The Balmoral’s number one restaurant – the first in Edinburgh to receive a Michelin star – has teamed up with The Kitchin and Restaurant Martin Wishart to create Youth Food Week–Michelin dining geared for the young people of Edinburgh. (I wish this great concept would come to the States!)
Taking place 14-18 October, the event offers a younger market the chance to experience Michelin-starred dining at the leading restaurants in the city. From just £21.50 (lunch at The Kitchin and Martin Wishart) and £27.50 (dinner at number one), 18-25 year olds can sample a three-course menu with accompanying wines, created by each of the participating restaurants and designed to specifically tickle their tastebuds.
number one’s Jeff Bland says: “The idea for Youth Food Week came about because we wanted to address the growing concerns regarding the lack of young Scottish talent joining the restaurant industry. Our aim is to help educate young people on the excellent local produce that is growing on their doorstep. Our suppliers have been extremely supportive in the project and together we hope to educate their palates and bring a unique dining experience to some young adults.â€
The future has arrived! The super long haul, double decker monster Airbus has arrived to the US! Direct flights to Dubai from NYC are here, and LA and SF are set for this fall and winter. Just think, in 15 - 17 hours, you can say hello to the 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel!
Photographer to the stars Mona Brooks and I took a VIP flight to no where demo flight aboard the A380 — SFO to SFO, baby! Aboard, as they served us Dom Perignon champagne to toast the maiden arrival of the A380 to San Francisco, we got a two-hour tour of the behemoth. With dizzying triple jet bridges (those snout thingies for boarding–1 upstairs and 2 lower) and monster 500 - 600-ish passenger capacity depending on the model (ours was a 15-first class suite and 489 in the main cabin baby A380) the A380 will get you there fast, with style and shockingly lower emissions… providing you are flying less than 9320 miles total, its upper limit.
And the A380 is QUIET… super quiet. So much so that you almost miss that white noise as you hear every word of the person behind you. Bumma.
ICE: The most advanced entertainment system in the skies! Everyone gets about 1000 HD on-demand channels on their super flat screen TV’s, plus a music library of 10,000 tracks plus mood lighting–all customizable! Build your own music playlist for the journey!
But biz and first get a plethora of uber goodies like 2 bar/ lounges where they can trade oil wells. Luckily first class passengers also get the use of two showers so they can rinse off after having to mix with the biz class peons. And because the new planes are made with a much lighter material than their clunky ancestors, they can spare some storage for that shower water.
Yes, a SHOWER! There are two showers on board for first class passengers, who can reserve their 25-minute slots once on board. Five minutes of hot water plus a generous private cabin allow princesses to take a break from their well-appointed private suites and get away from it all. First class suites boast a minibar, bed, huge TV, vanity area and room to stretch out the Jimmy Choos-clad feet. And because they don’t want the poor princesses to have to strain to change the channel on their mega-TV, a remote control is provided to use once you’re lying down in bed. Yalla!
Finally, air travel is becoming luxurious again! And with an extensive selection of connecting flights, Dubai is the new London for your more easterly journeys. Say hello to those 24-hour mega Duty Free stores! You haven’t shopped until you’ve hit the Dubai airport. All that glitters IS gold there!
So, in summation, for about $10,000, roughly the same as Virgin Upper Class and a last-minute business class ticket on major airlines, you can fly first class on Emirates on an A380. Let’s go! I am so very super ultra excited. With a trip to Western Africa on the horizon next April, I am seriously considering flying Emirates to Dubai and then connecting, rather than in Heathrow. I think my paradigm has shifted!
The only other airline that already has A380s in service is Singapore Airlines, the first to fly the A380 of course. If they are committed to elegance, then they fly A380s!
So I’m kind of a klutz. Alright I am a total klutz. I wave my hand and I knock over a glass of water. I eat a candy bar and I end up with tiny melted chocolate stains on my clothes. And when I put deodorant on, my poor black shirt inevitably gets a white streak on it. I am cursed.
I admit when I got Ms. Oops Dry Sponge ($10, www.missoops.com), I was a bit skeptical. A sponge that could take off a deodorant stain in seconds? I mean c’mon, nothing can really get the stain to completely disappear. But this did.
