ICONIC LIFE Orange County Holiday 2022

Live Beautifully

KITCHEN. BATH. OUTDOOR.

BRING THE SPA CLOSER TO HOME

Relaxation shouldn’t be a day trip. PIRCH offers flotation tubs, steam showers, towel warmers, and more to bring the sanctuary of the spa into your bath at home. Kick off your home spa today by making an appointment with a PIRCH Sales Consultant!

www.pirch.com

Costa Mesa | Laguna Design Center

Mission Viejo | Rancho Mirage Solana Beach | Glendale | La Jolla

Acclaimed for its exquisite design and advanced technology, the Monogram Professional Range is redefining luxury appliances one detail at a time.

T RA NS FORMING S PACES WI T H OU R C OMPLIMEN TAR Y DESIGN SE R VIC E

In-store interior design & 3D modeling services (1) Quick Ship program available (2)

Bubble 2. Curved 3-4 seat sofa, designed by Sacha Lakic. Astréa. Armchair, designed by Sacha Lakic. Rocket. Cocktail tables, designed by Nathanaël Désormeaux & Damien Carrette. Sun Tropic. Rug, designed by Nany Cabrol.

SPREAD YOUR WINGS

By Jillian Vaughn

Adesert masterpiece in the ICONIC exclusive Silverleaf community boasts details that exceed the imagination and will make your dreams soar.

Sitting on one of the most-coveted home sites—nearly five acres—in the prestigious Silverleaf in North Scottsdale, this luxury estate is an artful masterpiece built just two years ago, and it awaits its next family to live life to the fullest.

Situated in the ICONIC ‘’saddle’’ of Silverleaf’s Upper Canyon Summit, the views go for miles, and every evening is a theatre

of star-light night skies and distant twinkling lights in the Valley. Architect Dale Gardon made use of every opportunity throughout this home to capture every view, including the pristine desert around the home.

The design and interiors of this home were conceived with much love and great care, and the finishes are truly exceptional as you can see from the images, but even more magical in person.

Greet your guests in a luxurious foyer with Parisian wall sconces and enter into an open floor plan with an alluring great room, striking kitchen, catering kitchen, dining room, ample wine room with modular shelving and an entertainer’s-dream bar.

Exuding warmth and sophistication with a unique French Modern style, the superb inte riors, designed in collaboration with Rebecca Salcito, feature distinctive elements such as a fireplace carved from marble to hand-blown glass chandeliers, custom artwork and drap eries with custom ombre alpaca fabrics.

The stunning Bulthuap cabinetry in the kitchen offers a clean look with waterfall counter tops of Calcatta marble. European Oak and Venetian plaster are found through out this elegant estate.

The owner’s retreat is adorned with a beautiful Calacatta Vagli marble fireplace mantel and a sitting area. An exquisite spa-like bathroom offers a romantic soaking tub under a custom bubble chandelier. The detached guest house boasts incredible views, a living room with a full kitchenette, bedroom and separate garage.

Behind the scenes of all of these fine finishes is state-of-the-art security, automation and

entertainment automation with an auto mated entry gate, all controlled from a smart device. The private, gated driveway leads you to a spacious auto court. The temperature-controlled garages are perfect for a car collector with capacity for 5 to 11 cars with lifts.

For those who want to escape the world, and also enjoy all the luxury the world has to offer, spread your wings and fly to Scottsdale.

FRATANTONI

By Nora Trulsson

By Kaitlyn Beickel

A new vision for sound. BEOSOUND THEATRE

The New Flying Spur Hybrid: A celebration of sustainability

Prepare to take another stunning step on the journey towards an electric Bentley future. The new Flying Spur Hybrid showcases Bentley’s ability to combine sustainable design with exquisite craftsmanship and truly effortless performance. Exhilarating, refined and crafted for the world we live in today – consider this the new standard for luxury hybrid cars.

The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © 2022 Bentley Motors, Inc. Model shown: New Bentayga

Renee M. Dee Publisher

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

With the holidays upon us, it’s my loving wish for each of you to be sur rounded by the ones you love and the ones who love you. In this hustle and bustle time of year, the greatest gift we can give ourselves is a little peace and the time to be present with the joys of the season.

