Culinary Clipbook September 2017

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Culinary!Media!Highlights!2017! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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Contact: Pieter Ruig Office: 310.664.8844 Email: pruig@discovercrc.com

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Perrier-Jouët, one of the world’s most celebrated Champagnes and famed for its clean, crisp flavors—as well as for the hand-painted art nouveau anemones that decorate its collectable “flower bottles”—has linked arms with the iconic Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel. A landmark since 1928, the Beverly Wilshire opened at the apex of what has become the legendary Beverly Hills “Golden Triangle” at the junction of Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard.

The result is a unique one-month-long dining experience at the Beverly Wilshire’s The Blvd outdoor patio restaurant, which has been picturesquely transformed into the “Garden of Wonder” and will last from now until September 1.

A plush faux lawn and elegant garden furniture, all evoking the green and white PerrierJouët belle époque theme, provide a summertime setting for an exclusive Champagnecentric menu, with entrées ranging from $28 to $70. The menu, which is exclusive to the Garden of Wonder, features items such as foie gras terrine with savory French toast and rhubarb gastrique, with pickled strawberries and Thai basil; vanilla-maple-seared local diver scallops and Maine lobster with roasted corn chanterelle risotto and basil foam; and a dessert tower of petite confections, pastries, and chocolates.

Garden of Wonder seating is limited, with hotel guests having priority; there is a $200 minimum per table for non-hotel guests. Dining at The Blvd’s Garden of Wonder, which looks out onto two of the most fabulous streets in Beverly Hills, is more apt to result in automobile spying than people watching, as the throaty roars of Lamborghinis and Ferraris are often augmented by the quiet purr of a passing Bentley or Rolls-Royce.

Al fresco dining in Beverly Hills has never been more bubbly and elegant.

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Valle de Guadalupe, San Miguel de Allende and Tulum beckon with wine, art and cuisine below the border.

VALLE DE GUADALUPE Rihanna was the biggest thing to happen to this village, about a five-hour drive from L.A., when she visited the formerly sleepy ranchero-filled wine-producing valley. It's been steadily gaining a reputation as a south-of-the-border mecca for adventurous foodies and wine lovers, but since the singer took over the luxe-minimalist Encuentro Guadalupe "anti-resort" (rooms from $380) in 2014, the area has seen industry visitors including Diego Luna, Drew Barrymore and Emily Ratajkowski.

"The new Baja food scene blended with extraordinary wines is a combination that is hard to find in other regions," says Fernando Castro Perez, owner/winemaker of La Lomita winery and TrasLomita restaurant, of the appeal. He's also seen Gael Garcia Bernal, Ricky Martin and Karla Souza around. "It's very reclusive. We cannot forget it is a rural Mexican village with people who are working in the field or minding their own business, so out here Hollywood celebrities are treated like anybody else."

Rihanna's favored property boasts a private wine cellar where guests can request a secluded farm-to-table, wine-paired dinner for two. Revered El Cielo Winery (which boasts pristine valley views) just opened the first couple of luxury villas (from $430) — secluded among grape vines — for its future boutique hotel, open fully by the end of the year. And by popular demand, the intimate, sustainable, Alejandro D’Acosta-designed Clos de Tres Cantos winery debuts two guest rooms in May (from $250), which come with a bottle of vino and private behind-the-scenes wine tour. Bruma Valle de Guadalupe winery, too, launches its first restaurant this summer, and for accommodations, two private pool suites at Casa Ocho (from $285).

The cuisine scene is headed up by chef Diego Hernandez of the hyperlocal gastronomical gem Corazon de Tierra, who this March opened Verlaine in West Hollywood. His ever-changing menus are informed by the season and improvisation, and the kitchen is sympathetic to nitpicky diets or even vegans. "We have a lot of

people coming from L.A. to the valley, from both the entertainment and restaurant industries," says Hernandez.

"Most drive, but some also arrive by helicopter." A further local attraction: a wave of food trucks that feel fresh and modern, like the torta-serving Airstream at favorite eatery Finca Altozano, and Telefonica Gastropark, a culinary commune from Tijuana that just opened a weekend-only location in the Valle. Adds Perez, "One of the main attractions is that it doesn't feel like a tourist destination. You don't feel forced to follow a pattern; you are on your own. I guess that is one of the most valuable things to have when you are a celebrity."

