taste4travel

Cool but not kitsch - Hotel 7, Paris

2012-11-02T12:46:00.000+00:00

Staying at Hotel Seven is an experience that sends your senses into overdrive.

Hotel 7

The exterior facade may be uninspiring, but inside it's anything but boring.

The reception is small but super-chic and the lounge bar is sparkly and seductive with velvet seats and glass baubles suspended from the ceiling.

Step into any one of the bedrooms and it's like stepping into another world. There's no such thing as an ordinary room at Hotel Seven. The ceilings are a dramatic night skyscape with swirls of cloud and twinkling stars, while the beds seem to float.

In some rooms even the baths levitate. With the bedroom only separated from the bathroom by a glass partition it's not a place for couples with intimacy issues, but it does allow you to soak in the tub while enjoying the theatrical glow of the room's lighting. Mercifully though the toilet does have it's own cubicle and there is a thoughtfully provided reading light.

The hotel takes it name from the seven themed suites which have been designed by four different interior designers. There's Alice (in Wonderland)where you can play chess à deux in the double toilet; Black Diamond with its Swarovski jewelled bath; the boudoir-esque Marie Antoinette; deep-carpeted Sublime with its circular love-bed; 007 –a modern, masculine retreat with a combination of retro-chic and futuristic design, along with James Bond- style gadgets and movies to watch on an oversized flat screen;Lovez-Vous,with a cowhide bathtub and terrace Jacuzzi for two and the On/Off suite home to two unique interior designs – where by flipping a switch, the space transforms.

There's no restaurant, but there's a breakfast room in the basement where each morning there's a buffet as whimsical and decadent as the rooms, with macarons, cakes and sweets served up alongside more traditional breakfast fare.

Hotel Seven has a great location right on the edge of the historic Latin Quarter. It's far enough away from the main tourist attractions for the neighbourhood to still have an authentic Parisian feel, but close enough to still be convenient. The restaurant-lined Rue de Mouffetard, which claims to be one of the oldest streets Paris, is just a short walk away, as is the famous Sorbonne university and the Pantheon.

There's a very fine line between kitsch and cool but Hotel Seven errs just on the right side and the end result is fun and funky making it perfect for a playful Parisian getaway.

Rooms start from 167 Euro (around £134) a night.

For more information visit www.sevenhotelparis.com.

I was a guest of Hotel 7

The one where I meet Antonio Carluccio

2012-10-04T11:43:00.000+01:00

Antonio Carluccio

To say that Antonio Carluccio is not a fan of spaghetti Bolognese is something of an understatement. “Spaghetti Bolognese does not exist,” he says, the Italian lilt in his trademark gruff voice growing even more pronounced as he grows increasingly animated. “It is a version of a very famous dish that here has been crucified. People here put in garlic, herbs, chillies, but the original is very simple - just meat, vegetables, tomato paste, a bit of wine and that is it. And always with tagliatelle, never spaghetti.” In fact, Antonio was so horrified by the British version of his beloved tagliatelle ragu that the first time he tasted it he sent it straight back to the kitchen. Unsurprisingly then there is no sign of spaghetti Bolognese on the menu at Carluccio’s. Instead the focus is very much on simple, authentic food. “I know what the expectation of English people is, but I do not cook for the English,” he says. “We make simple dishes that are very pleasing and very satisfying, do not cost a fortune and are served with grace from nice waiters. When I came here 37 years ago I saw many restaurants doing Italian food but I call it Britalian. Now slowly, slowly, the message is getting through.” And he seems to be right - if the popularity of the Carluccio’s brand is anything to go by. As well dozens of restaurants bearing his name in the UK (the Bath branch in Milsom Place became the 66th in the portfolio when it opened its doors in September, and a further branch in Dorchester is set to open this month), there are Carluccio’s in Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait and Turkey.

Carluccio's in Bath

Antonio blames Britain’s poor relationship with food on the industrial revolution. “It made people not cook properly because they had to work more and lived on sandwiches. They lost the lust for it. “While the upper class were still enjoying their food the down stairs people did not and that was to the detriment of the kitchen. All of a sudden the importance of food was lost. In Italy the downstairs people always tried to get the best out of the food because it provided wonderful contentment. When you have good food you are happy. I believe slowly, slowly it is coming back. Producing food for your family is an act of love and sharing it with them is a joy.”

His own love of food is firmly rooted in the family life of his childhood. “Mama was an artist in the kitchen,” he recalls. “I was brought up with all kinds of wonderful food, even though it was war time. “Papa was a station master and mama used to send me out to find out if the train was on time so that the pasta would be perfectly cooked for when he came home. Mama used to feed the Germans and the partisans because they would come to the house because they heard she was a really good cook.”

“As a child in a family that was interested in food I grew up with it and I grew up contributing to it. When I was small I would pick the ruccola, and later I was allowed to go truffle hunting with some of the men in the village. Sometimes they would allow me to keep a small one, and I would take this trophy home. That is when I started to learn about mushrooms.”

But it was when he was a student in Vienna that Antonio really discovered his own talent for cooking. “I wanted to eat the food that my mother used to prepare and the only way was to cook it myself. I saw for myself that friends – and by friends I mean girls – responded well to it,” he said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. However this was not enough to lure Antonio into a culinary career just yet and after a 13-year spell as a wine merchant in Germany he moved to London. In 1981 he took over the Neal Street restaurant in Covent Garden and it was around the same time that he first came to the attention of journalists after reaching the finals in a cookery competition run by the Sunday Times. His Italian charm, coupled with his knowledge of mushrooms and restaurant background proved irresistible to the media and it wasn’t long before made his first appearance on BBC2 talking about Mediterranean food and at the same time was asked to write his first book. Since then he has not looked back. The very first incarnation of Carluccio’s opened in 1991 in the form of a deli next to the restaurant. “It was a very good idea and my ex wife joined and became marketing director and it was a brand all of a sudden. I continued to import wonderful food from Italy, from artisans and then the press was very interested. There was nothing like us. It was our policy to have very good food,” said Antonio. The first Carluccio’s Caffe opened in 1998, the same year that he was awarded the Commendatore OMRI by the President of Italy for services to Italian gastronomy, the equivalent of a British knighthood. In 2005 he sold the restaurant chain which by then had 23 branches and is now employed as a consultant and is heavily involved in evolving the menu and training the chefs.

But despite being dubbed the godfather of Italian cuisine Antonio is adamant that he is not a chef himself. “My career is cook, not chef. I was never a chef in a restaurant.”

For more information about Carluccio's restaurants visit www.carluccios.com.

Rota das Estrelas II: The festival begins

2012-03-17T18:51:00.002+00:00

Last night saw the first night of the Rota das Estrelas (Stars Route) take place at the Il Gallo d'Oro restaurant at the Cliff Bay Hotel in Funchal, Madeira.

Madeira's only Michelin starred chef, Benoit Sinthon, hosted three other top chefs from around Europe who each prepared one of their signature dishes to be served at the feast.

Ocean flavours

The first course, which appeared on the menu simply as “ocean flavours” was one of Chef Benoit's creations. It was a playful little dish that seemed to almost fizz on the tongue. Sweet at first, then giving way to citrus sharpness and finishing with salty notes from caviar the flavours almost danced across my mouth.

Langoustine, feijoda, veal tongue and basilicum

This was followed by langoustine, “feijoada” - a traditional Portuguese bean stew, veal tongue and basilicum, the creation of Hans Neuner from the the 2-starred Ocean in Portugal. This was a very sophisticated version of the classic “surf 'n' turf” and a stunning dish. The sweet, almost melt in the mouth langoustine, rich, meaty veal tongue, the nutty stew and the fresh basilicum was a wonderful combination that all complimented each other perfectly.

Calf's head, spiced lentils and sea urchin

Austrian Christian Petz created an interesting dish of calf's head with curry lentils and sea urchin. This was the first time I had ever tasted sea urchin and I was unsure what to expect. It had been prepared in such a way that it was almost a foam and eating it there was barely the sensation of having anything in my mouth at all. But while the texture was light the flavour was very different. It was deep and salty, tasting of the smell of the sea. The lentils had been delicately spiced and I felt that they were perhaps a bit overshadowed by the powerful sea urchin.

Wild lobster, scorched leeks, warm caviar

Lobster toast

Next up was the dish created by Britain's Nigel Haworth, proud holder of one Michelin star and chef patron at Northcote in Lancashire. He had prepared wild lobster, scorched leeks, warm caviar and lobster toast. I love lobster so this dish was always going to be a winner for me. The first taste of the leeks was a smoky, slightly bitter, flavour from the scorched outside that I think worked well with the lobster. The lobster toast was Nigel's posh version of prawn toast. However this had none of the chewiness or cloying greasiness of the Chinese takeaway favourite - instead the lobster was light and soft and melted in the mouth, with just a slight crunch from the sesame seed coating.

Suprising sorbet

Next was the palette cleansing sorbet – but this was no ordinary sorbet. It had been laced with popping candy so each spoonful exploded in the mouth, the sharpness of the lemon being tempered by the sweetness of the candy.

Rack of lamb spring style

The following course – a tender rack of baby lamb – spring style was prepared by host chef Benoit Sinthon and his team.


Cinammon parfait, light vanilla cream, apple jelly	and crispy honey

There were two desserts, both the creations of Il Gallo d'Oro's pastry chef Yves Michoux. First up was a cinnamon parfait, light vanilla cream, apple jelly and crispy honey, with a hidden suprise of sugar cane rum, and this was followed by a hail ball from “pico do areeriro” - a meringue ball flavoured with custard apple and pineapple.

Meringue ball flavoured with custard apple and pineapple

Each course was accompanied by a Portuguese wine selected especially to enhance the flavours of the dish and it really showcased the variety and quality of the products.

But then the whole meal was a showcase of the immense culinary talent in Europe and it was a real treat to experience the passion and creativity of so many great chefs all in one meal.

Tonight Chef Benoit and his team will be joined again by Nigel Haworth and Hans Neuner, and also 2-starred Diego Guerrero from El Club Allard in Spain and representatives from the celebrated Chez Dominique in Finland, who will be creating a menu with the theme “Flavours of the World.”

It will not be Chef Diego's first time in the Il Gallo d'Oro kitchen however. Although invited to enjoy last night's meal as a guests he instead chose to help in the kitchen. He said: “That is where I feel most comfortable.”

There will be two more Rota das Estrelas meals at the Cliff Bay – on March 20 and 21. Between now and then the hotel is keeping up the culinary theme with a series of events and workshops.

For more details visit http://www.portobay.com/gestorconteudos/attachs/11302.pdf.

Rota das Estrelas continues until November with events across Portugal. For more information visit www.rotadasestrelas.com.

The chefs

Rota das Estrelas I: Preparing for service

2012-03-16T16:06:00.001+00:00

It's just a few hours now until the Rota das Estrelas, or Stars Route as it is known in English, officially kicks off at the Cliff Bay hotel in Madeira.

But while the guests are lounging by the pool, imagining the gastronomic masterpieces that are to be served up later, for the chefs it is a different story and the kitchen is a hive of activity.


Nigel Haworth from the UK

Joining Madeira's top chef, Michelin star holder Benoit Sinthon, in preparing tonight's feast is Portugal's Hans Neuner who was awarded his second star this year, Austria's Christian Petz, and Nigel Haworth, chef patron and managing director at Northcote in Lancashire in the UK and proud holder of one Michelin star.

This is the third year of Rota das Estrelas, but the first year a British chef has been involved.

Fabiola Pereira, marketing manager at the Cliff Bay, said: “It was very important for us to have a British chef involved as 40 per cent of our clientele come from the UK.”

Although they have come from all over Europe the chefs are not strangers to each other, having worked together at various culinary events over the past few years.

However, when they were planning their dishes three months ago they had no idea what the others were cooking.

Tonight, Nigel will be serving a delicate lobster dish.

He said: “I had no idea what the other chefs would be cooking so I chose this because it is light.

“I also chose ingredients I knew I would be able to get. The lobster is a blue lobster from the Atlantic.”

This morning the chefs were up bright and early to visit Funchal's famous Mercado Dos Lavradores, a colourful market selling all kinds of local produce.