For me, that is spending time with, as Julie Andrews says, “A Few of My Favorite Things.” (By the way, I typically play “The Sound of Music” in the background of my baking, wrapping and table setting multiple times each December…and if I’m alone, I’ll belt out every word of every song.)

What I love doing this time of year is making my home beautiful. I unpack a full holiday install of accent pillows, throws, arrangements and accessories to really bring the season alive. Then I visit the tree lot with my son, and we take joy in selecting a live tree that will make the house smell amazing! I love baking for friends, as I feel homemade treats are heartfelt expressions of gratitude for the year that has just gone by.

On Christmas Eve, my favorite tradition is to entertain with a full presentation of caviar and all the accoutrement. I use my mother-of-pearl spoons and scalloped dishes. I bring out the crystal and the fine linen, and my favorite sterling silver champagne bucket holds a bottle of Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé. Twinkling lights and lots of candles make this evening the most romantic of the year.

As the end of 2022 comes to a close, it will be again time for me to spend time in my annual goal-setting ritual to start the New Year off right. It’s been a tradi tion of mine for almost three decades, and it makes me feel grounded and so grateful. This year, I will use my new beachy location as an inspired location for the important thinking to create my next year. If you want to join me this year, I share my process on pages 140 to 141.

I look towards 2023 with great excitement for all that ICONIC LIFE magazine has in store for our friends in Orange County in the New Year.

As this year concludes, I am so very grateful for my amazing team at ICONIC LIFE, for my dear, dear friends and my son, who keeps me humble and always joyously amused. I am so grateful for the opportunity to Live Beautifully, and you all keep me stretching to tell the stories of those who are leading the way.

Wishing you a lovely holiday season no matter what you are celebrating and great joy, health and happiness in the New Year.

With Gratitude, Renee M. Dee Publisher

Photo by Mark Sacro

THE LIST

By Carlye Klick

$5,995 via Neiman Marcus.

VALENTINO

Mini Vsling Handbag with Sparkling Embroidery, $5,100 via Valentino.

ALL THAT GLITTERS

‘Tis the season to sparkle as handbags are blinged out with show-stopping crystals.

JIMMY CHOO

Black Crystal Mesh Bag With Velvet Bow, $2,295 via Jimmy Choo.

OSCAR DE LA RENTA

Gunmetal Swarovski Mini Tro Bag, $4,990 via Oscar de la Renta.

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

Loubi54 Small Metallic Crystal Clutch Bag, $4,190 via Neiman Marcus.

WHAT’S HAUTE at South Coast Plaza?

By ICONIC LIFE

INTRODUCING THE GUCCI VALIGERIA EPHEMERAL STORE

Gucci announced the opening of a new ephemeral store dedicated to Gucci Valigeria, the House’s world of travel, located at South Coast Plaza—in addition to the existing Gucci store there. Open through Spring 2023, the 4,500-squarefoot space offers a curated selection from the Gucci Savoy collection, including a range of luggage, carry-ons, travel bags and other accessories. Gucci Valigeria pays homage to the House’s origins, as founder Guccio Gucci created his artisanal luggage atelier in Florence in 1921, inspired by his travels to London where he worked as a porter at The Savoy hotel.

GENTLE MONSTER OPENS

FOURTH FLAGSHIP THEMED ‘THE EVOLUTION’

Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster is opening at South Coast Plaza with a new 4,500 square foot store themed ‘The Evolution,’ which presents a unique and surreal environment adorned with kinetic structures and art sculptures. Plus, it will carry the brand’s most sought-after designs. Upon entering, visitors are submerged into a world of continuously rotating kinetic installations, video artwork and objects that depict mechanisms of evolution and the intersection of two conflicting emotions—tension and beauty.

SOUTH COAST PLAZA DEBUTS 25 NEW AND REDESIGNED BOUTIQUES

South Coast Plaza debuts 25 new and redesigned boutiques and restaurants this season—including a second Louis Vuitton, an expanded and completely redesigned Fendi and new boutiques for Coach, Hugo Boss and John Varvatos. It is a transformative time at the international shopping and dining destination, with its unique collection of 250 stores and 30 restaurants that include coveted luxury and contemporary brands from around the world.

