An Iron Chef Pop-Up Experience in Hong Kong?!

The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong

We can’t get enough of Mandarin Oriental properties since we spent a weekend in DC and stayed at the Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC last month. It was there that we had the pleasure of being driven around by Carlos in a beautiful black Mercedes with lavender scented hand towels. It was there that we ate Pastry Chef (and Just Desserts Finalist!) Michael Petersen’s amazing Eggnog Bread Pudding at their restaurant, Sou’Western (and didn’t regret each and every moment on the lips or hips). It was there that we were regaled with fantastic stories about living in Japan from Linda Beltran, their lovely Director of Public Relations. Yes, we were wooed and wowed and will always seek out Mandarin properties from here on out!

So, when we heard about The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong‘s exciting new offer we were ready to take a flight just to see what this fine property has up it’s sleeve.

Want a hint?

One of the best chefs in the world and a cooking show classic worthy of THIS sushi samurai!

Acclaimed Iron Chef Morimoto! HI... YAH!

Yes, it’s Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto! And… he’ll be showcasing his unique style and unsurpassed culinary talent at the newly created pop-up restaurant concept at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental from January 16th-18th, 2012. During this amazing three-day event, Tian and Di function rooms will be transformed into a dining room featuring elements that best reflect Morimoto’s mouth-watering, awe-inspiring cuisine. This latest pop-up restaurant initiative is designed to bring exceptional chefs, their restaurant concepts, and gastronomic beliefs to genuine food lovers in Hong Kong who might not have the time to travel and visit their reputable restaurants. We don’t just likey – we lovey!

Morimoto's Best (c) FoodFashionista.com

Connoisseurs of fine cuisine can savour Morimoto’s truly exceptional 10-course gastronomic dinner using the world’s most exceptional ingredients, with a live cocktail sushi bar and freeflow of Ruinart Champagne, exclusively available for three nights. The dinner is priced at HK$2,888 ($371 USD) per person and 10% service charge. To make a truly authentic experience, for an additional HK$888 ($117 USD), guests can also enjoy a five-glass pairing of wine and sake from some of the most unique boutique sake wineries in Japan.

So, better book early to avoid disappointment and please… if you go, send us some photos so that we can feel proper food envy!

For reservations: call +852 2132 0188.

www.mandarinoriental.com/landmark

Melanie Brandman is… The Travel Curator

She’s something of a 007 in heels… ready to hit the tarmac. She possesses that rare blend of friendly, fierce, and intelligent. And, of course, if she’s going to advise luxury hoteliers, she must also be lethally… stylish. She is… The Most Interesting Travel Curator in the World. She is… Melanie Brandman. Yes, anyone who’s anyone in the luxe travel world knows this stunning powerhouse and she’s always fascinated us for a variety of reasons. Namely, we admire women-on-top who carry-on a smile with business savvy to boot.

An eighth-generation Australian, Brandman spent her childhood in Melbourne and Sydney and, although she’s been calling NYC home for a number of years, she began her 20+ years of public relations experience with positions at Vogue Australia, and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts,  Sydney and London. Eventually, she settled in New York City where, in 2001, she established The Brandman Agency. Today, her agency counts itself as one of the major competitors in the global luxury travel market.

La Mamounia - Marrakech

Now, Brandman brings passion to her latest project and one that gets our attention… a travel website called The Travel Curator, for the traveler who craves exciting, unique experiences. The site – Melanie’s virtual diary of sorts – is designed to cut through all of the clutter of your average travel website; instead, giving people who love travel all of her tried and tested favorites, as well as word-of-mouth travel tips and favorite must-do’s. She’s all about what’s new and what’s now, places to go, and where to go once you’re there. This upcoming month The Travel Curator will feature London and each month in the Salon Section, a celebrity or influencer will be interviewed.

Melanie Brandman - The Travel Curator

So we asked Melanie: Out of your impressive client roster, what are some of  your favorites?