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SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE The charming colonial town (a seven-hour flight plus 90-minute drive from L.A.) has drawn in Eva Longoria, Antonio Banderas, and Elizabeth Banks and her producer husband, Max Handelman, among many others. "I's a magical, enchanting place with about 17 colonial period churches and cathedrals," says international interior designer Michelle Nussbaumer — whose former L.A. shop was a go-to for Sharon Stone and Robert Downey Jr. — of the place where she owns a second-home hacienda, the site of many a fabulous dinner party. Her top tips: margaritas at sunset on the Rosewood Terrace, and a private bath at the grotto, with tequila and local artisan cheeses. Her biggest piece of advice: "If you're lucky enough to know the right people, there are many beautiful haciendas to see and enjoy."

Rosewood San Miguel de Allende (rooms from $430) is a draw for creative types escaping Hollywood: Writer/producer Marta Kauffman, Warner Bros. exec Sue Kroll and Diego Luna have stayed. Just this spring came the opening of Los Pirules Kitchen + Garden Bar, an expansive, colorful venue boasting two outdoor kitchens where guests can book cooking lessons. For VIPs, the property's new art concierge, Alexandra Long, will provide exclusive, customized tours of the area's creative hubs (like Fabrica La Aurora and Bellas Artes) and local artists' studios.

The popular property and the Edenic art-filled Hotel Matilda (from $409) — where Lorde and her entourage have crashed — are co-sponsoring a dynamic new arts and food festival July 13-16 called MAG, Market of Arts & Gastronomy, featuring dozens of tasting booths, events and chefs including top toque Enrique Olvera.

Based in Mexico City, he says San Miguel is close enough to visit on weekends, but "it gives me the feeling of being in a totally different and faraway place." The executive chef of Matilda's popular Moxi restaurant adds of the town, "It's small, quiet and relaxed, and an environment with great local and organic produce."

San Miguel is also home to Casa Dragones, the premium tequila label based in a 17th century stable turned exclusive tasting room where Martha Stewart and Ryan Seacrest have sipped the pricey spirit. (Tastings are by request.) In the same tony neighborhood, L'Otel opened the sustainably minded Doce 18 Concept House (from $375) in November, with 10 bright, singularly designed suites, a pool and amenities designed in partnership with local beauty brand Ablu Botanica.

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TULUM When destinations are being called the "next Tulum," you know a place has reached a certain pinnacle. But the boho-hip haven and nearby Playa del Carmen have not jumped the shark. Proof: Noma — the traveling pop-up restaurant by legendary Danish chef Rene Redzepi — chose the jungles of Quintana Roo as its latest destination (Tokyo and Sydney were the last two), partnering with local nonprofit Traspatio Maya to gain access to exotic indigenous crops from around the Yucatan Peninsula (think wild bee larva). Tough $600per-person dinner reservations are being made through closing May 28.

Nearby the Rosewood Mayakoba (rooms from $875) has lured such guests as Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher and Paul McCartney. The resort just debuted Aqui Me Quedo, a new gastronomic-focused beach retreat for icycold coconut cocktails and citrus-y ceviche. Also in the exclusive complex is the four-month-old Andaz Mayakoba (from $450), where a golf hall-of-famer recently had a private cooking class at El Pueblito Cooking School.

Otherwise, Gjelina-esque Hartwood continues to be the dinner spot, says celebrity stylist Djuna Bel (who's worked with Ryan Gosling and Charlotte Gainsbourg), who was there in March with her boyfriend, designer Nikolai Haas and Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso. (Bel orders the wood-fired beets, ribs and fresh fish.)

Other hot spots where Bel runs into industry friends: Sanara Tulum's restaurant, The Real Coconut, for "the best avo toast, the most amazing smoothies and milkshakes, insane nachos," and Gitano, a "super fun, romantic spot with great music and easily some of the best mezcal drinks I've had in my life." Those who are into activities beyond beach lazing love swimming in the cenotes, visiting ruins, having temescal ceremonies and clay massages.

