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Explore the street food markets in Marrakesh

Written by Gill Dewar on April 14, 2022. Posted in Activity, Destination news, Restaurant, Whats cooking.

Explore the street food markets in Marrakesh

You can find all kinds of street food day and night across Morocco – and Marrakech is no exception. Here, we explore the best street food in the city, from sandwiches and pastries to freshly squeezed juice and more exotic dishes.

It’s time to venture off in to the square, stopping at four food stalls, all personally tested and recommended by the team.

Depending on guests’ dietary preferences, they may have the opportunity to sample a traditional Marrakchi dish cooked underground on the coals that heat the hammam.

Or tuck in to a sweet-savoury dish typically consumed during Ramadan.

Try the hundred kinds of olives, taste the Marrakchi olive oil, honey…

And of course for the more daring, sheep’s tongue or cheek. If a must-try list includes snails, take a pit stop at the snail stalls and slurp back the flavourful broth.

Explore the street food markets in Marrakesh

Particularly popular in Marrakech, snails can be found everywhere in the square and marketplace Jemaa El-Fnaa. This flavoursome broth is supposed to have restorative and digestive benefits. This is almost reason enough to try it. If that weren’t tempting enough, however, these distinctive chocolate-brown snails are tender with a delicious savoury taste. What’s more, they are served in a broth bursting with flavours and spices.

The oranges found in Morocco are famous worldwide, so it’s no surprise that you can find some of the best orange juice on the streets of Marrakech. They are sourced from the countless orange trees in the limitless alleys and courtyards in the city.

You can get a full glass of this refreshing, tangy juice, perfect for recovering after a long day of exploring in the sun. Also, it’s a must when wandering through Jemaa El-Fnaa.

Originating in Fez, but also plentiful on the streets of Marrakech, b’stilla is a special pie with layers of paper-thin pastry. It is traditionally stuffed with pigeon meat, almonds, eggs and lots of fresh spices. Nowadays, you can also find this pastry stuffed with fillings such as chicken or fish.

Often eaten as a starter, b’stilla offers a combination of sweet and salty and a crisp but doughy texture. For a taste of authentic Morocco, be sure to pick up one or two of these little pastries from a street seller.

This traditional Moroccan soup can be found all year round, but it’s particularly popular during Ramadan and one of the first things eaten to break the fast. This flavoursome, golden-coloured soup is rich with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas and sometimes noodles, with meat an occasional addition.

You can find this served in little cups or bowls out on the street, and it’s a popular option sure to please even the fussiest eaters.

Although many people may be a little repulsed by this at first, try to be open-minded and sample a popular delicacy on the streets of Marrakech. Try a mixed plate of offal, tongue, head scrapings and a bit of the rest of the sheep. The whole head costs a little bit more but makes quite a meal. While it’s not a roadside snack you’d find in Western countries, you’ll find more than one stall in Marrakech offering this delicacy.

Unusual yet delicious, sheep’s head is a definite recommendation for the more adventurous foodie.

Chebakia is a Moroccan sesame cookie, moulded into a flower-like shape and fried before it is coated with masses of syrup or honey. Extremely sweet and addictive, these delicious sugary delights are a must-try.

It’s a favourite during Ramadan, and households often produce buckets full of these treats each year. Buying some from the streets is recommended – the factory-made versions simply don’t compare.

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NEW home of Abu Dhabi natural history to be completed in 2025

Written by Leandro Agostini on March 30, 2022. Posted in Activity, Destination news, Restaurant.

March 30, 2022 – Abu Dhabi natural history – Abu Dhabi has unveiled plans for the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, which will feature some of the rarest wonders of natural history ever found. Visitors will travel on a 13.8-billion-year journey through time and space, which will include a thought-provoking perspective into a sustainable future for planet Earth.

New home of Abu Dhabi natural history to be completed in 2025

The new museum, currently under construction and due to be completed at the end of 2025, will be located in the emirate’s Saadiyat Cultural District, which is establishing itself as one of the world’s leading cultural centres. A highlight of the new museum’s collection will be the world-famous ‘Stan’, a remarkable, mostly complete 39-foot-long (11.7 metres) Tyrannosaurus rex, which is one of the best preserved and most studied fossils of this iconic predator from the Late Cretaceous Period. Known by scientists around the world, years of scientific studies of ‘Stan’ have furthered our knowledge of countless aspects of T. rex. Now that ‘Stan’ has a new home at the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, this 67-million-year-old dinosaur will be in the care of expert scientists, and will continue to contribute to education and research and inspire future explorers.

‘Stan’ will be joined by an extraordinary Murchison Meteorite specimen, which famously crash-landed in Australia more than 40 years ago and has since revealed to scientists new information about the early solar system. Containing a huge range of organic ‘stardust’ compounds as well as pre-solar grains which formed over 7 billion years ago – long before our current solar system existed – the meteorite provides ancient insight into the very building blocks of life.

The museum’s collection will feature numerous significant artefacts as part of its curatorial vision, as well as fascinating experiences being created by a dedicated team in Abu Dhabi, supported by strategic partnerships with world leading scholars and natural history experts.

Conceived and developed by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) in partnership with Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of destinations and experiences, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will be a scientific research and teaching institution and an educational resource for learning about the evolving story of our planet, aiming to ignite a life-long passion for the natural world in visitors of all ages.

According to HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, nurturing awareness of how we are impacting the planet has never been more important. “Natural history has a new home in Abu Dhabi. A new museum which tells the story of our universe through some of the most incredible natural wonders known to mankind. These are awe-inspiring gifts from nature that we are proud to share with the world – unlocking millions of years of knowledge to not only advance scientific discovery but to inspire our children to protect our planet’s future,” said HE Al Mubarak. “As we nurture a new generation of global advocates that are incredibly curious and passionate about natural history, we are fulfilling our vision to enrich lives and make Abu Dhabi the place for research, research, collaboration and discovery.”

Source: traveldailymedia

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Michelin Guide Dubai to explore UAE culinary scene

Written by Leandro Agostini on March 29, 2022. Posted in Activity, Destination news, Restaurant.

March 29, 2022 – Michelin Guide Dubai

Dubai has been added to the Michelin Guide, becoming the 35th destination covered by the prestigious culinary institution.

Michelin Guide Dubai to explore UAE culinary scene

Home to thousands of restaurants serving a variety of cuisines from fine dining to street food, headed by talented international and homegrown chefs, the guide will provide a fresh perspective into the diversity, creativity and multicultural nature of the local culinary offering.

Dubai welcomed 7.28 million international overnight visitors in 2021 representing 32 year-on-year growth, establishing a momentous marker in the global tourism recovery.

With food tourism, travelling to explore different destinations’ food culture and heritage, on the rise, the launch of the Michelin Guide Dubai this year will be a catalyst to position Dubai as the destination of choice for foodies and gourmets seeking authentic culinary experiences across all tastes and budgets.

