DOTWNews - April 2017 issue

April 2017

nevis

sugar planTaTion chic in The caribbean

bahrain

The gulf’s laidback diaMond

viP at

Huelva

Delicious dining in Spain’s capital of gastronomy

Top Marques Monaco

tHe best of tHe

malDives Your essenTial guide To glaMorous new sTaYs, faMilY-friendlY escapes and exTraordinarY island hideawaYs

+

Bangkok + Mallorca + Mexico + DuBai

NEW-SEASON WATCHES

♦

dazzling JEWElS

♦

SUPERYACHTS

♦

lUXURY CaRS

Explore

iguazu falls

Discover a hotel experience driven by Spanish passion

For more information, please call 04 386 8111 Located at 23 Kuwait Street, Port Rashid, Dubai MeliaDubai 22

April 2012

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MeliaDubai

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Hot events, new Hotels and gloBal Jet setters

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GRACE EXPECTATiONS with the snow-capped atlas mountains in the distance, morocco i s s o o n t o we l co m e the luxury boutique grace marrakech among a slew of five-star openings slated for this year and beyond

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luxury travel news from around the world this month’s best new hotels a guide to the top events in april vip guide to top marques monaco

N E W S D i A RY

april 19-30 TRiBECa filM fESTiVal – nEW YORk CiTY, USa

spoTlighT on nYc

robert de niro’s tribeca Film Festival is back for its 16th edition and promises 78 hotly anticipated world premieres, and plentiful screenings of documentaries, foreign films and features from legendary and up-and-coming filmmakers. elite guests can front up $6,000 for a gold package with premium access (including to the closing night festivities) while the ultra-elite can splash out on a $100,000 Founders package, which includes private meetings with robert de niro and martin scorsese on the set of the irishman among numerous astonishing inclusions. www.tribecafilm.com

Diary APRil

“love food, will travel” is the motto this month as the coveted World’s 50 best Restaurants draws gourmands to Australia, while cinephiles make their annual migration to New York City for the much-loved Tribeca film festival

april 01,03,05

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50 BEST TalkS & CEREMOnY – SYdnEY & MElBOURnE, aUSTRalia

culinarY conversaTions

down Under is on top of the gastronomic world this april, with sydney and melbourne set to host the first-ever 50Besttalks, drawing the finest chefs on the planet to talk “edible ideas” at the sydney opera House and the margaret court arena before the formal world’s 50 Best restaurants 2017 ceremony takes place in melbourne on april 5. gaggan anand, massimo Bottura and dominique crenn are among the star chefs scheduled to speak, with vip tickets including a one-hour function, champagne and canapés, and a meet-and-greet opportunity with the chefs. www.theworlds50best.com

N E W S D i A RY

april 05 SOTHEBY’S MadE in BRiTain aUCTiOn – lOndOn, England

Made in briTain

showcasing the finest modern British art across multiple disciplines, sought-after works such as chris levine’s lightness of Being, l.s. lowry’s the lookers on and dame elisabeth Frink, r.a’s lying down Horse are set to go under the hammer in the bi-annual sotheby’s sale. a must for the avid collector, the made in Britain auction starts at 10.30am on wednesday april 5 at sotheby’s, london. www.sothebys.com

april 15-23

MOnTE-CaRlO ROlEX MaSTERS – MOnTE-CaRlO, MOnaCO

gaMe, seT, Thrill

djokovic, nadal, murray and wawrinka will be among the leading tennis sportsmen thrilling spectators as they compete for an estimated €3,748 million in monaco this month. rather than perspire in the boondocks, book an elegance gold package for a super category seat on court rainier iii, a three-course lunch, afternoon nibbles and access to the vip village. www.montecarlorolexmasters.mc

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iguazu falls

Or visit dotwnews.com/app

DIGITAL EDITION Now available for iPhone and iPad from App Store

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destinations

t H e w o r l d ’ s m o s t d e s i r a B l e l o c at i o n s

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bANGkOk bEAUTY Brimming with art deco luxury, the siam Hotel is also flush with wellness, with an opium spa by sodashi – complete with a marble bathhouse – yoga, and even a gymnasium with the first professionally equipped, luxury muay thai gym in Bangkok

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a luxe journey to health in Bangkok gilded age glamour in the maldives Holiday inspiration for your next maldives escape Feasting and foraging on the island of mallorca Bahrain: the gulf’s laidback diamond 24 hours at dubai’s one&only resorts

D E S T i N AT i O N S N E v i S

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D E S T i N AT i O N S N E v i S

nevIs dreAmInG

sarah Freeman learns the art of limin’ while exploring what is surely the caribbean’s most serene island, endowed with spectacular nature, colonial history, blissfully empty beaches and beautifullyrestored plantation hotels

be i n g we l l i n

bangkok

Swapping a high-carb diet for high-intensity training, Steven Bond forsakes Bangkok’s ultra-enticing vices for an active escape, sampling yoga and Muay Thai – with a healthy side of luxury, of course

Aside from being the hippest venue at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, L’Appart is easily one of the best vantage points in the entire metropolis (above). Opposite page, clockwise from left: the pool at Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit; relaxing at the hotel’s spa; a bedroom in one of three Opera Suites, two-bedroom abodes with sweeping skyline views. Previous spread: sunset falls over Bangkok’s Chao Praya river

S

ome magazines have an annual body issue, but I happen to have my own perpetual “body issue” as a result of late-night carbs.

Between a desk job, penchant for fried food, computer screen addiction and mild cheese fetish, it can be a little challenging to stay in shape, and even harder while travelling. Even after arriving to Bangkok International fuelled up on a hearty, calorieinfused flydubai Business Class meal, I had a fairly simple and straightforward agenda – to indulge in the healthier side of the chaotic city. Thailand, well known for its revelry and round-the-clock frenetic pace, has a storied tradition of Muay Thai kickboxing and a mandatory national service, so

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it’s fair to say there is an abundance of lean, mean physical specimens, and a distinct shortage of “bigger boned” residents. So the challenge was set. I intended to prove to myself that a city escape could edify my body, rather than pickle my liver.

THE fREnCH fanCY My destination was a sprightly section of Sukhumvit, a perma-traffic-jammed highway flowing east-west between the Chao Phraya River and well into Cambodia. The “Soi 11-13” neighbourhood is crammed with the usual bevy of street food vendors, masseurs and 7-Eleven corner shops, but with a very convenient juxtaposition.

Between the swathe of high-end retail destinations is my chosen five-star home, the Sofitel Bangkok

Sukhumvit, and within walking distance are a range of martial arts gyms, yoga studios, “float labs”, and even a Japanese Onsu bathhouse. It’s just a matter of scribbling down a schedule on my iPhone and, with yoga mat and boxing gloves at the ready, I’m soon encountering Bangkok’s other carnal temples.

