Luxury Escapes Magazine Issue 31

Issue 31

CITY OF STARS

New York’s Michelin Newcomers

Plus:

Hotel or Art Gallery?

Maine’s Must-Sees

Napa Valley, Sans Wine

Celeb Escapes

This Hong Kong hotel blurs the lines

And, of course, must-eats!

Cali’s wine region, all vineyards aside

Jessica Alba: Riviera Maya, Mexico

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CONTENTS THE EATON HOTEL HONG KONG ...exhibits a passion for art.

NEW YORK’S NEW

MICHELIN STARS

MAINE’S MUST-SEES What to do (and eat) on Maine’s coast

THE NAPA VALLEY All vineyards aside

CELEB ESCAPES Rosewood Mayakoba, Mexico

Image: Somtum Der

Luxury Escapes Magazine Published by Luxury Escapes, 259 Coventry Street South Melbourne, 3205, Victoria Australia Writer and Editor Elspeth Velten Publisher Jeremy Same For subscriptions sign up at luxuryescapes.com Cover Image: Sushi Yasuda

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK The fact that my husband was not legally allowed to leave the United States after we got married this September due to an ongoing visa process meant that, after months spent exploring the rest of the world together, we had no excuse not to finally see more of my own home country. We decided that a road trip up to New England’s most northern state would serve as a fine mini-moon.

We made the drive from New York (in an appropriate lobster-red rental car, mind you) in one day and took the next nine to amble up and back down Maine’s coast along U.S. Route 1, which features plenty of opportunities for lobster roll lunches and lighthouse diversions (page 12). We stopped in art museums, antique stores and at an oyster farm. But my favourite activity during our week in Maine was something not so different from how we spend a normal evening at home in our apartment: we cooked our own dinner instead of eating out – two nights in a row.

Of course, how we sourced the ingredients for that dinner is where the difference lies. In Stonington, Maine, we visited a lobster co-op, where anyone can stroll down to the dock and return with fresh lobsters, purchased straight off of the boat that hauled them in. Then, we drove to the area’s Tuesday market, where we picked up local vegetables to accompany the crustaceans, plus baked goods for dessert. We returned to our little motel cottage, put an inch of water in a huge pot (never submerge lobsters in completely in boiling water, multiple Mainers advised me, as it will flush out the best natural flavours) and waited for our lobsters to change to red – the same colour as the autumn leaves falling from the trees outside of our fogged-up windows.

Elspeth Velten Luxury Escapes Editor

@ElspethVelten

EN ROUTE

MAKE COFFEE,

GIVE WATER Maybe Toms’ iconic style of slip on shoe isn’t for you, but socially aware company’s new collaboration with coffeemaker experts Chemex is up any caffeine-lover’s street. For each special edition Toms Chemex 8-Cup Glass Coffeemaker sold, both companies will give one week of clean water to a person in need. That’s right – while you turn water into coffee, these two companies are doing just the opposite.

TOMS CHEMEX 8-Cup Glass Coffeemaker, USD $44; toms.com

EATON HOTEL HONG KONG A GALLERY WITH GUEST ROOMS

Images: Baubax

Next time a rainy day has you trapped inside your hotel while on holiday, consider this: Hong Kong’s Eaton Hotel pretty much doubles as an art gallery.

How’s that for convenience?

Aside from offering 465 guest rooms, six restaurants, a heated roof-top swimming pool and a convenient Nathan Road, Kowloon location, the four-starred Eaton (a budget-friendly brand from world-famous Langham) has strategically adorned its walls and halls with a visual feast of works of photography, painting and sculpture, complete with smartphone QR codes that link to descriptions to match each piece.

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Eaton’s collection focuses on contemporary Chinese art (appropriately for the location) and features works from prominent artists scattered across the hotel’s public spaces.

And in a city with strong tourism focuses on luxury shopping and dim sum dining, Eaton’s collection is certainly worth a couple of hours of exploration! Artists represented include world-famous Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming, collage master Hong Hao and pop artist Xue Song, amongst many others.

Whether you dedicate time directly towards exploring Eaton’s collection or simply admire the hotel’s works in passing, the collection is sure to provide a cultural enhancement to any Hong Kong visit.

