by Editor | Jul 13, 2009 | New Articles, Restaurants
Exterior view of Hout Bay Manor and Pure restaurant
On a recent trip to South Africa our team went to Hout Bay, a coastal village near Cape Town, for the first time. They stayed overnight at the Hout Bay Manor (Baviaanskloof, Off Main Rd Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa 7872, +27 21 797 9393, www.houtbaymanor.com), a 21-room newly renovated historic hotel known for its chic and modern style, and dined at the property’s gourmet restaurant Pure.
“As soon as I started to cook, I never wanted to stop and so I switched my apprenticeship to be a chef, and I’ve never looked back!” said Alex Mueller, executive chef of Pure and general manager of Hout Bay Manor. The thought of taking care of such an exquisite place excited me and of course this encouraged me to take up the challenge.”
Pure restaurant
Chef Mueller was classically trained and believes that every chef should have this base before starting to experiment. He completed an array of specialized culinary courses to develop and enhance his cooking techniques. Some of the courses include pastry, vegetable and fruit carving, ice-cream and desserts as well as artistic sugar and isomalt creations.
Our team liked the lovingly restored boutique hotel and stylish gourmet restaurant. Click here to read more about Pure restaurant.
by Editor | Jun 29, 2009 | New Articles, Restaurants
A table and view at The Roundhouse
Cape Town’s up and coming gourmet restaurant scene is flourishing. On our team’s most recent visit they dined at two outstanding “house” gourmet restaurants in the city suburbs, The Greenhouse, part of the large complex of the Cellars-Hohenort, and The Roundhouse, a newly opened and very popular hillside restaurant.
The Greenhouse
Each with its own charms offered quality food lovers a striking setting, friendly service and extraordinary meals. Click here to read our articles about The Greenhouse and The Roundhouse .
by Editor | May 25, 2009 | Restaurants
Article by Elena del Valle and photos by Gary Cox
The Vintner Grill
We arrived at the Vintner Grill (10100 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89135, +1.702.214.5590, www.vglasvegas.com) early. So early, the staff were still arriving and the dining room was being set up. The reason for such an early dinner was that we had an show to catch and we were a 20-minute drive from our Strip hotel in the outskirts of Las Vegas, a city we didn’t know well.
We went the distance because the restaurant had been described as an outstanding neighborhood bistro and we were eager for an off Strip friendly experience. Since it was a bistro we anticipated having plenty of time for a couple of courses before returning to catch our show. Instead, we were surprised with the options. There were simple and refined dishes as well as single and multiple course temptations from the bar and the kitchen which we indulged in with gusto.
A server at the Vintner Grill
The Vintner Grill
The meal and service were far superior and more refined than the garden variety bistros we’ve dined in elsewhere. At the same time, the ambiance was friendly and very different from the tourist restaurant options in other areas of Las Vegas. Perhaps the Vintner Grill’s location in an upscale residential area provides the ideal combination of affluent foodie regulars that inspire the diverse selection of everyday and special occasion items and high quality that we so enjoyed. We look forward to returning to the Vinter Grill the next time we’re in the “neighborhood.” Click here to read a complete article about the Vinter Grill.
by Editor | Dec 1, 2008 | Accomodations, Books, Ecotourism, Restaurants, Spas
Red, White and Drunk All Over
The holiday season is upon us. For many people it’s a time of stress as well as joy and togetherness. Part of the stress comes from gift giving. Here are some gift ideas including books, gourmet dinners and exotic trips, we hope will help you narrow your choices and relieve some of the stress.
In Red, White and Drunk All Over, Natalie MacLean shares her love of wine and insights from an international wine oriented journey of discovery. The paperback edition, published last year, is 304 pages long and an easy read. At $14.95 Red, White and Drunk All Over is kind on the pocket and the well written book may be a good stocking stuffer for wine newbies and wine aficionados alike.
Cooks and cooking amateurs may appreciate the wealth of information in The Spice and Herb Bible (Robert Rose, $27.95). The exhaustive 607-page tome by Ian Hemphill includes detailed information about, well, herbs and spices.
Naughty Paris A Lady’s Guide to the Sexy City
Naughty Paris A Lady’s Guide to the Sexy City is for women who want to discover another side of Paris. According to the author, the City of Love offers ample opportunities for locals and visitors to indulge in the pleasures of the senses and love. In the 296-page well researched paperback book, Kristen Loop shares some of her ideas, findings and suggestions about love, romance, sexy hotels, outings, shopping, beauty options, culture, dancing, and shows in the romantic city.
A server shaves truffle bits over a dish at Ledoyen
While we’re on the subject of Paris, are you a foodie, celebrating a special occasion or just plain love dining in Paris? Do you have a healthy budget? How about a few days enjoying the best in gourmet dining available in the City of Lights? Of course you can try a neighborhood bistro but if you’re going all the way to Paris you probably want to indulge. Alain Ducasse and his Paris team at the Plaza Athenee Hotel are well known for their over the top dining. If you can’t get a table there or would rather be a tad more modest, other top tier choices include the dining rooms of: vegetable guru Alain Passard at Arpepe; Christian Le Squer at Ledoyen near the Champs Elysees, Helene Darroze at her restaurant in the Latin Quarter; Pierre Gagnaire’s Le Balzac; Pascal Barbot at L’Astrance, in the ritzy 16 arrondisement; Guy Martin’s historic Le Grand Vefour; and Guy Savoy at his eponymous establishment.