Issam Kazim, chief executive of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce Marketing, commented: “We are thrilled that Dubai has been added to the internationally renowned Michelin Guide, one of the most authoritative sources for culinary experiences across leading destinations worldwide.”

The selection will be made according to the tried and tested methodology applied by the inspectors of the Michelin Guide based on its universally applied set of five criteria, including the quality of the ingredients, the mastery of cooking, the harmony of flavours, the personality of the chef through the cuisine and the consistency both over time and across the entire menu.

These are applied to all the selected restaurants in order to help gastronomes from around the world make an informed choice from among high-quality options.

“We are delighted to announce that Dubai will be joining the Michelin family and we will unveil this brand-new selection later this year,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides.

Source: breakingtravelnews

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Dinner in Giant Ferris Wheel in Vienna

Written by Gill Dewar on March 25, 2022. Posted in Activity, Destination news, Restaurant.

Dinner in Giant Ferris Wheel in Vienna

The Ferris Wheel is one of the most visited monuments in the Danube metropolis. It was built in 1896-1897 at the same time as the one of Chicago, London, Blackpool and Paris.

Today, Giant Ferries Wheel Vienna offers its visitors the opportunity to raise at a height of about 65 meters to offer a magnificent panorama of Vienna.

From the top of its 65 metres, the Ferris Wheel in Vienna is one of the largest and most famous tourist attractions of Vienna.

It was built in 1897 as a commemoration for Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, for his 50th year as the Austrian ruler, and has since offered visitors of Vienna the possibility to enjoy a splendid panoramic view over the Prater Park and Vienna old town, while making the most of a Ferris wheel ride.

Apart from during the three weeks of technical repairs in January, the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel is open all year round according to the season. The Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel proposes public tours, but it is also possible to book private tours, and even to combine them with catering services such as banquets, buffets and romantic candlelight dinners.

It is possible for groups to book private waggons on Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel for private rides. In total, six special waggons offer each enough room for 12 persons maximum: you can choose between four cocktail waggons and two luxury waggons.

The rental of special waggons offers several advantages: the equipment and comfort are superior to those of the classical waggons on the Vienna Wheel; the atmosphere is more relaxed because you have the waggon for yourself, and for that same reason, getting on and off the waggon is done without wasting time.

Dinner in Giant Ferris Wheel in Vienna

In addition, when you book special waggons the ride can be combined with onboard catering services, for example for a champagne reception or for coffee. The waggons of the Wheel can be booked for an unlimited time during opening times, the rental time is charged per started half hours.

In association with the rental of special waggons for private rides, it is also possible to book the services of a caterer onboard Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel.

This service is particularly adapted for incentives in Vienna or for special events. There is a great array of choices between the different types of services available onboard the Giant Wheel, among others luxury banquets on Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel.

In addition to ready-made offers, it is also possible to combine a ride on the Wheel with a tailor-made banquet.

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10 new destination restaurants and bars by Accor

Written by Traveltalksteam on March 15, 2022. Posted in Destination news, Restaurant.

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March 15, 2022 – 10 new destination restaurants and bars by Accor

At the center of our hospitality, from Seattle to Phuket, here are 10 recent and upcoming openings truly bringing our vision to life.

When talking about a destination bar or restaurant there is always one special component that makes it stand out from the rest. We can talk about a certain view or a dish, but what constitutes a truly unique place is the impression it leaves. To make Food & Beverage an experience itself, whether it’s a gourmet burger bar, a cocktail speakeasy or a Michelin chef’s table, we work with the leading talents and local producers, to imbibe each new bar and restaurant with its own distinct taste – its individual sense of place and identity.

10 new destination restaurants and bars by Accor

A hidden speakeasy in Seattle, The Founders Club & The George at Fairmont Olympic Seattle

When the cocktail speakeasy hides behind a bookcase in the lobby, stepping inside is already an experience. In the spirit of 1920s speakeasy culture, The Founders Club, is an “intimate spirit drinker’s enclave” serving an exquisite collection of fine spirits – aged, vintage and limited editions plus cocktails designed by the Fairmont Olympic’s award-winning beverage curator Jesse Cyr. As part of its grand redesign, the Fairmont Olympic Seattle’s is also debuting The George, a modern, brasserie-inspired dining experience in April.

Windsor’s culinary staycation at Fairmont Windsor Park

Just an hour from London, seven bars and restaurants make Windsor’s new countryside hotel foodie staycation heaven. Named for the year the Magna Carta was signed nearby, the 1215 restaurant uses produce from The Royal Farms, local artisans and the Fairmont’s own kitchen gardens to serve British fine dining for every momentous occasion. At Moreish, Scandinavian-style salmon is combined with gin from Schroder’s Botanicals Bar and over at the Greens café, the wellness chef prescribes food and drinks with personal health in mind.

London’s storied restaurant emporium at the future Raffles London at The OWO

When Whitehall’s Grade II* listed Old War Office, The OWO, becomes Raffles first London property and Europe’s first Raffles residences later this year, 11 Food & Beverage spaces will unite under one historic roof. Raffles has partnered with world-acclaimed Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco, known for his category-defying cuisine, to helm two multi-sensory restaurants and his own Chef’s Table at the property.

A culinary journey across Asia for Melbourne diners at Miss Mi, Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer

At Miss Mi, head chef Esca Khoo follows the proverb ‘Preserve the old, but know the new’, honoring modern and traditional foods across Asia, with sauces, spices, curries, and sambals made in-house paired with local produce, market fish Hinava served with starfruit and savory coconut or skewers of kangaroo satay. “We want to evoke memories of your trips to Asia,” says Khoo, who, Borneo-born himself, honed his culinary skills through his mother’s home-cooking followed by 15 years in restaurants like Noma Australia and Lûmé. As one diner put it: “every dish is a highlight.”

Best in region, best in season “new French” restaurant, Garçon Bleu at Sofitel Adelaide

“A progressive Australian restaurant with a deep French influence,” says head chef Gianni Delogu, of his ninth floor Garçon Bleu restaurant, Adelaide’s newest gourmet destination. Taking a “best in region and season” approach, Delogu serves beef tartare alongside local fare such as Adelaide Hills pork, within an open kitchen design and up-lit oyster and sea food bar. A wine wall features exceptional French and Australian wines, in a nod to both heritage and place.

America’s best burger, honest Italian cuisine at Fi’lia and the highest open-air rooftop over Paris at Skybar, at Pullman Paris Montparnasse

As part of its redesign, Pullman Paris Montparnasse has created a food scene all its own. On the second floor, the “best burger in America,” LA’s Umami Burger lands its first European location. Next door, Fi’lia, a lifestyle concept brand from Ennismore, celebrates a genuine approach to Italian cuisine. Skybar Paris offers guests sweeping uninterrupted views of the Eiffel Tower from the 32nd floor. Cocktails by mixologist Guillaume Guerbois will be paired with creative bites with an Asian influence that can be enjoyed at Europe’s first Skybar, where space for 20 can be privatized.
Skybar – Pullman Paris Montparnasse – France

Savoring the Mediterranean at Mercure Benidorm

At the future Mercure Benidorm in Spain, opening in June 2022, the Malaspina offers local Mediterranean cuisine with a traveling spirit. Billed as “a hug to Mediterranean roots through the best products on the market” the 85-seat restaurant takes diners on a gastronomic expedition, combining the taste of local products with exquisite flavors and smells from all over the Mediterranean to stimulate all five senses.