At Hotel Esencia (from $615) — where Jason Wu married Gustavo Rangel, and spent the holidays alongside Diane Kruger, Kate Bosworth, and Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell — the organic Mayan spa is a major draw, the most popular bespoke treatment being the Stress Relief Massage (which uses copal incense, bunches of aromatic herbs, a house-made tonic and spice-stuffed heat packs). Says Wu, "Kevin Wendle (an Emmy-winning producer) has created this immensely chic hotel on the most incredible stretch of beach, all of which comes together to create a beautiful and relaxed vibe. You find yourself constantly wanting to return."

The luxe 50-acre property, midway between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, has indeed become an industry favorite in the two years since Wendle refurbished it: Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, Robert Redford, Suki Waterhouse and Brad Weston have recently flocked to enjoy the pristine Caribbean sea and Wu’s tequila tastings.

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And there's no way customs will hassle you about it.

Authenticity is the buzzword on everyone's lips when they talk about travel right now.

And we’re no different. At F&W we’re looking for authentic experiences wherever we go. From staying on a working farm to eating off the beaten path, we want to live like a local, even if just for a few days. One of the best ways to do that is to learn to cook the food of a particular place. Coming home armed with recipes and new skills is the ultimate souvenir. So that’s why I was especially excited to spend some time at the new El Pueblito cooking school in Mayakoba, a dreamy eco development on the Riviera Maya in Mexico. Chef Karla Enciso taught me how to make tortillas (which I will probably still leave to the pros), ceviche and lots of incredible sauces and salsas that I can use over and over. The key to the salsas: All the ingreidents were charred first– garlic, onion, peppers, tomatoes– giving them an incredible depth of flavor. Here is one of chef Karla’s recipes to hold you over until you can make it to El Pueblito.

Spicy Shrimp Aguachile Serves 6 4 banana peppers, stemmed and seeded 3 tomatillos, husked and diced 1/2 cup peeled chopped cucumber, plus 20 thin slices for garnish 1 cup fresh lime juice 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions 3 Tbsp. olive oil, plus more for drizzling Salt and pepper 18 large shrimp—peeled, deveined and halved lengthwise 1 Hass avocado--halved, pitted and diced Cilantro, for garnish 1. Place the banana peppers on a hot grill or directly over an open flame. Cook, turning every 2 to 3 minutes, until the peppers are charred and blistered. Transfer to a heatproof bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let stand for 20 minutes. Carefully remove the seeds and veins, but leave the charred skin on the peppers for flavor.

2. In a blender, combine the charred banana peppers with the tomatillos, chopped cucumbers, 1/2 cup of the lime juice and 1/4 cup of the onions. Add the olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Puree until completely smooth. Taste (it will be spicy) and add more salt and red onion if needed. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled.

3. On a large platter, lay the shrimp in a single layer. Cover with the remaining 1/2 cup of lime juice and season with salt. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

4. Drain the lime juice from the shrimp and divide onto 6 plates. Season with salt. Top with the spicy banana pepper sauce, diced avocado, red onion, sliced cucumbers and cilantro leaves. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

A cigar and a cocktail. That combination is elusive in many places around the country as nosmoking laws preclude table or bar service in areas designated as cigar friendly. That's largely the case in Los Angeles. Being able to order a drink while smoking a favorite cigar has become something of a quest hereabouts. Sure, there are some cigar shops that turn a blind eye if you bring a bottle, but that's not the same. This makes the Copper Lounge at the InterContinental, and its outdoor smoking area in the garden of the hotel, a breath of fresh air for the L.A. cigar scene.

A recent visit to the Copper Lounge led to the discovery that a Sazerac made with blueberryanise bitters adds a refreshing twist to the classic cocktail. If a Sazerac is not quite your thing, the "Tokyo Cruise" is made with Iwai whisky, rosemary simple syrup, yuzu, orange, lemon and lemon peel before being mixed and strained into your glass. Still not convinced? There are 70 or more cocktails on any given day from which to choose.

The beverage menu describes the Copper Lounge as a "dedicated Bourbon inspired bar"—and the Bourbon list is extensive, numbering 49 labels. Scotch has the second-highest representation among whiskies on the menu, then some Cognacs and Armagnacs. In other words, lots of brown spirits that many cigar lovers will enjoy pairing with their smokes.

Copper Lounge's humidor selection includes cigars from Ashton, Romeo y Julieta, Punch, PadrĂłn, Arturo Fuente and Gurkha. Guests who prefer to bring their own smokes

can do so at no extra charge.

