Suites Lafayette South at River Ranch, swamp, Travel, travel blog, victor's cafeteria
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Dixie Detours: NOLA!
New Orleans is a sultry dream. I can’t imagine anywhere else in America that’s even half as beguiling or idiosyncratic. Probably the most dynamic city in the US, it is without doubt the most spontaneous and freewheeling. When I think about other destinations across the planet that offer experiences comparable to what I’ve happened upon in NOLA, I find myself coming up with a list of my absolute favourites places. Put simply, NOLA rocks (it shucks, jives, slides, saunters, shimmies and rolls too). Continue reading
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Posted in Art, Beer, Coffee, Dixie Detours, Drink, Food, Hotels, Louisiana, Restaurants, road trip, Travel
Tagged abita, abita beer, abita turbodog, Adolfo's, Art, BARS, beer, big easy, Carousel Bar and Lounge, cocktails, crab meat cheesecake, creole, dixie beer, Dixie Detours, Domilise's Po-Boy & Bar, folk art, Food, french quarter, frenchmen street, garden district, gumbo, hotel, Hotel Monteleone, La Boulangerie, louisiana, Maison Dupuy, Maison Dupuy Hotel, mardi gras, merry-go-round-bar, Nawlins, new orleans, nola, palace cafe, po-boys, restaurants, road trip, sandwiches, sazerac, simon, Toulouse Street, Travel, travel blog, turbodog, uptown new orleans
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Dixie Detours: When in Rome … Georgia
The wedding of my old friend Jack and his lovely fiancée Beth was the main reason prompting my and Kemey’s visit back home and a big factor behind the design of our Dixie Detours itinerary. The wedding was held in Rome, Georgia where Jack had attended university. Yes, that’s right. I went to Athens one day and Rome the next – all without leaving the great state of Georgia! Continue reading
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Posted in Beer, Dixie Detours, Drink, Food, Georgia, Hotels, Pizza, Restaurants, road trip, Travel
Tagged bar, berry college, berry college mountain campus, brunch, Deep South, Dixie Detours, Floyd County, frost chapel, frost memorial chapel, georgia, Harvest Moon, Hawthorn Suites, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, hotel, johnny's new york style pizza, North Georgia, Northwest Georgia, pizza, restaurants, road trip, rome, rome area history museum, rome georgia, Travel, travel blog, wedding venue, wedding venue rome georgia
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Daawat Indian Restaurant at the Strand Palace Hotel
Presenting tried and true South Asian comfort food on the Strand and just down the street from Covent Garden, Daawat Indian restaurant at the four star (and recently renovated) Strand Palace Hotel is a smart choice when you’re on the go and seeking a satisfying meal. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, London, Restaurants
Tagged covent garden, curry, daawat, Drink, Food, hotel, hotels, indian cuisine, indian food, indian restaurant, London, London blog, pre-theatre menu, restaurant, restaurant review, restaurants, review, strand palace hotel, the strand, WC2, WC2R 0JJ, west end, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Good Stuff
Good Stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or take a bite out of – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Delfina Foundation … Continue reading
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Posted in Art, Chocolate, Drink, Food, Good Stuff, Hotels, London, Shopping, Travel
Tagged Abbas Akhavan, barrel-aged rum, botran, Botran Blanca, botran reserva, Botran Solrera 1893, bourbon, cadbury fairtrade, Candice Lin, Catherine Place, chocolate, delfina foundation, Drink, exhibition, fairtrade, Food, gerry's, good stuff, guatemalan rum, hedonism wines, hotel, hotels, ibis, ibis Euston St Pancras Hotel, ibis sweet bed, ibis ultimate sleeper, ibis-expedition.com, Jefferson's Bourbon, jefferson's presidential collection, Jefferson's Straight Rye Whiskey, London blog, masterofmalt.com, Organic Seed & Bean Chocolate, rum, RYE, rye whiskey, seed & bean, selfridges, straight rye, SW1, SW1 6DY, Tadasu Takamine, the politics of food, thedrinkshop.com, thewhiskeyexchange.com, travel blog, travel blogger, whiskey, Zineb Zedira, Лондон, ロンドン, 伦敦
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Best Restaurants (Everywhere Else) – 2013
To say I ate and drank well this year does not begin to describe how delectable 2013 was for me. Both in London and beyond, I had the pleasure of experiencing some of the best meals outside the home I’ve … Continue reading
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Posted in Best of 2013, Best of the Best, Drink, England, Food, France, French Polynesia, Hotels, Italy, Restaurants, Shopping, Travel, Wine
Tagged Best of 2013, Best of the Best, best restaurants of 2013, brighton, Drink, enoteca, Fa'a'ā, fish, Food, france, french cuisine, french food, french polynesia, french restaurant, french restaurants, GB1, GB1 Seafood Restaurant & Bar, Grand Brighton, Grand Brighton hotel, hotel, hotels, INTERCONTINENTAL, Intercontinental Tahiti Resort, italian cuisine, italian food, italian restaurant, italian restaurants, Italy, Le Lotus, michelin stars, osteria, pad thai, paris, restaurants, seafood, sussex, Tabernalibraria, tahiti, thai food, thai restaurants, Thai Spices, Torino, Travel, turin, wine, wine shop
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Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway: Bounteous Bologna
That I’ve been to Bologna four times (twice just this year) should speak volumes about how much I love this city. It and the region of Emilia-Romagna have as prominent a cuisine and as celebrated a food culture as anywhere in the world. Even among Italians from other parts of the country, the gastronomic sensibilities of the Bolognese are held in the highest esteem. Continue reading
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Posted in Drink, Food, Hotels, Italy, Restaurants, road trip, Shopping, Street Markets, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, Travel, Wine
Tagged A F Tamburini, Al Cappello, Al Cappello Rosso, atti, bakery, bologna, deli, Drink, Drogheria Gilberto, eatly, emilia romagna, Food, gelato, hotel, Hotel Al Cappello Rosso, hotels, ice cream, italian deli, Italy, Mercato delle Erbe, Mercato di Mezzo, northern italy, osteria, osteria del cappello, paolo atti & figli, pasta, polpette con piselli, restaurant, restaurants, salumeria, Shopping, street markets, tamara venturi, tamburini, Tasty Tales from the Italian Ham Highway, tortellini, tortelloni, TOUR GUIDE, Travel, travel blog, travel blogger, vecchia malga, wine, wine bar, wine shop, Италия, イタリア, 意大利
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