A previous visit to Thailand had culminated in a weeklong mixed martial arts training camp in Phuket, where my choice of affordable accommodation had been a concrete cabin, with all the essential modern luxuries; A/C and WiFi that worked almost all of the time. My club level room at the Sofitel is rather more decadent, and the soon discovered sugary abominations in the Club Millésime lounge are enough to leave me

D E S T i N AT i O N S b A N G k O k

“between A swAthe oF hIGh-end retAIl Is my Chosen FIvestAr home, the soFItel bAnGKoK suKhumvIt”

fleeing to the hotel gym, stepping backwards with my index fingers forming a crucifix.

The hotel’s gym is pristine, with a full complement of Technogym gear, crisp towels and lemon and cucumber-infused ice water at the ready – heavenly nectar after an arduous fiveminute tussle with the cross-trainer. It’s enough to get me red-faced and ready for a drink.

WElCOME TO THE SHOW The road to type 2 diabetes is paved with unused gym memberships, and besides my regular visits to the pool, my gym session was to be my only brief encounter with the hotel’s fitness facilities. As the sun sets on day one, it’s time for a not-so well earned cocktail at the spectacular L’Appart bar, where the 32nd-floor balcony gives a sweeping

view of this particular corner of the metropolis.

Inside, a hip book-decorated DJ station supplies some lounge beats, which is a neat contrast to the three-piece swing revue simultaneously adding some verve to the downstairs lobby.

My next step is to seek out some fitspiration.

Long a fan of MMA (mixed martial arts) and the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), I relish the opportunity to see fights up close, albeit safe, sanctioned professionals at work, and it just so happens there’s a regional MMA event taking place just metres away, across the street at the curiously monikered “Insanity” nightclub.

The roster of 10 professional bouts is organised by the Bangkok-based “Full Metal Dojo” (www.fullmetaldojo.com) promotion, and emceed

by what appears to be the lovechild of Zach Galifianakis and Grizzly Adams, who charges up a room full of fight fans surrounding a mesh “cage” ring, plied with outrageously affordable Singha lager. Nevertheless, after witnessing a series of knockouts, submissions and a few fights left to the judges’ scorecards, I am inspired to get fighting fit.

HEalTH – aT a STRETCH It may have been the allure of the plush Sofitel bed, or a fuzzy head after an unplanned detour to the infamous Soi Cowboy strip of bars en route back to the hotel, but the morning after turns out to be a calamity resolved at yoga Elements (+66 2 255 9552; www.yogaelements.com) a studio, literally just next door, incidentally seven floors above the local 7-Eleven.

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d e s t i n at i o n s m a l d i v e s

bar e f o o t

glamour It’s more laidback sophistication than Gilded Age glamour at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, though as Michelle WranikHicks discovers, the legacy, luxury and legendary service made famous by the New York City property is alive in the Indian Ocean

The showpiece accommodation at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is the John Jacob Astor Estate – the largest three-bedroom overwater villa in the Maldives with a private fitness centre, mini-theatre and a 92-square metre pool (above). Previous spread: an aerial view of the overwater villas and Whale Bar

I

’m in the Maldives, pedalling along a sandy pathway on a white bicycle, the startling blue hues of the Indian Ocean shimmering through the palms – but instead of piña coladas and sunsets, I’ve got New york on my mind. In particular, the glamorous Gilded Age and the Astor family, the so-called “landlords of New york”.

It’s been more than a century since John Jacob Astor Iv opened The St. Regis New york, and how times have changed. Back then, the preferred summertime escape for the city’s elite was the glamorous Newport on Rhode Island, where the Astors, the Carnegies, the vanderbilts and the Rockefellers et al would hobnob at posh Gatsbystyle parties while staying in their marble-clad

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“cottages”. It seems wildly improbable to imagine the Gilded Age set, in all their feathered finery, jetting off to holiday in barefoot in the Maldives, but at the newest St. Regis incarnation, they would certainly have discovered the same level of luxury and attentive service they’d grown accustomed to in New york.

The resort opened in December on vommuli Island in the far-flung reaches of the Dhaalu Atoll in the Maldives, and from the moment I’m greeted at Malé airport, it’s clear I’ll want for nothing for the next three nights. I’m ushered into a car and swept into The Great Room, the St. Regis’s lounge at the seaplane terminal, where it’s a well-orchestrated symphony of chilled drinks and cold scented towels, which no doubt

matriarch Caroline Astor would have used to dab at her forehead. Once seated and refreshed, I’m handed an iPad. The Astors might have been aghast at the prospect of meeting their butler through a pre-recorded video message but I’m instantly won over by the earnest face of my 24-year-old Maldivian butler, Adam.

Charming and courteous, he’s a slight young man who has worked in hospitality since he was 18. Dressed in linen, he’s waiting for me at the jetty when I disembark the seaplane, with a spiced vanilla passionfruit punch in his hand and a smile. After a few moments, he’s driving me in a golf buggy toward my sunset villa along a bone china-white sand pathway, raked to perfection each morning, with thick tropical foliage and

D E S T i N AT i O N S M A l D i v E S

Designed to mimic the shape of a manta ray, the overwater villas are a visual feast both indoors and outdoors, with a luxurious, design-focused aesthetic, stand-alone bathtubs and overwater net hammocks

coconut palms creating a canopy above. vommuli is so “postcard” I’m tempted to think it a mirage, and at just 22 acres, it’s so small, that en route to my overwater villa we are “lapped” by a couple jogging around the island.

My sunset villa is one of 77 island and overwater villas conceptualised by Singaporebased architect Chiu Man from WOW Architects and Maria from Warner Wong Design. Inspired by the manta rays that swim in the lagoon, lovers of space, symmetry and texture will find it difficult to resist exclaiming (and touching) everything.

From furniture design to lighting and art, no detail has been overlooked, with colour, textures and patterns reflecting the marine environment, from the headboard, made with recycled glass

beads that mimic water drops, to the sofa fabric, inspired by ripples of water.

The seamless transition between indoors and outdoors means you can move from bed to pool and plunge into the rippling Indian Ocean within moments, or zone out in numerous outdoor areas – on a daybed, a sun lounger or even nets, which, suspended over the water from the terrace, act as hammocks. There is blissfully little to do, though watching fish leaping in the distance with a glass of prosecco in hand and sighing at the pastel sunsets never becomes humdrum.

Indoors, it’s difficult to shift the eyes elsewhere but the sea, though the television, which swivels on demand to suit your position (all operated by an iPad) can even be configured to stream Netflix.

A glass cabinet features complimentary handmade chocolates, a trolley-style bar is equipped with everything required for a DIy cocktail, and with a showpiece eggshell-shaped bathtub (lined with Laboratoire Remède products, a St. Regis signature), there’s no real reason to leave.

Despite its size, there’s plenty to explore on vommuli. I have my wonderful butler Adam on speed dial and a fleet of buggies at my disposal, but I mostly choose to pedal everywhere on my villa bicycle. I glimpse fish and stingrays darting in the shallows beneath the boardwalks on my way to breakfast at Alba, where a mimosa is virtually obligatory, along with pancakes served with a gauntlet of tropical jams, and what seem to be all the pastries from France.