I do think it’s a little on the big side (it’s about the size of my hand). And I probably only needed one instead of the two that come in each package. But it does come in a resealable plastic bag to protect it in your purse, and it is handy.
To find a local store near you that carries Ms. Oops Dry Sponge or to purchase it online, visit the Ms. Oops Web site.
I don’ think this falls in line with my normal eco-friendly travel news but it sounded so great I had to post it.
Banyan Tree Phuket introduces the ultimate “Diet of Pleasure†spa getaway, designed to take the weight off guests’ minds. The new package emphasizes pure pleasure and indulgence with a series of signature spa, fitness and dining experiences. The new tempting package is designed to invigorate even the most jaded travelers with treatments like the Thai Classic, blending subtle stretching with rhythmic massaging and compressions to balance energetic bodies and stimulate energy flow, and the Balinese treatment, where specialized Banyan Tree-trained therapists use thumb and palm pressure to apply a unique blend of essential oils with warming qualities.
5-Night ““Diet of Pleasures†Package at Banyan Tree Phuket
The six-day, five-night stay in Banyan Tree Phuket’s luxurious Pool Villa includes all meals and allows guests to dine at any restaurant outlet at the resort. Couples are invited to indulge in 11 hours of decadent spa treatments and participate in the daily fitness and wellness program whenever it suits their schedule best:
All offerings are for one couple:
A 90-minute Massage, Body Treats or Hand and Feet treatments
Two-hour Luxury Facial
Three-hour Thai Traditions package, featuring local Thai herbs and spices used in Body Treats to showcase a unique sense of place
Two-hour Rejuvenation packages (combination of massages and Body Treats)
Three-hour signature Rainmist experience (combines Body Treats with Rainmist and Rainshower and massage)
A two-hour “Sanya Rak†(“Promise of Love†in Thai) private dinner cruise for two around the lagoon
A 30-minute in-villa massage lesson per couple
Intimate Moments experience: in-villa bath prepared with fragrant flower petals, bedroom dressed with scented candles, orchids and wine for a romantic evening
Banyan Tree Gallery Home Spa Kit
Round Trip airport transfer
This package is available now through March 31, 2009, and prices start from USD$4,000+++ single occupancy in a Pool Villa. More info. at: http://www.banyantree.com/phuket/packages/diet_of_pleasures.html
The Fairmont Scottsdale invites guests to enjoy the Sonoran Desert while learning about conservation efforts during private, guided hikes as part of its Sonoran Eco-Education Package.
Take a trek with an expert guide from 360 Adventures, enjoying breathtaking views of majestic mountains and desert plains dotted with remarkable Sonoran flora. Guests will be treated to an insider’s view of the desert to learn not only about its ecology, but about how to enjoy nature while “leaving no trace.”
After you hike indulge your senses at the resort’s award-winning Willow Stream Spa.
Along with a decadent list of spa treatments to soothe the mind, body and soul, the Willow Stream Spa Facility offers other beautiful amenities including a waterfall treatment area, a stunning rooftop Adult-only infinity pool with private cabanas, and my absolute favorite indulgence, the Eucalyptus Inhalation room. Ahhhhhhhh…
Package Includes:
One (1) night luxurious room accommodations in a Fairmont “recycling” room, complete with recycling bins and the option to launder linens
Daily American breakfast at choice resort restaurants or in-room dining
A half-day educational hike with a 360 Adventures guide, including transportation and trail snacks
One re-usable travel mug per person to help avoid styro-foam while traveling
Availability
This package is valid year-round, based on availability.
BOKA, which stands for Bold Original Kitchen Artistry, happily lives up to it’s name. Perfectly situated in downtown’s sleek new Hotel 1000, it is also perfectly staffed with Marc Papineau, who doubles as general manager and BOKA’s extremely talented wine director and Executive Chef Angie Roberts, a highly respected Seattle chef who has cooked at the James Beard House and was selected as a Gayot rising-chef for 2007. The two are in perfect sync, sharing a dedication for sourcing and working with Pacific Northwest producers to feature the best local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients.