Flame-cooking at Tandoor Tina and German beer at Ernst Biergarten in Dubai, 25hours Dubai

The ‘younger daughter’ restaurant to London’s renowned Tandoor Chop House, Tandoor Tina’s Dubai location serves signature northern Indian food with flame-cooking a specialty. At Ernst Biergarten, a wide choice of German beers on draught, are served with Dubai’s best Weisswein, and house-baked pretzels. A destination for sport, screening matches for up to 400 seated, while for a more intimate setting, a private dining room hosts banquets for 20.

Elevating Phuket’s night scene at AKOYA|Star Lounge and Yon|Ocean House, V Villas Phuket – MGallery Hotel collection

55 meters above the sea with a 360° ocean or night sky view, AKOYA|Star Lounge is an otherworldly rooftop bar experience offering signature cocktails, plus a regional tapas menu designed like a culinary road trip. All to the sound of live music and sets by known musicians and spin-masters. One floor below, Yon|Ocean House serves an all-day menu of European and Thai coastal cuisine with world class wines.

Asian Peruvian fusion in Brazil at Moons, Novotel Lençóis Paulista

Ranked Lençóis Paulista’s top restaurant on Trip Advisor, Moons offers a fusion of Asian and Peruvian gastronomy with a Brazilian touch -from a buzzing location in the Novotel’s lobby. Taste the blend of influences in their Full Moon signature cocktail, made with angostura bitter, salty & sweet saffron; chamomile syrup, lime juice with Brazilian tonka beans. Offering an all-day menu, with Ceviche Night weekly, the restaurant also offers dishes to Grab and Go.

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Culinary delights in Munich

Written by Gill Dewar on February 21, 2022. Posted in Activity, Destination news, Restaurant.

Culinary delights in Munich

Soak up the romantic atmosphere of the city, while
strolling through the quaint streets of Old Town
Munich and visit the 200-year-old Viktualienmarkt,
the charming local food market.

Munich is the third-largest city in Germany and famous for a lot of things, ranging from the world’s largest beer fest to men in leather shorts, but one thing Munich definitely is not known for its great, contemporary food.

Culinary delights in Munich: Not many Munich restaurants have carried their reputation across the borders of the city and even locals are quite skeptic when it comes to Munich’s culinary offering.

The type of food Munich is obviously famous for are the celebrated beer garden and Gaststuben classics: Weißwürste (the boiled, white veal sausage), Haxen (Braised pork knuckle), Leberkäse (a loaf-formed sausage) and Obazda (the intense cheese-mix-spread, best eaten with Brezeln) – the hearty dishes that are the the symbol of German food for many non-Germans.

The Bavarians do them best, and few things compare to sitting at one of the countless beer gardens and downing a couple of pints of the local brew whilst feasting on these classics.

For beer gardens you really shouldn’t miss the iconic Chinese Tower in the centre of the park Englischer Garten. The park itself is worth a longer excursion with an arm of the mountain river Isar floating right through it and city surfers riding an eternal wave in the beginning of the park.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating – after this tour no-one will go home hungry! You will learn a lot of the history and recent events of this place as well as
background information whilst enjoying various
typical specialties at different market stalls. A wide
range of culinary delicacies awaits you.

Take your time to visit the Viktualienmarkt and
taste the local delicacies from our region. A unique
experience!

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired restaurant in London – fantastic addition in Kew gardens

Written by Traveltalksteam on February 4, 2022. Posted in Restaurant, Travel gossip.

February 4, 2022 – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired restaurant in London – new in Kew gardens

Here’s a venue for sweet-toothed restaurant-goers to get their teeth into – an eatery that’s inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired restaurant in London – new in Kew gardens

Described as a mixture between the beloved Roald Dahl novel and a ‘nature-led laboratory’, the new Family Kitchen restaurant, situated in London’s Kew Gardens, is a ‘world of fantasy’.

The children’s writer is at the heart of the interiors – fixtures such as the zany mushroom sculptures and a giant apple chair are ‘inspired by fantastical worlds in literature such as Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach’.

The new Family Kitchen restaurant is a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-inspired ‘world of fantasy’ in London’s Kew Gardens

The ‘multi-sensory’ restaurant, which was designed by London-based Mizzi Studio and can accommodate up to 250 diners, is set beside the Children’s Garden

While Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory revolves around sugar, the mission of this restaurant goes a bit further, to ‘offer children an insight into plant types, local produce, agricultural techniques, food processing and meal preparation’. Interactive installations that teach families about the ‘origins of their food’ are dotted throughout the eatery.

The ‘multi-sensory’ restaurant, which was designed by London-based designers Mizzi Studio and can accommodate up to 250 diners, is set beside the Children’s Garden.

At the entrance, visitors are greeted by a ‘radiating LED sun’ on one wall. There are blue seats patterned with mosaics of waves, inspired by the work of Antonio Gaudi, and raincloud-shaped hanging lights suspended from the ceiling.

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“Colours by Europe, Tastes of excellence.”

Written by Gill Dewar on January 14, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking, Activity, Destination news, Restaurant.

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“Colours by Europe. tastes of excellence.”

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Colours by Europe. Tastes of Excellence campaign, which presents and promotes European Union (EU) agricultural food and beverages products, launched its first in a series of retail activations in Thailand on 15th October, 2021.

The EU is well known for their safe and quality food. The upcoming retail events and promotions will highlight tasty, quality, safe, authentic, and sustainable EU food and beverage products ranging from meat and dairy products, fruits and vegetables to pasta, cereals, oils, sweets, wines, beer, spirits, and more at Central Food Hall.

You can buy and enjoy them with peace of mind because stringent production standards and quality controls are guaranteed for the products through the whole production chain, from farm to fork and at the same time to ensure environmental, social and economic sustainability.

Discover the 300 EU food products on promotion starting this October at Central Food Hall! with exclusive promotions on the featured products. Consumer will receive a limited-edition cotton shopping bag with a minimum spending of 500 Baht and above on the featured EU products on promotion. Consumers can also participate to our lucky draw and stand a chance to win EU food prizes.

You can also visit the campaign’s online sales channel to access all the featured delicious and high-quality EU food products in our exclusive promotions during the campaign period at LINK, Grab application, and Personal Shopper service on LINE @TopsThailand. The series of 4 retail activations will be promoted via in-store displays and promotions, social media, PR and KOLs. Explore the tastes of excellence by visiting our physical booth, or spot our food truck, or visit our online sales channel from now till January 2022.