THE DESTINATION FOR COLLECTORS OF FINE TIMEPIECES

South Coast Plaza is home to the largest collection of luxury timepiece and jewelry boutiques—35 stores under one roof—in North America. Five luxury watch brands will offer new boutiques by the end of 2022—Breitling, Tudor, IWC Schaffhausen, Roger Dubuis and Hublot. South Coast Plaza is already home to Patek Philippe, Chopard, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Rolex, TAG Heuer and A Lange & Söhne boutiques, among others select brands.

Don’t miss a beat or a brand! Get the latest scoop from the world’s favorite luxe shopping destination, South Coast Plaza.

HOW MUCH GOOD CAN ONE YACHT DO?

Boat donations benefiting Orange Coast College’s Sailing and Marine Programs help students set sail

toward a bright future.

By Kaitlyn Beickel

The holidays are all about giving back—and what better way to give back than by donating a yacht or boat for educational purposes? At the Orange Coast College (OCC) Waterfront Campus, there’s a marina with space for up to 50 boats, which are used as an incredible resource for students in OCC’s Sailing and Marine Programs.

“Our fleet is composed of sailboats and powerboats, many of them have been

donated to us and some of them have been purchased from funds we’ve gener ated through donations,” Sarah Hirsch, director of OCC Waterfront Campus, says. “We have a really great group of boats for students to learn on. Our largest boat is a recent donation, a 96-foot motor yacht that we’re able to bring students on board to teach them about yacht operation, it’s a pretty incredible teaching tool.”

The students learning at OCC Waterfront Campus come from all walks of life and all over geographically, either taking classes on beginning sailing or power boating, or working toward a one-year certificate or two-year associates degree in profes sional mariner training. Not only are the boats great to use for students for on-hand learning, it provides an enticing opportunity for the donor as well.

“For donors, they’re able to take a tax deduction for their vessel and we always

work with each donor to make sure that their donation goals are met, that they understand the donation process and that we’re taking good care of their boat,” Hirsch says. “50 percent of our program budget is paid for via boat donations, grants and private giving and the other 50 percent is from income we generate from fees for our courses, but we really rely on the dona tions that we receive to be able to keep our prices low for our students who want to take boating classes.”

“We couldn’t be located in a better place to have community support for what we do,” she added.

If you wish to discuss donating your boat, sails, or equipment, or to discuss a monetary gift to support professional mariner training, please reach out to Sarah Hirsch, Director of Waterfront Campus at 949-258-7091, or Doug Bennett, Executive Director of OCC Foundation.

Photography courtesy of Orange Coast College

Elegant high-design,

PINNACLE

Orange 343 S Tustin Street Orange, CA 92866 714-639-9234

Laguna Niguel 28001 Greenfield Dr Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949 364-4334

Long Beach 6378 E Pacific Coast Hwy A Long Beach, CA 90803 562-542 1360

Encinitas 523 Encinitas Blvd. Encinitas, CA 92024 760-436-0088

Sound the Trumpets

The Silver Trumpet serves as a fanfare to your night at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

By Jillian Vaughn

The prelude to a sophisticated eve ning at the theatre begins with an award-winning fine dining experi ence, starting with craft cocktails creatively designed for each performance, like Hamilton’s Temptation and My Fair Lady. Allison Tiongson is the musical mixologist at the Bar & Lounge, where she oversees the bar operations and is the artistic genius behind the theater-inspired cocktails.

The glamorous cocktail lounge was designed by Anders Lasater Architects and was awarded the 2016 AIA Design Award for Outstanding Renovation. It features a dra matic back-lit street façade, a glowing onyx bar and outdoor patio against a shimmering entry water feature to give the appearance of a floating platform. Soft furnishings and banquettes give the feeling of a luxurious New York apartment.

Awarded the AAA Three-Diamond des ignation, Silver Trumpet Restaurant and Bar offers exquisite cuisine with water views of the lake, just across the road from Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the new Orange County Museum of the Arts.