Recently, I attended one of the monthly wine dinners which featured some incredible wines (to the tune of $200/bottle) from Andrew Will Winery. Winemaker, Chris Camarda, touted by Wine & Spirits, as one of the world’s 50 most influential winemakers, was on hand to explain how he blends his wines to express the terroir of a particular vineyard. Chef Angie stopped out to say hello (a refreshingly down-to-earth young woman) and discuss what inspired her food pairings. Rather than wax euphoric about her food (each course was more exciting than the last) I’ll simply print the menu and let you salivate on your own.
BOKA & Andrew Will Wine Dinner
salt roasted peach salad
bacon vinaigrette and ricotta cheese
cièl du cheval vineyard red wine
2005, 2004, 2003, red mt.
dessert
blue cheese
bing cherries, aged balsamic and toasted almonds
surprise wine from the library
at andrew will
***I gotta tell you- a dinner of such high caliber is a steal at $75. Check out their website for upcoming wine dinners. Word of warning: they sell out quickly, so don’t dally.
Boka Kitchen & Bar
www.bokaseattle.com
1010 First Ave.
Seattle, WA (see map)
There are few things better than having the opportunity to visit beautiful parts of the world. What can make it even more satisfying is to stay in a place that is doing its part to help preserve the beauty around it. Below is just a sample list of properties taking extra steps to help sustain Mother Earth…
Las Casitas del Colca, Colca Canyon, Peru
www.lascasitasdelcolca.com
Opening April 15, 2008, the new luxurious Orient-Express property boasts 20 individual casitas offering supreme privacy and exclusivity in simple, unpretentious surroundings. Supporting the work of celebrated local figure Sister Antonia, Las Casitas del Colca’s surrounding land is lent to Mother Antonia’s Mission to grow crops to feed anyone in need. Guests can donate to this admirable cause or even volunteer at the soup kitchen.
Enclave Rising
www.enclaverising.com
Enclave Rising is an international real estate development committed to the integration of sustainable practices by building ultra-luxurious, zero carbon, zero impact, sustainable hotels and homes using clean energy while enhancing the local communities. Opening in Anguilla and Dominica in 2008, Enclave Rising has created the first development program that focuses equal attention on people, planet, and profit.
The Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town
www.mountnelson.co.za
The Mount Nelson has recently embarked on a novel way of disposing its waste – an onsite worm farm (officially known as The Mount Nelson’s Vermiculture Project). Rather than having organic waste end up in landfills or polluting groundwater, it can now, with the assistance of the earthworms, be put back into mother earth and utilized as fertilizer and soil conditioner (ideal for the hotel’s nine acres of lush gardens). Following the tremendous success of the project to date, the earthworms recently received an upgrade in accommodation with an expanded structure that accommodates 120,000 worms; it is projected that the worm family will grow to 240,000 worms within six months.
Vancouver, B.C., always at the leading edge, Opus Hotels has introduced another precedent-setting green initiative. This time it’s hybrid car drivers-not to mention the planet they benefit-reaping the rewards.
June 2 marked the beginning of the summer hybrid rewards incentive that sees guests who arrive in hybrid cars, which consume less gas, being rewarded with complimentary valet parking. Reservation and bell staff are on-board to identify and pass on the benefits to environmentally-friendly guests. The trial-run closes on August 31.
Other green initiatives at Opus Hotel
* Founding member of the Green Table Network, an initiative to reduce waste, recycle, conserve water and energy and use fewer pollutants in hotel and restaurant kitchens.
* Participants in the Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program to encourage sustainable seafood options on menus
* Use of regional, organically grown and in-season food products where possible, lessening imports and supporting local, sustainable producers
* Recycling of plastic, glass and paper products
* Energy efficient thermostats, lighting and timers and heat reflective window film in common areas
* Use of biodegradable chemicals and cleaning products and minimal use of solvents
* Phasing out of CFCs and ozone-depleting aerosols
* Phasing out plastic materials and replacing them with recyclable materials
* Increased staff awareness and training.
Tango Diva wants you to look and feel your best this fall, which is why we’re giving away $100 for Back-to-School Shopping!