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New Urban Hotel opens organic farm with Michelin-Starred Chef

Written by Gill Dewar on January 14, 2022. Posted in Destination news, Hotel, Restaurant, Travel Advice.

January 14 2022 – New Urban Hotel opens organic farm with Michelin-Starred Chef

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND – Meliá Chiang Mai, a 260-key hotel to soon debut in Thailand’s mountainous north, has embraced the ‘farm to table’ social movement by establishing a farm to harvest produce for its restaurants, bars and spa.

The hotel, due to open on April 8 on Charoen Prathet Road in the heart of Chiang Mai, has partnered with ORI9IN The Gourmet Farm, a 198-acre gourmet organic farm located in nearby San Sai District overseen by two-star Michelin Chef turned sustainable farmer James Noble and his wife May.

Noble, a Briton who has run Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK, will work with local farmers to grow an array of fruits, vegetables and herbs for the hotel on its own two-acre farm on the broader ORI9IN property.

In addition to local seasonal produce such as young morning glory, red basil, lemongrass and passion fruit, the farm will also grow various kinds of tomatoes, salad leaves, and specialized ingredients such as padrón pepper that would otherwise need to be imported from Spain for the hotel’s authentic Mediterranean cuisine.

The partnership is a central plank of Meliá Chiang Mai’s ‘360° Cuisine’ program, under which the hotel aims to work closely with local farmers to help them improve sustainability and encourage ethical production to make communities and the overall food system more resilient.

The 360° Cuisine program not only gives guests peace of mind about where their food comes from but encourages them to visit the hotel’s farm to meet local farmers and learn more about sustainable farming and healthier eating.

Championing local procurement and sustainably sourced food, ORI9IN is the only farming operation globally that partners with a network of restaurants and hotels to focus on import substitution and reducing its carbon footprint without sacrificing flavour.

The hotel’s menus will highlight appetizers, main courses and desserts that feature ingredients from the farm. Example dishes include ‘Salmorejo con Tomate Triturado’ (fresh chilled tomato soup), ‘Fattoush Salad’ and ‘Fruta de Temporada’ (seasonal fruit platter). Ingredients from the farm will also be in various beverages at the hotel’s bars and Meliá’s signature YHI Spa.

“In addition to pursuing ‘farm to plate’ by sourcing organic produce that travels only a short distance to our hotel, our partnership with ORI9IN also comprises ‘plate to farm’ where we separate our food waste and bring it back to the farm as compost, thus minimizing waste as part of a truly 360° concept,” said Meliá Chiang Mai’s general manager Edward E. Snoeks.

The hotel will offer guests day trips to the farm that include a picnic lunch and a chance to learn more “about the journey their food and these products have made, as well as who has been a part of that journey”, said Noble.

“People often don’t know where food comes from, so we show them, albeit underscored by our passion for locally grown, sustainable ingredients,” he said. “This is also tourism that leaves no footprint on the land; we’re trying to show people that you can have a day out without harming what you came to see in the first place.”

Drawing on Meliá’s Spanish origins and celebrating Spain’s famed gastronomy, Meliá Chiang Mai’s dining landscape will feature restaurants Mai Restaurant and Bar and Laan Na Kitchen, bars Mai The Sky Bar and Tien Pool Bar, and lounges Ruen Kaew and The Level Lounge.

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‘Home’ cooking at Martha Stewart’s first restaurant

Written by Gill Dewar on January 11, 2022. Posted in Whats cooking, Activity, Destination news, Restaurant.

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‘Home’ cooking a key ingredient at Martha Stewart’s first restaurant

For her first restaurant, set to open at Paris Las Vegas this spring, lifestyle maven Martha Stewart will evoke her own country farmhouse.

The Bedford by Martha Stewart, with 194 seats, will be designed with the aesthetic of the brand she has cultivated for decades in broadcasting, publishing and merchandising.

Seasonal, farm-to-table ingredients will be emphasized on dinner, weekend brunch and holiday menus. Purveyors will include Las Vegas Farmers Market, D’Artagnan Foods, Urbani Truffles, Roe Caviar, Frog Hollow Farm, Jasper Hill Farm and Vermont Creamery.

“Our menu will be delicious, depicting the very same kinds of foods I serve my friends and family,” Stewart said. “The architecture and decoration of the spaces cleverly exemplify the beauty and atmosphere you might find at my beautiful farm in Bedford, N.Y. Dining at the Bedford will be immersive, fun, unexpected and utterly delectable.”

Stewart’s well-known functional and practical lifestyle will be found in the decor with a bring-nature-indoors concept. A neutral palette will act as a backdrop to seasonal colors.

“Martha Stewart is one of the most celebrated voices in hospitality, and we are truly honored that she’s chosen Paris Las Vegas as the home for her very first restaurant,” said Jason Gregorec, senior vice president and general manager of Paris Las Vegas. “When we open the doors, the Bedford by Martha Stewart will be a dining experience you simply can’t get elsewhere.”

Paris Las Vegas is also the home of Chef Joho’s Eiffel Tower Restaurant, French-bistro Mon Ami Gabi and Gordon Ramsay Steak. It includes quick-service options such as Brioche by Guy Savoy and, soon, Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay. Lisa Vanderpump’s second Las Vegas venue, Vanderpump a Paris, and a new Nobu restaurant and lounge are also planned.

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Sanlucar de Barrameda – Spain’s designated Capital of Gastronomy 2022

Written by Traveltalksteam on December 15, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Restaurant.

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December 15, 2021 – Sanlucar de Barrameda – The Andalucían city of Sanlucar de Barrameda, located in the northwest of the Cádiz province, has been designated the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy for 2022 providing food lovers with the opportunity to explore one of Andalucía’s most coveted gastronomic destinations.

Sanlucar de Barrameda

The city will run several events to celebrate this special announcement inviting visitors and residents to enjoy Sanlúcar’s delicious cuisine and unique wine. This programme seeks to showcase the region highlighting its high standards of quality-of-life thanks to its geographical location and climate, which provide a world-class sun and beach proposition for visitors. The city is rich with natural resources thanks to its proximity to the Guadalquivir River and the natural reserve of the Doñana National Park, which are both an inspiration for the city’s food culture and the legendary horse races that take place on a long stretch of beach in August.

Two elements of the food culture of Sanlucar which have been highlighted in the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy celebrations are Sanlúcar king prawns and the region’s Manzanilla wine (straight from the heart of the Jerez Region). Sanlúcar’s king prawns are one of the most renowned gastronomic treasures of Andalucía and are farmed in the mouth of the Guadalquivir River adjacent to the Doñana National Park.

This prawn carries an intense and rich flavour mainly thanks to the characteristics of the waters in which it grows. At present, these delicate prawns have an official quality brand called Langostino de Sanlúcar (King Prawn of Sanlúcar) which recognises the prawns caught on the coast of the lower Guadalquivir River. In 2020, 146,00 kilograms of these prawns were sold in the Sanlúcar de Barrameda fish market.

