Archive For September 2018
It’s summer and it’s been a hot one. Europe, and indeed much of the globe, has sizzled in high temperatures, and those pavements tire the traveller on city breaks. But Marco Polo Vienna Guide assists with advice and travel support. This Marco Polo Vienna pocket-sized guide and don’t-leave-home-without-it travel companion is full of indispensable Insider…
It’s the time of year when our thoughts turn to California. Well no, really we are making plans for Christmas, but that celebrated wine-producing state might actually be part of our celebrations. Wine brand Shorn launches Californian wines in a pouch. Shorn, that wine-loving sheep, is usually found looking out from bottles of New Zealand…
Thailand is a beautiful and magical land of charm and grace. It’s fringed by some of the best beaches in the world and is famed for its vibrant food, culture and charm. Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort is a gentle introduction to this marvellous country. Outrigger is a chain of high-end hotels dotted across the…
No, this isn’t the first time I have visited one of my favourite hotels, but it was the first time I had spent the night. So, how can it be one of this writer’s favourites? I have visited One Aldwych on numerous occasions. I’ve covered Dinner and a Movie, Indigo Restaurant for Brunch, the superb…
Tequila has long been popular in the US, north of the border from Mexico, the land of its origin. It is now rather trendy in Europe, where its unique taste is prized in cocktails. But there are some tequilas that are so well-crafted that they deserve to be enjoyed alone or simply in the company…
You, dear reader, will be unusual to say the least if you own one; your father probably didn’t have one, either; more likely your grandfather might have had one … or two or three. Take a look in your old family photo album and chances are there will be someone smoking a pipe and looking…
China: A History is an excellent and authoritative tome by an author who brings this enigmatic land to rich and colourful life. John Keay illustrates that phrase ‘To know who we are we must know where we come from’ or, and perhaps of more interest to us in the West, ‘We must know where we…
This is a little gem of bartending support. The Bartender’s Book, or to give it its full and impressive title The Bartender’s Book: The Essential Guide for Mixologists, by Dave Broom, is something of a barman’s/woman’s almanac. The cover gives a sense of the early 20th century, when cocktails became fashionable. The book offers excellent…
TWG Tea has arrived in Knightsbridge, perhaps the classiest neighbourhood in London. I could not be happier, as I am a tea drinker and I love Singapore. Yes, those two topics are indeed very much associated. This luxury tea brand was established in 2008 in Singapore, in celebration of the island’s great history as a…
This is a charming museum, and it seems to encompass most of the original Bonnet silk factory in Jujurieux, a small town in the department of Ain. The hub of the silk-production industry was Lyon. C J Bonnet founded a company in that city in 1810 and established this factory at Jujurieux in 1835. The…
I am constantly amazed at the prices charged for Japanese food in London. I am usually disappointed by the portion sizes, too. That doesn’t make a positive gastronomic statement, in my book. But then there is always Abokado – they offer reasonably-priced Japanese food and plenty of choice. Abokado is a small chain and I…
There are several popular varieties of cocktail cherry. Most of them are bright enough to read a book by and sticky enough to become the candy of choice of any 5-year-old with a sweet tooth. No, not all cherries are created equal, so it’s worth doing some homework and buying the best. That would be…
One Aldwych has, over many years, ticked numerous culinary boxes (read my reviews here). The hotel’s location makes it an ideal spot for both business and leisure, for families and lone workers. Back in 1907, this building housed the offices of The Morning Post. It has theatres on its doorstep and Covent Garden is a…
Here is the next edition of one of my favourite print magazines. Timeless Travels offers insights into destinations far and near and puts them into contemporary context. You’ll see my article on Japanese temples, and lots more reading for the autumn. Here is the line-up in this edition: South Africa: Saving Past Traditions; The Netherlands:…