Dusk in Santa Fe
If North America is where you want to be on your next vacation, consider the Canadian Yukon, one of the last vast expanses of wilderness, for next summer; or one of the saints: San Diego and San Francisco in California or Santa Fe, New Mexico. Each one has its own charm. San Francisco, the most famous of the three, and the nearby wine country offer many options, accommodations, food and wine attractions within a short drive. San Diego, much further south and closer to the United States-Mexico border, is large and diverse with upscale and quaint seaside towns like La Jolla. Finally, Santa Fe, is a magnet for Pueblo style architecture and museum and art gallery lovers.
Male and female leopards “flirt” at Londolozi Tree Camp in South Africa
Do you long for something with a little more zest and adventure? If you are itching to travel, have the desire to see beautiful animals in their natural habitat, the patience to fly more than eight hours, and can afford world class accommodations, or as close to that as it gets in some remote areas, consider a safari trip to Africa. There are plentiful choices of destinations, properties, and game viewing options.
Many travelers in search of luxury lodge accommodations with gourmet dining, spa services and outstanding game viewing mention the Sabi Sand Reserve and the http://simonandbaker.com/kruger area in South Africa as favorites. Sabi Sand Reserve is home to Ivory Lodge and 1933 in Lion Sands, Tree Camp in Londolozi, Mala Mala Main Camp and Rattray’s in the Mala Mala Reserve, and Earth Lodge and Selati Camp in the Sabi Sabi Reserve. For a relaxing spa oriented visit our team liked the Cybele Forest Lodge and Health Spa near Kruger. The Outpost in the northern reaches of the park near the border with Zimbabwe offers game viewing in a serene off the beaten path setting.
Those seeking a wilder experience and willing to rough it, fly baby planes, stay in luxury tents and eat more modest meals can opt for other important African game destinations such as Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia depending on their interests, time and budget preferences. Botswana is known for its upscale orientation, huge elephant population and the famous Okavango Delta. Earlier this year, one of our teams enjoyed a visit to Mashatu in the Tuli Block of Botswana.
Areas to consider if visiting Tanzania include the Ruaha National Park, Selou Game Reserve, and Grumeti Game Reserve (adjacent to the Serengeti National Park). Visitors to Zambia may want to include one or more properties in Lower Zambezi National Park, South Luangwa National Park and Victoria Falls in their itinerary.
Whatever you do, we wish you a wonderful holiday season!
Click here to buy
Red, White, and Drunk All Over: A Wine-Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass
Naughty Paris: A Lady’s Guide to the Sexy City
The Spice and Herb Bible
by Editor | Oct 27, 2008 | Accomodations, Ecotourism, New Articles, Products, Restaurants, Spas
The library in the main building at 1933
A family owned and managed four suite villa on the banks of the Sabie River within the large Sabi Sand Reserve and across from the http://simonandbaker.com/kruger, 1933 offered luxury accommodations including many creature comforts, appetizing home style meals, Big Five game viewing, and a dedicated team of staff for villa guests.
“In fact, 1933 is the family recreating the old camp,” said Nick More, partner and co-owner of the property, about the role of 1933 within the Lion Sands Reserve where it is located. The Lions Sands Reserve is situated within the larger Sabi Sand Reserve. “The old camp which was built in 1936 by my great grandfather and was called Warthog Wallow Camp. Since the great floods of the Sabie River of 2000 our family has wanted to rebuild and rekindle those memories that we created from that camp, and that was achieved late last year, 2007. We called it 1933 in memory of the year in which Lion Sands was first purchased.”
A lioness and her cubs
A view of the main building from one of the neighboring suites
“Working at this area where the word ‘no’ does not exist exaggerates the demand of the position in ensuring that every guest in catered for. A home style menu is served daily, allowing me to draw inspiration from the environment which surrounds me, resulting in classic dishes. Lunches are light and simple offering a range of flavours, influenced by combinations to compliment to each other.
Dinner varies from night to night, from home style a la carte dinners, boma, Bush Dinners, each offering a unique feel and experience with a zest of flavours. I also enjoy working with other people as it gives me an opportunity to gain experience in all levels of cooking. It allows me to experience different cultures which I can include in the preparation of my dishes,” said Sannie Mbeva, cook at 1933.
Guests view a sleepy male lion at Lion Sands
The newly built riverside rental home provided personal service and posh bush accommodations ideal for small corporate groups, celebrities and families. 1933, ensconced within the world famous Sabi Sand Reserve, was a setting of lavish comfort in a game viewing reserve, offering guests the pleasure and space of a carefree home and exclusive access to the property for the duration of their stay. Our team’s visit was enhanced by private game drives, delicious meals and on site spa treatments. Click here to read a dedicated article about 1933.
by Editor | Sep 22, 2008 | Restaurants
Our server shaved white truffles over our gnocchi dish
Our cheese course at Ledoyen
Ledoyen, a short distance from the famed Champs Elysees, offered delicious gourmet food in a desirable venue. Its location within a historical building and dining room surrounded by large windows enhanced the ambiance. Tables were set discretely apart within the sunlit second floor dining room, close enough to feel cozy yet far enough that we didn’t hear neighboring conversations.
There were beautiful hibiscus flowers at our table
One beautifully presented dish after another arrived as part of our tasting menu. We were especially impressed with two of them: melt-in-your-mouth gnocchis served with freshly shaved white truffles from Alba. The sweetbreads were also particularly delicious. Click here to read our latest dedicated article on Ledoyen, one of the top foodie addresses in Paris.