The celebrated counterpart, the Manzanilla wine, is a variety of fino sherry made around the port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda and is produced under the Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) of Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda DOP since 1964. In Spanish, chamomile infusion is called “manzanilla”, and thus this wine gets the name because of its flavour said to be reminiscent of such an infusion. The sherry is manufactured using the same methods as a fino and results in a very pale, dry wine.

Visitors looking to discover the city and its culinary scene during its year as Spanish Capital of Gastronomy should look out for its main gastronomic treasures:

Tortillitas de camarones: This simple yet delicious tapa uses small fresh prawns to create fritters that are best served piping hot.
Acedías and tapaculos: two of the city’s most famous fish best served fried and to be eaten by hand.
Arroz con Pato: one of the lesser-known dishes that are popular among the locals of Sanlúcar. It is made from products sourced in the estuaries and areas bordering the river. The star is blue duck that is eaten in sauce or with rice hence the name ´Rice with Duck’.
Guisos Marineros: seafood stews are especially famous in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. They come in many shapes and sizes made with cuttlefish, king prawns, monkish and many other delicacies caught just off the coast.
Las Papas Aliñás: one of the most recognised potato dishes in Cádiz. Its main characteristic is that it is served “warm” and not cold like most potato salads. It is a type of potato salad that optimises simple, local ingredients.

The title of Spanish Capital of Gastronomy will be held by Sanlucar de Barrameda from 01 January to 31 December. Huelva (2017), Leon (2018), Almeria (2019) and the region of Murcia (2020 and 2021) are among the Spanish cities that have previously held this annual recognition that celebrates food and tourism since its first edition in 2012.

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Breakfast in Dubai: Best outdoor breakfast places in Dubai

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 11, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Restaurant.

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November 11, 2021 – Top outdoor places for breakfast in Dubai

Breakfast in Dubai

Brunch & Cake, Al Wasl and The Pointe

Arguably one of the most Instagram-worthy breakfast spot in the city, Brunch & Cake is a boho-chic, restaurant that’s now located at both Al Wasl and at its new seaside spot at The Pointe. This recently opened gem serves up plates of pastel-coloured lattes, rose petaled-french toast and gooey eggs benedict, and goes by the motto “In Grandma We Trust”, with a menu including everything from healthy acai bowls to fluffly halloumi pancakes. You’ll queue for some time to get a table at the original in Barcelona, but it’s always worth the wait.
brunchandcake.ae

Hillhouse Brasserie, Dubai Hills Golf Club

Overlooking the rolling greens and the Downtown Dubai skyline, Hillhouse Brasserie is a mix of countryside French boulangerie and glitzy Hamptons golf course. On the expansive terrace, tuck into rhubarb-filled donuts, freshly baked breads and pastries, omelettes, pancakes and waffles aplenty.
facebook.com/HillhouseBrasserie

The Farm Restaurant, Al Barari

Be transported out of the hustle and bustle of the city and straight into a majestic estate with lakes, waterways and gardens when you visit The Farm, Al Barari. Reminiscent of a scene out of The Secret Garden, breakfast-goers can feast their way through some top healthy eats here, including a vegan tofu scramble.
thefarmdubai.ae

Bounty Beets, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi

The photo-friendly, ultra-feminine Bounty Beets’ interiors might be splashed all over Instagram, but its fauna-filled outdoor terrace allows breakfast goers to enjoy dishes al fresco. On the menu, tuck into sweet treats like pancakes and waffles, or healthier options like plant-based scrable or poched eggs on crispy kale. Bonus – it’s dog friendly.
bountybeets.com

Jones The Grocer, Palm West Beach

Jones The Grocer’s Aussie cafe classics have made the brand a household name across the UAE, with branches across the emirates serving up hearty and homely dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its newest addition is located at Palm West Beach, and this itteration, a laidback beachside bar, café and restaurant opens up completely to the Palm West Beach coastline, allowing breakfast lovers to take in the ocean breeze. Its breakfast menu – served all day on weekends – includes classic eggs benedicts, hearty full English breakfasts and freshly baked crossaints.
jonesthegrocer.com

The Hamptons

An ode to the chic lifestyle of the Hamptons in the state of New York, this boutique cafe began life as a standalone concept in a whitewashed Jumeirah villa, and has since expanded to a further two locations in Arabian Ranches and Jumeirah islands. Start the day with one of their all-day breakfasts, ranging from the signature big breakfast, to Greek eggs or a traditional Middle Eastern spread.
thehamptonsdubai.com

The Scene by Simon Rimmer

A firm favourite among those looking for British breakfast classics, The Scene by Simon Rimmer has long been established as one of the best spots in the city for an alfresco breakfast. The expansive terrace snakes around the restaurant, with scaterrings of tables designed for big groups set against the glass, maximising the shimmering Dubai Marina views. Breakfast is served on weekends from 10am, with a menu that features fluffy pancakes, eggs florentine and a hearty full English.
thescene.xyz

Reform Social & Grill, The Lakes

Bringing the laid-back British country gastropub to the family-friendly Lakes is Reform Social & Grill. It opens daily from 8am, serving an extensive breakfast menu until 11.30am. Perch up at a wooden table in the garden and enjoy a hearty full breakfast, or opt for farmhouse eggs, smoked Scottish kippers or a breakfast pudding while basking in the sunshine.
reformsocialgrill.ae

Eggspectation, JBR

On the corner plot on Dubai’s JBR, you’ll see the queue of people forming (especially on weekends) before you see Eggspectation. It’s become somewhat of an institution for Dubai Marina regulars, and its stacks of pancackes oozing with syrup, colourful acai bowls and eggs more than a dozen ways make this all-day breakfast spot a popular choice for seaside dining to start the day.
eggspectation.ae

Comptoir 102, Jumeirah 1

This concept-store-turned-cafe is a healthy breakfast spot that serves up organic, vegan and gluten-free options including chia seed pudding and almond butter oatmeal porridge. After breakfast, check out the in-house store displaying fashion, jewellery and home goods – you might just bag a unique find.
comptoir102.com

Maison Mathis, Arabian Ranches

A firm favourite for those living around Arabian Ranches, the restaurant at the golf club, Maison Mathis, brings a taste of delectable home cooked European cuisine to Dubai. As well as breezy interiors, it’s home to a gorgeous terrace that overlooks the golf club, serving up an array of colourful benedicts, impressive array of vegan and vegetarian dishes and indulgent sweet treats like a strawberries and cream waffle and French toast.
mm-argc.com

Palm Bay Dubai, Club Vista Mare

We love the colourful interiors at Palm Bay, a playful new addition to the strip of restaurants at Club Vista Mare. The menu has a bit of everything, and it’s got a casual, family-friendly feel that’s warm, welcoming and instantly makes guests feel relaxed. Their breakfast menu, served up daily, is concise but offers something for everyone – from bagels to full English breakfasts. Of course, it comes with the added bonus of being served up right by the beach.
palmbaydubai.com

carine, Emirates Golf Club

In Dubai, chef Izu Ani is a culinary mastermind that can do no wrong – and that includes his long-standing French Mediterranean restaurant, carine. Sweetly named after his wife, the beautiful restaurant overlooks the golf course, and its terrace is one of the most serene spots in the city for a long, leisurely breakfast. Only served on weekends, it’s an indulgent menu filled with as many sweet treats as savoury, from classic French toasts and waffles to truffled scrambled eggs and beetroot tartine with homemade jam.
dubaigolf.com

Plenty to choose from for your breakfast in Dubai!

by Alice Holtham

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Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2021 as announced by Air Canada

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 5, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Restaurant.