La Mamounia in Marrakech – Perhaps the most iconic hotel in Morocco, La Mamounia re-opened in late 2009 after a magnificent 3-year makeover, under the direction of star designer Jacques Garcia. There are two things that I love most about this hotel:

1) It’s historical significance. Since its original debut in 1923, La Mamounia has hosted the “who’s who” of international royalty, politicians, celebrities and the jet set

2) The design. The hotel fits perfectly into it’s surroundings, thanks to its contemporary Moroccan design. The breathtaking mosaics and moldings make you feel like you are in the city center (yet surrounded by peace and privacy).  The hotel has expanded with 136 guest rooms, 71 Suites, and three incredible Riads. Their spa is something like 27,000 sq feet, every inch of it divine, as is their iconic pool, which I love for people watching. I would, and often do, recommend this hotel to anyone in search of the very best.  www.mamounia.com

Villa San Michele - Florence, Italy

Villa San Michele in Fiesole, Italy — Once a Franciscan monastery, this flagship Orient-Express hotel is located on an ancient hilltop and features facades done by Michelangelo himself. It has perhaps one of the most epic views of any hotel I have ever stayed, a rare bird’s-eye view of Florence (one of my all-time favorite cities). It’s tranquil, it’s sophisticated… the service, the gardens, and white-glove room-service (especially for breakfast) are impeccable. www.villasanmichele.com

InterContinental Hong Kong's Superb Rooftop

InterContinental Hong Kong - Everything about this hotel is dramatic, in all the right ways. When I stay at this hotel, I feel as though I am right on top of the water, like being on a yacht in the middle of one of the world’s buzziest cities. The Presidential Suites, if you can sneak a peak, are not to be missed. The service and the butlers and the staff in general are beyond accommodating. And you don’t even need to leave the hotel to eat or drink, if you so choose — Nobu and Alain Ducasse’s Spoon are two of many superb dining options on property. http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/hongkong

So there you have it, straight from the 007 of bespoke travel. For more of Melanie’s insider travel picks and monthly interviews with top designers and celebs, check out her website, The Travel Curator, it’s one to watch.

www.thetravelcurator.com

Thanksgiving Treats: Cape Cod, Mass

Classic Cape Cod - Seacrest's Red Restaurant

Red’s. It’s said to become a new institution. So, they’re inviting Jaunt Magazine guests a chance to celebrate Thanksgiving Day New England style at the new restaurant and lounge at Sea Crest Beach Hotel on Buzzard’s Bay. Drawing from New England’s rich sea fare and traditional American cuisine, Executive Chef Daniel Kenney’s prix-fixed menu (priced at $36 for adults and $14 for children 12 and under), conjures satisfying flavors of past Thanksgiving repasts.

Sea Scallops

Red’s Thanksgiving Day Menu includes a warm mug of Mulled Apple Cider (yummers), Warm Cape Cranberry Walnut Bread and Crusty Artisanal Rolls with Maple Butter for starters. The first course includes Sugar Pumpkin Bisque with Local Goat Cheese and Pumpkin Seeds, followed by Autumn Greens tossed with Dry Cape Cranberries, Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette, Roasted Parsnips, Spiced Walnuts and Narragansett Feta. For the main course, there’s Cider Glazed Whole Roasted Turkey with Cornbread Dressing, Creamy Maine Potatoes, Butternut Squash, Cape Cranberry Sauce, Giblet Gravy and Harvest Vegetables; Cedar Plank East Coast Salmon with Butternut Squash, Harvest Vegetables and Apple Butter; or Maple Glazed Country Ham, Golden Raisins, Sweet Potatoes, Eastham Turnips and Pearl Onions.

What? You want more? Dessert choices include Macintosh Apple Crisp, with Organic Oats, and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream or Pumpkin Bread and Butter Pudding with Caramel Ice Cream and Pumpkin Tuile.

Hungry yet?

Set on a private beach in Cape Cod’s legendary North Falmouth (the Cape, baby!), and surrounded by old-fashioned New England cottages along Buzzards Bay, Sea Crest Beach Hotel has emerged from a $15 million dollar renovation as the quintessential beach hotel.

Sea Crest Hotel

With 263 guest rooms and suites, some with fireplaces and private balconies, for those looking for Cape Cod hotels ideal for families or couples who seek a beachfront setting to create timeless memories or those  drawn by the romance of the Cape, meeting/wedding planners seeking expansive space combined with superb dining and warm, personalized service, this just might be your place.

http://www.seacrestbeachhotel.com

The Majesty of Provence

Lin Urman, Jaunt Magazine Contributor

Lin Urman, Culinary Blogger for On the Table, a popular foodie blog in Tel Aviv, and Saloona, a  blogger network for women and lifestyle, travels to Provence to show our readers all that’s unique about the lifestyle and food of Southern France.

I never planned to join my boyfriend in Provence during his last week of a professional chef training course. He was working as a well-regarded chef at one of Tel Aviv’s finest restaurant and wine bars, Yo’ezer, when he decided to take a course in Provence. I had just come back from a 6 month stint in India and was about to plan a trip to The Big Apple. I had already tasted the French lifestyle during my visit to Paris last year so visiting France again seemed entirely indulgent, but life can be surprising during the autumn season.