Another plus for the Copper Lounge cigar area is that you can get food from the bar's menu. The chicken gyoza (dumplings), chicken tempura with a spicy soy dip and kafta (Lebanese beef skewers) were welcome bites. For a full meal, get a table at Mari, the hotel restaurant with a largely Japanese menu.

The InterContinental recently expanded the area in which one can enjoy a cigar. Now, there are two main areas, both heated at night. One has tables and the other has seating on comfortable couches on the stone patio that doubles as a site for private events. When nuptials or a bar mitzvah reception are going on, the smoking area is closed, so call ahead on weekends to check.

Aside from providing a haven for the indulgence of cigars and libations, the real contribution to L.A.'s cigar scene is the Copper Lounge's location.

Century City is a wasteland when it comes to cigar-friendly spots. It's best known for a large shopping mall and the offices of entertainment business agents and PR firms. Big office buildings and high-rise apartment structures define the skyline. On the south side of the mall, you'll find Fox Studios. From the smoking area at the Copper Lounge, you can see the movie lots through the trees.

"Our guests love it," explained Scott Allen, who manages the lounge, the restaurant and the cigar program at the InterContinental. "We get a lot of business travelers and tourists who use the garden a lot, but we also get a lot of folks from Fox and CAA (Creative Artists Agency) during the week." The weekends, he said, can be quiet—and relaxing—if no event takes over the garden.

"I really want to start a cigar and Bourbon pairing program here," Allen said of the Copper Lounge.

That will make the Copper Lounge an even better place to get away from the rest of L.A. and relax with your favorite cigar and a beverage.

Copper Lounge InterContinental Los Angeles Century City 2151 Avenue of the Stars Los Angeles, California 90067 (310) 284-6500 http://www.intercontinentallosangeles.com/ Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

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Suite Talk

SHOWER POWER Turn your bathroom into a Canyon Ranch outpost: The wellness brand’s debut bath and body collection includes lemongrass-and-sage-scented body wash, moisturizer, and scrub. The signature ingredient: an oil extract from Vanuatu’s indigenous dilo tree, lauded for its anti-inflammatory benefits. From $24 each, shop.canyonranch.com.

Tableside sope prep and (top) the dinner scene at Haab’.

Culture Club

GO BIG OR GO HOME To celebrate its tenth anniversary, the 376-room Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman gave itself an impressive present: a new 19,000-square-foot penthouse, the largest in the Caribbean.

Reached via private elevator, the residence has three bedrooms and a kitchen, dining room, library, cinema, and wraparound outdoor terrace with views of Seven Mile Beach below. A dedicated personal assistant attends to guests’ needs, including stocking the beach cabana reserved exclusively for penthouse use. Doubles from $379, including breakfast daily and a $100 resort credit. Penthouse from $15,000.

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VIRTUOSO LIFE

A Caribbean-inspired color palette in The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman’s penthouse.

(BATH PRODUCTS) CHRIS PLAVIDAL/STYLING BY HEIDI ADAMS

Torch-bearing men dressed as Maya warriors and bedecked in feather headdresses escort 16 guests nightly to Haab’, a new open-air dining experience at Mexico’s 116-villa Banyan Tree Mayakoba. In a jungle setting a few minutes’ walk from the resort, hosts share stories about Mayan culture while enlisting guests to help with food preparation. The meal includes warm sopes (stuffed corn cakes), ceviche, suckling pig, and banana-leaf-wrapped grouper. Wash it all down with a cocktail made with Mayan huana (soursop-infused rum). Dinner, $175. Villas from $499, including breakfast daily and a $100 dining credit.

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10#Reasons#to#Head#to#Mayakoba MARCH 25, 2016

Photo courtesy of Fairmont Mayakoba!

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Buffet!of!Luxury!

Mayakoba, located in Riviera Maya, delivers a one-two punch of lush tropical jungle and beautiful white sandy beaches, where the second-largest coral reef in the world exists.

Mayakoba means â&#x20AC;&#x153;village over waterâ&#x20AC;? in Mayan, and the property sits on one of the largest underground rivers in the world. These six miles of freshwater canals are home to three resorts - Fairmont Mayakoba, Rosewood Mayakoba and Banyan Tree - with a fourth on its way (Andaz Mayakoba will open in late 2016).