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D E S T i N AT i O N S M A l D i v E S E S C A P E S

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D E S T i N AT i O N S M A l D i v E S E S C A P E S

M

A

l

D

i

v

E

S

escapes Sun-drenched beaches with sand the colour of icing sugar, blue as far as the eye can see, no one really needs an excuse to visit the Maldives but these new and ultra-exclusive islands are always dreaming up experiences to lure us back, time and time again

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balearic

beauty The mellow island of Mallorca casts a spell on Michelle Wranik-Hicks, who eats, falls in love and immerses herself in la buena vida from Palma to the quiet north-east coast of Canyamel

D E S T i N AT i O N S M A l l O R C A

Designed to resemble a traditional Mallorquin hilltop village, Park Hyatt Mallorca has views over Canyamel valley, with sandstone architecture and three pools; a lagoon-shaped pool, a children’s pool and an adult’s only pool and whirlpool (above). Opposite page: Rocky cliffs and clear waters frame Canyamel beach. Previous spread: the stunning natural beauty of Calò des Moro, one of Mallorca’s most exquisite beaches

I

n Mallorca, I’ve become a forager, picking sprigs of rosemary and lavender to tuck beneath my pillow, and peeling madrones to pop in my mouth on the way back from breakfast. The sweet, berry-like fruit grows abundantly on the north-east coast of the island, though I’m warned by staff at the Park Hyatt Mallorca to take it easy, for when eaten in large quantities, madrones can make you drunk.

Spilling over a hillside in Canyamel and styled to resemble a traditional Mallorquin hilltop village, the perfumed gardens of the resort seem to be a living orchard, with some 70,000 plants including pear and quince trees, the sweet fruit used to make jams and jellies, abundant lavender and what seems to be enough rosemary to last a

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decade. Spain’s largest Balearic island truly feels like a fertile gift from the Gods – and a bona fide nirvana for foragers. Almond trees cover the countryside, the nuts used for oil, milk and even perfume. Asparagus grows wildly, the fingerlike shoots sprouting up from old, stone walls usually along the roadside, as do mushrooms, blackberries and artichoke. Even snails, emerging from the rain, are collected with gusto. After a downpour, I’m told, it’s common to see groups of foragers holding containers, their eyes fixed on the ground as they hunt for snails to add to their paella, which would undoubtedly be drizzled liberally with Mallorca’s “liquid gold” – the oil made from Mediterranean olives.

Wild groves of olive trees line the roads from the resort all the way down the hill to the peaceful bay of Canyamel. I’ve set off on a morning hike

to explore the area along a secluded pathway, with not another soul in sight. As a citydwelling female, walking anywhere remote automatically puts me on guard, so when I spot the lone figure of a man in the bushes, my pace slows and my heartbeat quickens.

I can see him through the trees, hidden from view, and what seems to be his car parked metres from the bushes. Reluctant to walk past, I stand rooted to the spot, my imagination galloping wildly – until I hear children’s voices. As it turns out, the man is a harmless Mallorquin local – a father who has driven here with his young children to pluck olives from the trees. They wave gaily as I scurry past, my cheeks burning with shame. It won’t be the first time I feel horribly urban and sadly underexposed to the wonderful la buena vida (the good life) in Mallorca.

D E S T i N AT i O N S M A l l O R C A

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D E S T i N AT i O N S M A l l O R C A

The suites at Park Hyatt Mallorca are fitted with only the finest fixtures and amenities, with terraces that overlook the valley and in some cases, the ocean (top). The resort’s grounds feature manicured gardens with herbs that are used in the kitchen and serene water features (right).

“the sunset drenChes CAnyAmel vAlley In shAdes oF Golden Amber” Spaniards certainly know how to live and eat, but the country’s islanders up the ante.

The days are filled with a parade of delicious things to consume, and it begins at breakfast, where I’m humbled by the offerings at Balearic, the all-day dining restaurant. Artisanal honey, homemade muesli in olive wood bowls, jars of Malleschleck marmalades and platters of cheeses, cured meats and sobrassada, a type of sausage made from minced pork, paprika and other spices – I’ve scarcely digested my meal when it’s time for another. Thankfully, to reach my suite, set on the terraced hillside with views over the valley, I’m able to walk it off, through the resort’s charming village square, Plaza de la Torre, past gently splashing fountains and up sandstone stairs with wrought-iron balustrades.

Named for the trees planted around the buildings – Olive, Lemon, Pomegranate, Pear – the suites are set into clusters, and I find the sense of space in mine liberating, with breezy curtains that billow out to a private

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patio where I sit, overlooking the sunset drench the valley in shades of golden amber.

Everything is exceptionally well thought-out in the technology department – no hunting for USB ports or light switches here – with topnotch appliances, Duravit toilets and Böse bluetooth speakers. Then there’s the bed.

The Simmons Beautyrest mattress results in a sleep so divine, I have to confess I promptly ordered one on return to Dubai.

With five restaurants to choose from, my favourite ends up being the lively Tapas Bar, where I dine at the sociable, counter-style bar, watching chefs prepare dishes created by Michelin-starred chef David García. With local jamón, chorizo and cheese, all displayed like art in glass cabinet-style fridges, it has a buzzy, distinctly un-resort-like atmosphere, as does the casual Café Sa Plaça, another restaurant where along with dining on lunch, pastries and handmade chocolates, you can indulge in a spot of shopping, the shelves weighed down

with local olive oil and salt harvested from natural salt flats off of the island.

The resort’s ample grounds also feature three swimming pools and a gymnasium, while for a nominal fee, guests can use the indoor and outdoor pools and tennis courts at the adjacent Cap vermell Country Club. Then there’s the sanctuary of Serenitas Spa, where I disappear for an afternoon massage, drinking in more of those valley views with a tea on my treatment room’s private terrace.

Suitably relaxed, I opt for a day trip to the island’s charming waterfront city Palma de Mallorca, where the magnificent landmark, the Gothic cathedral of La Seu, stands sentinel over the city, and where the cobbled streets of the Old Town with their Moorish architecture are a joy to wander. The shopping is excellent, the bars chic, and the marina-fronting seafood restaurants serve some of the best I’ve sampled, though one of the simplest gastronomic joys in Palma – aside from licking a dripping gelato in the

D E S T i N AT i O N S M A l l O R C A Clockwise from left: squid-ink prawn and spaghetti, typical of the seafood dishes found in Palma de Mallorca; fresh fruit at Santanyí market; the Gothic Roman Catholic Palma de Mallorca Cathedral; dried chillis hang in the sun in Mallorca; a quiet square in Santanyí with the church, Parròquia de Sant Andreu; cheese on offer at Saturday’s Santanyí market

heat – is perusing the stalls at Olivar market (Plaça de l’Olivar, 4, Palma; www.mercatolivar.com) the city’s historic indoor food hall. We pull up stools at Ostras Cocedero, sipping on cava with Fine de Claire oysters, a steal at two Euros apiece.

Despite the allure of Palma, I find myself eager to return to the quiet of the north-east coast, driving through the rolling countryside past pretty, villa-style fincas, many owned by young Mallorquins who use them to escape for a weekend jaunt (or put them up on Airbnb).