Its warm climate makes Madeira ideal for growing all types of fruit and there are some interesting varieties including passion fruits shaped like bananas or tasting of lemons and a mango with flavours of coconut.

Nigel said: “There's so many different types of passion fruit – it's crazy.”

In fact, he was so taken with them that he ended up buying 40 euro worth of the unusual fruits.

However, the advance planning sadly means that they won't be making it on to tonight's menu at least, although it will be interesting to see if they pop up on the menu at Northcote next week when he is back on home soil.

The market may be just about all that the chefs will see of Madeira during their visit.

Cooking Michelin-star quality food is not a quick task and not something that can be rushed. With roasting, braising, freezing and flambe-ing to be done it's an all day task. And not only are the chefs tasked with preparing the food, but they also have to deal with the publicity that surrounds a prestigious event of this kind, meeting journalists, attending press conferences and preparing plates to be photographed in advance of tonight's banquet.

I can't wait to see the end result.

A special afternoon tea

2012-03-14T15:27:00.000+00:00

Debonair waiters in pristine white tuxedos glided past refilling glasses of champagne or delivering afternoon tea trays piled high with tempting delicacies. Lilting melodies, emanating from the piano next door, floated through the air on the warm breeze while the sound of the waves, breaking on the shore far below, whispered quietly in the background.

The tea terrace at Reid's Palace
Picture courtesy of Orient Express

This was afternoon tea at Reid’s Palace in Madeira, a hotel steeped in history and tradition. I felt like I had been transported back in time, to some golden era of the past - a time of elegance and glamour. Built for the upper classes it has attracted an elite clientele throughout its history, the majority of them British. And it counts among the roll call of VIP guests Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Since the hotel opened in 1891 the atmosphere has changed very little and although we may have been hundreds of miles from the British shore but sitting on the tea terrace, a quintessential English afternoon tea laid out before us, it felt like a little piece of the past of our home nation had been preserved for posterity.

Afternoon tea at Reid's Palace

The tea itself was a delight; finger sandwiches, scones – feather light – with cream and jam, and delicate cakes and pastries that disappeared in one, single, delicious bite. There is a vast menu of different types of tea, but in an affront to my nationality, I never drink the stuff so instead opted for a fruit tea. As I poured the candy-pink liquid into the china cup I couldn’t help giggling, feeling a little as if I were a child again, playing at tea parties with my dolls.

But no tea parties of my childhood could boast quite such a picturesque setting.

Our table on the tea terrace overlooked the ocean, the vast expanse of deep blue opening up beneath us with the sweep of the bay of Funchal in the distance. It was such a perfect view I could have been looking at a postcard.

Reid's Palace, Funchal, Madeira
Picture courtesy of Orient Express

As I drank in the view, at that second if I could have stopped time I would have done; just to savour the sugary treats a moment longer, to linger in the warm sun and the gentle caress of the breeze and to soak up the atmosphere for a little while more. Reid’s is a special place, and that was a special moment.

Portuguese cuisine celebrated in Rota das Estrelas

2012-03-09T09:50:00.000+00:00

The cuisines of Italy, France and Spain are already firm favourites, but ask anyone to name a Portuguese dish and you’ll be lucky if you get anything beyond piri piri chicken or custard tarts.So Portugal’s culinary elite are coming together prove why their country’s food deserves a place on the gastronomic map.

Chef Benoit Sinthon and Il Gallo d'Oro at the Cliff Bay hotel in
Madeirawill host the opening weekend of Rota das Estrelas 2012

Next weekend (March 16) the 8-month long Rota das Estrelas (Stars Route) food festival kicks off in at the Cliff Bay Hotel in Madeira. Here, executive chef Benoit Sinthon, the only chef in Madeira to hold a Michelin star, will host 10 chefs from around the world, all with at least one star to their name, in a celebration of Portuguese produce and cuisine.

Over the eight months the select group of international gastronomic superstars will be travelling to Michelin-starred establishments throughout Portugal and creating special tasting menus which will showcase the very best that Portugal has to offer.

Hans Välimäki from Finland

This is the third year that the Rota das Estrelas has taken place and this year it promises to be better than ever with top chefs travelling from all over Europe to take part.

Nigel Haworth from the UK
will be one of the chefs taking part
in the launch of Rota das Estrelas

The culinary superstars present at the opening will be Hans Välimäki, one of the hottest names at the moment in Finland, with two Michelin stars; Diego Guerrero, one of the best new haute cuisine chefs in Spain, who received his second Michelin star this year; Nigel Haworth, a celebrity chef in the UK, with one Michelin star; Miguel Vieira, a Portuguese chef working in Budapest, Hungary, with one Michelin star; and Christian Petz from Austria, a Chef with a luxurious career. Also participating in Rota Das Estrelas over the coming months will be Hans Neuner (2 Michelin stars, Austria), Aimé Barroyer (1 Michelin star, France), Albano Lourenço (1 Michelin star, Portugal), Ricardo Costa (1 Michelin star, Portugal) and Vincent Farges (1 Michelin star, France).

After the launch of the festival in Madeira it will remain at the Cliff Bay Hotel for a second few days on March 20-21 before travelling through Portugal from north to south calling at Tavares in Lisbon on April 20 and 21, Arcadas Restaurante , at Quinta das Lágrimas, (Coimbra) on May 4 and 5, the Ocean in the Vila Vita Park Hotel (Algarve) on May 19 and 20, The Yeatman in Oporto on June 14 and 15, Largo do Paço Restaurante, in the Casa da Calçada (Amarante) on August 17 and 18, Feitoria in the hotel Altis Belém (Lisbon) on September 7 and 8, Vila Joya (Algarve) on October 19 and 20 and finishing at the Fortaleza do Guincho (Cascais) on November 16 and 17.

For more information about Rota das Estrelas visit www.rotadasestrelas.com

Enchanted by the Eternal City

2012-02-23T15:04:00.001+00:00

The walls of the Colosseum rose up around me. Even though parts of the ancient building had crumbled away over the centuries it was still imposing.

The Colosseum

I had arrived early to avoid the crowds. Although a handful of other people had had the same idea there were none of the bustling throngs that doubtless would be descending as soon as they had finished their morning cappuccinos. For a place that had seen so much violence it was strangely peaceful. I was grateful for the quiet. It gave me the chance to inhale the atmosphere, to appreciate not only the physical enormity of the place, but also the immense significance of its past.

I was reminded of my Latin classes at school and textbooks full of accounts of the families who had visited the Colosseum and walked the streets of Rome. Back then the tales had seemed little more than fiction. Now, suddenly, they seemed to burst into life. When I closed my eyes I could almost imagine the roar of the crowds and sense the expectation in the atmosphere. Millions of people had stood in this spot before me. Maybe even an Emperor, or a gladiator. It was a strangely humbling thought. Just being there I felt that I had become part of its history; no matter how small or insignificant it felt like an honour.

Approaching St Peter's Square

I hadn’t expected to have such an emotive reaction. But then Rome does that to you. It is a city that captures your heart.

Tour buses circle the city, delivering tourists from sight to sight, or the metro whizzes unseen beneath the pavements. But if you have time then exploring by foot is the best way to discover Rome. It is not the easiest city to navigate, the maze of streets can be baffling and plenty of times I found myself joining other visitors around a map trying to find not only where we were going, but where we were, and more than once I was grateful for the advances of modern mobile phone technology and allowed google maps to guide me to my destination, but the rewards more than make up for the aching feet.

Trevi Fountain

I will never forget the moment that in my search for the Trevi Fountain I first heard the thunder of the cascading water which prompted me to put away the map and allow the sound to guide me there, or my first glimpse of St Peter’s Square as I walked along the Tiber, the crowds of tourists growing in size and momentum as we approached, like a rock gathering moss as it rolls down a hill. A bus does not allow for the moment of delight when the narrow streets open out and you stumble upon a picturesque piazza lined with trees and fountains, and a ride on the metro denies you the moment when, parched after hours of walking, you discover one of the city’s drinking water taps, the clear, sweet waters pouring out to quench your thirst.

The Tiber by night

I didn’t want to sleep, to lose a minute that could be spent exploring, discovering, admiring the endless treasures concealed in the city. I was besotted.

For centuries Rome has been known as the Eternal City. Until I had been there I did not understand why. But now I think I know. Rome will enchant the world forever.

Explore Rome with an Omnia Vatican and Rome kit.

The kit is valid for three days. It provides fast track access to the Colosseum, the Vatican and the Sistene Chapel and many other museums, discounted access to other attractions, free use of the city’s public transport system as well as the Roma Cristiana open top bus tour, maps and an MP3 multilingual audio guide. The kit costs 85Euro for adults, 55Euro for children aged 6-12 and is free for children under 6. For more information visit www.omniavaticanrome.org.

Experience La Dolce Vita at Boscolo Palace Roma

2012-02-04T13:31:00.000+00:00

There may be no better place to discover the true meaning of La Dolce Vita than Rome. And although the city may have changed somewhat since the famous film graced the silver screen there is no doubt that it is still a city packed with all the finest things of life. And in the heart of one of Rome's chicest districts is the Boscolo Palace Roma - an 87 room luxurious boutique hotel, bursting with style and originality.

Lounge bar

The hotel is the latest addition to Marriott's Autograph Collection, a select few hotels in the brand which have been singled out for their unique style and guarantee an exceptional level of luxury.

The elegant exterior of the Boscolo Palace Roma with its wrought iron gates and period stucco work is indicative of the grandness that awaits within but barely hints at the almost achingly cool décor.

In the public areas classic white marble is contrasted with sleek modern furnishings and occasional splashes of bright tones that almost glow against the icy paleness.

A bedroom at Boscolo Palace Roma

The white marble and modern styling continues into the bedrooms, with a scattering of exquisite designer furniture and crisp white linens, Here however the vibrant colours give way to more muted pinks and greys and the result is soft and restful - an oh-so-chic oasis in the heart of the eternal city.

The bathrooms are equally luxurious with deep baths or huge walk-in showers. However, I was especially taken with the amenities – a selection of brightly coloured bottles with scents to suit every mood. Selecting my shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and moisturiser I felt like a child in a candy store, bewitched by the large selection and rainbow hues.

The balcony is a perfect location for an aperitif

I stayed in an Executive room on the fifth floor – a coveted location as it is the only floor in the hotel to have a balcony. The terrace, complete with sun loungers for warmer days, was the perfect place to enjoy a morning cappuccino or early evening prosecco while taking in the sights and sounds of the Via Vittorio Veneto below.

The fashionable district is home to numerous cafes, restaurants and designer boutiques and is within easy reach of a metro station and a short walk to the iconic Trevi Fountain as long as you can find your way through Rome's maze of winding streets.

After a day exploring, or before an evening out, visit the hotel's brand new Kami Spa which offers a range of authentic Asian treatments guaranteed to make you feel a million dollars, including Chinese plantar reflexology and a Japanese style “onsen” tub filled with mineral rich water to relax and purify the body.

The hotel is a sublime fusion of contemporary and classic, the epitome of luxury and style, a place where the spirit of la dolce vita truly lives on.

For more details, or to book contact Boscolo Palace Hotel Roma, Via Vittorio Veneto 70, 00185 Rome; tel: 00 39 6 478719. Superior rooms start at 270 euros per night excluding VAT and breakfast. To book go to autograph-hotels.marriott.com

Meet Madeira's only Michelin-starred chef

2012-01-25T14:48:00.000+00:00

Benoit Sinthon may be Madeira’s only Michelin-starred chef, but he hasn’t let success go to his head.

Chef Benoit Sinthon is the only chef in Madeira to hold a Michelin star

Far from being an arrogant Gordon Ramsay-esque character with a bulging ego and abrasive manner, Chef Sinthon is modest and mild mannered, the epitome of charm and with a twinkle in his eye that hints at a wicked sense of humour. It is difficult to imagine him losing his temper and I got the sense that there would be more laughter than tongue-lashings in his kitchen. But despite this there is no doubting that he is serious about food, and as he talks about the subject his eyes light up even more and his enthusiasm is almost tangible.

Chef Sinthon’s love affair with food began humble beginnings. It was the markets in Marseille which he used to visit with his Italian grandmother that really ignited his passion. He said: “My grandmother always used to go to market on Saturday morning because she loved cooking. We used to go to the port, and I always remember the fish arriving and my grandmother explaining to us how she chose the best fish.”