Whether you are visiting for happy hour or an evening of fine dining, an exceptional experience awaits with eclectic dining offerings lead by Chef Hector Zamora, a native of Sonora Mexico, who attended Le Cordon Bleu, Pasadena and later worked with WolfGang Puck in Hollywood.

We love the weekend brunch featuring an architecturally designed banana-stuffed French toast and a California Benedict with heirloom tomatoes and baby spinach. Order an ahi tuna tostada for happy hour paired with an award-winning cocktail or indulge the evening with a lovely meal starting with the strawberry burrata. Then favorites from seared scallops to wild mushrooms with polenta make a lovely dinner.

So if you’re looking to meet a client or create a date night, sound the trumpets!

This holiday season, if you stay at the Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa Hotel for two nights or more, you'll get a $100 gift card to South Coast Plaza and two post-shopping cocktails lakeside at Silver Trumpet.

Photography courtesy of Travel Costa Mesa

BEGIN

As the doorbell rings, IT’S TIME FOR THE FESTIVITIES TO

CALIFORNIA

FASHIONED

INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Add ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice and stir to combine and chill. Strain into a double old fashioned rocks glass filled with rock ice. Express the oils of an orange peel over the glass, rubbing the peel around the rim. Add peel into the cocktail along with an Argonaut Amarena cherry.

METHOD

Stir ingredients in a rock glass. Add a large ice cube and garnish with an orange peel.

METHOD

44 ICONICLIFE.COM

WONDERFUL WINTER COCKTAILS

RE F RI G ER A TION B Y JENN A I R®

OBSIDIAN REFRIGERATION BY JENNAIR

MUST HAVES

By Carlye Klick

Paws-itively GIFTABLE

Give your four-legged fur baby a taste of the luxe life this season with the most beautiful, practical and extravagant gifts to celebrate the holidays in style!

MY WOOF

The Pupsicle, $25 via My Woof.

GUCCI

Large Herbarium print pet bowl, $615 via Gucci.

VALENTINO

Rockstud Pet Leash, $470 via Valentino.

TIDELLI

Pet Bed, Price Upon Request via Tidelli.

VALENTINO

Rockstud Pet Collar 12 MM, $295 via Valentino.

BAREFOOT DREAMS

CozyChic® Abstract Camo Pet Sweater, $48 via Barefoot Dreams.

Photography courtesy of Roger’s Gardens

Bright & Beautiful

the best holiday decor styles—including items like wooden nut crackers, delicately painted German Santas and exquisite Polish glass ornaments. The artisan ornaments are traditionally blown and hand-painted, selected to go hand-in-hand with the creative theme for the season.

By Kaitlyn Beickel

Yes, it’s surprising to think of a landscape center as a great place to grab a gift, but once inside, you’ll become a little shopping obsessed for more than plants and flowers. And if you plan ahead with a reservation, you can celebrate the season with a decadent lunch at Farmhouse, another ICONIC fave.

More than one million people head to Roger’s Gardens in Newport Beach between the months of October and December, and it’s for good reason—the boutique is transformed into a picturesque winter wonderland, complete with curated holiday décor and one-of-a-kind artisan pieces.

Roger’s Gardens starts planning for the holiday season early—a whole year in advance—when buyers begin working with artisans and manufacturers to develop custom items for the boutique. The Roger’s Gardens buyers travel to Europe each year to bring back

At the beginning of each year, Roger’s Gardens Creative Director Eric Cortina defines the theme and direction for the Christmas boutique—and this year’s theme is Bright & Beautiful. The tone for the 2022 theme is a joyful palette of Christmas colors, elegant artisan décor and embellished, jewel-toned ornaments, alongside beautifully designed garlands and wreaths.

To transform Roger’s Gardens into a winter wonderland, a team of seven visual designers starts building out the space three weeks in advance. 17 themed Christmas trees are then adorned with over 800 curated ornaments, and more than 3,000 unique holiday products are made available for purchase.