After my brush with the sinister olive-picking family, I follow the cliff-top pathways along the rocky coastline around the Cap vermell Beach Hotel, where fantastically clear aquamarine water slaps against coves framed by brilliant green pine and juniper trees, and where locals have fashioned rope ladders or rickety wooden platforms for swimming.

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D E S T i N AT i O N S M A l l O R C A

With crystal-clear waters in turquoise shades, Calò des Moro is one of the island’s most picture-perfect beaches, privately owned, but open to the public

The region’s small country towns like Artà, with its hilltop fortress of Santuari de Sant Salvador, are as charming as they come, and most feature a market during the week. I head to Santanyí for the Saturday market, a town known best for its sandstone, which is used at the Park Hyatt Mallorca. The market fills the streets with a festive atmosphere, with musicians busking on the pathways and people perusing stalls selling gorgeous pottery, colourful clothes, leather goods and basket. The artisan wares are tempting, but my eyes keep gravitating toward the food. Great bulky legs of jamón, cured meats and sausages galore; local grimalt cheeses and aged cheddar; dense multi-grained loaves of bread and ensaïmada – spiral-shaped, brioche-style yeast buns dusted with icing sugar and eaten at breakfast or with coffee. I’ve never seen strawberries and tomatoes so plump and red, nor tasted oranges so bursting with flavour.

Such remarkable food clearly has its benefits. For after all, the one and only Rafael Nadal (aka the “Muscles from Mallorca”), the island’s most famous export, is a shining example of what year-round sunshine and nourishing

food can produce. Perhaps with a bit of luck, training and genes too, of course.

Nadal, who owns a €4 million seafront villa in Porto Cristo – and a big blue yacht, which I spot moored at the marina – is one of the island’s most down-to-earth and dearly loved residents. When’s he’s not winning global tournaments, the tennis champ is busy with his ultra-modern tennis academy, which he opened in Mallorca last year, complete with a school, student accommodation, 26 clay and hard courts and a clinic with specialist doctors and physiotherapists. “I really don’t imagine myself living anywhere other than Mallorca,” Nadal has stated publicly. “I’ll be here every day.” And it seems that loving feeling is mutual. Back at a ceremony in 2014, the regional president of the Balearic Islands, José Ramón Bauzà Díaz, even anointed Nadal with the title “Son of the Island”.

After only a few days, I too have fallen hard for Mallorca, and my relationship with this stunning island is sealed once I lay eyes on Calò des Moro.

The ethereal blue-shaded water and tiny, rocky beach framed by dramatic U-shaped cliffs is a watercolour painting, a scene from a film, and to

the Mallorquin teenagers leaping from the cliffs to dive into the water, it’s a playground. I’m dazzled, drunk with love (as though I’ve guzzled a kilo of madrones) for this gorgeous beach, and knowing it’s just one of many hidden places of beauty on the island torments me to no end.

Driving away from Calò des Moro is a sad moment indeed, but I’m quickly consoled – by an empanada. Bought from the Santanyí market earlier that day and stuffed with chicken and peas, the pastry crust is a crisp, golden yellow, and I eat one cold in the car. Perhaps it’s wrong, but at that moment, nothing feels more right.

stay PARk HYATT MAllORCA +34 871 81 12 34 mallorca.park.hyatt.com

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GLOBAL iguazu falls RESTAURANT INVESTMENT FORUM

10-12 April 2017 Fairmont, The Palm, Dubai, ORGANISED BY

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FACILITATING INVESTMENT DECISION-MAKING WITHIN THE RESTAURANT SPACE The Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) facilitates investment decision-making within the restaurant space. The forum showcases the hottest restaurant concepts from around the globe and gives attendees a place of focus to connect with investors, owners, franchisors and senior hospitality professionals, assess the state of the hospitality industry and secure deals for the coming year. GRIF is proud to once again be powered by Michelin in 2017, enriching the event with its extensive network and world class chefs.

GRIF 2017 will host a celebration of the brightest and best of the industry at the 2017 Global Restaurant Awards through partnership with The Caterer. The Global Restaurant Awards are an opportunity for the industry leaders to get together and celebrate those organisations that have shown innovation, vision and leadership in their businesses and concepts. Recognising the brands that have really engaged with their consumers through social media, technology, design or sustainability.

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gourmet Yo U r U lt i m at e g U i d e t o F i n e d i n i n g

112 THE CHERRY ON TOP annointed as a recipient of the 2017 diners club lifetime achievement award, michelin-starred chef Umberto Bombana has thrilled diners for years with dishes like this roasted tasmanian cherry with honey gelato

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gourmet news from around the world where to dine in Huelva, spain’s gourmet hotspot imbibing the spirit of mexico with mezcal michelin-starred chef Umberto Bombana

G O U R M E T S P i R i T O f T R Av E l

mezcal SPiRiT Of...

Move over tequila. Whether you sip it neat or savour it in a cocktail, Mexico’s other agavederived spirit is this year’s most au courant tipple, writes becca Hensley

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globe, it reigns as one of the world’s most au courant spirits. People sip it neat, like a brandy, or relish its smoky complexity in savoury cocktails.

“Within the rural parts of Mexico, mezcal has always been an extremely important part of the culture,” says Ivan Saldana, co-founder and creator of Montelobos Mezcal. He points out that urban Mexicans had previously been most interested in international spirits, but an appreciation for local, artisanal products brought mezcal to the epicurean forefront. “Chefs and drinks connoisseurs began to fall in love with the beverage about 10 years ago,” explains Saldana. “Suddenly, mezcal’s popularity grew from urban Mexico to all over the world.”

Today, at a friend’s palenque (or ranch), a hilly, agave-packed expanse swirls with shades of jade green. The sun beams down on the sword-like tips of the plants, accentuating the sharpness of their fleshy leaves, like lances that point to the heavens as fingers alight with electricity.

Amid them, a man, dressed in

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white, wearing a straw sombrero, hands me a coa – a long-handled stick with a menacing blade. He’s a jimador, an agave farmer, whose job is harvesting the plant. He shows me how to chop off the leaves, a peeling process I liken to eating an artichoke, though much more rigorous. When shorn, a pineapple-shaped round remains (called a pina), which he tosses into a basket. This is the first step in the centuries-old, handcrafted mezcal process.

Unlike tequila (a type of massproduced mezcal made from only blue agave), mezcal can be created from any species of the agave plant. That, in part, accounts for its delicious diversity. Legally made in eight Mexican states, with Oaxaca yielding the most, mezcal stands out for its strict adherence to age-old production methods. After the pinas have been gathered, on my friend’s land, I watch a mezcalero (mezcal maker) dig a deep, cone shapedhole, which he lines with volcanic rock. At the bottom, he makes a

Mica Rou ssea u

i

’m standing in a field of agave in Oaxaca, a state in southwestern Mexico well known for its culinary offerings (especially mole), mezcal and artisan handicrafts.