And if the weather (or even jet lag) is conspiring against you, a day spent lounging in the hotel is no longer a wasted one.

For more luxury travel news and exclusive deals, visit LuxuryEscapes.com

Images: Agostino Creative

America’s most northeastern state couldn’t be any cooler. Contributing greatly to the identity of the country’s New England region, Maine’s forest-and-mountain-dominated interior is bordered at the southeast by thousands of miles of rugged Atlantic Ocean coastline dotted with quaint villages, little lighthouses and oceanbased industry. And there’s something suitable for everyone who visits – from art buffs and eaters to the outdoorsy.

Maine is “Vacationland,” after all. Here’s what to do along U.S. Route 1, which runs the length of the state’s coast.

Images: Shutterstock

MAKE THE MOST OF

MAINE’S COAST

VISIT ACADIA NATIONAL PARK Made up of swaths of forest and coastline on Mount Desert Island, the Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut, Acadia is a great place for those of all abilities to take in Maine’s stunning Down East scenery. On Mount Desert, the largest section of the park features a driving loop where explorers can pull over to take in island-studded vistas, hike around picturesque ponds, explore lively tide pools, scramble up granite mountains or cycle or walk on historic Carriage Roads.

On the “Quiet Side” of Mount Desert, the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is tucked into pine trees on top of boulders on the island’s southern tip.

MAKE TIME FOR MUSEUMS The tiny towns up and down Maine’s Midcoast are chock-full of well preserved history and art, and it would be a shame to drive through without having an educational moment or two. In Rockland, the Farnsworth Art Museum is dedicated to American art from Maine and highlights the work of three generations of a local family – painters N.C., Andrew and James Wyeth. Further south on Route 1 in Bath is the Maine Maritime Museum, a collection of historic buildings from Maine’s shipbuilding industry paired with informative exhibitions on everything from military matters to the lobster industry. The museum sits just down the road from the Bath Iron Works, where thousands of workers still build ships on the Kennebec River for the U.S. Navy today.

EXPLORE PORTLAND’S FOOD SCENE Yes, Portland, Maine may just be catching up to that other Portland in terms of its status as a hipster habitat. And having that many hipsters in one place means one thing for sure – good food is near by.

The streets of Portland are pretty much lined by trendy storefronts boasting delicacies like doughnuts made from Maine potatoes and Asian-inspired lobster rolls dripping in brown butter. The granddaddy of Portland’s locavore scene is Fore Street, an upscale restaurant disguised in a smoky warehouse space that you’ll probably struggle to secure a reservation at. Lucky for you, Fore Street saves a section of tables for last-minute walk-ins each day. Just be sure to arrive early to get your name on the list.

LIVE THE LOBSTER FISHING LIFE The charming town of Stonington at the southern tip of Deer Isle sees the biggest lobster haul in all of Maine, and evidence of the busy industry is visible everywhere from the town’s local diner to the multiple fishing docks that receive unloading lobster boats at all hours of the day. A walk down almost any of the town’s piers can yield a true dock-to-table purchase of what’s most definitely the most delicious lobster around, so booking into a self-catering accommodation here is often the choice of travelling gourmandes. A couple of ocean adventure companies on the island offer boat tours that include lobster hauls and lighthouse viewings, and a mailboat leaves from Stonington for the scenic Isle au Haut a couple of times daily.

LOOK AT LIGHTHOUSES Maine’s lighthouses are hard to miss! There are 65 spread across the state’s coast, after all.

And for good reason – Maine’s rocky shore is anything but predictable, and multitudes of islands and inlets make things even more tricky for sailors along the coast. Any day’s drive along Route 1 will lend the possibility of a lighthouse-laden detour, whether it’s to the state’s oldest – the Portland Head Light, commissioned in 1791 – or the most photographed: Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. And in spots where a beacon is obscured from view via land, boat tours offer the chance to see the the light from a different perspective.

EAT SEAFOOD This one’s a given.