Mayakoba is an ecologically diverse paradise of crystal clear lagoons, mangrove forests and virgin white beaches. Fairmont Mayakoba is ideal for couples, girlfriend getaways, guys' trips and family vacations (three hours daily of the Discovery Club are included).#

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Photo courtesy of Fairmont Mayakboa

Casual!Elegance!

You will find luxurious and relaxing accommodations ideal for romance or families. The Fairmont Mayakoba is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and has just relaunched their inclusive “Premium Appetite for Luxury” package, which includes accommodations, unlimited dining and premium beverage service at their restaurants, gratuities on food and drinks, on-property bird-watching boat tour, complimentary use of bikes, tennis and water sports and more with 30 percent off the introductory

Photo courtesy of Mayakoba

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Powdery!White!Sand!

Stunning white soft sandy beaches line the shore in Mayakoba, and there’s plenty of room for walking or running or endless watersports to try. Even paddleboarders are at it in the morning before the afternoon tide sets in. Don’t worry about being bothered or approached by anyone on these beaches (unless it’s a romantic couple who wants you to snap their photo).

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Photo courtesy of Brisas, El Puerto, La Laguna, HAAB', La Ceiba Garden

Booming!Culinary!Scene!

The food in Mayakoba is superb and—yes—you can drink the water.

At Fairmont Maykoba, experience Chef Richard Sandoval’s style and flair fueled by Latin ingredients and international flavors. Brisas, the beachside coastal Latin grill, serves fresh local seafood, fine steaks, pork and chicken, all seasoned with vibrant Latin marinades and spices. The grill is the centerpiece at this restaurant, as the food is cooked on a brick-oven grill.

Start with the wood-grilled avocado with pea shoots, chili oil, corn pico de gallo and mixed lettuces; the heirloom tomato & Burrata with hearts of palm, watermelon, avocado, burrata cheese and a balsamic-chipotle vinaigrette; or the grilled oysters a las Brisas, barbecued with roasted butter and charred tomatillo ponzu.

You can’t go wrong with any entrée, but the Zarandedo-style pink snapper was a winner, marinated in achiote and citrus and served with avocado, a bittersweet cabbage slaw and homemade flour tortillas. Try El Puerto, the Latin-Asian seafood and steakhouse with an array of gorgeous sushi, salads, small plates, steaks, chicken and vegetarian entrées (also don’t miss the list of 100 tequilas, sake, Latin wines and more).

La Laguna, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, is super causal; the outdoor eating area is surrounded by the emerald waters of the lagoon. Be sure to stop by the daily breakfast buffet at least once for more offerings than you can possibly imagine. For lunch, try the guacamole, shrimp bacon quesadillas or mahimahi fish tacos.

At Banyan Tree Mayakoba, head to the recently opened HAAB’, which offers a new Mayan dining experience deep in the jungle, under the stars. Named for the Mayan Zodiac, HAAB’ is an experience you won’t forget.

La Ceiba Garden at Rosewood Mayakoba is a 20,000-square-foot alfresco kitchen and garden. Guests can learn Mayan cooking through demonstrations and tastings, as well as unique Mexican herbs and spices and 45 types of organic vegetation.

Photo courtesy of Mayakoba

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Limitless!Adventure!

Activities are endless, with nature trails for jogging, walking, biking and hiking that wind around the tropical jungle and connect all three resorts.

For spectacular scenery and challenges, play El Cameleon Golf Course, a Greg Norman design and home to the annual PGA Tournament OHL Classic at Mayakoba (held each November). Set among mangroves extending to the Caribbean, sand dunes, cenotes and lagoons are tennis and padel courts. If you like or have never tried archery, learn from Mayakoba’s resident archers.

For a fun and educational outing, take a boat ride with ecology manager Alanso Ortiz for a lesson in unique birds in the area as well as fishing in the waterways (we saw three crocodiles on our journey).

Or experience the Mayakoba Connection, a ferry service connecting all three hotels.

Kayaking is not just beachside at Fairmont Mayakoba; take a guided tour by the water canals for a great way to see the crystal-clear waters, fish and even several blue herons if you’re lucky.

Photo courtesy of Fairmont Mayakoba

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Bliss!Out! Make sure you check out the Willow Stream Spa in Fairmont Mayakoba.

