Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Pool
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Category Archives: Virtuoso
Welcome note
One of 8 buffet tables at the Mandarin Oriental breakfast
Singita Sabora Tented Camp- amazing food quality from a tent!
Singita Sabora Tented Camp
Recipes from the Road: Malva Pudding- Singita Grumeti Camps
Singita Sasakwa- image courtesy of Singita
Singita Sasakwa- image courtesy of Singita
Recipes from the Road: Singita Grumeti Saskwa
Probably the finest resort in East Africa, Singita Sasakwa is unrivaled in elegance.
Patterned after an English Manor House, Sasakwa sits over the Grumeti Plain offering magnificent views of game below.
Recipes from the Road: picture courtesy of O&O Capetown
ROASTED PEARS WITH ORANGE-DATE PUREE, BRANDY ANGLAISE AND CRISP CINNAMON WAIVERS
9 pears, peeled, cored and quartered
1 cup sugar syrup
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Pulp and pod of 1 vanilla bean
6 medjool dates, julienned, plus 3 chopped
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
¼ cup water
Pear-brandy anglaisse
Cook the pears with the sugar syrup, lemon juice and vanilla pulp and pod over medium heat for 10 minutes or until tender.
To prepare the dates: cook the julienned dates in orange juice until just warm. Remove the dates and reserve the juice. Dice 2 tablespoons of the dates for garnish.
To make the date puree, place 3 chopped dates in a blender with the water and the reserved orange juice. Puree for three minutes or until smooth.
Pear-brandy anglaisse
¼ cup sugar
½ cup cream
½ ripe pear, peeled, cored and diced
2 tablespoons brandy
Dissolve the sugar in the cream over medium heat. Add the pear and simmer for 4-5 minutes, or until the pear is softened. Puree the mixture and strain through a fine mesh sieve. Stir in the brandy. Re-blend just before serving.
Crisp cinnamon, ginger wafers
1 cup caster sugar
4½ oz golden syrup
1 stick plus 1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
4½ oz plain flour
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 baking trays with greaseproof paper. Combine sugar, golden syrup, butter, orange juice and zest in a sauce pan over low heat until the butter has melted. Stir thoroughly, and then remove from the heat. Sift the flour and spices into a bowl and make a well in the center. Pour in the golden syrup mixture and stir until well combined and smooth. Drop small teaspoons of the batter onto the prepared baking trays, leaving 2 inches between each one to allow for spreading. Bake for 8 minutes, until an even golden brown. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
One and Only Capetown- picture courtesy of O&O
Recipes from the Road: One and Only Capetown- about the chef Rueben Riffel
A fairly new luxury hotel on the scene is the One and Only Capetown . I love the location, down by the waterfront. They have a particularily good children’s program and it lives up to the One and Only reputation for ultra Luxe accomodations. I especially like the villas that are separate from the main building. The restaurants are fabulous: Nobu- yes that one, and the wildly popular Reubens.
From One and Only’s bio page:
REUBEN RIFFEL, EXECUTIVE CHEF, ONE&ONLY CAPE TOWN
Internationally recognized for his award-winning restaurants in the Franschoek wine valley, Reuben Riffel opened the eponymous Reuben’s at One&Only Cape Town in October 2010, serving up wholesome bistro fare made from locally-sourced produce.
Having defied tremendous odds in apartheid South Africa to become one of Africa’s top chefs at 35, Reuben has come a long way from his home in Groendal where he grew up with 12 siblings. Required to live in an area allocated to Cape Coloreds, a mixed-race ethnic group, Reuben first mastered Cape Colored cuisine through his family, a style of cooking that continues to inspire him today.
Beginning as a kitchen hand, Reuben worked his way up the restaurant ranks in nearby Franschhoek, opening his first eatery there in 2004 that was promptly named South Africa’s Restaurant of the Year. Six months later he was named the country’s Chef of the Year. In 2008 he opened a second restaurant in Robertson, which led to the opening of his third restaurant in at One&Only Cape Town alongside the legendary Nobu.
The author of two celebrated cookbooks, Riffel’s most recent debut, Reuben Cooks Local, takes readers on a journey through one of South Africa’s most well-loved culinary repertoires showcasing local produce from the sea, earth, orchard and vine highlighting the sheer abundance of fresh local produce in South Africa and the Cape.
In November 2011, Riffel partnered with South African Airways to prepare some of his signature dishes for the airline’s Premium Class customers.
One and only also has a spectauclar wine cellar headed by Luvo Ntezo,
internationally recognized as one of the Best Young Sommeliers in South Africa.
Temple ruins Inle Lake, Myanmar
I am fondly looking forward to my return to SE Asia.
I have started to plan my semiannual return to Bangkok, another visit to magical Myanmar, and site inspections in Krabi and Phuket Thailand. Myanmar is a really hot travel destination and I want to do a run on the fabulous Road to Mandalay- the Orient Express cruise on the Irrawaddy river in Myanmar. I also want to check the iconic Strand Hotel and Governor’s Residence in Yangon. I am so happy to see Bagan, Mandalay, and Inle Lake again. The people of Myanmar are so dear, and so happy to have guests again visiting their country. I am including some pictures from my last visit. Visas are necessary for Myanmar so I have sent off my visa application. One has to apply 3 months out. Weather will be hot and humid- yay!