I’ve been to this region many times. As a child I spent the summers in nearby Puebla with my grandfather, an expat who left the United States in the 1940s and married a Flamenco dancer. We’d pile into the car together, and drive down dusty roads to explore the various villages. In them, my parents would buy colourfully sewn fabrics and blankets. At cafés on the plazas, they’d sip margaritas or cold beer, while I’d swoon over dishes made from mole, a sauce actually concocted (in part) from chocolate. I hadn’t heard the word mezcal then – but I do remember being astonished by bottles that harboured a fat worm swimming in something viscous.

Today, mezcal, a spirit made from agave, a multi-varietal succulent, which grows profusely across Mexico, hardly ever holds a worm.

In the trendiest bars around the

wood fire, which eventually burns to coral-hued embers. Filling the pit with the pinas, he caps the top with soil. Several days later, we uncover the still steaming, now caramelised, smoke-intoned innards. We observe as the mezcalero, using the ancient tahona milling process, crushes the pinas with the help of a donkey, whose slow circling efforts rub together immense stones. Distilled as the final step, the liquor is called joven when removed immediately (un-aged) and reposado or añejo when aged in oak barrels (from two months to eight years). Sometimes sweetened with added fruit, mezcal boasts infinite styles and flavours.

How to choose? “Have an interaction with mezcal,” suggests Saldana. “Try many different varieties.”

G O U R M E T S P i R i T O f T R Av E l

WHERE TO TRY MEZCAl iN MEXiCO CiTy ChiC vibrant, tony Mexico City surely deserves credit for bringing earthy mezcal into the forefront of the cool kid scene. With mezcal bars all the rage in neighborhoods, such as Polanco and Condesa, the most see-and-be-seen spot for elite travelers is The Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City’s Fifty Mils, which recently opened to wowed gastronomic applause. Dramatic velvet upholstery, sexy leather couches and a sleek marble bar sets the scene for drinks by alchemist Mica Rousseau, best known for his stint at Buddha Bar. With a plentiful collection of mezcales, the bar offers its own fruit-infused delight named Four Fifty, a limited edition made from Espadin agave, distilled three times, and infused with mango, banana, mint and cardamom. www.FouRseasons.Com/mexiCo

fifty Mils

Glass box bar

Agave plant

CheF CenTRiC Along the Riviera Nayarit in the swank beach enclave of Punta Mita, chef Luis Fitch dazzles patrons at Los Xitomates, his newly opened, highly touted temple of contemporary Mexican interior cuisine. With a farm-tofork philosophy, which he began at his first restaurant in Puerta vallarta, chef Fitch extends his eco-conscious culinary tendencies to his bar where he serves – among other libations – his own mezcal, vas que vuelvas, made in Oaxaca. “It is crafted 100 per cent manually from Agave Tepextate.” The best way to drink it? “We offer it with lime, grasshopper salt, warm orange salt and jicama.” www.losxiTomaTes.mx

BeaCh Cool There’s no trendier scene in Los Cabos than The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, which hovers above the Sea of Cortez.

While its rooftop bar offers sunset views of Cabo San Lucas and its famous arch, as well as whales in season, the place to nip mezcal is in the pop-up-style Glass Box bar, which appears miraculously within the al fresco hotel’s interiors in the evenings. With a mezcal alchemy emphasis, the personable hangout holds an agave-based spirits tasting every Thursday, complimentary to hotel guests and visitors. Appropriately called “Juevescal” – a play on jueves (Thursday) and mezcal – the once-a-week meeting may be the tastiest class you’ll ever take. www.ThompsonhoTels.Com/hoTels/CaBo-sanluCas/The-Cape-los-CaBos

hoT spoT For a true mezcal moment, get thee to Oaxaca City, in the smoky spirit’s homeland. Lilliputian and intimate, Mezdaleria Los Amantes lies in the historic district on Allende Street. Amid quirky, fantastical decor, it features welcoming, informative staff eager to guide you through a variety of flights – all to the background sounds of guitar riffs. Normally full of locals, the bar serves only products from their well-respected distillery. “This is one of my favourite places in the world to drink mezcal,” says Fermín Núñez, a chef from Austin Texas who travels to Oaxaca often to perfect his recipes. www.losamanTes.Com

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GAlAXY GETAWAY German artist and adventurer Michael Najjar is striving to be the first civilian artist to travel to space, tipped to be one of the pioneer astronauts to do so with virgin Galactic. If you too, share his passion for intergalactic travel, an overnight stay at the Kameha Grand Zürich could just be the next best thing.

Inviting plucky guests to live out Najjar’s motto: “Everybody needs space”, the “Galaxy Getaway” package includes a night in the hotel’s fifth-floor Space Suite, a 115-sqm suite designed

by Najjar himself, with outer space furnishings setting the scene, including a floating cosmonaut bed, pictures of galaxies, hovering astronauts and models of rockets. There’s even original works by the artist on the walls and a Hubble telescope to gaze the galaxy view on the suite’s ceiling. Along with a stay in the incredible Space Suite, guests are also booked into an adrenaline-rushing, one-hour training session in an A320 in-flight simulator, and taken to Berlin for the exclusive opportunity to meet Najjar at his studio. The take homes include a new perspective of humanity’s future in space in the form of Michael Najjar’s book, personally signed by the author, along with a piece of designer art. The stay also includes a hearty buffet breakfast – space travel works up an appetite apparently.

PRiCE “Galaxy Getaway” is priced at CHF 3,690 (US$ 3,714) AvAilAblE Now bOOk www.kamehagrandzuerich.com

escapes

Put on your out of office and jet off to Zürich to live out your astronaut fantasies, to the Caribbean for an island sojourn, or take a gastronomic journey aboard a vintage train in Portugal with this month’s exceptional escape routes

Words: Michelle Wranik-Hicks

PARADiSE fOUND In the tropical island realm, paradise is a term as liberally applied as sunscreen, though Paradise Beach Nevis, a luxurious and secluded collection of seven private villas on the Caribbean island of Nevis, is as close as it gets. With threeand four-bedroom private thatched villas complete with butler, concierge, Hermès amenities and private chefs, these beautiful Small Luxury Hotel of the World abodes are ideal for a luxe-family getaway. Imagine watching the kids frolic in the sand as you soak in your own private pool, the scent of local seafood wafting from the gourmet kitchen? Or spending days exploring the unspoilt natural beauty and wildlife on Nevis, named by early Caribs as “Oualie” or “Land of the Beautiful Waters”, horseback riding or even hiking up to Nevis Peak, or simply lazing around the villas, which feature breezy interiors, vaulted ceilings and glass walls that open onto the gorgeous ocean or garden views. And if it’s not already enticing enough, Paradise Beach Nevis is offering an additional two nights stay for those booking five nights, allowing you to make a week of it.