Roger’s Gardens has undergone transformation each winter in their boutique for more than 30 years, and it’s become a can’t-miss holiday tradition in Orange County. Offering a wide range of décor styles from modern to traditional, Roger’s Gardens is a great place to pick up holiday gifts for everyone on your list, while taking in the magic of the artfully decorated boutique.

It’s gifting season, and one of our publisher’s favorite spots to shop is at Roger’s Gardens.

Applause for Art and Architecture

OCMA opens with a glamorous gala to show off the intersection between art and architecture and raise $2.1 million.

By Jillian Vaughn

The Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) hosted its Art Sense Opening Gala with lead sponsor South Coast Plaza in October at the fab ulous new museum. The gala was chaired by Jennifer Segerstrom and co-chaired by Lisa Merage, on the rooftop of the shining new OCMA, now open on the Segerstrom Center for the Arts campus in Costa Mesa.

The gala honored artist Sanford Biggers, who was commissioned to create an outdoor sculpture to serve as one of the inaugural exhibitions.

With a Utopian Black Tie theme, the gala welcomed nearly 400 guests, and the red carpet was mesmerizing with the fabulous fashions.

Designed by Morphosis under the direction of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne and Partner-in-Charge Brandon Welling, the new 53,000-square-foot archi tectural masterpiece will house temporary and permanent collection exhibitions span ning a variety of scales and mediums.

A façade of light-colored, undulating bands of glazed terracotta paneling creates a distinctive character for the new building, playing off the forms and language of neigh boring works of architecture.

And on this night, art, architecture and fabulous fashion merged for a stunning night with a VIP guest list, which included ICONIC LIFE publisher Renee Dee.

Photography by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging, Owen Kolasinski and Mark Sacro

Swiss-sational CHOCOLATES

World Chocolate Master and Head of Läderach chocolate focuses on using the best ingredients—and expanding the luxury brand worldwide.

By Bailey Badillo

Läderach chocolate is a gift you can give—and maybe indulge in yourself—guilt free. Not only does the legendary chocolatier use high-quality, real ingredients, but the company also supports diversity and sustainability.

MAKING SOME OF THE WORLD’S FINEST CHOCOLATES

These chocolates are the world’s finest because the company procures ingredients from only the best sources. It starts in South America, where Läderach employees person ally visit the growing areas, and partner with the Rainforest Alliance to ensure the farmers are paid above market price.

Photography courtesy of Läderach

After sourcing the perfect quality cacao beans, it’s time to bring them to Switzerland where these exquisite works of art are exclusively made.

“Only the best is good enough,” is the mantra on the Läderach site, and it’s apparent in the quality and taste of their confections.

From the Rainforest to the Alps, the Swiss culture is found within the style and transforming from bean to a delectable indulgence. Each product is made by hand because, as they say, “in order for it to be beautiful, it has to be unique.”

“What makes us unique is that we can control the whole supply chain, that’s very important for us, it helps us to get freshness to the customers and we don’t compromise on quality,” says Elias Läderach, Head of Innovation & Production and 2018 World Chocolate Master.

“Just one example, with the hazelnuts, we only use the piedmontese hazelnuts that are from Piedmont, Italy. They cost many times as much as other kinds of hazelnuts, but it’s just the best you can get.”

LÄDERACH VEGAN CHOCOLATE LINEUP

Continuing in the tradition of the chocolatiers of making chocolate for everyone, Läderach just launched a vegan line of chocolates.

Here are a few ICONIC picks of vegan chocolate available now to order:

• Creamy Vegan Cashew Popcorn

Crunchy, creamy and caramelized, this vegan cashew popcorn is perfect for a movie night in with friends or family. Made with coconut blossom sugar and cashew drink powder, this is a delicious treat you can munch on without feeling the post-indulgent guilt!

• Creamy Vegan Cashew Tablet

A completely plant-based alternative to the classic milk chocolate bar, the Creamy Vegan Cashew Tablet has a luscious aroma and a full-bodied, nutty taste, making it taste-approved and for everyone.

• FrischSchoggi Pistachio Dark

The FrischSchoggi is a popular product at Läderach, and thank goodness they included it in their vegan lineup, because it is to die for. This vegan FrischSchoggi made from the finest dark chocolate is folded with gently roasted pistachios and is available in a quarter, half or as a whole chocolate slab. When gifting, keep in mind that it is freshest within the first 2-3 weeks.

