Every year, during the 3rd week of November, the region of Beaujolais comes together to celebrate the new harvest. November is, hence, affectionately known as “Bojo month”. Beaujolais Nouveau is bottled just 6 to 8 weeks after harvest and is usually bright purple in colour with aromas and flavours of fresh crunchy red fruit such
History buffs like myself enjoy finding out what goes on beyond the label and the glass. Recently, I found myself reminiscing about old champagne houses, and the distinct black label with the red cross - symbols of Champagne Lanson – came to mind. Founded in 1760, Champagne Lanson is one of the oldest Champagne
Rainy mid-November came like a party crasher and as we were looking for a city escape away from the wet and windy shores of Phuket, there was a launch of Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town, the perfect fly-and-flop destination nestled in the heart of Phuket Town, just right next to Surin Circle Clock Tower. With
TASTING DATE : 19 AUGUST 2020, SINGAPORE Josko Gravner’s Ribolla is more than just a white wine from Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region (not far from Slovenia). Made using the ancient winemaking technique of fermenting wine in huge ceramic vessels known as amphoras, Gravner is using a winemaking process that dates back to 6000BC. What
It was a scorching hot summer day in Stockholm and according to the local news, it was the hottest summer in two decades. Nevertheless, it is always beautiful! Flowers are in full bloom, stunning boats are on display, leisurely walks and alfresco dining are in the daily itinerary. As the summer sun bathes the picturesque
A recent visit to Punjab Grill Bangkok has really eased our I-miss-travel nostalgia. Just moments away from one of Bangkok's bustling nightlife streets of Sukhumvit 11, this slice of the Punjab region comes in the like of a fine dining restaurant – except this one makes us feel right at home, thanks to its welcoming
Old world charm meets modern day chic at the recently restored Raffles Hotel. With interiors designed by famed interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud. the neo-renaissance hotel, built in 1887 by Swan & MacLaren, has survived the modernisation of Singapore and reinvented itself for the next generation of travellers. The grande dame is currently offering staycations to avail
TASTING DATE : 19 AUGUST 2020, SINGAPORE A glass of Ornellaia always gives pleasure. This 2000 did not disappoint. Aromas of black plum, baked fruits with beautiful secondary and tertiary notes of mushroom, smoke, cloves, cooked fruit, and tobacco greeted you on the nose. The palate was soft, fine, clean with elegant tannins. With an
Bangkok's food scene is in its heyday thanks to a spectrum of golden standard restaurants that offer a diverse range of cuisines. For ardent fine-dining lovers who are on the lookout for a modern haute cuisine interpretation of conventional Thai dishes, R-Haan is worth checking out. Translated as "food" in Thai, R-Haan and its menu
Nestled in a private bay, surrounded by inspiring blue ocean, swaying coconut trees and stunning limestone cliffs, The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui delivers more than just a pretty picture, their legendary hospitality truly captures the heart. This is where you can experience exceptionality and get your unexpressed wishes answered. Just 20-minute away from Koh Samui airport,
Speaking of my favorite hotels in Hong Kong, The Murray is one of them. Why? I have already fallen in love with this building even before stepping in. A classic match of gold and white, with the iconic arched colonnade, welcomes you in the building that is full of history. You will find a Pink
TASTING DATE : 6 AUGUST 2020, SINGAPORE I don’t think the House of Krug needs any introduction. Synonymous with luxury, a bottle of Krug is sure to bring delight to any table. With the growing interest in grower champagnes, one might wonder why one would want to still drink a Multi Vintage (MV) champagne today.
Tasting Date: May 2021. The Butcher’s Block Sommeliers play such an important role in our dining experience. They introduce us to the latest wine trends and exciting new producers; curate wine lists that are varied and interesting; and offer an extensive selection of wines for their guests to choose from. I had precisely such an
Vin de Constance by Klein Constantia in Cape Town South Africa is today being heralded as one of the greatest sweet wines in the world. It is perhaps the only sweet wine in the Southern hemisphere that is mentioned by Charles Dickens and Jane Austen in their writings (“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” and “Sense
Photo credit: The Slate There's no denying; the uniquely-designed, tin mining-inspired hotel in Phuket, The Slate, deserves a golden spot in your must-visit luxury design hotel collection in Thailand, having been designed by the famed American architect slash interior designer, Bill Bensley whose work is behind renowned properties like Capella Ubud, Rosewood Luang Prabang, Four
Anyone from Bruges or who has been there for a lengthier duration will argue one day wouldn’t be enough, to take the dreamlike city in, see and experience every corner and appreciate its kind citizens. However, I will try to squeeze some of my favorite sights in this article. I visited Bruges in October 2021
There is something about the light in this magical place, not too warm, not too bright, romantic in a sense, just right to fall in love at first sight. Visby in Gotland has been on our radar for the past three years even before got here. Every local we meet would recommend us to experience
Photo credit: Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle (From Airelles) It began life as a modest hunting lodge built by Louis XIII in 1623, but under the ownership of Louis XIV, Versailles became a magnificent palace renowned throughout the world. Over the course of more than 100 years, and during numerous successions to the
Created in 2019 by the former Chef de Cave of Dom Perignon, Richard Geoffroy, the 4 thAssemblage of IWA 5 was recently released on the Singapore market.The sake has been produced at Shiraiwa the permanent home of IWA 5. Shiraiwa, meaningwhite rock, is located below the foothills of Tateyama in the Toyoma Prefecture (a five
Having the right concierge while globe-trotting is like having a travel fairy godmother who leads you to all the right places. And for the A-listers, we're talking Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Johnny Depp, Naomi Campbell, Calvin Klein, Paris Hilton, and the list goes on – Serena Cook is their ultimate travel genie. Serena is the
Looking at Rachel Carrasco and Nicola Lee’s long list of accolades, it is easy to conclude why the pair ended up as self-described ‘best food buddies’. Rachel is a luxury branding expert and the founder of experiential marketing agency RACHE, known for managing top wines and spirits brands, while Nicola is a distinguished member of
The latest addition to Hong Kong’s beautiful line-up of heritage hotel brands, The Hari has been on our radar for quite a while now. Named after the late Hari Harilela, father of Dr. Aron Harilela, the CEO and Chairman of the Harilela Group, the hotel comes strongly anchored family values but with a smell of
Photo credit: Carette Paris In the past few years, the coffee excitement has come from cities such as Melbourne, Copenhagen, Seattle or Taipei. These cities renowned for their top-notch brews and innovative coffee-centric concepts could easily make the so Parisian “café crème” – an espresso served with a dash of cream or milk – look
There are so many experiences to take in whenever you are travelling to new places, but one thing that I always keep in mind during trips is checking out the food scene along the way. In Uppsala, one of Sweden’s oldest and most charming cities, the dining experience is just as vibrant as its past.