If you’re with your significant other, try the “Food of the Gods” treatment, which salutes chocolate. (What could be better?) Start with a cacao body wrap and scalp massage, then a massage with coconut oil and rose essence.

This treatment nourishes the body inside and out and it smells great, too! Head to the rooftop after your treatment to dip into the sea-mineral soaking pool or to relax poolside.

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Games!Galore!for!Kids!

This spring, Mayakoba is launching a new kids program as part of their Camp Mayakoba Yucatan Rangers, “The Mayakoba Games” (a play on Hunger Games). This all-day experience is for children ages 12 to 17 who will get an archery lesson, play croquet, race on kayaks, take a nature trail tour and more.

Kids will also love the slide in the swimming pool at Fairmont Mayakoba, biking around the property and the boat tours, while the parents can enjoy spa time, golf or just relaxing on the beach. #

Photo courtesy of Mayakoba#

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The!Venice!of!the!Caribbean!

Mayakoba, located in Riviera Maya, offers a combination of lush tropical jungle and beautiful white sandy beaches, where the second-largest coral reef in the world exists.

Mayakoba means “village over water” in Mayan, perfectly named as the property sits on one of the largest underground rivers in the world.

Six miles of freshwater canals are home to three resorts—Fairmont Mayakoba, Rosewood Mayakoba and Banyan Tree—with a fourth on its way (Andaz Mayakoba will open in late 2016). Nature, beauty and adventure can be found here.

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Photo courtesy of Mayakoba

Shop!Until!You!Drop!

Recently opened several months ago, Pueblito is a new village and event space located in Mayakoba. The gorgeous white La Santa Cruz chapel is a must visit, and fabulous restaurants, one operated by each hotel.

There is also an art studio by Mexico Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famed Ethra Gallery - its striking atmosphere would make it a great party or wedding setting!

If you venture outside Mayakoba, take a short drive to Playa del Carmen and 5th Avenue, a gorgeous waterfront town filled with boutiques, galleries and trendy restaurants.

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Photo courtesy of Alison Lewis#

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Nature's!Sunshine!

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s said that a wonderful time to visit Mayakoba is in the spring, especially April and May, with temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Fall through spring is also typically warm and dry, so there really is no bad time to visit this beautiful destination (although summers can be warmer with more humidity).

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A View with a Bar: 12 Hotel Watering Holes to Drink In Now MAY$2,$2016! !

A room with a view is old news. Right up there with “location, location, location” is the truism that stunning vistas—especially from public spaces for socializing and relaxing—make a hotel a destination. But some new hotels, and some classics, are upping the ante. Their bars are designed to maximize views so extraordinary—scenes you’d hike miles to take in—that the bar becomes secondary. That flute of bubbles or high-concept cocktail seems almost (but not quite) beside the point. Here are 12 places to go to drink in the scenery. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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After!a!one*year!hiatus,!waterborne!tasting!sessions!are!returning!to!Music!to!Your!Mouth,!perhaps!the! swankiest!and!most!star*studded!food!festival!on!the!Southeast’s!crowded!calendar.! !

“Any!chance!we!have!to!get!our!guests!out!on!the!water,!we!take,”!says!Courtney!Hampson,!vice*president!of! marketing!for!Palmetto!Bluff,!the!Bluffton!resort!community!that!hosts!the!annual!event.! !

While!the!property’s!103*year*old!motor!yacht!has!previously!participated!in!Music!to!Your!Mouth,!the!Grace! was!in!the!midst!of!being!restored!during!last!year’s!festival.!The!project!involved!replacing!31!planks;!40!ribs;!

14!floor!timbers;!28!keel!bolts!and!65!percent!of!the!keel,!in!addition!to!an!engine!rebuild!and!other!assorted! upgrades.!“It!was!all!deteriorating,”!marina!manager!Chris!Story!told!the!resort’s!magazine.! !

It’s!unclear!exactly!what!food!and!drink!may!have!been!served!on!the!Grace!in!the!years!since!a!wealthy!New! Yorker!commissioned!its!construction;!he!needed!a!boat!to!carry!him!from!Manhattan!to!Long!Island!and! back.!Indeed,!as!the!magazine!reported,!its!whereabouts!from!the!1950s!through!the!1980s!are!uncertain,! although!there!are!rumors!it!was!the!backdrop!to!at!least!one!domestic!murder.! !