This may be the fourth year running that his restaurant, Il Gallo d’Oro at the Cliff Bay Hotel on the outskirts of Funchal, has been awarded the honour, but Chef Sinthon is determined not to take his success for granted because to hold the coveted star is a long term ambition, and he has no intention of letting it go easily. He said: “It was fantastic when we first got the star because it was something I was always striving for. I was so happy. But I said to everyone in the kitchen ‘We have worked very hard for this and now we have been rewarded and we should celebrate, but we must be careful because we have a big challenge ahead, and a responsibility, because of course we want to keep it now.’ We have reinforced the team to make it even stronger. One of my friends who is a fantastic pastry chef was working in Dubai and I persuaded him to join us, and we have a new sommelier. Every year we try to think about what we can do to get even better, we are always trying to improve. But the Michelin star is not the most important thing – the most important things are that the restaurant is full and that we are cooking at a high level and serving wonderful food.”

In order to ensure that the food at Il Gallo d’Oro is the highest possible quality locally sourced food is used whenever possible. Chef Sinthon said: “We try to use local ingredients. About 90 per cent of the fruit and vegetables are local and around 60 per cent of the fish is from here. We are very lucky because Madeira has a good climate where everything can grow. There are a lot of smaller producers, and we can visit them and talk to them about what we want and this is really important to us as chefs. We even work with one woman who grows our herbs and edible flowers.” And this ethos leads to a regularly changing menu of tastebud tantalising dishes such as lobster and tomato symphony, local scabbard fish stuffed with seaweed with caviar and shellfish sauce and a chocolate cube with caramel and poached pear.

It was during his early training that Chef Sinthon first began to dream of making it on to the Michelin roll of honour. He said: “I was training in a fantastic place when a new chef arrived from a three-starred restaurant in Paris. I looked at him and though ‘He is only eight years older than me’ and in that moment I decided that I needed to try to be like that one day, and have a Michelin star of my own. “ And he never lost sight of his goal, training and working at many of France’s top restaurants in order to gain the valuable experience needed to realise his dream.

But it was love for a woman rather than food which brought the French chef to Madeira. He was working at the restaurant at the luxurious Chateau de Rochegude hotel in Provence in the early 1990s when he met Lara, who was working at the hotel as a receptionist. Their love blossomed but then Lara, who had Madeiran family, announced that she needed to return to the island. Determined not to lose the love of his life he sent his CV to hotels and restaurants in the hope of being able to follow Lara to Madeira. Fate was on his side and he was taken on as a Junior Sous Chef at one of Madeira’s most long-established hotels - Reid’s Palace. He stayed there for two years but then ambition drew him, and Lara, back to France where he began working at the prestigious three-starred La Cote Saint Jacques in Burgundy with renowned chef Jean Michel Lorain. But just a couple of years later, in 1998, the couple returned to Madeira. In 2004 Chef Sinthon was appointed as Executive Chef at the Cliff Bay. He said: “I knew the chef was leaving and I felt I was ready to take the challenge.”

There are three other restaurants at the hotel, in addition to Il Gallo d’Oro, and Chef Sinthon is in charge of them all. He said: “It is a nice hotel and as well as the gourmet restaurant there is a café, barbeque and bistro so it is not just one thing. It is a really interesting job to have.”

The holy grail of gastronomy; the white truffle

2012-01-22T16:23:00.000+00:00

The highly prized white truffle

The white truffle. The holy grail of gastronomy. The most special of all specialities. Across the world epicures and gourmands eagerly await October 1, when the white truffle season officially begins and hunters will venture out to unearth the unassuming-looking little treasures from their earthy resting places.

The white truffle is almost exclusively found in Italy, and unlike its black counterpart cannot be cultivated, and it is this which makes it so highly prized – and consequently so expensive.

In fact, the white truffle is so desirable that in some areas there have been reports of truffle hunters seeing off the competition by poisoning rival dogs, although thankfully this has remained a relatively rare occurrence.

This year the white truffle is demanding a particularly high price. It is not clear exactly why the truffles choose to grow where they do – which is why finding them is such an art - but what is known is that in order to thrive they need rain. And this year's unusually dry summer means that the truffles are even rarer than usual.


Truffle hunter Omar Podesta and his dog, Lucky

Omar Podesta is a truffle hunter not far from Rimini in the Emilia Romagna region in Northern Italy. His family has a long tradition of truffle hunting, and he himself has been truffle hunting since he was 12, but at 31 Omar is one of the youngest hunters in the area. In the past pigs or wild boars were used to hunt out the delicacies but nowadays dogs are used instead, the main advantage being that the dogs will not eat the truffles when they find them.

Truffles hunters need a special licence, it is not even permitted to forage for truffles on you own land without one, and training a dog can be a fairly lengthy procedure so it is not a pastime to go into lightly. Omar hunts with his dog Lucky, a high spirited young pup who is just at the start of her truffle hunting career. As the pair walk through the woods Omar guides Lucky by softly muttering instructions under his breath in the local dialect. As Lucky gets older and more experienced he will be able to guide her using just small, subtle hand signals so that other truffle hunters will not hear what he is saying and potentially beat him to the prize. The bond between the hunter and his dog is something very special, and the dog will only ever hunt with one master.

It is only permitted to harvest up to 1kg of truffles a day but, according to Omar, to find that much in one day is a truffle hunter's dream and now there are no full time truffle hunters – it is done merely as a hobby, albeit a fairly lucrative one.

The white truffle has an important place in Italian culture. In fact it is so important that celebrations are held to celebrate the truffle season.

Some of the truffle products on sale at the annual National White Truffle Fair

Every Sunday in October the charming medieval village of Sant'Agata Feltria hosts the National White Truffle Fair, and the usually quiet square and cobbled streets are filled with artisans and farmers proudly displaying their wares. And it is not only truffles on offer – honey, mushrooms, cheese, wine and handicrafts are also being peddled.

But there is no doubt that the white truffle is the star of the show. The pungent aroma of the white truffle seems to hang in the air. No wonder perhaps when you see the range of products on offer.

As well as the raw product, there are truffle pastes, pastas and purees. You can buy truffle oil, truffle salt and even truffle grappa. There is cheese laced with truffles, and truffled meat.

There is a huge tent, seating up to 600 people, where four restaurants are dishing up all kinds of truffle themed dishes, from truffle carpaccio to soft, butter-laced truffle tagliatelle for 8 Euro . The white truffle may have a slightly disconcerting smell, faintly reminiscent of sweaty locker rooms, but the taste is nothing like it - it is delicate and subtle. A dish laced with white truffle needs little else which is why creamy mashed potato or risotto, or buttery pasta makes the perfect vehicle for the delightfully complex flavour.

But it must be treated with care. There is little preparation involved with the white truffle. It should simply be washed and then shaved over the dish at the last moment before serving because to cook it could destroy the flavour.

And because the season finishes on December 1 there is only a small window in which to enjoy the delicacy in its prime.

From mojitos to museums - Miami has it all

2012-01-08T17:41:00.001+00:00

Miami has had a bit of bad press over the years. TV shows such as Miami Vice, and more recently CSI Miami, have painted the city as a grimy, crime-ridden den of iniquity. So much so that when I said that I had been the first question most people asked was if I had felt unsafe, or if it was as bad as it looked on TV. And I must confess that I was expecting something rather more gritty than what I found.

Because Miami's reality is rather different from its screen persona. Far from being dull and dirty, Miami seems to sparkle. Maybe it's just the bright blue skies (that's one thing that the TV shows have got right), or the fact that the ocean seems to almost surrounds it that does it, but my first impression was of a light, bright city.

Driving from the airport there was was a wonderful moment crossing the causeway that leads into the Miami, when I got my first sight of the city. It seemed to just open up before my eyes, sprawling out into the distance, the buildings shimmering slightly in the Florida heat.

Miami is a cosmopolitan city, and every district seems to have its own character. From the historic centre of Downtown and the sleek high rise towers of offices and luxury hotels in the financial district of Brickell, to the leafy suburbs of Coconut Grove and Coral Gables and Little Havana with its authentic shops and restaurants that make you feel as if you could be in Cuba itself, it is almost as if Miami is made up of a collection of individual towns and villages.

Officially a city in its own right Miami Beach is probably the best known part of the Greater Miami area, perhaps because it has featured in so many films and TV shows (much of Miami Vice was filmed around Miami Beach).

The South Beach area, (nicknamed SoBe) is notorious for its party scene as well as its Art Deco District. Strolling down the palm tree-lined Lincoln Road, built originally to be the Fifth Avenue of Florida, surrounded by the geometric angles and curves of the bright white buildings you could be transported back to the swinging 20s and 30s. It is only the brand names plastered on the shop fronts, and the fashions sported by shoppers which betray that it is the 21^st century.

Some of the most iconic Art Deco buildings are found on Ocean Drive. It is here where you can find

one of North America's most photographed buildings – the former Versace mansion, as well as numerous other hot hotels which over they years have attracted generations of celebrities. Travel beyond the hotels and the wide streets spill on to the golden sands of South Beach itself. It is here that the beautiful people top up their tans by day before hitting the clubs by night.

And while Miami may have a white-hot club scene, partying is far from the only reason to visit.

Miami is quickly rising through the ranks to become one of America's top culinary destinations.

The rich cultural diversity of the area, along with the increasingly sophisticated palettes of both the resident population and the millions of visitors who flock to Miami each year, has created a vibrant restaurant scene, which is attracting the attention of acclaimed restaurateurs, chefs and critics alike.

Miami is even home to a new culinary institution which not only aims to produce future generations of top chefs, but also welcomes the public to join masterclasses in its state-of-the-art teaching kitchen or dine in its restaurant.

Year round there are festivals celebrating the food and wine

And while Miami may be mainly regarded as a fun-in-the-sun playground, there is more to it than the perfect poolside cocktail.

Performing arts centres with theatres and concert halls host performances of ballets, symphonies and operas, art exhibitions and fairs showcase the work of both world renowned and local artists and museums celebrate the area's rich cultural history.

There's no doubt that Miami can certainly hold its own when compared to other great cities of the world.

In fact, I would even go as far to say that it goes one better. Because while Miami can boast world-class cultural facilities, shops and restaurants, it also holds the trump card of its golden beaches and warm climate – Florida isn't known as the sunshine state for nothing – and there's not many places that can claim all that. Maybe its the warmth that means that the pace of life seems slower and more relaxed, but somehow it lacks the urgency and freneticism of a city like London, there is time to sit back and enjoy life, and the lack of endless rows of sky scrapers means that unlike New York the sun can break through, and there is a feeling of space. But I think the thing that struck me most, was the people. When someone said the American cliché “Have a nice day” I really felt as if they meant it. Speaking to someone who had moved to Miami from New York I commented on how friendly people were. She said: “I know, everyone here is so happy.” I hadn't thought of it like that, but it's true. Everyone seemed to be smiling. But then, if you lived in Miami why wouldn't you be happy? From museums to mojitos Miami has everything. And it made me smile too.

Emma recommends:

Getting there:

American Airlines run regular flights between Heathrow and Miami. For more information and fares visit www.aa.com.

Heathrow Express runs a direct service between Paddington station and Heathrow airport, with trains leaving every 15 minutes. For more information, fares and to book visit www.heathrowexpress.com

Where to stay:

Loews Miami Beach

A chic Art Deco hotel in the heart of South Beach. There are 790 stylish rooms and suites, many with views over the beach which can be accessed from the hotel. There are excellent restaurants (there's no better start to the day than the Florida lobster omelette), spa and pool. In high season guests relaxing by the pool will be able to take advantage of extra little complimentary treats such as chilled towels and smoothies.

More information at www.loewshotels.com

Mandarin Oriental Miami

A ultra-luxurious hotel on the waterfront at Brickell Key. There is a private beach and an infinity pool overlooking the water.

The hotel's bar, the M-Bar, serves up 250 different martinis. If the menu seems a bit overwhelming then the bar tenders will happily help you make your selection, making recommendations based on your favourite flavours.