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November 5, 2021 – Air Canada and presenting partner OpenTable, the world’s leading provider of online restaurant reservations and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), are proud to reveal Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2021, with culinary talent as inclusive and diverse as the Canadian community. This year marks a milestone, as Air Canada celebrates the 20th anniversary of launching the pre-eminent list of top restaurants across the country.

Through incredible commitment and quality, Canada’s culinary talent has preserved a healthy and thriving restaurant scene across the country. This year’s list features the best in fine dining, bar dining, takeout, farm-to-table and other categories, while also highlighting producers of the year and changemakers in the Canadian culinary landscape.

The list of Canada’s Best New Restaurants is created with the help of industry experts from across the country. This expert food panel is inclusive, reflecting the diversity and geography of the Canadian food scene. In celebration of the program’s 20^th anniversary and reflecting upon the industry-wide impact of the past two years, the panel embraced an unranked, category-based list this year, focused on resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and culinary excellence.

OpenTable joins for the first time as presenting sponsor, and will be showcasing bookable bespoke Chef’s Menus at a selection of the restaurants featured on the 2021 Canada’s Best New Restaurants list. Gold sponsor Destination Canada is on board to help travelers experience more of the food and places within Canada.

“Air Canada is proud to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Canada’s Best New Restaurants, a program that has charted the progress of Canadian culinary talent from coast to coast,” said Andy Shibata, Vice President, Brand, Air Canada. “To mark this milestone year and in recognition of the resilience of our country’s food community, this year’s Canada’s Best New Restaurants are unranked, focusing on and honouring people, places and cultures that make up the hospitality industry in Canada.”

“Canada’s Best New Restaurants represent the vibrant culinary landscape of this country. We know how much people have missed restaurants over the past 18 months and as part of our partnership with Air Canada we are bringing a selection of unique bespoke Chef’s Menu experiences to diners at some of the most renowned and innovative restaurants in Canada,” said Matt Davis, District Director of OpenTable Canada. “We are helping diners create meaningful moments around the table, whilst also enjoying best-in-class hospitality.”

Whether the experience is terroir cooking just south of the Arctic Circle or a 12-course meal delivered via an unmarked door in an urban parking lot, the power of restaurants to surprise, inspire, satisfy, and unite is as strong as ever. This year’s list is unranked, with each restaurant or producer being best-in-class.

Here are Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2021:

Best Fine Dining: Pompette (Toronto, ON): The modernist French Bistro offers updated classics, striking new flavour combos, modernist cocktails and a 300-plus label wine list that sparkles with Old World and New World gems. Service is always on point, and the vibe ever-relaxed.
Best Bar Dining: JinBar (Calgary, AB): Chef Jinhee Lee, already an exemplar in contemporary Asian fusion cooking, mixes the lively cocktail-leaning embodiment of her effervescent personality with her love of bold Korean flavours – Korean pizza, anyone?
Best Farm-to-Table: Bika Farm and Cuisine (Saint-Blaise-sur-Richelieu, QC): Ingredients travel only a few metres to diners’ plates at this farm table 45 kilometres southwest of Montreal. Chef Fisun Ercan’s suppers span a dozen dishes over four servings, all made from produce at peak freshness and inspired by Ercan’s youth on the Turkish Aegean coast.
Best Tapas North of 60: BonTon & Company (Dawson City, Yukon): Diners at Shelby Jordan and Dennis Dunn’s Yukon restaurant just 240 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle are treated to international cuisine inspired by surrounding farms and producers. BonTon & Company is part of a Dawson City movement to re-establish local food chains and reverse decades of reliance on goods trucked in from away.
Best Trailblazer, Tropikàl Restobar (Montreal, QC): The St-Henri restaurant has a carnival-like energy that resonates in chef Jae-Anthony Dougan’s cooking. It’s a celebration of Caribbean, Afro-Latin and West African history and cuisine, all backed up by a rum-fuelled cocktail bar.
Best Hotel Restaurant: Terre (St. John’s, NL): At Terre, which overlooks St. John’s Harbour from inside the ALT Hotel, chef Matthew Swift has orchestrated a symphony of in-season Newfoundland produce, sourced directly from the fishers, farmer and hunters who work on the rugged island.
Best Takeout: Sunny’s Chinese (Toronto, ON): From its beginnings as an exclusive experience obtained via a mailing list, to the brick-and-mortar incarnation opening 2022, Sunny’s Chinese sums up the entire pandemic restaurant experience in one brown bag filled with meticulously rendered regional Chinese delicacies.
Producer of the Year: Tim Ball, subsea forager (Garnish and St. John’s, NF): Part-time bayman and full-time subsea forager, Tim Ball is changing the sustainability and stewardship of Newfoundland and Labrador fishing by hand-harvesting scallops and sea urchins that are enjoyed on plates from St. John’s to Japan.
Grower of the Year: Les Jardins Lakou (Dunham, QC): Jean-Philippe Vézina grows vegetables typically used in Afro-Caribbean cuisine, inspired by a 2017 trip to the land of his birth, Haiti. Since his start in 2020, Vézina has doubled the number of subscribers to his weekly vegetable baskets filled with jicama, sweet potato, giraumon (turban squash), amaranth, okra, collard greens and African spinach.

Canada’s Best New Restaurants Video Series

Go to CanadasBestNewRestaurants.com for the full list of this year’s honorees and behind-the-scenes videos of three of this year’s top restaurants: JinBar, Bika Farm and Cuisine, and Pompette. Now also screening on the Canada’s Best New Restaurants and Food TV channels on the inflight entertainment system on most Air Canada flights.

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline, and in 2019 was among the top 20 largest airlines in the world. It is Canada’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax. In 2020, Air Canada was named Global Traveler’s Best Airline in North America for the second straight year. In January 2021, Air Canada received APEX’s Diamond Status Certification for the Air Canada CleanCare+ biosafety program for managing COVID-19, the only airline in Canada to attain the highest APEX ranking. Air Canada has also committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050. For more information, please visit: aircanada.com/media, follow Air Canada on Twitter and LinkedIn, and join Air Canada on Facebook.