Prior!to!its!temporary!disappearance,!though,!the!yacht!–!outfitted!in!mahogany!and!brass!–!was!likely!the! scene!of!grand!eating!occasions.!Owner!Joseph!B.!Cousins!kept!a!large!folding!table!in!its!main!salon,!but!sold! off!the!boat!when!his!wealth!and!stature!exceeded!it.!

Buyer!James!Adams,!a!trapeze!artist,!transformed!the!boat!into!a!mobile!residence!to!accompany!a!barge!on! which!he!staged!a!circus.!The!James!Adams!Floating!Theatre!traveled!up!and!down!the!Southeastern!coast!for! three!decades,!at!one!point!employing!Edna!Ferber,!who!later!wrote!Showboat.!She!slept!aboard!the!boat! that’s!now!known!as!the!Grace.! !

“The!Grace!cruises!sell!out!immediately!every!year,”!Hampson!says.!“There!is!something!truly!magical!about! being!on!the!river!on!a!crisp!fall!day.!And!then,!of!course,!there’s!the!bourbon!and!bacon.”! !

This!year,!the!bourbon!will!be!poured!by!Julian!P.!Van!Winkle!III!of!Old!Rip!Van!Winkle!Distillery!and!the!bacon! will!be!served!by!Allan!Benton;!the!$150!May!River!cruise!is!scheduled!for!two!two*hour!sailings!during!the!

Nov.!16*Nov.!20!event.!Mike!Lata!will!also!appear!on!the!Grace,!serving!cheese!to!accompany!wines!selected! by!Dave!Miner!of!Miner!Family!Winery.!That!party!is!priced!at!$150!too.! !

Slightly!more!affordable!Music!to!Your!Mouth!events!include!a!dessert!workshop!led!by!Bill!Smith!of!Crooks’!

Corner!and!a!cocktail!class!led!by!Atlanta!bartender!Tiffany!Barriere;!tickets!to!the!dry!land!sessions!are!$100! apiece.!For!a!full!schedule,!visit!musictoyourmouth.com.!

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You like to be prepared for anything.

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Including the inevitable day that you’ll need to make Bugs Bunny a congratulatory cocktail after he wins everyone’s freedom in an intergalactic basketball game with Michael Jordan.

Yes, that was the plot of Space Jam. We’ve been waiting 20 years to make a good Space Jambeverage joke.

And now, here’s the Copper Carrot, the rare bourbon drink that dares to be saturated by root vegetables. You can try one with a cigar at Copper Lounge inside Century City’s InterContinental LA hotel.

Or you can make one right here. Right now.

No pressure. But now everyone’s looking at you. So what’s it going to be? !

The Copper Carrot 2 oz Elijah Craig Bourbon 1 1/2 oz fresh carrot juice 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice 1/2 oz fresh clementine juice 1/2 oz simple syrup 1 dash bitters !

Fill mixing glass with ice. Squeeze fresh lemon and clementine with a citrus press. Add all ingredients to mixing glass and thoroughly mix for 30 seconds. Drop large ice cube rock into rocks glass. Strain mixture into rocks glass. Peel small 2- to 3-inch heirloom baby carrot. Garnish drink with heirloom baby carrot. !

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Some say it takes a week to transition into vacation mode. That time lessens to, say, four or five minutes when you’re handed a welcome drink at the check-in desk. Caribbean resorts have been serving rum punch in the lobby for decades, but more hotels are following suit, pouring signature cocktails, bubbly or beer as a welcome amenity. It signals to guests that vacation is here—and it’s going to be a good one.

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This!cool!Kimpton!hotel!near!the!University!of!California!at!Santa!Barbara!is!full!of!Mexican< inspired!touches.!At!check<in!there!are!Coronitas—7<ounce!Coronas—!as!well!as!small!bottles! of!Mexican!Coca<Cola!(which!uses!sugar!rather!than!high!fructose!corn!syrup).!In!the!late! afternoon,!a!social!hour!in!the!lobby!offers!generous!pours!of!spiked!agua!frescas!(past!flavors! include!plum!and!lemon!Thai!basil).!And!every!Tuesday!evening,!there’s!a!fiesta!in!“Rita,”!the! hotel’s!Airstream,!which!is!stocked!with!margaritas,!sangria,!chips!and!salsa.! !!

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