Visit www.mandarinoriental.com/miami

Where to eat:

“Around the World” Culinary Tour at Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne

Take a trip around the world eating and drinking at four different venues. The journey begins at the Old Havana inspired Rumbar, with rum tasting and a sample of two signature menu items.

From there guests move to the Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge, the flowing white cabanas and European lounge music reminiscent of a beachfront bar in Saint Tropez, to try rose sangria and a burger popper.

The third stop is Mexico, in the shape of Cantina Beach. The Chiapas-native Chef de Cuisine dishes up tableside guacamole and samples of his signature dishes, accompanied by tequila from the collection (which is the largest tequila collection in South Florida), chosen by resident tequilier Heriberto Oviedo.

Www.ritzcarlton.com

Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill

This restaurant has three distinct kitchens: robata, hot and raw bar. Dishes are served tapas-style which means you get to try examples from each of the different kitches. The pig's ears are far more delicious than they sound and the cocktails are excellent.

Www.sugarcanerawbargrill.com .

Sustain Restaurant and Bar

The clue is in the name – this restaurant is all about sustainable food.

The seafood is sustainable, the meat is locally sourced and there is a salad made with ingredients all sourced within 50 miles of the restaurant.

Www.sustainmiami.com

Mercadito

Here traditional Mexican flavours are expertly blended with creative interpretations of local and seasonal produce. There is a dazzling array of guacamoles and salsas on offer to accompany your meal. If it all seems a bit baffling then the waiters are happy to help out.

Www.mercaditorestaurants.com

Azul

Azul is the restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental and it takes fine dining to a whole new level. For the ultimate indulgence try the Silver and Gold Egg.

Www.azul-miami.com

Red

There's a good chance of spotting a celebrity at this ultra-cool car and restaurant. Probably the not the place for a romantic meal, but an excellent choice to get you in the mood for a night on the town.

Www.redsteakhouse.com

Fontana at The Biltmore

If you're thinking brunch, then think Biltmore. The Sunday champagne brunches are legendary. The buffet has every dish you could possibly imagine including caviar, shellfish, carved roast meat, freshly made omelettes, pasta and sushi. And if that weren't enough, there's a whole room dedicated to desserts. Plan a long time for this brunch because you'll want to make sure you get a taste of everything.

Www.biltmorehotel.com

Mister Collins and One Bal Harbour

Classic American dishes done exceptionally well, with stunning ocean views. You can even have a beer pairing with your meal with beers chosen from the restaurant's artisan beer collection.

Www.oneluxuryhotel.com

What to do:

Miami Food Tours' SoBe Tour des Forks

Take guided tour around the Art Deco District learning about the history, culture and architecture, while at the same time tasting food from some of the area's hidden gems.

Www.miamifoodtours.com

Secrets of Little Havana Cultural and Culinary Tour

A guided, edible journey through one of Miami's oldest neighbourhoods. Learn about traditional, rustic, Cuban cuisine, as well the area's history. During the tour you will meet local artists, watch cigar rollers and take a peek in the famous Domino Park.

Www.miamiculinarytours.com

The fairytale of Fishmore Hall

2012-01-03T15:38:00.000+00:00

The story of Fishmore Hall near Ludlow is almost Cinderella-esque, a classic rags to riches fairytale.

Once a school for “difficult” boys, it then fell into disrepair and lay derelict in the Shropshire countryside, until just over four years ago when it was bought by current owner Laura Penman.

In just 22 weeks she breathed a new lease of life into the Georgian building with a complete overhaul, restoring it to its former glory and creating a chic and sleek boutique hotel which opened in October 2007.

Since then Fishmore Hall has gone from strength to strength and is now regarded as one of the country’s finest hotels, scooping a host of awards, not only for the high standard of accommodation but also for its excellent restaurant, Forelles.

It is a far cry from the decaying pile of bricks that stood unloved for so long.

There are just 15 rooms, each one carefully designed to combine classic design with contemporary styling and the results are impeccable.

With its seemingly effortlessly stylish décor, views over the Shropshire countryside, and enormous bed dressed in crisp white linen, my room was comfortable and inviting and I felt instantly at home and little extras like a pillow menu, complimentary mineral water, tea and coffee and home-made biscuits and a mini bar stocked with local produce made it feel that bit more special.

The modern wet-room style bathroom came complete with luxurious toiletries, shower with a huge rainfall shower head and the ultimate luxury, an extra-large deep double-ended bath.

It was the kind of room I wished I had at home.

Ludlow has become well known as a foodie destination, and Forelles only enhances that reputation.

The menu is created from seasonal ingredients and local produce, ensuring the end result is fresh and vibrant and bursting with flavour.

The restaurant serves everything from more casual bar meals, to afternoon tea and a more elaborate tasting menu.

I sampled the tasting menu which is a real opportunity for head chef David Jaram to showcase not only the excellent produce but also his skills and innovative ideas.

Coupled with wines carefully selected to enhance the flavour of each dish it was a real treat for the tastebuds.

The staff were all friendly and knowledgeable about what they were serving which made me feel that they were genuinely interested in the food and proud to be a part of the well-oiled machine that is Fishmore Hall.

And they are right to be proud.

This autumn the hotel was awarded an AA Inspector's choice, with 3 prestigious red stars for outstanding accommodation, as well as 3AA rosettes for Forelles, which puts them in the top ten per cent of restaurants according to the AA GuideRed Star - as opposed to black star - hotels represent the most outstanding examples in each star category and signify the best in the British Isles. Ms Penman said: "We are elated to have been presented the 3 AA red stars. Our hotel has undergone substantial development in such a short space of time and this is confirmation that every hour spent was worth it. Our staff have worked incredibly hard to maintain and raise the level of service that we pride ourselves on.

"Our restaurant is at the heart of our hotel and a key factor in our great reputation, both in Shropshire and nationally. Our head chef, David Jaram is an inspiration and his commitment to creating fabulous food as well as his flair for originality are more than worthy of this honour."

"Fishmore Hall is a treasure and we will continue to concentrate on providing the highest standards of service and food. We look forward to future success."

For more information visit www.fishmorehall.co.uk

CITY GUIDE: Rimini

2012-01-02T12:42:00.000+00:00

With more than 15km of beaches it is perhaps not surprising that Rimini is one of Italy's most famous seaside resorts. Every year tourists flock from all over the world to enjoy the delights of this waterside haven, and during the summer months more than 500 events are held in the city creating a four month long party.

But there is more to this city, nestled in the area of Emilia Romagna in the north of Italy, than just sand and sun loungers.

The ancient area of the Rimini has more than 22 centuries of history, and over the years has become firm favourite with film directors such as Martin Scorsese and Federico Fellini.

How to get there:

Ryanair flies direct to Rimini from London Stansted and Liverpool airports. From the airport take the no 9 bus into the centre of town.

Bologna and Parma are also within easy reach of Rimini.

BA & Easyjet fly to Bologna from London Gatwick, Ryanair flies from Stansted, Gatwick & EdinburghRyanair flies to Parma from London Stansted

See the sights:

As you would expect in a city with a much history as Rimini there is plenty to see and do.

Begin in the old part of the city in the Borgo San Giuliano area which is made up of labyrinths of alleyways populated by brightly coloured houses.

Murals adorn the walls, many of which are devoted to the life and films of movie director Federico Fellini.

Every two years there is a street festival held in San Giuliano during which many of the murals are removed and replaced by new ones, painted by local artists.

The Bridge of Tiberius is an important part of the city. It was originally started during the reign of Augustus in 14AD but was not completed until 21AD under the reign of Tiberius. It marks the beginning of the Via Emilia, a road which links Rimini with Piacenza, and also links San Giuliano with the rest of the city.

Despite wars and bombings the bridge, with its five arches created from Istrain stone, has remained standing for more than 2000 years – a testament to Roman engineering. The secret is that the bridge is built on a single foundation.

Wandering through the maze of streets, they open out into a number of quintessentially Italian piazzas. One of these is the Piazza Tre Martiri. This piazza marks the position of the ancient Roman forum at the intersection of Decumanus Maxima and the Cardo Romano. The forum would have been the centre of civic life for the Latin-speaking citizens of Rimini. It is still possible to see some of the ancient ruins in the piazza.

On one side there is a statue of Julius Caesar and at the entrance to Via IV Novembre there is a stone pillar in memory of the speech Caesar made to the troops the day after they crossed the River Rubicon.

There is also a clock with a tower built in 1547 and rebuilt in 1753, designed by Giovan Francesco Buonamici, an architect from Rimini. There are two clock-faces: one is the traditional type and the other indicates days, months and lunations.

In Via IV Novembre lies the Malatesta Temple which dates back to 1450. A passionate love story lies at its origin – a love affair between Sigismondo Malatesta and Isotta Degli Atti, who first became his mistress, and then later his third wife. Sigismondo had the building work carried out (first by altering a Franciscan church and then destroying it) with the aim that it should become a mausoleum for himself and Isotta.

It has a magnificent white marble facade designed by Leon Battista Alberti – a giant in the history of architecture. Inside, the temple contains a series of side chapels housing various treasures.

However, because Sigismondo later fell into disgrace, the temple was never finished.

The City Museum is worth a visit and is a treasure trove of artefacts chronicling Rimini's history. Among the exhibits are pieces of stone once used as entrance tickets to the amphitheatre, coins from the Roman era, statuettes of Gladiators and mosaics. There are also exhibits from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance including paintings by the masters of the 14^th century Rimini school, including the famouns Pieta by Bellini.

Not far from the museum is the Arch of Augustus, probably Rimini's most famous landmark as it has appeared in numerous books, films and television shows. Dating from 27BC it is the oldest surviving Roman triumphal arch. It is 17 metres high, built of Istrian stone and was built by the express wish of Emperor Augustus. It is the main gate to the southern end of the city. Faces of Roman deities are featured on the gate. Jupiter and Apollo face away from the city and Neptune and a woman's face – symbolising Rome – face towards the city. In the centre is a bull's head which is the symbol of a city with Roman rights.

A short walk back into the city takes you to the Surgeon's House, a recently excavated site which has proved to be of interest to experts from all over the world. Once the “domus” of a doctor of greek culture, much of it was preserved in almost perfect condition, despite a fire which destroyed it in the middle of the third century. The mosaics, plaster, furniture and furnishings give a snapshot into life in ancient Rimini. A unique set of surgical and pharmaceutical equipment, including tools for amputation and dental fillings, was also discovered here, and are now on display in the City Museum, along with a reconstruction of the medical taberna.

The second of Rimini's main squares is the Piazza Cavour. The main attraction here is the Arengo Palazzo, dating back to 1204, with its swallowtail battlements and arcade. This is where matters of public government were decided. Next to it is the Palazzo del Podesta and opposite a statue of Pope Paul V from 1614. Along the shorter side of the square is the Galli Theatre which is only now being restored after being almost completely destroyed during the Second World War.

Next to the Piazza Cavour is the old 18^th century fish market. While the stone counters are no longer used to sell fish (because of the smell) on Thursday and Staurday mornings flowers are sold here, and there is a Christmas market during the festive season. But all year round the fish market is one of the centres of Rimini's nightlife. The alleyways around it are full of fashionable bars, and after dark the stone counters are populated by young people enjoying a drink.

Pass along the Via Poletti from Piazza Cavour and you will find yourself confronted by the impressive Castel Sismondo (1437). In order to build the castle an area of the city was destroyed which included the bishop's residence and a monastery. Today the fortress houses exhibitions. There is one large exhibition in winter, and a series of smaller exhibitions during the summer months.

Finish your tour of Rimini's old town with a visit to the church of St Augustine. Decorating the apse and the bell tower are frescos from the 14^th century. However for many years the frescos remained hidden and it was only after an earthquake in 1916 that they were brought to light.

From the old town take a bus or a taxi to Rimini seaside. At the heart of this area is the central promenade which came into existence in 1843, the year in which the first bathing establishment was opened. In 1872 a Kursaal was built, where people danced under the stars. That no longer exists, having been demolished after the war in 1948. In its place is now the Federico Fellini Park, a popular spot for tourists and families to walk. In the summer many concerts and events are held in the park. At the heart of the park is the Fountain of the Four Horses which is a popular meeting place. The fountain was inaugurated in 1928, then when the Kursaal was demolished after the war it was dismantled and renovated and put back in place in 1983.