Maine is known across the world for its sweet, succulent lobster. And these days, a live Maine lobster can make it from the dock to Hong Kong in one day! But you’ll never enjoy the crustacean in a more fresh state than on the side of the road in any of the Maine’s lobster shacks or pounds, where summertime lines are long and even known to cause traffic. Lobster rolls take different forms at almost every different shack – some are served with melted butter, some with a light lick of mayo and others completely naked with just a few leaves of lettuce.

Hot dog buns are generally the preferred vehicle for all of that tail, knuckle and claw meat. Lesser known are the delicious local crab rolls that are often on offer – local haddock, scallops, oysters and Maine shrimp are also on the menu.

GO ISLAND HOPPING We’ve already mentioned Deer Isle and Mount Desert Island, but Maine’s coast is strewn with uncountable rocky, forested satellites. Off of the Boothbay region sits Monhegan Island, where a year-long population of just about 100 people includes fishermen and artists. Off of Deer Isle, Isle au Haut is also home to under 100 inhabitants.

Sections of that island are designated as part of Acadia National Park and hiking paths draw droves of outdoors lovers in the high season, when boats run to the island more frequently.

A couple of tiny islands can even be reached by foot at times – from Bar Harbor, Bar Island is accessible by land once a day when the tide goes out to expose the shallow seabed. The same goes for Barred Island off of Deer Isle, where the sole inhabitants are bald eagles.

TAKE TO THE SEAS Wildlife tours leave from all of the state’s tourist hot-spots (like Bar Harbor, Boothbay Harbor and Portland) and head 20 miles into the sea for a chance to mingle with minke, humpback, pilot and finback whales between the months of April and October.

Chances of spotting cetaceans are generally pretty high, but even if the whales aren’t out, seals, dolphins, sunfish, puffins and even basking sharks often put on their own shows. Whale watching tours last just a couple of hours, but some visitors prefer to take the more relaxed route on one of the state’s many historic windjammer vessels.

These majestic sailboats set out on multiple-day, all-inclusive cruises and hit some of the most remote parts of the state’s stunning coastline.

Image: Paul Wagtouicz

NEW YORK’S 10 NEW

MICHELIN STARS Just a few weeks ago, Michelin announced its 2016 list of starred restaurants for New York City, and it included ten newcomers in the one-star category (the best category for its casual accessibility, in our opinion). Japanese, Thai, French, Alsatian and American cuisines are all represented, and though there’s no strictly vegetarian joint in the new group, omnivorous plant lovers won’t be disappointed. Read on for a list of places you will probably now struggle to get a table at.

Image: Nancy Borowick

1. THE FINCH

2. CAGEN

Considering Chef Gabe McMackin’s impressive work history (which includes stints at various NYC area favourites like Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Gramercy Tavern and Roberta’s), it’s no surprise that his new project has received already a star after opening only earlier this year.

From a 120-year-old Brownstone-style building in Brookyln’s Clinton Hill, McMackin serves seasonal American bistro cuisine with his own unique spin (lamb tongue – sure, why not?) and keeps the wellbeing of both his business and the local community in mind while he’s at it.

Cagen Owner and Chef Toshio Tomita is probably best known for his 16-year tenure at global Japanese giant Nobu, and yes, that restaurant’s famous miso-marinated black cod does make the occasional appearance here at his new upscale East Village “kappo ryori” spot. But while menus at Nobu have become pretty predictable across the Earth, at Cagen, Tomita flits between classic and inventive preparations of the world’s freshest fish, shellfish, soba, skewers and more.

Both multi-course omakase (chef’s choice) meals and an a la carte menu are avaialble, but only the omakase will land you a prime perch at the counter from which you can watch the chef’s praise-worthy performance.

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Image: Naoko Takagi

Image: Paul Wagtouicz

3. GABRIEL KREUTHER

4. HIROHISA

A step into chef Gabriel Kreuther’s eponymous new Bryant Park dining room not only tastes of his homeland in the Alsace region of France – it looks like it, too. The decor in Kreuther’s smart spot takes inspiration from the timber homes of area of Europe where French and German cultures collide and, in cooperations with accents like floral wallpaper and a flock of crystal storks that fly strategically towards Strasbourg, provides the perfect place to enjoy his menu, where every dish plays out like a refined European dream in prix-fixe form.