About Air Canada enRoute
Air Canada enRoute is Air Canada’s award-winning travel media brand published by Spafax. An inspirational authority for the global traveller, it reaches passengers at every step of their journey through its multimedia portfolio: print publications including Air Canada enRoute, the iconic magazine, digital channels (enroute.aircanada.com) and many prestigious programs and events. Air Canada enRoute November/December issue will be distributed nationally with the Globe and Mail home subscriptions and by direct mail to Aeroplan Super Elite and Million Miler members. Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @enroutemag, #AirCanadaTop10

About OpenTable
OpenTable, part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), powers reservations for the hospitality industry. OpenTable’s software seats more than 1 billion people per year and helps more than 60,000 restaurants, bars, wineries and other venues attract guests, manage capacity, improve operations and maximize revenue.

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W Hotels China – Starts a New Scene with the Debut of W Xiamen

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 4, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Hotel, Restaurant.

November 4, 2021 – W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces the opening of W Xiamen. Owned by Powerlong Group, the hotel is set in Xiamen’s trendy, downtown East Business District where sunset reveals an edgy, creative street culture and an upscale dining scene. This makes it the ideal locale for a design-led hotel that provides guests the ultimate insider access to all the design, fashion, fuel and music in its destination.

“Xiamen is a dynamic and highly charged city with a youthful energy and drive that is an ideal fit for the W Hotels brand,” said Tom Jarrold, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “Our playful and intriguing nature comes to life through immersive art and design, Happenings like live music performances and our Whatever/Whenever service, which we know will be embraced by local creatives and international travelers alike.”

Look + Listen
The hotel’s design by Hirsch Bedner Associates pays tribute to Xiamen’s tropical surroundings, natural beauty of its harbor and its transformation from an industrial port city to a modern music mecca. Here, the mixing of people over millennia has inspired an idiosyncratic culture that embraces wildly varied musical forms and young, rebellious attitudes which W Xiamen captures through show-stopping digital installations and specially commissioned art pieces.

At W the Store, the iconic look of Gaojia opera singers is reimagined as contemporary art, with hypnotic faces rendered in oil paint on curved metal walls. Before stepping into the Living Room (W’s signature take on the lobby), guests find themselves in an electric forest made of neon glass pillars, their hushed stillness contrasted with sudden bursts of flute notes played every time guests approach the lobby centerpiece — an interactive art piece inspired by the musical instruments displayed at a local organ museum.

Among the highlights of W Xiamen’s 293 guest rooms and suites are feature walls that use digitally rendered artworks to bring the city’s tropical nature indoors by means of RGB (red-green-blue) illustrations that work as a color puzzle with pieces falling into place once the ambient light shifts from one color to the next, as well as consoles and coffee tables inspired by Bo Bing, a popular local dice game. The Extreme WOW Suite is a 262-square-meter contemporary art-filled venue that sets the scene for private parties. An expansive entertainment area is anchored by a plush L-shaped sofa, and the suite’s party trick activates with a flick of a switch, amping up the drama with underwater ripples across the room.

Touch + Taste
W Xiamen’s four distinctive dining concepts are set to captivate travelers and locals with innovative fare and eclectic beverage offerings. At HEAT, the destination bar by WET (the pool), music curator Marc Lussier spins as guests sip on Champagne in a hot tub. On the menu are modern street food-inspired bar bites and cocktails that pay homage to the island’s ancient Amoy heritage. Nestled within the lobby-level Living Room is SOUNDSCAPE, a socially-responsible community hub to recharge with organic brews and healthy beverages to the soundtrack of W-curated music.

Thrill-seekers can dive into a fusion of Cantonese and Minnan flavors at MIN YEN, which hosts private Cognac tastings paired with mystery menus. For all-day dining, all roads lead to NINE, an upscale food hall by day with nine interactive stations that tempt with fresh baked goods and handmade noodles during the day. At night, NINE serves premium steaks and seafood. In the afternoons, a sophisticated HI TEA @ NINE highlights Fujian’s tea culture with a selection of rare infusions, along with customized craft beers.

GATHER
The hotel’s 1,000 square-meter Great Room with avant-garde art and cutting-edge technology features a 110-square-meter LED screen, the largest in the city, to create events like no other. Color-changing starburst ceiling bulbs add extra sparkle to every celebration. W Xiamen also offers highly customizable Studios for smaller events with décor featuring floral resin tables and abstract oil paintings, a reminder that art and commerce often go hand in hand.

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Foodie? Here are 6 street food destinations you should visit

Written by Gill Dewar on October 26, 2021. Posted in Whats cooking, Destination news, Restaurant.

What’s cooking? World recipes

6 street food destinations you should visit – Are you a Foodie? This is the right place!

Forget gourmet restaurants, the best way to sample a destination’s cuisine is through its street food offerings, writes Clinton Moodley.

6 street food destinations you should visit

Mexico

Tamales, a traditional Mesoamerican dish steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf, is undoubtedly one of the popular dishes in Mexico. Travellers can find it at food vendors or restaurants across the country. Other popular options include tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, empanadas, nachos, fajita and tortas.

Thailand

Thailand is famed for its food markets and street vendors. When the destination fully reopens, you will find street vendors prepare meals in front of you, with plenty of options to choose from. Popular food includes pad thai, kaao laad kaeng (curry on rice), mango sticky rice and Thai iced tea.

Morocco is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences. The street food scene is flourishing. Harira, known as the national soup of Morocco, is one of the traditional meals you must try. The tomato-based soup is made with chickpeas and lentils.

There’s also the merguez, a grilled red, spicy mutton or beef-based sausage and sardines served with parsley and paprika. Morocco is the largest canned sardine exporter. For those with a sweet tooth, try their chebakia.

The pastry dough, created to look like a rose, is deep fried and poured with a syrup of honey and rosewater, finished with sesame seeds. Be sure to explore the streets of Fez, known as Morocco’s culinary capital.

South Africa

South African cuisine combines African, Asian and European elements. For the best street food experience, explore Durban. Indulge in a bunny chow, hollowed-out bread filled with a curry of your choice: mutton, chicken or beans.

Also, try the amagwinya (vetkoek), a deep fried savoury dough filled with mince or cheese. Many vendors serve this comfort food at street corners, but restaurants serve “gourmet” versions with additional combinations. Other notable mentions include koeksisters, boerewors, biltong and kota.

Bali

Bali is another Asian destination that thrills foodie travellers. Besides its spectacular views and array of temples, Bali is a destination packed with flavour. Popular street food items include sate (satay), a south-east Asian dish of seasoned, skewered and grilled meat; bakso, an Indonesian meatball with hot broth; and pisang rai, a boiled banana wrapped in rice flour and rolled in coconut.

India

India is known to offer some of the best street foods and the majority of them are vegetarian-friendly. Among their traditional meals is bhelpuri, a mixture of puffed rice, potatoes and roasted peanuts and pani puri, a crisp, hollowed puris with potato, moong and chickpeas.

