To celebrate Father’s Day (June 15), The Rocco Forte Collection (a group of some of the finest luxury hotels in Europe) has created some unique packages that should appeal to jsut about any Dad. For Sporty Dad: The Lowry Hotel, Manchester Whether a Manchester United fan or not, men will adore a tour of Old…
Last Friday, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed every morsel of a $200 million lunch. That was the cost of the elegant, spacious and posh Regent Seven Seas Mariner when it was built around a decade ago. The Mariner was in port in San Francisco for a turnaround, having arrived that morning from a Trans-Canal…
His friends called him Bob. Others called him one of the most inspirational people in vinoculture. Robert Mondavi, shown enjoying a glass of his famous product at his winery in Oakville at his 90th birthday celebration, passed away this week at the age of 94. There’s no truth to the rumor that he’ll be buried…
I am so bummed that I won’t be able to make the 10th Stowe Wine and Food Classic, June 20-22nd at Trapp Family Lodge, selected by Travel & Leisure as one of the world’s 500 best hotels. (And yup, it’s still owned by members of the same von Trapp family portrayed in the movie classic,…
I always give extra bonus points for a restaurant that has the care, ambition, and talent to change their menu daily. Few can pull it off with the level of success that Chef/Owner Ethan Stowell manages to, at his Union restaurant. With some of the world’s best produce available just steps away at Seattle’s Pike…
What do you get when you cross Paris and Seattle’s Pike Place Market, two of my favorite food destinations? Their off-spring would be the casual Cafe Campagne and the slightly less casual restaurant upstairs, Campagne, where we chose to dine. Campagne is located in the Pike Place Market, off of a charming courtyard complete with…
The concept of prep kitchens that help those that are too busy to prepare their meals in a flash is not a novel idea. In any given city there are likely a handful of these places to choose from. The Passionate Plate is a wee bit different in that it is for the busy gourmet,…
The historic Bengal Lounge of The Fairmont Empress in Victoria, British Columbia was the setting for the release of Victoria Gin on May 13. Winchester Cellars created B.C.’s first handcrafted gin, and they are also Vancouver Island’s first licensed distillery. The unique recipe for Victoria Gin blends ten organic and wild botanicals, from juniper berries…
Can one small neighborhood support 64 spas and salons? Apparently so. I’ve lived in and around Denver for more than 20 years and in that time made good use of the health and beauty services to be found in the chic Cherry Creek North neighborhood, but I had no idea until recently that there are…
I’ve heard about two massage therapists working on you at the same time, but we all know good things come in threes! Just reading the description of this treatment loosens the knots in my muscles! Just what you need after spending a hard day at your private villa (which includes a privatein infinity swimming pool,…
If the Hôtel Tadoussac looks familiar, it’s because many of the outdoor scenes for the 1984 film Hotel New Hampshire were shot here. Based on the popular John Irving novel of the same name, it starred Jodie Foster, Rob Lowe and Beau Bridges. This year, Hôtel Tadoussac celebrates 66 years, and summer is a beautiful…
Seattle’s “Extraordinary Dining Society” is holding court at the iconic Rover’s, which recently celebrated it’s 20th birthday. The experience of dining at Rover’s is both quintessentially French and quintessentially Seattle, a rare and delightful balance. Chef/owner Thierry Rautureau ( a.k.a. The Chef in the Hat) has won numerous awards, including a James Beard Award. The…