PRiCE Rates start at US$3,390 for a three-bedroom villa per night AvAilAblE For stays until April 30th, 2017 (excluding two-bedroom villas) Quote: WR17 bOOk www.paradisebeachnevis.com/package/fall-for-nevis

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All AbOARD THE GOURMET TRAiN Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, Pope Paul vI – these are just some of the famous passengers who have travelled aboard Portugal’s dearly loved Presidential Train. Magnificently restored in 2010, the marvellous vintage train now offers one of the most original and atmospheric ways to travel through the countryside – especially during May when Six Senses is offering a series of exclusive gourmet-focused trips. Guests travelling on board the train for the three-day, all-inclusive journeys are set for spoiling of the gourmand kind, with dinner at Pedro Lemos in Porto, the city’s hottest new Michelin-starred restaurant, followed by an overnight stay at the InterContinental Palacio das Cardosas hotel in the historic part of town. Day two begins with a three-hour journey departing from the beautiful São Bento Train Station, with a four-course organic, locavore menu served on the way to Quinta do vesúvio, where guests will taste the region’s finest Ports. Later in the afternoon, guests will arrive to the stunning, 19-acre Six Senses Douro valley, set in a UNESCO World Heritage valley on the River Douro. Sample some vintages from the world’s oldest demarcated wine region that evening and the following day over lunch at DOC – Michelin-starred chef Rui Paula’s spectacular riverside restaurant.

After a leisurely few hours, it’s back on board the Presidential Train and to Porto for dinner at O Gaveto, a traditional fish restaurant, with another overnight stay at InterContinental. Along with all the gluttony, there’s also some private tours of Serralves Museum, Portugal’s first modern art museum, and Casa da Música, Portugal’s most celebrated concert hall.

PRiCE €5,000 ($US5,368) per person AvAilAblE May 2017 bOOk www.thepresidentialtrain.com

THE SPY WHO lOvED THE fRENCH RiviERA James Bond certainly clocked up his fair share of air miles travelling to exotic locations, but it’s fair to say none are as glamorous as Monte-Carlo. The second smallest country in the world featured regularly in some of the most iconic classics, from Never Say Never Again and GoldenEye – so where better to live out those dormant James Bond fantasies than in the Principality? With glamour front of mind, the “GoldenEye Experience” at the Hôtel Métropole, Monte-Carlo is your passport to pure, unabashed Bond behaviour, which begins with a private tour of the Casino de Monte-Carlo (Bond’s favoured stomping ground) and continues with a helicopter journey and an indulgent lunch at yoshi, the only Joël Robuchon Japanese restaurant in the world. In the afternoon, there’s time to explore the French Riviera in an Aston Martin, and decamp back to the Suite Carré d’Or to relax with a “duo” massage. The 150-sqm suite, with its grand marble and gold bathroom and terrace, is your personal apartment for the evening and for any whims during your stay, there’s a butler on hand to take care of every last detail including the special delivery of a complimentary tuxedo and evening gown, ready for the night ahead. Once glamorously attired, the evening begins with Bond-style cocktail – a “vodka Martini, Shaken, Not Stirred” followed by another exceptional Joël Robuchon meal on the Suite Carré d’Or’s iconic terrace, which offers an enchanting view of the Monte-Carlo Casino, its gardens and the Mediterranean Sea. After a heady night spent in Monaco’s casinos, the opulent experience rounds out back at the hotel, where you can retreat to Suite Carré d’Or with a bottle of Bollinger and rose petals – a fittingly Bond finale.

PRiCE The “GoldenEye Experience” is priced at €11,000 (US$11,873) AvAilAblE from now, excluding F1 Grand Prix dates (May 25th-28th) bOOk www.hotelmetropole.com

lifE iS SUiTE Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill has partnered with one of the world’s most iconic department stores, Selfridges, to celebrate the launch of its beautifully refurbished suites. The “Life is Suite” package includes a chauffeur-driven transfer from a major London airport to the hotel, accommodation in a newly refurbished Regency Executive Suite, vIP welcome amenities including a bottle of champagne and access to Regency Club. Recharge with a full English breakfast in The Montagu before being whisked away to the renowned Selfridges store for a personal shopping experience and bespoke tour of Selfridges, with your purchases delivered to the hotel and complimentary Fast Track vAT. PRiCE “Life is Suite” starts at £1,050 (US$1,301) per night AvAilAblE Reservations require a minimum two-night stay for a maximum of two adults. Stays are subject to availability and must be made 72 hours in advance. www.londonchurchill.regency.hyatt.com

EAST END lUXURY Thinking of a jaunt to London? Located in the heart of the city’s edgy east end, Andaz London Liverpool Street hotel is the ideal location just a short amble from The Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral, and bordering creative Shoreditch, lined with boutiques, markets and nightlife hotspots. Staying in a luxe Andaz Suite – stylish abodes with Eames furniture, super

plush beds, yukata bathrobes, slippers and upscale bath amenities from local perfumer T London – the package also includes a full English breakfast buffet in the Grade II listed 1901 restaurant.

PRiCE “Luxury East End Suite Stay” is priced from £350 (US$435) AvAilAblE Upon availability www.andazliverpoolstreet.com

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iNDiAN OCEAN iDYll Floating in the North Ari atoll and shaped like the curved Maldivian boat Dhoni, Constance Halaveli Maldives is as close as it gets to paradise, especially if you stay in one of the resort’s gorgeous over water villas. Suspended on stilts, with a sun terrace and private plunge pool, these elegantly styled villas offer the utmost privacy and seclusion to while away the time at your leisure and pleasure – perhaps venturing out to sample a regenerative massage or facial at U Spa by Constance, where signature therapies are accompanied by a range of treatments and products from the celebrated valmont brand, or heading out to explore the sublime diving spots in the North Ari Atoll, spotting manta rays, whale sharks or dolphins. However you choose to spend your time in the Maldives, as a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, you can be assured first class service at Constance, in truly spectacular surrounds. The island resort’s refined all-inclusive package, curating all the premium services of the hotel, only makes the experience all the more relaxed.

PRiCE Double Water villa from US$825 per night/ Double Beach villa from $870 per night on a bed and breakfast basis for a five-night stay AvAilAblE Depending on the season. Stays must be booked at least 60 days in advance www.constancehotels.com

“KurhAus CAdemArIo hAs been A hAven oF wellbeInG For more thAn A Century” DETOX iN SWiTZERlAND Overlooking the panorama of the beautiful Lake Lugano and the majestic Malcantone mountains, Kurhaus Cademario has been a haven of wellbeing for more than a century, with a 2,200 square metre DOT. Spa designed to leverage and integrate the five geomantic elements that rule the Earth: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. Now, guests can embark on a comprehensive “Detox Week” package that encompasses full-board and a seven-night stay along with Basic Cure Detox à la Keller.

Treatments include a full body peel for fabulous skin; a draining and purifying body-wrap or mud with plantar reflexology; full body lymph drainage to enhance the effects of the Proshock treatment and to cleanse the body of unwanted elements; colon hydrotherapy; facial cleansing with peeling, detox mask and massage, and a 50-minute tailor made massage. Along with complimentary alcohol-free beverages from the minibar (refilled daily) and take-home Detox tea, it’s an experience sure to set you on a wonderful path to wellness.