Just a stone's throw from the park is the magnificent Grand Hotel where Federico Fellini permanently kept a suite.

Finish your tour of Rimini by meander along the promenade to the new harbour. It has an elevated walkway, 1300 metres long, which leads to a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the sea.

Where to eat:

One of the region's specialities is Piadina, a type of flatbread often eating with various filling. And one of the best places to try it is Nud e Crud – which when translated isn't nearly as rude as it sounds. Loosley translated it means raw and simple. Here you can feast on piadinas stuffed with fillings such as sausage, potato and cheese and tomato, as well as plates full of delicious Italian meats and cheeses. The restaurant prides itself on using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.

(www.nudecrud.it)

Nettuno bar and restaurant has an excellent location overlooking the sea. Bag a seat on the outside terrace for the best views while enjoying a drink or tucking in to one of the restaurant's seafood specialities.

(www.ristorantenettunorimini.it)

Where to stay:

With around 1,200 hotels to choose from there's plenty of options when it comes to finding somewhere to stay in Rimini.

For the ultimate luxury take a room Federico Fellini's favourite hotel The Grand Hotel close to the seafront (www.grandhotelrimini.com). Every room is tastefully decorated with antiques.

Hotel duoMo is a modern hotel in the middle of the old town. There are 34 rooms and 9 suites which all have an avant-garde design and are filled with the latest technology. (www.duomohotel.com)

The I Suite is an all suite hotel. Simoni Micheli designed the interior of the hotel, right down to the taps and soap dispensers. There is a large heated swimming pool which begins inside the hotel and stretches outside. (www.i-suite.it)

If you want a sea view then try Hotel Le Meridien Rimini. Its unusual sea-shell shape means that 80 per cent of the 109 rooms have views over the ocean. (www.lemeridienrimini.com)

For more information on Rimini and the surrounding area visit www.riviera.rimini.it and www.riminiturismo.it

My year in pictures

2011-12-31T13:19:00.000+00:00

Over the past 12 months I have been lucky enough to travel to all kinds of wonderful locations, both in the UK and abroad. This is my year in pictures.

St Lucia

A view over the ocean from my room at Rex by Royal

Horse riding in the Atlantic

Zip wire through the rainforest

A little piece of paradise

Cologne

Cologne Cathedral

Lovers put padlocks on this bridge in Cologne

Excelsior Hotel Ernst

The bedroom in our luxurious suite

Handmade truffles in a wide variety of flavours are served after meals at the Excelsior Hotel Ernst

Rookery Manor, near Burnham-on-Sea

Rookery Manor - a rural retreat

The four poster bed in our suite

Rookery Manor gardens

The spa at Rookery Manor opened this year

Mill End Hotel, Dartmoor

A beautiful, restful room in this country hotel

The dining room was softly lit and intimate

A heron in the woods close to the hotel

Views over Dartmoor

Cyprus

Library Hotel in Kalavsos, part of the agrotourism scheme

My room at the Library Hotel

The vineyards of Tsiakkas winery

The barrels where the wonderful Cyprus wine is stored

A magnificent waterfall - part of the Kaledonia nature trail

Entertainment at a traditional taverna

An old olive press

Ancient ruins

Enjoying mezze

Old photogrpahs adorn the walls of Lania village

Delicious halloumi cheese

Hotel 41 and the Ice Bar, London

The bedroom in our suite at Hotel 41 - one of my favourite ever hotel rooms

Dining room in the suite at Hotel 41

Snacks are available for guests to enjoy in the lounge at Hotel 41

Chilling out in the Ice Bar

Miami

Miami beach

The restaurant terrace at Loews Beach hotel

My room at Loews Beach hotel

Dune restaurant at Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne

Florida's only tequilier at Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne

Miami Culinary Institute

Lincoln Road

Miami's art deco district

View from Mandarin Oriental Miami

The pool at Mandarin Oriental Miami

Rolling Cuban cigars in Little Havana

Chef Jonathan Eismann holds pizza making classes

Miami by night

White Heron Properties and Westons Cider, Herefordshire

WHite Heron Properties in Herefordshire offer luxurious self-catering accommodation

The living area in White Heron Properties' The Forge

Cider barrels at Westons Cider

Westons Cider

Dorset Seafood Festival

A fish filleting demonstration at Dorset Seafood Festival

Weymouth - where the Dorset Seafood Festival was held

Richard Bertinet of Bertinet Kitchen, Bath gives a cookery demonstration

Twitrip around Bath

Twitter followers told me to take an open top bus tour

The Roman Baths

The Royal Crescent

Masterchef winner Tim Anderson was one of the Twiptrippers

Tampere, Finland

The old Finlayson Mill in Tampere has been converted in museums, bars and restaurants

The organ at Tampere Cathedral

Fishing on the lake

Take a sauna then swim in the lakes

A view of Tampere from the observation tower and restaurant

Crayfish parties are a fun way to spend an evening

The Finnish Labour Museum

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Savoy Hotel

An idyllic beach

Bedouin and his camel

A mosque

Some beautiful spices on display

Guernsey

There are many beautiful views on Guernsey

The little chapel

An Anthony Gormley statue on the island of Hern

Blue skies and stunning beaches

Victor Hugo's house

An old German underground hospital

10, Manchester Street, London

10 Manchester Street is a lovely boutique hotel

My suite was luxurious and spacious

And full of the latest technology

Emilia Romagna, Italy

Verruchio is a charming town

Some of the white truffle products on sale at the White Truffle Fair at Sant'Agata Feltria

The fortress of San Leo

Truffle hunting

Piazza Tre Martiri in Rimini

Tiberius Bridge in Rimini

The Arch of Augustus - the ancient entry to Rimini

Rimini's new harbour

Sun sets over the beach

Andaz Liverpool Street, London

The bedroom of our suite at the Andaz

The styling is cool and contemporary

Little touches make the stay extra special

The famous Gherkin is just a short walk from the Andaz

......as is Leadenhall Market

Rome

My room at Boscolo Palace Roma

Trevi Fountain

Rome by night

Castel San Angelo

The Colosseum

St Peter's Square

The map room in the Vatican

Madeira

Madeira coastline

An art project in Funchal has decdorated the walls in the old fishing district

A cable car will take you to the top of the hill

The bay of Funchal

Dusk falls

Chef Benoit Sinthon of Il Gallo d'Oro at the Cliff Bay hotel is the only chef on Madeira to hold a Michelin star

Sun sets over the sea

View fromt he cable car as it rises above Funchal

Take a ride in a wicker toboggan through the narrow streets

Levada walk

The rocks form a natural swimming pool

View of the Pestana Grand resort

Afternoon tea at Reid's Palaca

Grosvenor House hotel and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London

Grosvenor House Hotel

The stylish living area in our suite

The bed was exceptionally comfortable

View over Hyde Park at night

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

The outdoor skating rink at the Winter Wonderland

Get hi-tech at Eccleston Square

2011-12-30T17:43:00.000+00:00

Eccleston Square is a hotel that you can take your boyfriend/husband to and be sure that he won't complain.

The only thing is that there's so many gadgets that you might not be able to get him to leave the room.

But at least that leaves time to make the most of London's shopping opportunities so it's not all bad. And the chances are that he'll be so engrossed in the hi-tech toys when you return that he won't even notice how many bags you're carrying either – bonus!

The gadgetry is this recently opened hotel's USP – it claims to be Europe's most hi-tech hotel, and frankly I'm not going to disagree.

The rooms are equipped with just about every piece of technological wizadry you can think of.

There are LED TVs complete with complimentary 3D channels (and the accompanying glasses of course) as well as fingertip control pads for every possible function, from opening the curtains, to changing the channel on the TV.

The stylish marble bathrooms not only have a TV built into the heated, steam-proof mirrors and top of the range showers with high-pressure massage heads but also smart glass walls which preserve your modesty by turning opaque at the touch of the button.

And as if that wasn't enough every room also has its own iPad2 which can manage every aspect of your stay from ordering room service to booking a Boris bike to explore the streets of London.

Even the beds haven't escaped the technology fairy's wand.

Billed as the “world's best beds,” sourced from the acclaimed Swedish manufacturers Hastens and costing £12,000 they are far more than simply a place to rest your weary head.

They are electronically adjustable at a touch and feature relaxing massage programmes that synchronize with the inspired Hästen’s Mind Spa TV while relaxation or fitness menus coordinate with massage, light and music sequences.

Yes, when it comes to technology Eccleston Square has certainly pushed the boat out.

But that doesn't mean that it is lacking in soul or character. Far from it in fact.

From the outside the hotel, just a short walk from Victoria tube and bus stations, blends seamlessly with the other late-Georgian houses on the square – the only tell-tale sign of the hotel's existence being a subtle sign on pillar by the door.

Nothing about the elegant, period exterior suggests just what is hidden inside.

Walking through the door, the monochrome décor and sleek lines are right on-trend, but without being so uber-chic it is intimidating to all but the coolest of cats.

And somehow the interior design also manages not to completely overshadow the history and character of the building.

With just 39 rooms (there are five categories of room but no suites) Eccleston Square never feels overwhelming. And despite all the technology the rooms still manage to feel cosy and welcoming – there's clearly been a woman involved somewhere.

It may be difficult to drag yourself from the caresses of the bed, and even more of a challenge to extract the other half from the selection of 007-esque toys he wishes you had at home, but if you do manage it, Eccleston Square is in an enviable location for exploring London.

On the border of Belgravia and Victoria there are plenty of parks and gardens on the doorstep (in fact, guests at Eccleston Square have use of the square's private garden), there are practically Royal neighbours with Buckingham Palace just around the corner, two top musicals – Wicked and Billy Elliot – are playing in theatres down the road, and the proximity to Victoria means that just about anywhere you would want to go is a simple tube ride away.

Rooms at the Eccleston Square cost from £275 a night.

For more details visit www.ecclestonsquarehotel.com.

Saunas and swimming - discovering the Finnish lifestyle

2011-09-21T23:42:00.000+01:00

There was only one way to do it – to plunge myself into the water in one swift action. I knew that if I was to enter slowly, gently dipping in one toe at a time, gradually lowering myself into the clear waters of the lake, it would never happen.

It was so cold it took by breath away. After the thick, steamy heat of the sauna the contrast was extreme, a real shock to the system. And this was on a warm, sunny day. How the Finns did it when the lake was sealed by a thick layer of ice was beyond me. This was plenty chilly enough thank you.

In the first initial moments, as I gasped for air, frantically treading water as my body adjusted to the sudden change in temperature it was difficult to imagine how this could possibly be good for my health. But the Finnish women in the lake with me, faintly amused by my reaction, assured me that I would soon feel the benefits. And as I grew accustomed to the temperature, and my breathing slowed to a normal rate I began to see what they meant. The water seemed to have washed away the effects of the long days and late nights of the previous weeks. I felt refreshed, alert, and more awake than I had done in a long time.

The lake stretched ahead into the distance. And even though we were really only a few miles from the city of Tampere, it felt as if it were another world. The air tasted clean, slightly scented by the tress that surrounded the water. Just breathing it made me feel as if I was cleansing my lungs of the inevitable pollution of city living. I didn't just feel like I was surrounded by nature, as I floated in the lake I felt part of it.

Suddenly it was easy to see why the sauna ritual is such a key part of the Finnish culture.

While in the UK having a sauna in your home might seem like the ultimate indulgence, almost all the homes in Finland have one – even small apartments. Most Finns will take a sauna two or three times a week at home, as well as making regular trips to the numerous lakeside saunas to get the full experience. And anyone visiting Finland who wants to experience a real part of the Finnish lifestyle should take the chance to try it. And if the lake experience seems a bit too much, or a bit too cold, then there are plenty of spas and health clubs which will offer saunas and plunge pools without the al fresco element.

But beware, it's not for the bashful. In many places wearing swimsuits in the saunas is banned and the only way to go is au naturel, but others will allow guests to share their blushes and cover up.

But the saunas are not the only thing the Tampere region has to offer.

You've probably never heard of Tampere. Most people haven't.

In fact, ask most people to name any city in Finland other than Helsinki and they will be lost for words.

But Tampere is city with a lot to offer, from culture and history, to fantastic Finnish food and beautiful countryside.