Also try aloo tikki, a deep fried dish made with mashed potato, lentils and cottage cheese. For those with a sweet tooth, sink your teeth into a jalebi smothered in a sugary syrup. No trip is complete without trying some chai tea prepared by a chaiwala. Visit Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai for the best street food offerings.

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The London Project prepares for Ain Dubai debut

Written by Gill Dewar on October 20, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Activity, Featured events, Restaurant.

October 20, 2021

The London Project will offer front-row seats to the glittering grand opening of Ain Dubai, the highest observation wheel in the world, this week.

On October 21st, the Bluewaters Island-based eatery will unveil a brand-new menu and the debut of its live band.

There will also be a three-day special for half priced premium Laurent Perrier bubbles in celebration of the highly-anticipated launch extravaganza.

Located at the foot of Ain Dubai, the London Project invites diners to enjoy dishes from its new menu paired with spectacular mixology from the Gin Garden, while taking in unobstructed views of the opening firework and laser shows.

Not only will bottles of Laurent Perrier Champagne be served at half price, but the London Project will reveal a signature Gin Wheel featuring five custom-made gin-based cocktails for the opening spectacle.

Guests can expect an energy-inducing atmosphere with live music by the London Project’s new jazz-duo comprising a singer and saxophonist who will perform a variety of music styles, both day and evening from October 21-23.

From the kitchen comes a new carefully curated menu that embraces the unique and desired flavours found in global cuisines, presented with flair.

With both indoor and outdoor terrace seating, the London Project offers awe-inducing views of Ain Dubai, the waters of the Gulf, and the city’s sparkling skyline – presenting a front row seat to the event that will put Bluewaters Island on the global stage.

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The Michelin Guide Goes Digital

Written by Gill Dewar on October 19, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Restaurant, Whats cooking.

The Michelin Guide is going digital. The iconic red book is no more. Instead, the famed restaurant review and guide books have developed a proprietary app for iOS and Android, which offers users an interactive experience. The app promises to help consumers quickly find information on nearby Michelin-rated restaurants, and unique hotels.

Why did Michelin decide to go all digital, and forego the iconic red guides?

The content, not the delivery method, is the core of the Michelin selection. Going digital makes it possible for us to put the entire global Michelin Guide all in one place, and allows us to distribute it free of charge to a larger audience. We recognize that the printed guides are legendary, and that for many people they represent freedom and adventure. What better way to honor that history than with a global guide that fits in your pocket?

Can you tell us a bit about the UX of the new interface? What can people do on the app?

Users can find every Michelin-rated restaurant in the world, with the ability to search by name, location, cuisine, and even chef. They can see which Michelin Guide restaurants are located near them while they’re on the move or when they’re planning a trip to a future destination. Restaurants added to the Michelin Guide are now added in real-time, ensuring you always have access to the most up-to-date selection and reviews (no more waiting for the next book to be released). Most restaurants can be booked through the app via global partners like RESY, Open Table, and TheFork.

Engagement is another key focus of the app. The new Michelin Guide has created a space for its community through user profiles and the ability to endorse (“love”) restaurants and hotels. Users can also create restaurant and hotel wishlists — saving their favorites, sharing them with others, and discovering lists authored by experts and aficionados.

How does the digital-only guide fit into Michelin’s overall digital strategy?

Digital is no longer an alternative distribution channel but a mainstream part of our lives. We want to reach everyone who loves and appreciates food and travel, and the accessibility of a free digital product will help us achieve that goal while following through on Michelin’s commitment to reducing waste and improving sustainable business practices. Giving Michelin Guide users access to real-time information and a platform for engagement makes digital the ideal format for the future.

What other innovations can we expect from Michelin moving forward?

The introduction of community features in the app lays the groundwork for functionality that can leverage the knowledge of like-minded people to improve how we evaluate our selections. We’ll continue to increase the opportunities for engagement, bringing users the ability to love/endorse individual people/profiles, add notes to list items, have verified accounts, and plot points of interest, including their own restaurant and hotel recommendations. We’ll also accomplish full feature parity across all of our platforms, so users will have the ability to discover, plan, share, and book future journeys entirely within the Michelin Guide and Tablet Hotels universe.

What advice do you have for operators who are wary of bringing tech into their venues?

Today’s consumers expect instant gratification, and they expect it to be facilitated by technology and real-time interaction with brands and businesses. Restaurants and hotels are experiential by nature — hospitality is their entire purpose — so they’re ideally suited to thrive in this environment. Technology can allow them to be more efficient, more responsive, and create more rewarding connections with their customers.

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This Five-star Paris Hotel Is a Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate Lover’s Dream

Written by Gill Dewar on October 18, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Hotel, Restaurant, Whats cooking.

Le Bristol Paris, part of the Oetker Collection, wants to give its guests a true taste of the finer things in life. And that includes bringing the best cheeses in the world to their brand-new, in-house fromage cellar.

In 2019, the luxury hotel in Paris unveiled the first iteration of its Les Ateliers du Bristol workshops with widely acclaimed chef Éric Fréchon’s artisanal flour mill and bakery. The following year, Le Bristol brought a chocolate factory into the mix with head pastry chef Julien Alvarez, followed quickly by an updated wine cellar. And now, the hotel is ready to unveil its latest on-site craftsman offering: a cheese-aging cellar.

“First came the living bread crafted with freshly milled heritage wheat in the on-site bakery, then the magnificent handmade delights of the chocolate factory and the exclusive wine cellar. Now, Les Ateliers du Bristol is introducing the fourth expertise to its refined offering with the addition of the in-house cheese cellar,” a spokesperson for the hotel shared in a statement to Travel + Leisure.

According to the spokesperson, the new fromagerie is the realization of a shared vision between Le Bristol’s Fréchon and award-winning cheesemaker Marie-Anne Cantin. The atelier features an aging cellar, home to a seasonal selection of cheeses, some of which are prepared at Le Bristol’s kitchens. All the cheese is left to develop and mature in the cool, dark cellar, lined in wood and maintained with the perfect balance of humidity so you can come to experience the ideal bite.

Visitors to the hotel are welcome to visit the cheese cellar for a taste of rare selections of Khorasan bread, also baked on the premises, paired with a rich comte or a smooth chevre, all aged in the on-site cellar.

“Never one to miss out on an opportunity to express his creativity, chef Fréchon will enrich the selection of cheeses from time to time with his own recipes, including a salted butter camembert marinated in calvados and enrobed in breadcrumbs,” the spokesperson added.

Cheeses from the in-house cheese cellar are served at the hotel’s restaurants including Epicure, 114 Faubourg, and Café Antonia. So, if you’re enthralled by the notion of cheese, chocolate, and wine all aged in house — with bread baked on the premises — it’s time to book a stay for an unforgettable Parisian adventure.

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