At his SoHo restaurant (just blocks away from his former gig at Sushi Samba) Chef Hirohisa Hayashi focuses on sharing the beauty of his hometown in the Japanese countryside through the five senses of his guests. The blonde wood interior that lies behind Hirohisa’s non-descript facade may resemble your typical sushi joint, but while the usual suspects (sea urchin, black cod, scallop) are certainly represented, Hirohisa offers much more than raw seafood across its a la carte, seven- or nine-course omakase menus, in true kappo style. Preparations of each dish may be simple, but the chef’s expert technique and selection of prime ingredients is displayed on every single plate that crosses the counter.

Image: Shinya Nakamura]

5. SUSHI YASUDA

6. REBELLE

Since 1996, Sushi Yasuda has been serving classical sushi in the shadows of Grand Central Station and the United Nations. In a display of the above-average attention to detail that certainly also comes through in every piece of fish served here, the Yasuda space has been designed to enhance the sushi experience. The floor, walls, ceiling, tables and bar are all made of solid bamboo planks, the room’s lighting strategically provides visual clarity on the food served, and distracting music is left behind. Chefs Mitsu and Tatsu hand select all of the seafood served piece by piece (whether its being flown in from Japan or being sourced from shores more local) and even consider the size of their particular guest’s mouth before expertly slicing and serving each bite.

No – Rebelle is not another Japanese addition to the Michelin list. The Bowery spot is a practice in modern French “bistronomy” (a concept born in France aimed at offering quality food without a sky-high price tag), and it’s run by the owners of the popular Pearl + Ash next door.

The casual yet stylish spot offers a menu that’s split into several courses – guests are advised to order three-four dishes each – and standout dishes include fluke with brown butter, sherry, caper and lemon, and lamb tartare with olive, yogurt and shallots. The procession is matched by an extensive wine and cocktail menu and unpretentious service.

Image: Signe Birck

7. SEMILLA

8. SOMTUM DER

Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood may be the world’s most famous hipster haunts, but it’s not without its pockets that have have been left behind by gentrification – one of which is now home to one of the city’s best restaurants, flanked by a discount lingerie store and a money wiring agency. A tasting meal at the tiny “vegetable-forward” (not vegetarian) restaurant run by chef Jose Ramirez-Ruiz and pastry chef Pamela Yung will set you back $85 per person and will include seasonal veggie concoctions that are only occasionally enhanced via meaty touches like a swipe of fish pate, a couple of dabs of foie gras or a light brushing of duck fat.

After gaining recognition for its authentic and fiery Northeastern Thai cuisine on the streets of Bangkok, the natural next step for Somtum Der was to bring its sharing menu of salads, meats and soups to New York City’s Alphabet City neighborhood. Papaya salads or “som tum,” which the restaurant is named for, range from accessible, easy-to-please options to more challenging versions tossed with field crab and fermented fish sauce. A list of spicy larb salads offers pork, catfish or duck varieties and the restaurant’s “sa koak kai tod der” (that’s fried chicken to you and me) has become legendary.

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Image: Evan Sung

9. TEMPURA MATSUI

10. UNCLE BOONS

Tempura Matsui brings more Japanese cuisine to Michelin’s ranks, but this time, the focus is on carefully selected fresh fish and vegetables that have been delicately dipped in batter and fried. Chef Masao Matsui’s Omakase tasting menu includes ingredients like shrimp heads, squid, sweet potato, scallop and sea urchin, all of which become vehicles for his expertly prepared tempura, sometimes so lightly applied that the impossibly thin crust is barely noticeable. Matsui was lured out of retirement by the idea of opening this Midtown counter, those willing to spend $200 per head on fried food (it’s so much more than that!) are glad for it.

Unlike Somtum Der, Uncle Boons is the opposite a regional Thai restaurant. Where Somtum Der focuses directly on dishes from the Isan region of Thailand, the husband and wife owners at Uncle Boons – Ann Redding and Matt Danzer, both alum of the famed Per Se – simply serve the dishes that they like to eat. Alongside novel beer slushies and kaffir lime daquiries, Redding and Danzer smother snails with green curry, marinate pork riblets in shrimp paste and toss crab meat into fried rice. A list of “charcoal-grilled goodies” offers baby octopus, headon shrimp and roasted bone marrow. Reservations are only available two weeks in advance, but a number of tables are reserved for walk-ins nightly. Be prepared to wait.