Because of its industrial past Tampere is often referred to as the Manchester of Finland, but that description sells the city rather short. It has a character all its own and deserves to be known for its own attributes.

Tampere may be Finland's third biggest city, but with just over 210,000 inhabitants it is relatively small.

But the small size of Tampere city only adds to its appeal. The main street is just 1km long, and the city is easily explored on foot. In fact, driving around the city centre is to be avoided as the network of one-way streets makes travelling by car a somewhat baffling experience, and forces journeys to be considerably longer than necessary.

The city was originally founded in 1779 by the young Swedish monarch Gustavus III, but it was in around 1819, with the arrival of the Scottish engineer and entrepreneur James Finlayson that the city really began to grow.

Inspired by the rivers flowing through Tampere which gave the city its name, Finlayson decided to make Tampere an industrial centre and set about building factories. The first was completed in 1823, and initially produced machinery suitable for the textile industry, but the factories later switched from machine manufacture to cotton milling.

He later sold the cotton mill to a Russian family, and it became the biggest industrial enterprise in Scandinavia, almost becoming a city within a city with it's own schools, police force and even currency.

The factory ceased operation in the 1970s, and now the Finlayson area is one of Tampere's most attractive features.

Instead of industry, the red brick buildings now house a leisure complex with a cinema, museums and bars and restaurants.

Worth a visit is the spy museum which is full of all kinds of James Bond-worthy gadgets and even gives you the chance to test your own spy skills, and the Finnish Labour Museum which tells the story of Tampere's industrial history and houses an enormous steam engine and flywheel.

Or for something a bit more relaxed have a bite to eat at Plevna, a former part of the mill which once held the first electric lightbulb in the Nordic countries. Now it is a brewery and restaurant which dishes up hearty, authentic Finnish fare accompanied by beers produced on the premises.

Outside the historic Finlayson area, the slightly Soviet-esque architecture may not be quite so pretty, but there is no doubt that the water flowing throughout the city centre adds a sense of romance, and there are plenty of small side streets to explore.

Although Tampere has been touched by Western influences, with the obligatory McDonalds, as well as a smattering of other chain stores, there are plenty of Finnish brands around, and the streets are a far cry from the identikit shopping areas found in many European cities.

For a romantic evening there's really only one place to go – the revolving restaurant in the Näsinneula Observation Tower in the Särkänniemi adventure park.

There you can enjoy just about the best example of Finnish fine dining that Tampere has to offer, while taking in an ever changing panoramic view of the city and the lakes and countryside beyond.

Tampere may not be an obvious choice for a holiday, but with its charming historic city centre and the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside, it is the perfect location to discover the real Finland.

Emma recommends:

Getting there – Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) operates four weekly flights to Tampere from London Stansted and three weekly flights from Edinburgh.

The Stansted Express runs from London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport. For more information and the best value fares please log on to www.stanstedexpress.com

Start your journey in style with the No 1 Traveller lounge.

The lounge offer complimentary food and drinks, waiter service, Wi-Fi and desktop internet access and staff are able to print, fax and scan documents on request. And each lounge is stocked daily with a range of international newspapers and magazines .

There is a No 1 Traveller Lounge at Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow airports.

No 1 Traveller also offers a complete driveway to runway package with chauffeur driven transfers in sleek a sleek Mercedes.

For frequent travellers No 1 Traveller also runs a loyalty card offering a range of discounts.

For more details and prices call 08442 64 64 40 or visit www.No1Traveller.com.

Where to stay -

The Sokos Hotel, Ilves in Tampere has doubles from €108. Please visit www.sokoshotels.fi for more information or to book. A city centre hotel with great views across the city from the higher floors.

Yellow Country House B & B, www.keltainentalo.fi/?sivu=inenglish A quaint little bed and breakfast in the countryside. There are two charming rooms, a small cafe serving homemade goddies and a shop selling local crafts. Stay a night or two or just pay a visit as part of a day out in the countryside.

What to visit –

Spy Museum http://www.vakoilumuseo.fi/englanti/index.htm. Here you can test your spy skills and come away with a diploma.

Vehoniemi Automobile museum http://www.automuseo.com/index.php?p=nayttely This museum is just outside Tampere city centre. There is a collection of vintage cars, all of which are roadworthy and a cafe which is famed for its homemade doughuts and white chocolate cake.

Iitala glass factory www.iittala.com Iittala is a famous brand of Finnish glass design ware. Here you can visit a museum showing the history of the brand, watch the glass blowers at work and visit an outlet store with Iittala products at bargain prices.

Visavuori the museum of the life and works of sculptor Emil Wikström (18641942)

and his grandson, cartoonist Kari Suomalainen (19201999). http://www.visavuori.com/english/museo.html

See the works of famous Finnish sculptor Emil Wilkstrom which are housed in an unusual building which he had built and designed especially. You can also visit the house where he lived with his wife, and see the clever way his wife used to keep an eye on the maids to make sure they were not having any male visitors.

Tallipiha Old Stable Yards http://www.tallipiha.fi/frontpage.html The old stable block of the Finlayson Palace now houses a collection of boutique stores stocking unusual products made by Finnish carftsmen and women.

Finnish Labour Museum Werstas http://www.tyovaenmuseo.fi/?q=en. See the hsitory of Tampere's textile industry as well as the huge steam engine and fly wheel.

Holiday Club Tampere Spa www.holidayclubresorts.com/resorts/tampereenkylpyla/ This is an ideal place for a bit of rest and relaxation with saunas, steam room, pool with jacuzzi, mineral pool and massage jets. No place for shyness here though. Swimwear in the saunas and steam room is strictly forbidden.

Where to eat:

Näsinneula Observation Tower

http://www.sarkanniemi.fi/www/ravintola/index.php?lang=en. Fine dining and stunning views across the city.

Restaurant Elsa http://www.ravintolaelsa.fi/. Casual dining with authentic Finnish cuisine.

Astor http://www.ravintolaastor.fi/en/ A relaxed restaurant in the centre of Tampere serving Finnish classics such as reindeer and cloudberries.

The Grill http://www.grill.fi/. A great spot for lunch in the city centre, There is space for al fresco dining if the weather is fine.

Brewery Restaurant Plevna http://www.plevna.fi/index_e.php Hearty, traditional Finnish specialities and a wide range of beer brewed on the premises. This is part of the old Finlayson cotton mill.

Tillikka http://kippis.fi/ravintola/tillikka. A smart city centre restaurant with a bar downstairs. Varied menu with especially delicious steaks.

For more information:

For more information on Tampere, please visit http://www.visittampere.fi/

For more information on Finland, please visit www.visitfinland.com/uk

A little piece of heaven at Miami's Mandarin Oriental

2011-08-29T09:00:00.000+01:00

Stepping through the doors of the Mandarin Oriental Miami I was immediately surrounded by an air of calm and serenity.

The scent of sweet oriental spices filled the cool lobby as music gently played in the background. Through the huge windows, stretching from floor to ceiling, a magnificent view of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline opened out in front of me.

It was an urban oasis, a welcome refuge from the stifling humidity and fierce heat of the midday Miami sun.

If there's one thing the architects behind the Mandarin Oriental brand know how to do, it's how to create a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere.

Upstairs in my room the vibe was equally as tranquil and the view just as stunning.

Contemporary touches from South Florida combine with elegant Asian touches to create a style that is effortlessly sophisticated and luxurious.

The large bed, laden with soft, fluffy pillows, was just begging me to lay down, and the deep bathtub in the marble bathroom was just calling me to fill it with bubbles.

Equipped with flat screen television, DVD player, iPod dock there was plenty to keep me entertained if I had chosen to stay inside.

But with a view like that the television was no draw, and the thought of the cool water waiting in the swimming pool was more than enough reason to go outside.

I was not disappointed.

I lay down, next to the mirror calm infinity pool, letting the sun soak into my skin, but it was only a few minutes before the temptation of the waiting water proved too much. Swimming to the edge I almost felt as if I could drop into the ocean.

Perched on Brickell Key, a 44-acre island in Biscayne Bay considered one of Miami’s most prestigious commercial and residential locations, the hotel seems to be almost surrounded by water, something which only adds to the sense of being detached from the real-world and instead transported into some kind of heavenly alternate universe.

Despite being on an island there is no natural beach at Brickell Key. Not that that matters,

because on the edge of the perfectly manicured hotel grounds has been created a private beach, exclusively for hotel guests, complete with golden sand brightly coloured cushioned day beds and spa cabanas. Laying there you could easily forget that a vibrant, happening city, is buzzing just a stone's throw away.

Later that evening I visited the hotel's M Bar, this time enjoying the view of the skyline illuminated by thousands of lights.

With more than 250 martinis on the menu I found it slightly overwhelming, but the staff are as attentive as everywhere else in the hotel and are eager to help and offer suggestions based on your flavour preferences.

They were so good at selecting just the right cocktail that by the end of my stay I had given up even looking at the menu, choosing instead to just to leave it to them.

The Mandarin's restaurant, Azul, is something really quite exceptional – the menu just as luxurious and opulent as everything else in the hotel with dishes such as Silver and Gold Egg with Italian caviar, and a raw bar serving up perfectly prepared, succulent oysters.

Chef Joel Huff is at the helm of Azul. His diverse cuisine is a blend of modern European flavours with American and Asian influences.

The result is an exciting menu, which changes regularly to make the most of the best seasonal produce money can buy.

And although the restaurant boasts the same fantastic views as elsewhere in the hotel, the food is so visually stunning, and equally delicious, that it demands your complete attention.

Everything at the Mandarin Oriental Miami is all about the luxury and making you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

It's a real retreat from every day life and I could happily have stayed there forever.

For the ultimate Miami beach break - go to Loews

2011-08-28T14:12:00.000+01:00

The Loews Miami Beach Hotel is easily recognisable on the Miami beach skyline.

Rising just above the other Art deco buildings its distinctive wedding-cake style design is visible from all directions. It is a hotel with style.

Inside, the 790 guest rooms are bright and comfortable, designed to reflect the Art Deco South Beach vibe but with modern touches.

The glass doors opening on to the balcony let the Miami sun stream in, and offer sweeping views of South Beach or the Atlantic Ocean.

It is a view I could never tire of. When the sun shines in Miami it somehow seems brighter than anywhere else. Maybe it's because of the bright white art deco buildings stretching along the shore line, reflecting the sunlight and bathing the area in a shimmering glow.

Sitting enjoying an early morning cup of coffee, or a late night cocktail, the sight of Miami Beach lit up either by the sunshine or by the millions of light bulbs that twinkle from the buildings as night falls with the sound of the waves crashing in the background is unfailingly mesmerising.

Yes, Loews Miami Beach Hotel gives you exactly what you want from a South Beach hotel.

And it truly is a beach front hotel. Beyond the pool and gardens there is direct access on to the golden sands where the beautiful people play from early in the morning until late into the evening.

Miami may have a reputation for being a party city, but the Loews is much more about chilling out and relaxing – an oasis from the hedonism of South Beach.

Whether you want an intimate break with a loved one or a fun family vacation everyone is welcome at Loews Beach – even pets.

There are little touches at Loews Beach which will make your stay that little bit more special.

For example, every hour there is the opportunity for a little poolside pamper, when staff walk around with a little treat – maybe a cool towel, a refreshing smoothie or cup of coconut water or a refreshing Evian mist.

There are plenty of options to eat and drink at the hotel including Preston's Brasserie, SoBe Sushi, with one of only eight Master Sushi Chefs in the US, the Nautilus Bar and Grill for relaxed day time dining, SoBe Coffee Bar for a quick caffeine fix, or for a treat there is the SoBe scopps ice cream and candy shop.

Preston's is the hotel's main restaurant and dishes up breakfast, lunch and dinner.

With its views over the ocean, bag a table on the terrace if you can.

My first morning in Miami I feasted on a Florida lobster omelette (an excellent recommendation by the waitress) washed down with sweet, freshly squeezed orange juice. As I sat and ate, feeling the warm sun beating down on my pale English skin and watching the rays sparkle and dance over the turquoise ocean, it honestly felt as if life couldn't get much better.

The menu is infused with South American and tropical flavours with an American twist.

