Septime – from the Latin septimus, seventh, is Chef Bertrand Grébaut’s Paris restaurant where he seeks to liberate good French food from expensive dining rooms. Chef Bertrand Grébaut has a wealth of experience and deep roots in honouring simple pure produce. His style infused with the incomparable energies of Joel Robuchon and Alain Passard during his development as a chef. Here at Septime he serves a seven-step menu at dinner and four steps for lunch, focused on nature. […]
I love Melbourne, there is such a good vibe here. I could live here, I could definitely cope with the vibrant foodie scene and the artistic and creative sensibility that flavours this city. It’s a fascinating combination of easy, relaxed, yet passionate and creative. After a long day of thinking, problem solving and brainstorming I am keen to turn the brain off. Something to eat and drink and a good night’s sleep is in order. A few nibbles and […]
Founder and Head Grower Gert-Jan Hageman had the idea for De Kas: “A kitchen surrounded by fertile soil where vegetables and herbs thrive … Where daylight shines in from all sides and where the chefs are free to express their creativity daily using the best the season has to offer. It seems an obvious concept, but I spent twenty years surrounded by white tiles under fluorescent lighting before I came up with it.” Frankendael Park – Restaurant De Kas […]
As there are many choices, sometimes you’ve just got to take the easy way to easily finalise your dinner plans; look into the mirror and ask, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is fairest of them all?” de Silveren Spiegel (translated in English to The Silver Mirror) is the winner. Michelin worthy de Silveren Spiegel offers contemporary Dutch cuisine prepared by talented young chef Yves van der Hoff, whose father, Jim van der Hoff owns the place. (That’s […]
The Bellagio has an outstanding art collection and has its own gallery. For their Picasso collection they have taken it a step further with the opportunity to dine surrounded by a magical collection of original works. Picasso restaurant is luxuriously fitted out with rich carpets, large windows swathed with generous drapes of fine fabric and tables sparkling with silverware and glassware fit for a king. Every wall is decorated with Picasso paintings and drawings. Some fantastic bright examples of cubism […]
Next stop Langer’s Deli for the famous No.19 hot pastrami sandwich, house-made coleslaw, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing on rustic rye bread with Dill pickles on the side. Some say “the best” hot pastrami sandwich in America! We squeeze the Mustang into a parking space on the busy road and we wander down to the unassuming deli on the corner. Langer’s has been right here serving the same food since 1947. Here I am nearly 70 years later about to take […]
Early morning Downtown LA had a very different vibe than I had imagined. I expected to be driving into a metropolis of ant like activity, buzzed by a city as it wakes up, but it was very quiet. The buildings were unremarkable concrete blocks, not lot of romance, design or style. It felt sort of grey, monotone and ghostlike. More like a city of practicality. We arrived ready for our breakfast but nothing was open. We had planned to arrive early […]
Today was such a funny day, we started really well with what we thought were clear intentions, but the universe, as usual, led us to where we were meant to be . Dressed immaculately for our luncheon booking at Le Salle a Manger. Where we planned to experience the unique style of chef Helene Darroze, 2015 best female chef of the year. We left early looking forward to a nice long walk through Paris before lunch. One of the […]
A lovely long walk today through street of Paris through le Jardin du Luxembourg, builds our appetites for our bistro style lunch at Bistroy Les Papilles. When we walk through the door it is very clear we are in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Bistroy Les Papilles décor is an interesting mix of classic French elements juxtaposed with bright Latin colours. The mosaic tile floor is a kaleidoscope of bright colours, yellow, red, blue, green and orange. A large bold […]
We enjoyed a glorious slow morning walk down through the Trocadero to a perfectly timed view of the Eiffel Tower. Silhouetted against the rising sun, soft lilac morning light framing the warm golden beginning of the sun right behind the tower. Many moments of enthralled wonderment later we continue on to meander through the 7th arrondissement to Rue Cler market street, famous as Julia child’s marketplace where my love encouraged me to let fly with a Julia impression… a bolshy […]