CELEB ESCAPES

ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA, MEXICO

Riviera Maya’s Rosewood Mayakoba hotel draws celebs like Jessica Alba, Paul McCartney and Arnold Schwarzenegger to the white-sands of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula for good reason. The resort’s beautiful collection of suites – made from indigenous woods and limestone – float over a the waters of a serene mangrove lagoon or line an idyllic beach on 1600 acres of grounds.

Individual plunge pools, boating docks, rooftop sundecks and garden showers are practically standard amenities, and the hotel’s location in the exclusive Mayakoba enclave ensures the privacy that A-listers require in order to truly relax.

Images: Rosewood Mayakoba

In a place where almost every type of room offered has its own heated plunge pool, guests can expect great things. The hotel’s professional butler service – included with every room – can prepare anything from a bubble bath to a day exploring Mayan ruins.

Rooms are stocked with welcome drinks (tequilla, naturally), daily fresh fruit, Bose sound systems and plush outdoor furniture, and many boast soaking tubs, rain showers and floor-to-ceiling windows with lagoon or Caribbean views.

The resort’s two Presidential Suites – one on the lagoon and one on the beachfront – are certainly worthy of their top-of-the-line designation. The Presidential Lagoon Suite features three bedrooms, living and dining areas, a circular TV room, a kitchen with a separate pantry, a private plunge pool and a spacious wooden terrace. Its crescentmoon-shaped counterpart is located directly on the beach and is characterized by floor-to-ceiling windows and multiple private pools (including a swim-up outside the master bedroom).

The two suites have spacious rooftop terraces with marina or harbour views, private jacuzzis and outdoor dining areas, and amenities indoors include fresh floral arrangements, Xbox 360 and complimentary full mini bars and port, sherry, whisky and cognac. Other rooms and suites feature outdoor breakfast areas, dressing rooms, balconies and even varying degrees of kitchens.

Rosewood’s largest accommodation is Casa Laguna – a standalone beach house that sleeps up to six adults and four children. The house comes with a dedicated five-person staff including a boat captain for transport around Mayakoba and a personal chef to make magic happen in the house’s chef’s kitchen and on the house’s private dining deck. Perks for guests at Casa Laguna include roundtrip airport transfers, daily breakfasts, a private fitness instructor, personalized bathrobes and pillowcases, private boat tours with the hotel’s biologist, a private golf cart, use of bicycles and an Xbox, and packing and unpacking services.

The hotel’s split-level Reagan Presidential Suite features high ceilings and walls lined with ecru silk, but the centerpiece of the space is an ornate, George III-style four-poster bed sourced from the prestigious Christie’s auction house, along with a Louis XV-style French mahogany desk. The suite offers marbled his and her bathrooms with wet rooms, and techie amenities include underfloor heating and electronic sun blinds.

Rosewood Mayakoba’s spa – Sense, A Rosewood Spa – is located on a secluded private island, obscured amongst a tropical jungle. The 17,000-square-foot wellness retreat offers 12 private treatment rooms, plunge pools, steam grottos, saunas, experiential showers, a 24-hour fitness center, a meditation platform, a relaxation deck and an adults-only pool. Guests interested in making the most of this “retreat within a retreat” check into one ofBar thepours ho- Cape wines and over 500 whiskies. Whisky and wine Oncan theeven water’s edge, Bascule tel’s island – these suites are located clubs suites at Bascule allow members to store their prized bottles in cabinets and bins in expertly directly on the spa island and feature maintained cellars.

Afternoon tea ispriheld daily in the hotel’s library, where complimentary port vate treatment sculptured and sherry cabins, is also served every soaking evening. tubs and full wet bars.

The Rosewood’s Casa del Lago restaurant sits above the hotel’s main pool and the property’s lagoon. Casa del Lago offers allday dining with a breakfast buffet, an Italian poolside lunch and a modern contemporary Italian menu come dinnertime. The restaurant’s bar makes a mean margarita, and even hosts wine and cheese tastings.