PRiCE “Detox Week” package from CHF 1,855 (US$ 1,867) per person in double room and CHF 2,100 ($2,114) per person in a single room AvAilAblE Now bOOk www.kurhauscademario.com

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a diaMOnd’S dESTinY the destiny of an ultra-rare 342-carat diamond dubbed “Queen of the Kalahari” has been unveiled by chopard, which used the gemstone discovered in Botswana to create six exclusive pieces for the garden of Kalahari collection. among the 23 diamonds cultivated from the “Queen”, five weigh more than 20 carats. the showpiece of the collection is undoubtedly this 18-carat white “fairmined” gold necklace, a showstopper laden with, among others, three exceptional gems: a 50-carat brilliant-cut, a 26-carat heart-shaped and a 25-carat pear-shaped diamond.

POA; www.chopard.com

a SUlTRY SCEnT as dazzling as one of elie saab’s couture creations, elie saab’s new collector’s edition eau de parfum, le parfum Éclat d’or, is a radiant and addictive floral oriental fragrance fused with warm, woody patchouli and brimming with fruits and flowers, from Brazilian sweet orange and luscious orange blossom to heady jasmine and ylang-ylang with delectable rose honey. encased in a geometric, gold-lacquered prism-style bottle, it’s one to show off on your dresser. from US$105; www.eliesaab.com

essentials APRil

Gentlemen can make a wrist statement this month with a strictly limited timepiece from Audemars Piguet or from Panerai for this year’s America’s Cup, while sartorial femmes can drape themselves in diamonds – always a girl’s best friend Words by: Michelle Wranik-Hicks

WEaRaBlE TECH rummage for your car keys (or the right button) no longer with the montblanc for Bmw activity Key set, a sleek, ultra-thin black rectangular key that gives drivers access to seamless functionalities such as opening the door handles of the car at a distance and starting or stopping the engine. clip it to your clothing or luggage or wear it around your wrist with a leather strap crafted in the maison’s pelletteria in Florence – the choice is yours. available in this summer at Bmw dealers.

US$459; www.montblanc.com

nOT fOR WallflOWERS it’s the 30th anniversary of chanel’s première watch and première camélia skeleton may quite possibly be the most exquisite yet. with a movement that mimics the lines of the camellia flower, a treasured symbol for the maison, there are three versions but those who like to fuse haute horology with fine jewellery may find themselves gravitating toward this one. limited to just 12 pieces, it features a total diamond weight of 22.66 carats, including an 18-carat white gold bracelet studded with 282 baguettes and a double-clasp buckle set with 30 brilliant-cut diamonds.

POA; www.chanel.com

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SPEND iT ESSENTiAlS

liVE in THE MOMEnTUM Bentley momentum eau de toilette and Bentley momentum intense eau de parfum make up the third pillar in Bentley’s fragrance range, expertly created by master perfumer nathalie lorson. combining aromatic freshness and vibrant woods, each scent has distinctive olfactory design that’s daringly masculine, and comes encased in a bottle inspired by new York’s soaring, vertical skyline with metal plates printed with the iconic “Flying B” Bentley logo and a rounded metal stopper embossed with Bentley’s signature knurling.

100ml from US$87; www.bentleymotors.com

QaTaR EXClUSiVE crafted specially for Qatari retailer ali Bin ali and limited to just 20 pieces, audemars piguet’s royal oak offshore tourbillon openworked is masterfully skeletonised entirely by hand with a 44mm titanium case, black ceramic bezel pushpieces and screw-locked crown. the black openworked dial emphasises the hand-finished decoration of the movement and the gravity-defying tourbillon.

POA; www.audemarspiguet.com

1960s BOaTing CHiC if ever there was a symbol of italian chic, it may just be riva Aquarama. the charming wooden speedboat was adored by the global jet set during the 1960s, even going on to star in films and fashion campaigns, and now, the luxury italian yacht manufacturer has created a collector’s scale model of the runabout. ready to assemble with 11 beautifully finished pieces made of mahogany and ash, it comes with a booklet in english and italian, illustrating the riva legend and its most famous yachts. a must for boating enthusiasts.

US$149; www.riva-yacht.com

SailOR’S CHOiCE driven by a passion for the sea, panerai’s oceanic legacy will be honoured this year as the official partner of the 35th america’s cup. with five unique, limited-edition watches released, dedicated to oracle team Usa, softbank team Japan and the america’s cup, watch aficionados had a chance to glimpse the latest collection at last month’s dubai international Boat show, where among the beauties on display was the official cup watch, luminor marina 1950 america’s cup 3 days automatic, limited to just 300 pieces. with a natural leather strap and aisi 316l stainless steel, it’s minimalist in design and fundamental in function, water resistant to 30 metres, and has the words “america’s cup” on the dial.

POA; www.panerai.com

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t h e

Kris Karacinski meets the Lamborghini Huracรกn family as he journeys from the mountains of oman to the racetrack in Abu dhabi

PhOtOS: haitham el Shazly

spend it motoring

spend it motoring

on the wAy Born in northern Italy, the Lamborghini Huracán is most at home when negotiating winding mountain roads. So where better to start my journey meeting the Huracán family – all packing a naturally aspirated V10 engine, bags of horse power and, of course, unmistakable good looks – than in the Omani mountains?

Fortunate enough to be invited by Lamborghini to drive the complete Huracán range over an adrenalin-fuelled weekend, the proceedings kick off at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar resort. The sublime five-star resort is perched at 2,000 metres above sea level on Al Jabal Al Akhdar. A highlight is Diana’s point, a small deck area where Princess Diana reportedly once visited for a spot of lunch. The views from here are breathtaking, but the views from my room are equally spectacular. Drawing

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back the curtains reveals a vast, deep valley with small towns and villages peppered across the horizon. If it weren’t for the promise of driving Lamborghinis to the UAE the following day, I would have loved to stay longer.

The following morning it’s time for the face to face and as expected, it’s a sight for sore eyes: four exquisite Lamborghini Huracáns in red, silver, blue and yellow.

meeting the fAmily All these fine motors are fully loaded with the tech you’d expect in a luxury sports car –12.3” TFT colour displays, Bluetooth connectivity, CD, mp3, climate control, a great sound system, electronically adjustable seats – and apparently, will get you to 100kph in 3.4 seconds. Most of the subtle differences are underneath the beautiful sharp lines of the bodywork.

The red lady is a V10 5204cc, 580HP, seven-

speed dual clutch beauty that can hit 320kph.

The yellow mistress is the second of the rearwheel drive Huracáns and has the option to go topless, though in doing so, can only hit a paltry 319kph. A whole one kilometre. Could you handle knowing the car with a solid roof is fractionally quicker? I could.

On to the “twins”, a pair of LP 610-4s. One “Blue” and a sleek looking silver model I affectionately call “silver fox”. She features the same engine as the V10 5204cc, 580HP, but pumps out an incredible 610HP with a fourwheel drive with carbon ceramic brakes, while the rear-wheel drive models have steel brakes.

They’re all so beautiful it’s hard to know where to look. Which one do I want to drive first? A conundrum I’m likely to never have again. Thankfully, the difficult decision is taken away from me as I’m led towards silver fox.

i’ll be coming round the mountAin...in A hurAcán Settling into the four-wheel-drive silver Huracán, it instantly feels very comfortable.