Executive Chef Frederic Delaire and Chef de Cuisine Jason Prevatt draw on the experience and backgrounds of all the chefs who come from across the world.

For me, some of the stand out dishes were the Diver Scallops Papardelle – huge, sweet scallops drenched in roasted lobster cream with crab and sitting on a bed of freshly made pasta, American Kobe Yakitori, truffle polenta fries and the dessert tapas tower which is a decadent selection of sweet delights such as warm apple crisp, crème brulee and peanut butter oreo.

If you can drag yourself away from the comforts of the hotel, some of the best that South Beach has to offer is right on the doorstep. The shops, bars and restaurants of Lincoln Avenue are just a short walk away as well as the iconic Ocean Drive.

And if you need any advice the unfailingly friendly staff are only too happy to help.

For the ultimate Miami Beach break, Loews is the place to go.

Fancy a beer? Visit Mister Collins

2011-08-28T09:00:00.000+01:00

Fancy food is all very well, but sometimes all you want is a beer and a burger.

But there's nothing to say that simple food can't be done well – or that you can't have a beer picked especially to match it.

Mister Collins

And one Miami restaurant is proving just that.

Mister Collins restaurant opened at the One Bal Harbour Resort and Spa in June offering home-style American cooking with a focus on fresh, local, high quality ingredients, prepared to perfection.

The bar at Mister Collins

And as well as an extensive wine list, the bar can also serve up a range of craft beers and, if you ask nicely, the friendly staff will help you pick out a beer to enhance the flavours of your selection.

This restaurant really knows how to hit the spot when what you crave are the American classics.

Kick off your meal with some freshly baked soft pretzels with a duo of home-made mustard and NY sharp Cheddar sauce paired with the Native Lager from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It may be brewed in Florida but the malts, hops and yeast are all German, and the result is a smooth tasting golden lager.

I loved the Ahi chopped salad. The lightly spiced tuna mixed with Napa and savoy cabbages, chopped fruits, vegetables and lemon miso dressing was light and zingy and the Avery White Rascal from Boulder, Colorado, was a perfect match.

This is a Belgian style “white” ale spiced with hints of coriander and Curacao orange peel, flavours which picked up the delicate flavours in the salad.

If you're craving a burger, then the house-made cheeseburger is a treat, and the accompanying ketchup, also house-made, with its chipotle flavours is something a bit special.

But for me, it had to be the prime New York Strip Steak with crab mac and cheese. The steak is expertly seasoned and the creamy cheese sauce, littered with juicy lumps of sweet crab meat was the ultimate in comfort food. It is like a hug on a plate.

Whether you choose the burger or the steak, try the Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale brewed in Lyons, Colorado.

Brewed with hefty amounts of European malts and four kinds of American hops, it is richer and heavier than the Avery White Rascal, with a more malty taste.

Chocolate Smores Cake

And if you can squeeze in another mouthful, the 99% peanut butter pie, or the Chocolate Smores Cake are both delicious and for me embody the taste of America.

A Left Hand Milk Stout from Longmont, Colorado is paired with both of these. Dark and almost creamy it is blows away preconceived ideas about stout.

The food alone is enough of a reason to visit Mister Collins, but it also has an enviable location on the seafront.

The ocean view terrace

The newly renovated restaurant is sleek and cosy, but for the best view dine on the outdoor patio.

From here you can enjoy the sight and sounds of the waves of the Atlantic crashing on the shore, while indulging in the ultimate comfort food.

Mister Collins is located at One Bal Harbour Resort and Spa, 10275 Collins Avenue, Miami.

For more information about Mister Collins and One Bal Harbour Resort and Spa visit www.mistercollins.com or www.oneluxuryhotels.com.

Ever been on a TwiTrip?

2011-08-27T11:01:00.000+01:00

Have you heard of a Twitrip?

I'm a bit of Twitter-addict but I must confess that until last week I had never heard of it.

But this week that all changed, not only do I now know exactly what a Twitrip is, but I've done one.

A Twitrip, I discovered is a trip where you are guided around a city, based purely on suggestions given to you via Twitter.

The Royal Crescent in Bath

A bit of research has shown that Guardian travel-writer Benji Lanyado has done more than a few Twitrips, discovering cities across the world through the power of social media, and I have used Twitter to ask for suggestions of places to go before some of my travels, but this was a bit different.

Organised by Bath Tourism Plus and PR firm Electric Suitcase, eight intrepid travellers, bloggers, social media junkies, foodies and students – including Masterchef winner Tim Anderson – were let loose in Bath for a day, to take part in a group Twitrip.

Everyone was looking to get something different out of the day. Tim was looking to find some of the best local produce the city has to offer so that at the end of the day he could prepare some canapes for his fellow Twitrippers, others were looking for beer, some were shopping, and I decided that I would take a look at the city where I live through the eyes of a tourist.

I thought that I knew Bath pretty well, but I have never done many of the traditional tourist activities.

So, armed with my phone, and a map I put myself at the mercy of tweeters, asking for suggestions of the best way to discover the city.

I was surprised how willing complete strangers were to jump on board with the idea, and suggestions started flooding in.

I had tip for where to get the best breakfast, which took me to a cafe, just around the corner from my flat, that I had never visited before.

Seeing Bath by bus gave a new perspective

I took an open top bus tour, and saw the city from a new perspective, noticing things I had never seen before and finding out fascinating snippets of history.

The Roman Baths

Another suggestion was to visit the Roman Baths, after which the city is named. Although they are in the centre of the city and I pass them every day I hadn't actually taken a tour around them since a school trip many, many years ago. The exhibitions had changed a lot since then and Bill Bryson's audio tour offered some interesting insights.

There were many suggestions for lunch spots – it turns out that food is definitely an important part of many people's live – not just mine – which was encouraging to know!

After several hours of pounding the pavements and climbing hills, it was a relief when someone suggested a visit to Thermae Bath Spa. I must confess that this is somewhere I had visited recently

Cocktails at Door 34

but I had to follow the suggestions and I was not disappointed when I was directed to spend a couple of hours relaxing in the spring water, followed by cocktails at Door 34.

At the end of the day all the Twitrippers gathered in the gorgeous Royal Crescent Hotel for a reception where we were presented with Tim's creations made from the local goodies he had discovered throughout the day.

We feasted on Somerset cheese stacks (Tim became a big fan of Paxton's Cheese shop while in Bath), Bath Pig chorizo in cider mole (I was thrilled that he had found the Bath Pig – their chorizo is one of my favourite foods ever!) and grouse pate accompanied by bread that Tim had made earlier that day in the Bertinet Kitchen under the direction of the unfailingly charming Richard Bertinet, all washed down with drinks supplied by local producers Great Western Wines and Bath Ales.

Masterchef winner and Bath TwiTripper Tim Anderson

Tim spoke about how in his home country of America, and in Japan where he had also lived, there was a real pride in locally produced food, and how that was often missing in the UK, but how pleased he had been to see that pride in Bath.

I think that the whole day showed just how proud the community of their city – not just the food, but everything it has to offer.

More than 1,000 tweets were sent during the day with #BathTwiTrip from people across the city, and those who had visited in the past and had fond memories of the city.

Beautiful Bath

Spending the day looking at Bath from a tourist's perspective really did open my eyes to what a beautiful city I live in.

Seeing it every day I feel that I have become complacent, but Bath truly is a stunning place, and the fact that the people who live here care about it so much makes it even more special.

I am very lucky.

The participants of the Bath Twitrip were:

@Vikingtweats
@UniofBath
@Luxeguru
@MarkDredge
@KaveyF
@TheTravelEditor
@EmmaCDance
@WeLoveBath
@ClaireNDodd

@WeLove Bath

Love Food Festival - the perfect excuse to visit Bath

2011-08-17T11:16:00.001+01:00

There's an extra excuse to visit Bath next month.

Dyrham House

The Love Food Festival will be coming to the stunning grounds of the National Trust's Dyrham Park, just a few miles out of the stunning Georgian city, on September 11.

Love Food was founded by Lorna Knapman in 2008 with the aim of making top quality local food and drink available to the community as well as bringing children (and adults) out into the countryside learning about how and where our food should come from, how to grow and cook their own food and generally try to spark an interest in the topic through various mediums including hands on experience, tasting, art, movement and storytelling.

Lorna won the Princes Trust ‘Enterprise of the year award’ for Love Food Festival and her work has been celebrated by the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street as a community hero, by Prince Charles at St James Palace as an exceptional ambassador and has gained support from celebratory chefs such as Rick Stein and Arthur Potts Dawson.

The venture began in Bristol, but now Lorna is keen to spread the word further and the Bath area is her next target.

Which is why, on September 11, between 10am and 4.30pm, the grounds of Dyrham Park will be filled with more than 30 producers selling a wide range of delicious goods including venison from the Dyrham estate, fresh bread, local fruit and vegetables, artisan cheese, charcuterie, jam, cakes, honey, cream and much more.

Cookery demonstrations from some superb chefs will show how to make the best of all the fantastic produce available in the market.

There will also be seasonal children’s activites, music, nature walks, story telling and a picnic area with street food, barbecue and a cafe and entry to the market will be free.

Lorna said: “I’m delighted to be working with the National Trust on this exciting project. I’m a huge fan of the work they do and Dyrham is absolutely stunning.”

I very much hope that people will make the effort to make the trip out to Dyrham Park.

I really feel that it's important to support local food producers. Not only is the food they sell almost certainly infinitely more tasty than that which you buy from the supermarket, but you can also find exactly what is in it and how it is made - you can find out for sure if the the vegetables really are organic or if the animals have been well looked after before being butchered and it's genuinely interesting to talk to producers about the goods because they have a real passion for them and their enthusiasm invariably shines through.

And, in a world where global warming and environmental affairs are becoming increasingly important, I think that it's important to buy local whenever possible to keep the food miles down.

Cath Pye, Operations Manager at Dyrham states “We are really excited to be working with Love Food at Dyrham Park. The National Trust shares the vision of the festival to get people out into the countryside to learn where our food comes from. It is great to be able to support an initiative which we hope will grow to be an important local event.”

The festival is the perfect excuse for a day out enjoying not only some delicious food, but also all the delights that the National Trust Property has to offer.

Dyrham Park is a treasure to enjoy; set in a dramatic deer park on the edge of the stunning Cotswold escarpment, near the World Heritage Site City of Bath. Discover the beautiful late 17th-century home of William Blathwayt, a hard-working civil servant who thrived during the political upheaval of three monarchs. Explore how fashions changed over the centuries, from the original 17th-century Dutch-inspired interiors and formal gardens, to the very different style of Victorian country squire Colonel Blathwayt. The elegant garden is a more recent restoration, recreating the spirit of what had been lost.

It sounds like a foodie paradise and I can't wait!

For more information visit www.lovefoodfestival.com.

Pizza making with top Miami chef Jonathan Eismann

2011-08-16T09:55:00.000+01:00

It's not often you get the chance to meet an award winning chef, let alone have a cookery lesson with one.

Chef Jonathan Eismann

But Jonathan Eismann, one of Florida's best known chefs, and the man credited with kick-starting Miami's restaurant culture back in the early 90s with his restaurant Pacific Time, takes time out of his busy schedule to give pizza making lessons at one of his latest projects, the Italian-American inspired trattoria, Spartico.

And his secrets are well worth knowing – after all, this is the chef who won the accolade on Best Pizza in Miami in 2010.

Spartico

Chef Eismann is the Consulting Chef at Spartico which opened late last year in the Mayfair Hotel in the swanky neighbourhood of Coconut Grove in Miami.

So while he is not permanently based at the restaurant, he designed the menu and works with the chefs to make sure every dish that is produced is up to scratch.

And now and then he works with members of the public, at special pizza making classes held in the restaurant, sharing his tips on how to make the perfect pizza.

In reality, the classes are as much about meeting Chef Eismann and socialising as learning to cook, which means that anyone can do it, regardless of your culinary skill.

Everyone gathers round a table laden with a selection of pizza toppings and is given a ball of dough – and Chef Eismann then demonstrates how to turn the ball of dough into the perfect pizza base – which, as it turns out, is much tougher than it looks.

I like to think I'm a pretty competent cook, but mastering that ball of dough proved to be almost completely beyond me.