Repost of our tiger tracking adventure
We are now in Ranthambore Preserve- the biggest and best of all. It was the hunting reserve of the Maharaja of Jaipur.The park was nationalized b y the Brisitsh and turned into a park in 1974. We had the distinct pleasure of meeting the first park director Fateh Singh rathore, who photographed the tigers in that park for 30 years. His driver for those 30 years had a son Salim Ali, and Salim was our guide. I would send any client with Salim unless he is off filming with a crew from BBC, National Geographic or Toby Sinclair. Toby did the film Land of the Tiger- a must see on National Geographic channel and it was our privilege to have him with us guiding the trip the all the way until he had to leave in VarNASI. He is off working on a film about the black Tiger at the present.
We sighted 2 tigers the first days at Ranthambore, and on the 2nd afternoon had an unbelievable adventure!
To be continued….
Suhail Gupta, me, Salim Ali, Martha Gaughen
Best tiger experience on the last day, last drive
Explora Patagonia
View from Explora Patagonia. Hard to beat
Explora Patagonia lobby
Top Hotels in Southern Chile
Singular Puerto Bories Patagonia
We stayed at the brand new Singular property near Puerto Natales in southern Patagonia
It was a sheep processing plant built between 1906 and 1914, and closed during WW11 . It is family owned and operated. The architect kept the factory fittings in the main building and added contemporary rooms onto one wing. 60 rooms and suites are in the hotel. Rooms are large and very spacious in feel. Windows are floor to ceiling Bathrooms are well lit and spacious. The decor follows the industrial chic direction of the factory. Walls are metallic, ceilings were cement color. Predominant colors were earth tones with grey and black. contemporary feel. Uncluttered and pleasant. Meals and We found the restaurant delightful.
One goes to Patagonia to hike, kayak, fish, horseback ride, mountain climb, rock climb. I have never in my life seen such glorious scenery.. Two major parks, the Andes mountain chain, lake and glaciers are your focus One plus for Singular is they cover all of the area including Torres del Paine National Park. They also offer speedboating to see the Seranno and Balmaceda Glaciers, Patagonia Fiords and Lago Azul The negative is that it takes 2 hours to drive to the park, so your day starts early. Singular offers three activity levels for guests and about 30 offerings of trekking, biking, horseback riding, fishing and boating, kayaking. All guided by an expert staff. They can be half day or whole day activities. One major note: in the summer one will be contending with gale force winds on you hikes. Be prepared with wind resistant clothing.
Explora Patagonia
It is all about the view at Explora. You are situated right in front of the Devil’s Horns in the
Torres del Paine National Park. Explora is situated in the middle of the park. The view is beyond breathtaking. They also offer three levels of activities and about 35 choices of things to do. So activites can more flexible, which can be very good because the weather is often highly unpredictable .They have a strict 4 night minimum, Singular does not have that restriction. The hotel seems more like a lodge. Rooms are smaller and more simple, as well as small bathrooms. But it is all about the view and convenience of being right in the park. Explora also offers meals, transfers and activities.
View from Explora Patagonia
Brownell weekend- best bosses in the world.
Suites with plunge pools. Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat
Pool Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat
Lobby Grand a hotel du Cap Ferrat
Carlton hotel Nice – all done up for Christmas!
Cap Estel, Eze France
Lobby of Cap Estel, Eze
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Bar Cap Estel. Not for the faint hearted- gin and tonic was 18Euros.
Gardens Cap Estel
View from my terrace. Cap Estel. Eze
Sunrise Shanghai
Bund View Deluxe room- Ritz Carlton Pudong Shanghai
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Club level Ritz Carlton Pudong-Shanghai
TV Radio tower Shanghai
A delightful stop at the Ritz Carlton Georgetown
After a 2 hour wait on the runway, any destination would be great, but I found that the Ritz Carlton Georgetown to be delightful. It was originally the incinerator for DC. Ritz bought it and renovated it in 2003. It still retains the 4 story tall chimney which is used for special parties and private dinners. Very dramatic. Lobby is industrial chic with a fireplace and comfortable seating. It is a small, more intime hotel and the service is impeccable. Everyone addressed me by name from Kerem the Front office manager, to Alice Lehimdjian- director of sales, and Catherine Hewitt senior sales manager. Rooms are large and bright. Bathrooms are huge. Mine had a soaking tub- yay! Colors ar subtle. You cannot go wrong with choosing this hotel if you want to be in Georgetown. On my way to Shanghai tomorrow.
St. Regis Atlanta is offering a great Brownell Travel weekend rate.
The fabulous St. Regis Atlanta is offering a Brownell Travel weekend rate of $209.00 per night plus tax, till the end of the year. The rate can be reserved through any Brownell or Sterling Brownell consultant if rooms are available.
Tent 14 Olonana
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Olonana view from the bed
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Ol Donyo Wuas family suite terrace
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Ol Donyo Wuas family suite with plunge pool
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Riding in Kenya at Ol Donyo Waus
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Morning sunlight on the crystal and silver -Singita Sabora Tented Camp Tanzania
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Fabulous stables at Singita Saskwa Tanzania. You should see the Tack room!
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Dispatches from the Road 