An indoor/outdoor dining space – Punta Bonita – offers a light lunch of local tapas and pizzas. Agave Azul Sushi and Tequila changes tack to offer expertly prepared seafood and over 100 types of premium tequila. Weekly tastings are hosted by the Rosewood’s resident “Maestro Tequilero”.

The hotel’s Yucatan beachfront location means that guests are treated to only the best in daytime activities – snorkeling, kayaking, diving, paddling, fishing charters and dolphin encounters are all on the menu. But land-lovers will be particularly impressed

by Mayakoba’s renowned Greg Norman golf course, El Camaleon. The 7000-yard, 18-hole championship course is just minutes away from the resort and stands out for its unique natural setting.

ALL VINEYARDS ASIDE

THE NAPA VALLEY

California’s Napa Valley is known world-wide as a wine-growing region, but while most visitors to the area spend their time planning which vineyards to hit, less focus on the other activities that the Valley has to offer. Here are ten things aside from wine tasting to consider when planning a Napa Valley itinerary. We’re not saying that you should ditch the vineyards all together. We’re simply suggesting a couple of diversions for when it’s time to sober up.

1. SOAK IN MINERAL WATERS AND MUD Towards the northern extreme of the Valley around Calistoga, mineral rich, volcanic water has bubbles up from underground, drawing guests to various spas and hotels that have sprung up to harness the water’s healing properties. The most novel experience here is the detoxifying mud bath – a treatment in which guests submerge themselves in steaming vats of clay, peat and mineral waters – but those looking to keep things clean can simply soak in picturesque pools instead. On the luxurious side, the Calistoga Ranch’s Auberge Spa offers mud baths, healing mineral pools and a private lake, all tucked into a canyon of oaks.

2. TASTE OTHER THINGS Wine aside, there are plenty of local products for you to take your palate for a test drive on. At Round Pond Estate, wine isn’t the only thing flowing – the fertile soil and moderate climate of the Rutherford region is also ideal for tree-to-table olive oil production. Round Pond cultivates eight varietals of Mediterranean olive trees (some trees are over 100 years old) over 12 acres, harvests the ripe fruit and brings the bounty directly to its own stone or hammer mills.

Tours and tastings are available in several formats. On a stronger note, the Napa Valley Distillery serves up locally-made, small-batch craft spirits, including an award-winning Napa Vodka made from Sauvignon Blanc and a selection of premium California brandies.

3. BE ACTIVE OUTSIDE The Valley’s famed natural beauty will come as no surprise, but the opportunities to explore it on foot might!

Most recently, the expanding Napa Valley Vine Trail has been providing a paved, level walking and biking trail that, when completed, will span 47 miles across from Vallejo Ferry to Calistoga. The trail roughly follows State Route 29 – the region’s wine route – and crosses land that’s been donated to the cause. Kayak Napa Valley offers scenic paddling tours from local guides on both the Napa River and Lake Hennessey, and the Robert Louis Stevenson State Park is the site of a five-mile hike that culminates at the summit of Mt. St. Helena.

4. EAT IN WORLD-CLASS RESTAURANTS Thought the region was all about a liquid lunch? Think again. The Napa Valley is known for its hundreds of restaurants that embrace farm-to-table practices, and the region has been awarded more Michelin stars per capita than any other wine region in the world. At the French Laundry – one of two local restaurants that have earned Michelin’s highest honor – chef Thomas Keller’s churns out a daily changing menu of classic French cuisine from a charming 1900 farmhouse. On a more accessible level, Oenotri (pictured here) serves Southern Italian cuisine from an open kitchen in downtown Napa. Produce is sourced from Oenotri’s own farm and specialties include over 20 varieties of housemade salumi, handmade pasta and local olive oil.

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5. TAKE IN THE VIEW FROM ABOVE There’s something mesmerizing about staring down at row after row of neatly organized grape vines, and in the Napa Valley, ballooning opportunities abound. At pre-dawn check-in with Napa Valley Balloons, visitors are greeted with coffee and pastries before taking off across miles of the region’s vineyards and mountains for sunrise views of Mt. St. Helena and even the San Francisco Bay. Upon landing, fliers are whisked away to Domaine Chandon’s Etoile restaurant to celebrate the flight with sparkling wines and a post-flight breakfast.