Whereas other sports cars may feel a little cramped, it feels spacious, and everything is well within reach with very intuitive controls.

I don’t think I’ve been in any car that quite gives such satisfaction at start up as the Huracán does. Raising the jet-fighter style cover to ignite the engine is simply fantastic, and a short depress of the start/stop button is all that’s needed to make the V10 sing. The car is in “strada” mode at ignition; this is the quietest/ safest mode of the Huracán. All the electronics are working hard to keep the animal under the hood in check.

The Huracán has been designed so the driver never needs to take his hands off the wheel.

Even the indicators have been placed on the

face of the wheel. Pulling the right-gear lever behind the wheel puts you into first, and we’re off, but less than 10 seconds into the length journey to Abu Dhabi, I encounter a problem: speed bumps – the scourge of any sports car.

However, the Huracán has a trick up its sleeve to conquer such a foe, with a small switch that raises the body of the car. It’s more than enough to clear any speed bump, and while I’m not saying this turns the Huracán into an SUV and you’re free to attack smaller bumps at 40 kph, it reduces the chance of hearing that awful scraping sound as you attempt to get your pride and joy over a “sleeping policeman”.

Speaking of police, the local law enforcement were kind enough to escort our procession down the mountain, which allowed us to open up the engines a little. I quickly change the car mode to sport, which keeps the electrical systems engaged to ensure I don’t drive off the

side of the mountain, but at the same time allows a bit more fun to be had and opens up the engine’s vocal chords. It was a very rare privilege to be in a Lamborghini Huracán and even rarer to chase a police vehicle down a mountain. I can only imagine the symphony residents were privy to as the family of Huracáns makes their descent.

highwAy to the uAe On the sprint to the UAE border was the moment to witness the car’s performance as a GT (Grand Tourer), and “Red” was up next.

Along with a bigger cabin, once I accelerate, it’s clear this car is more aggressive. Unlike the 610, all 580 horses are sent to those rear wheels, so it feels a little more wild, or as some would argue, a little more like a Lamborghini. On the glorious open road with climate control set and playlist blasting, I was in a good place.

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spend it motoring

Once through the border, the yellow mistress is next. Again, she’s a rear-wheel drive Huracán but at the flick of a switch, I can take her top off. On the cruise into Al Ain, the Huracán excels, no matter the conditions. Traffic lights, roundabouts, and busy roads – I never feel uncomfortable or frustrated.

Steering never feels too heavy, the automatic gearbox is smooth and in Strada mode you won’t be upsetting anyone around you with the load vocal chords of the V10 engine. This could actually be a daily driver – a practical supercar, if you will, though once I take the car for a spin in Al Ain Sportsplex, where I’m told to place the car in Corsa and select “M” for manual gears, it’s clear the beast has had its cage door opened.

I take a few runs to get used to the slalom and experience how the car feels in Corsa, and soon realise, although the computers aren’t helping me anywhere near as much as they do in Strada or Sport, they’re still stopping me from potentially killing myself on a normal road. Well, since I’m not on a road, let’s turn all of the electronic wizardry off.

I approach the start line, see the “GO” signal and plant my foot to the ground, though I’m not quite sure what happened next. Wheels spinning, I’m smiling with joy (or pure fear), and rear-end fish tailing as I negotiate the slalom turns. As I exit the last gate and U-turn back towards the start, I accelerate harder. In previous runs the computer would say “No”, and the car would quietly and slowly straighten up, but not this time.

Soon enough I’m in the midst of a Hollywood style drift. I let the beast win, resulting in a 180-degree spin. Could it get any better than this?

It’s finally time to become acquainted with “Blue”, the other four-wheel drive Huracán. Initially, I take it easy the first few runs to get a feel for the car, but when I unleash that glorious V10 engine, the four-wheel-drive fills me with confidence.

Even in Corsa mode, I am fearless putting my foot to the floor. It’s outrageously fast, with immense power that doesn’t require wrestling, and I have incredible fun drifting. Blue was a majestic drive.

After burning more rubber than we probably should have, we leave the Al Ain sportsplex and drive to Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, our palatial home for the night before one last drive in the Huracáns.

It’s a bittersweet feeling, knowing I only have a short time left with the cars, but this resort helps to soften the blow.

Nestled in the pristine Dubai desert on a nature reserve, the five-star hotel is the epitome of tranquility. It’s a wonderful end to a very memorable day.

the beginning of the end Your first love is always something special, and I couldn’t leave the Huracán family without one last drive in my silver fox. As we drive away from Al Maha, we once again endure a small posse of snap-happy car admirers (Lamborghini drivers have to learn to live with this), but we’re soon back on the open road, roof down, music turned up, and on our way to the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi to watch the final member of the Huracán family perform in the Super Trofeo.

It’s the perfect send off, but it’s with a heavy heart when I park my silver fox, collect my belongings and say goodbye to the Huracán family. A truly remarkable collection of Italian supercars. Whichever member of the Huracán family suits you best, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

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fANCY fEATHERS it’s a fanciful stay for birds of prey at Palazzo versace Dubai, which invites falcons to spend the night in one of two spectacular suites

“Have bird of prey, will travel”, seems to be the motto behind the region’s falcon owners, who often reserve extra seats in First Class when flying with their treasured predators. While airlines are well accustomed to hosting owners and their falcons, one of Dubai’s most dazzling hotels, the Palazzo Versace, also welcomes guests of the feathered kind.

Designed to showcase the Versace lifestyle through the contemporary eyes of artistic director Donatella Versace, the luxurious hotel already pays homage to the region’s heritage, with specially created textiles featuring prints of peacocks, falcons and Arabian horses, but unbeknownst to most, Versace has also created bespoke falcon stands exclusively for the property’s two Imperial Suites, where pedigree peregrines are also more than welcome to spend the night. Priced from AED 96.000 (US$26,137) with taxes per night, the 1200 sqm, two-levelled suites are set on the top floors of the Palazzo, featuring entrance halls and magnificent marble staircases, a dining room, a living room, an office, a lounge and entertainment room, along with a cocktail room, two master bedrooms

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with walk-in closets, en-suite bathrooms, a gym and sauna. Then there’s a terrace, with an outdoor private pool and garden.

Depending on your mood and interior design leanings, the first presents a heritage design concept with neoclassical elements and a delicate colour palette, with Verde Laguna marble mosaic alternated with Grey Delicato or Giallo Siena marble as well as wood cladding the floors and furniture from the iconic Vanitas collection by Versace Home. The second suite adopts a more contemporary style with furnishings from the Via Gesù collection by Versace Home.

Whichever you choose, your precious feathered friend will be assured a restful night upon its perch, featuring the signature gold face of Medusa, the house insignia.

If you're not able to pull together the necessary dirhams for such a luxe stay, fear not. you can still catch a glimpse of the hotel’s falcons – complete with Versace stands – on display in the lobby, each Friday, from 12 noon to 3pm. www.palazzoversace.ae

The gardens of One&Only Royal Mirage.

Nice to have somewhere to spread your wings.

Live the moment.

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