Somehow, as a result of a last minute decision, I found myself at the airport while my boyfriend easily arranged everything we needed.

He rented a car from Europcar with a very attractive deal (1750 kilometers for 5 days) and a nice double room in the 2 star property Hotel Del’ Amphitheatre which was more like 4 stars, and located in one of the greatest, central passageways of the old city or Arles. Alas, I landed in Marseille and we had the most incredible 5 days in autumnal Provence.

Arles Amphitheatre

Arles is a quaint 3,000 year old town in Provence with a historic Roman amphitheatre in the old part of the city. It’s highlights also include a spectacular Sunday market in the centre of the modern part, plenty of tiny streets with interesting shops and restaurants, and totally unexpected siesta hours. There is no rush in the air, but a beautifully warm sunset atmosphere with strong winds. An everyday “must”.  The first day we just hung around discovering the city (with 20 oysters in the bag), until the hunger guided us to Cilantro, a 1 star Michelin restaurant located in the old city.

Gazpacho at Cilantro

From the outside, it looked like a regular neighborhood passage, nothing special about it. From the inside, the restaurant’s interior was designed in a clean, chic style with plenty of light and sleek metal accents. The moment the food started to arrive to our table, I realized that Michelin stars have nothing to do with the tires, toilet, or the map on the table. The young, fresh staff of Cilantro (no one was too suited or tied) served us 5 dishes for 99 Euros which included shrimp and avocado cream with gazpacho, soft filet on top of purple potato cream, cream of artichoke, foie gras, and delectable dessert.

Thanks to the 1750 kilometers deal on the car, the next morning we began to discover the Provence area by visiting the small town of Les Boux, located 30 minutes driving from Arles.

Fine Fare at La Cabro D'or in Le Boux, France

In Les Boux, there are two incredible “must see” places; one is the old château atop the hill from which you can see amazing view. The second, and the most interesting for foodies like us, is the 5 star hotel of Provence, La Cabro D’or.

The hotel is located down a winding road and in its spectacular garden there is 1 Michelin star restaurant by the same name which serves lunch for the reasonable price of 50 Euros. We tasted great food and local wine, took some pictures with swans in the “lake” in the center of the garden, and went back to the road to reach Avignon.

Avignon, France

Avignon is a beautiful modern city with a huge citadel and spectacularly green park on the top of the hill where we were happy to land on the grass for our private siesta among fiddling ducks, residents of the centrally located fountain.

When evening came, we were back in Arles where we discovered a nice neighborhood tapas bar called Bodeguita where we had a light dinner of 5 small tapas plates and glasses of strong sangria.

The next morning, we decided to discover the beautiful and rich Saint Tropez, which we discovered was such a rich city that no matter how happy and successful you feel, it will make you still feel you are not happy or successful anymore!

Without any maps, we found the incredibly beautiful and sunny port for yachts and the old promenade, tiny streets, and very expensive shops. We grabbed an ice cream, hung around and went back to our modest self catered dinner in the room of the hotel in Arles, which was made up from selection of well known French baguette, sausages, fromages and tomatoes (yellow and purple).

The Market of Arles

When we awoke up, we caught the most famous market of the boulevard De La Croix Rousse in the capital city of French gourmet cuisine, Lyon. If Lyon is the gourmet spot, De La Croix Rousse is the most famous spot for it and, for that reason, it’s also a very easy to find without a map because huge signs guide you on how to get there from every point of the city.

Because we were as usually late – and because of the French like a good siesta – we missed the market, but on the top of the hill (where the market is supposed to be) we found amazing delicacies shops; one for sea products, one for sausages, and one for pastries. So, we did a little shopping tour and arranged a tasty break on a tiny piece of Provence grass along one of the highways on our way back to Arles.

It was a perfectly warm, tasty, and spontaneous visit which didn’t break our wallets and the taste of which I still have in my mouth. That’s how it goes when it’s a perfect match between Bon Voyage & Bon Appetite!

Top Ten Mexican Food Musts

Jesus Catalan Meneses - Jaunt Contributor

This week, Jesus Catalan Meneses, ex-journo turned blogger and very Mexican Taconnoiseur is back to give our readers the inside scoop on the Top 10 Quintessential Mexican Food Musts. Whether he’s writing, researching social media, travelling, cooking or finding the greatest places for tacos, quesadillas, and enchiladas, Jesus’s love for Mexico can only be matched by his love of Mexican food.

So you’ve think you’ve been to Mexico?