Image: Flickr/Rnugraha

6. LEARN A THING OR TWO In light of its renowned dining scene, the Valley is not at a loss for cooking classes and demos. Conveniently, one of the Culinary Institute of America’s three nationwide campuses is located right in St. Helena and offers cooking and baking classes, demos and samplings. The curious can sign up for Saturday Kitchen sessions, where professional chefs impart wisdom on everything from global street foods to stews and tarts. Some classes come complete with wine pairings. In Silverado Trail, the Silverado Cooking School uses produce sourced directly from Chef Malcolm de Sieyes’ two-acre organic farm in classes that focus on seasonal Napa cooking paired with Napa wines.

7. MAKE TIME FOR TEE The rolling lands of the Napa Valley are pretty much a natural fairway, so golf enthusiasts should save some time to tee off between tastings and tours. For members and resort guests, the Silverado Resort and Spa offers two championship courses on manicured grounds, redesigned by PGA Hall of Famer Johnny Miller. The club runs clinic and schools and is host to annual PGA Tour events. On the site of a former Christmas tree farm, the nine-hole Meadowood Golf Club is open year-round.

8. APPRECIATE THE ART Apparently, Napa locals enjoy art almost as much as they do wine. Many of the Valley’s vineyards are adorned with sculpture gardens, galleries displaying private collections and architectural decisions that can certainly be considered artistic. Plus, the region hosts several art festivals each year, including Arts in April which features installations, pop-ups, live performances and tours, and Napa Valley Collects – a chance for local private collectors to share their prized possessions with the public. At the Hess Collection, Swiss entrepreneur Donald Hess dedicates a corner of his estate to his passion for collecting art – Hess started collecting contemporary works in 1966 and has since dedicated his long-term support to 20 living artists whose work he deeply connects with.

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9. HIT THE SHOPS Why not take the Napa Valley’s artisanal specialties home with you? In downtown Napa, the 40,000-squarefoot Oxbow Public Market is a one-stop-shop for all of the region’s specialties including home decor, cookware, books, spices, oils, baked goods and chocolates. The market is also home to local food vendors and cafes and boasts picturesque outdoor seating along the Napa River. At the Culinary Institute, the Spice Islands Marketplace stocks the school’s own collections of cookware, bakeware, a huge selection of cookbooks, kitchen tools and local products.

10. RIDE THE WINE TRAIN With new owners after recent controversy, the Napa Valley Wine Train remains a historic and scenic way to explore the region. The train consists of a collection of dining, lounge and observation cars made by the Pullman Standard Company in the early 1900s and previously used on the Northern Pacific Railway. Today the cars are restored and reimagined to evoke the historic opulence of train travel with finishes like Honduran mahogany paneling, brass, etched glass and velveteen fabric. Service on board is focused on food and the award-winning wine list verges towards pricey picks, but guests are invited to BYOB – corkage fees are $15 per bottle. On any given day, passengers on the 36-mile round-trip journey vary between tourists and bachelorette parties, which is important to consider before booking.

NOOSA MAIN BEACH

OUR NOOSA BUCKET LIST • Hike Noosa National Park and keep a look out for koalas and dolphins • Stand-up paddle boarding on Noosa River • Discover the Noosa Everglades on a one day tour www.netanyanoosa.com.au

• Explore the beautiful hinterland from Maleny to Kenilworth • Visit the world famous Eumundi markets (every Wednesday & Saturday) • Take a Ferry from Hastings St up Noosa River

See you at the beach...

07 5447 4722

info@netanyanoosa.com.au

LUXURY ESCAPES TV Luxury Escapes reviews two of Thailand’s finest resorts!

Sofitel Krabi Phokheethra Resort

Hotel Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit

• One of Thailand’s largest pools/ access to beaches

• Centrally located near world-class shopping

• Spacious Thai/European style rooms

• Three restaurants/roof-top bar

• So Sofitel Spa and a nine-hole golf course

• Modern rooms are a calm oasis

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