Fortunately Chef Eismann is patient and he, along with one of the Spartico chefs, is on hand to help rescue the misshapen bases from the brink of disaster, while also taking the time to chat to all the participants.

I hope that he remembers me for being the only person he has ever met who has eaten haggis, rather then the mess I made of making my pizza base!

Chef Eismann checks the pizzas

Once everyone's bases were ready it was time to add the toppings. We had the option of making either a Margherita (traditional cheese and tomato), or a Pizza Bianca (a pizza made without tomato sauce and topped with a mixture of cheeses and arugula, otherwise known as rocket leaves).

Being something of a cheese freak I opted to create a Pizza Bianca and took great delight in assembling it with more cheese than was probably recommended.

Once everyone had finished their creations they were all taken down to the restaurant's wood fired pizza oven to cook.

Chef Eismann explained that the benefit of a wood oven is that it acts as a natural convection oven, whereas a coal oven only heats from the bottom.

While our pizzas baked we tucked into some of Spartico's delicious appetisers while getting to know each other.

Me and my masterpiece

Then came the best bit – the chance to taste our pizzas. And I am pleased to say that mine was a resounding success – but then with that much cheese it was never going to be too bad!

The class was a really fun way to spend an afternoon, and even though it isn't really all about the cooking, it's a privilege to get to meet a chef of Chef Eismann's calibre and to get some tips from him.

A class with Jonathan Eismann at Spartico costs $50 and includes a meal, drinks and a Spartico apron to take home.

For more details on Spartico and to find out more about the classes visit www.mayfairhotelandspa.com/dining or www.sparticorestaurant.com.

Taking the stress out of early morning flights

2011-08-11T15:27:00.000+01:00

Everyone loves going on a holiday.

But for those of us who don't live in London travelling much further than a short hop to Europe will almost inevitably mean that even the most lavish of holiday plans is preceded by the distinctly unglamorous journey to Heathrow or Gatwick.

Somehow this always seems to mean waking at some ungodly hour of the morning and spending vast amounts of money on coffee at motorway service stations and/or the airport in an attempt to stay awake so that by the time you arrive at your destination you are exhausted and the first 24 hours is spent catching up on sleep instead of enjoying yourself.

But there is a way to at least partly deal with this.

The atrium at Hilton Gatwick Airport

The wonder of the airport hotel. You may not get beautiful views, but the luxury of spending the night before your hotel relaxing with a good meal and a couple of drinks, safe in the knowledge that in the morning the only journey to make is a few minutes walk to the terminal, really can alleviate so much stress.

I spent the night before a long-haul flight in the Hilton Hotel at Gatwick and it was amazing how much difference the extra few hours of sleep made, and instead of arriving at the airport already exhausted from very little sleep and the long journey I felt rested and relaxed and there was not an espresso in sight.

At room at the Gatwick Hilton

The Hilton is the only hotel with direct access to the South Terminal, and it is just a three minute walk, all under cover, to the terminal itself, so even if the weather is typically British when you set off, you can still dress for your destination, safe in the knowledge that there is no need to brave the elements.

The hotel boasts, two restaurants, one a la carte and another which serves an extensive buffet, two bars, and a branch of Costa coffee, or guests can take advantage of 24-hour room service.

For an added treat you can upgrade to an Executive Room. I was lucky enough to stay in one of these, and it is definitely worth shelling out the extra.

Not only are the rooms bigger and equipped with a walk-in shower as well as a bath, but an executive room also comes with access to the Hilton's executive lounge.

Complimentary continental breakfast is served from 6am to 10.30am – perfect for a light bite before an early flight. In the evening a delicious selection of complimentary canapes and pre-dinner drinks are available between 6pm and 9pm. Throughout the day light refreshments and broadband internet terminals are also available.

The hotel caters exceptionally well for families, with triple rooms, baby cots, rooms

with bunk beds and family rooms that can accommodate five. Additionally each child under 10 years, eats free from a specially selected children’s menu or from the buffet, when accompanied by a paying adult in the Garden Restaurant.

The hotel also offers Park and Fly packages which come with eight or 15 days parking included.

Alternatively, if your flight isn't too early why not start the holiday a day early with a night in London?

Situated above Charing Cross Station the Charing Cross Hotel is an ideal location with exceptional transport links making it easy to travel not only to and from the airport, but also make your way around the capital.

Charing Cross Hotel

The luxurious hotel was built in 1865 at the height of the railway boom and the wealth and confidence of the era is reflected in the hotel’s sheer scale and opulence.

Despite expansion over the years, and renovations to bring the hotel into the 21^st century, the period features have all been preserved ensuring that it's history is not forgotten.

I must say that I am a huge fan of train travel to alleviate the stress of driving, parking and then the walk through the rain and cold to the terminal. Living in Bath, the First Great Western train service to Paddington is a godsend. Particularly as the Heathrow Express leave from Paddington. I love the Heathrow Express. Just 15 minutes ride straight into the terminal building makes getting to Heathrow so easy. And by the time you have paid for petrol and airport parking I don't think it's any more expensive.

Once at the airport the hours before a flight do not have to be spent on uncomfortable chairs in soul-less waiting areas.

Most airports will have lounges, where for a small extra cost, you can relax with all sorts of bonuses.

No 1 Traveller has lounges at Gatwick (North and South Terminals) and Stansted (Gates 16 and 49)and from today, at Heathrow Terminal 3.

The No1 lounge at Gatwick

For just £15 at Stansted, £20 at Gatwick and £25 at Heathrow will buy you three hours access to the award winning lounge, with complimentary food and drinks, internet access, games rooms, cinemas and the chance to escape the crowds in a peaceful and luxurious atmosphere.

The lounges at Gatwick and Heathrow also have spas with treatments available for just £15, so if preparing for the holiday has been a rush there is still chance to fit in a pre-holiday spot of pampering. Some also have

The lounge at Heathrow will open next month, and will be the flagship lounge boasting even more facilities.

From the end of September there will even be bedrooms available where travellers can recharge their batteries.

No 1 Traveller also offers a complete driveway to runway package with chauffeur driven transfers in sleek a sleek Mercedes.

For frequent travellers No 1 Traveller also runs a loyalty card offering a range of discounts.

For more details or to book call 08442 64 64 40 or visit www.No1Traveller.com.

At Bristol airport there is a lounge run by Servisair. Access for three hours costs £16 and includes complimentary drinks and snacks and newspapers.

For more information or to book visit www.executivelounges.com.

A double room at Hilton Gatwick Airport costs from £80.40 a night (excluding VAT).

A double executive room costs around £159 a night.

For more information about the Hilton Gatwick Airport visit www.hilton.co.uk/gatwick

A deluxe double room at the Charing Cross Hotel costs around £180 per night. For more information and details of any offers visit www.guoman.com/hotels.

For details on First Great Western trains visit www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

For tickets and prices for the Heathrow Express visit www.heathrowexpress.com

Harvest: The festival with bite!

2011-08-09T18:42:00.001+01:00

I'm not really much of festival girl. There's usually a bit too much mud for my liking.

But there's a festival coming up next month which I'm actually getting quite excited about, and that's Harvest.

It has all the makings of a top music festival, but with an added extra – GREAT food.

And I must confess that for me the food is the big draw – and that's for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, I just love food. Take me to a farmers' market and I'm like a kid in a sweet shop, I just want all of it. And there's something so exciting about eating something that has been cooked by a really talented chef.

Which brings me on to my second reason. I am pretty much completely in awe of chefs. The way I feel about the people who can create beautiful plates of food is the way that other people feel about film stars or footballers. So the chance to practically come face to face with so many of my heroes in just a few days is almost just too much to handle.

And finally, to be able to enjoy good music and good food, both at the same time, is something not to be sniffed at. Despite my dislike of mud I have been to Glastonbury many times, including this year. And I can definitively say that it is not the culinary highlight of my year. Not that there isn't some good food available you understand, it's just that when finding it is going to involve a walk of at least half an hour through knee deep mud, when you have blisters on your blisters isn't the most attractive of ideas however much of a foodie you are. So inevitably you end up eating overpriced rubbish. The alleged “Gourmet” burger I handed over a fiver for was about as tasty as cardboard. I would rather have had a Big Mac, and that's saying something.

But I digress. Kind of. My point is that there will be none of that at Harvest. Oh no.

Not only will there be pop ups of some top restaurants, a farmers' market, street food and even a cookery school, but there's also a chef's table where some of the culinary world's top names will be serving up a storm.

And no matter where you live, there's a Harvest within reach.

Harvest at Jimmy's first began a couple of years ago at Jimmy's Farm in Suffolk, and now this year it has expanded to a second venue in Oxfordshire for Alex James Presents Harvest.

Both festivals take place between September 9 and 12, and both are packed with top names from both the culinary and music worlds.

At Harvest at Jimmy's The Kooks, Eliza Doolittle and Turin Brakes will be rubbing shoulders with the likes of James Martin, Yotam Ottolenghi and Richard Corrigan, while at Alex James Presents Harvest Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Martin Mix and Tom Kerridge are joined by The Feeling, KT Tunstall and Athlete.

Dan Gillespie Sells from The Feeling said: “We're all so excited about playing Harvest this year. Can't wait to get to Alex's farm and try the delicious nosh we've heard about.”

There is a designated camping area at both festivals, but for those who don't want to slum it, there will be a Harvest Hotel. Here “glamping” is definitely the name of the game with accommodation options in Yurts, Teepees and Bell Tents with the added extra option of breakfast in bed.

For full details of the music and chef line-ups, to book tickets and for more information visit www.harvestatjimmys.com www.harvestatjimmys.com

www.alexjamespresentsharvest.com

The art of the tequilier

2011-08-08T12:22:00.002+01:00

Of course I've heard of a sommelier, but a tequilier – that's a new one on me.

It's absolutely real though, I promise, it's someone who is an expert on tequila and can select different types to complement a meal – and I've met one.

Tequilier Heriberto Oviedo

At first I must confess I wasn't entirely convinced. My experiences with tequila is much like many other people I suspect. A lick of salt, a shot downed in one and then a suck on a slice of lemon - not very pleasant. According to Heriberto Oviedo, tequilier at La Cantina restaurant, Miami's only Mexican-inspired coastal restaurant, at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne, taking tequila in that way is a Mexican cure for a cold, which might explain why it's so unpleasant. And that the correct way to drink tequila is to sip rather than shoot.

There's not much that Heriberto doesn't know about tequila – he really is the authoritative voice on the 85 plus premium Agave tequilas offered at the restaurant, from white to golden and everything in between.

Heriberto trained in the Tequila region of Mexico and he is so passionate about the spirit that he has even been to see exactly how it is made, tracing the process right from the cutting of the agave plant all the way through to the bottle. And he loves sharing his knowledge.

He told me how tequila can be aged in barrels that had original been used for drinks such as bourbon or cognac to give it different flavour notes. However once a barrel has been used for tequila it cannot be used again.

Every day at the hotel he hosts daily tastings and sit downs to educate guests about the spirit, show them how to taste it properly, dispel myths, share the rich history of tequila making, offer suggestions on how to make the perfect margarita and even recommends varieties to pair with dishes from the restaurant's menu.

“Our goal is to make our guests comfortable with something they’ve never tried before, while also providing them with a memorable experience,” said Heriberto. “Tequila is actually a very sophisticated spirit and I enjoy educating them about its finer qualities and providing recommendations on how to best enjoy it.”

La Cantina at Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami

Situated under a thatched-roof palapa built by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians with plush lounge chairs, a fire pit, tiki torches and bar overlooking the ocean La Cantina has a relaxed atmosphere by day, transforming into a romantic retreat as the sun goes down.

The elaborate bar, behind which sits the rows of tequila, was made in Mexico and shipped across and the chef is also Mexican.

Chef at La Cantina, Andres Parlange

The menu includes dishes which make the most of the beach front location highlights include tacos al pastor, shrimp quesadillas, fresh ceviches and tableside guacamole.

And if Heriberto hasn't convinced you about the merits of straight tequila try a flight of margaritas which come in flavours such as jalapeno, strawberry and mango and even a margarita with a grand marnier floater to accompany your meal.

For more information on La Cantina or the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami visit www.ritzcarlton.com.