Then you know our country is one of those lands where gastronomy is one of the most delicious parts of the experience. It would be extremely daring to name the most representative (and appetizing) dishes of the country (so many!), but with this mouth-watering list I’ll be adventurous enough to say you haven’t been in Mexico unless you’ve tried:

Tacos

Tacos
Some say they come from the Mayans, some from the Aztecs. Taconnoiseurs know that the original name (in náhuatl, the Aztec dialect that is still alive) was quauhtaqualli, an unpronounceable word for the Spaniards, who just decided to call them tacos. Everywhere in Mexico you’ll find heavenly tortillas (rolled or folded) stuffed with just about anything delicious: meat, chicken, cheese, veggies…Seriously, tacos are basic and universal (the best thing that ever happened to the world, by the way). You really don’t know Mexico if you’ve never tried one.

Mole Poblano (c) Safi Royal Blog

Mole

The symbol of Mexican culinary tradition and passion, believed to have more than a thousand flavors and colors. It means ‘sauce’ in Aztec dialect, and it’s made out of a wide variety of ingredients: numerous differentchiles, tomatoes, garlic, almonds, raisins, sesame seeds, onions, bread, cinammon, lard, parsley, peanuts, chocolate…all together (and more) crushed by stone and mixed. Pour it on chicken or turkey, and feast on it.

Cochinta Pibil on Panucho

Cochinita Pibil
If cooked properly, it can make you scream. The legend says Yucatan was the first place in the continent where Mayans tasted pork and thus created this formula incorporating exotic spices, wrapping it in banana leaves and cooking it in a natural underground oven all night long. The extremely tender meat is served on top of a panucho (small tortillas with black beans inside) and sprinkled with minced purple onion. Yumm…

Tamales

Tamales

This ancient indigenous recipe consists of corn dough wrapped in corncobs or banana leaves and steamed. Served very warm, they are usually stuffed with salsas and meat. They can be either salty (green, red, beans…) or sweet (try the pink with raisins). For a wild experience ask for a “Guajolota”: tamales inside abolillo bun. 

Barbacoa
After around 15 hours of cooking inside a natural subterranean oven made of stones, the flavorful young lamb’s meat wrapped in maguey’s stalk will melt in your hands when you’re preparing your tacos and topping them with velvety salsa borracha (which contains a bit of alcohol, oftenly pulque).

Pozole Rojo

Pozole

More corn (this time, large grains), in form of a succulent soup with meat. Woof. Try it whether it’s green, white or red, for it is the heritage of the blend of America, Europe and Asia. Besides the chunks of pork and the big corn oats, experts add chile,  oregano,  lime juice,  fresh lettuce,  avocado,  sour cream,  chopped onion and radish.

Tostadas

Fried, crunchy tortillas with lots of wonderful ingredients on top. Typically, it’s mashed beans,  shredded chicken,  sour cream,  fresh cheese,  minced lettuce leaves,  avocado and salsa; but oftenly in markets around the country you’ll find them as mountains of seafood, pork, and beef…

Enchiladas

Think about a taco, bathed in sauce. Ask for the Suizas (Swiss), created in Puebla by a posh lady who dreamt all those green ‘mountains’ of Poblano chile sauce, topped with cream, onion and melted cheese as a snowy landscape from the Alps.

Enchiladas Suiza

Quesadillas

A favourite that can’t be out of the list, some confuse them with tacos as they are just folded tortillas. Some say if they are not filled with cheese (Queso means cheese) they are indeed tacos. I say just order lots, try and enjoy!

Carnitas & Chincharron

Carnitas & Chicharrón
Sizzling pork for tacos (add onion, cilantro, nopales (cactus), fresh cheese, avocado and salsa) at its best. The skin is deep-fried in lard until it’s crispy. Don’t die before you try chicharrón prensado: a softer, creamier version.

You can also say you’ve been to Mexico if you’ve tried: chilaquiles,  sopes,  flautas,  menudo,  gorditas,  pambazos, cabrito, molotes, tlayudas, aguachile, memelas, pancita, salbutes, discada, tinga, uchepos, chilorio, tlacoyos, migadas, burritos, chimichangas, rajas, tortas ahogadas, molletes, chalupas, papadzules, tetelas, tasajo, codzitos, polcanes, picadillo, huaraches, picaditas, ceviche, pelonas, mixiotes, chamorros, corundas, aporreadillo, churipos, guacamayas, quebraditas, pastes, manchamanteles, caldo tlalpeño, cemitas, chiles en nogada, sopa de lima, and so on.

Have I missed any? Absolutely, I’m sure.

Please tweet me up your favorites @jcmex!