• Small Vegan FrischSchoggi Pouch

Having trouble deciding? Try them all! With this small pouch, you get a variety of all the best FrischSchoggi nutty vegan chocolates Läderach has to offer. This pouch includes the dark varieties Grand

Cru Brazil 70 percent, almond, black berry, orange-almond and pistachio. All the varieties are plant based and free from dairy.

If vegan chocolate isn’t your thing, Läderach has an amazing lineup of more traditional truffles, dark and milk chocolates, with many already beautifully packaged for a conve nient gift. There are more than 40 locations worldwide and–lucky for us–we can enjoy the freshest chocolate in Southern California with a visit to South Coast Plaza.

To give the ones you love (including yourself) a delicious gift this holiday season, head to Laderach.com.

DESIGN ICON

Photography courtesy of Elyse Walker

Fashion-Forward

FOUNDER

By Kaitlyn Beickel

Elyse Walker, the founder of the successful eponymous luxury apparel company, had her first taste of the industry at a young age while working on the sales floor of her mother’s shoe store—but she didn’t have an immediate passion for fashion.

“I went to college and I studied mathematics and I really thought that I could see myself working on Wall Street,” Walker says. “At that time, my mom got ovarian cancer and passed away when she was 42. I helped her with her stores when she was sick, which I knew like the back of my hand; I knew all the customers and I knew all the staff.”

“I inherited my small-but-mighty little family business that had a nice following, so I have been in fashion since 1983, but I opened my first store when I was 20-years-old in 1987,” she added.

Following Walker’s early success in the fashion industry, she started her renowned company elysewalker in 1999, which has since expanded to seven stores in California, two soon-to-be opened stores in New York City and a newly launched digital store, elysewalker.com. The elysewalker store features curated apparel, jewelry and accessories from the top luxury brands and fashion designers.

Despite her success in style, Walker says she doesn’t take fashion too seriously—but she loves her job and that it provides her with a unique opportunity to help people feel and look their best.

“I don’t take fashion that seriously, yet, I think it’s such a powerful tool,” Walker says. “If you walk into a meeting, you’re hosting a luncheon or you’re just going out on a Friday night, you could be wearing your frumpy jeans or you could be wearing a new high-rise flare and it can make a difference.”

“I’m ignited by the idea that you can actually make someone feel really good, and when they feel good it can open doors for them,” Walker says. “It’s something I’ve been doing my entire life and it’s not all glamorous, but I know social media tends to make the fashion industry look very glamorous.”

While beautiful dinners, runway shows and feathered sequin handbags are certainly a glamorous part of her career, there are also hard moments, like styling someone who is going through a tough time in their life.

“Sometimes, people are in a slump, sometimes they’re going through a divorce, sometimes they’re unfortunately going through cancer, there’s lots of reasons to style and help someone with their wardrobe, it’s not just the red carpet,” Walker says. “It keeps me going, it keeps me waking up every morning super excited to take on the new day.”

To stay up-to-date on the latest trends to share with her customers, the fashion-forward founder attends the New York, Paris and Milan fashion shows each year, and she recently attended the runway at New York Fashion Week’s fall event.

“It was the best New York Fashion week I have ever experienced in my life. I know that’s a big statement, but I really believe it,” Walker says. “It was so full of energy, the restaurants were hopping, there were people on the streets. I’m a New Yorker, so I love it there.”

“Everyone was warm and friendly, it was collaborative, I saw people dressing up on the street because it was New York Fashion Week and people being photographed all over the place. I think that what I saw is that people are out there so happy to be out of their homes and they’re so happy to be going to events and dressing up again and that a lot of fashion from New York was very celebratory,” she added.

When it comes to dressing up, the New York-native says you can look at the trends, but ultimately, you should wear what works best for you and makes you feel good.

“We’re seeing new excitement on basics, oversized blazers, citrus colors, wide leg pants, a lot of velvet, texture and some classic silhou ettes,” Walker says.”People like to say to me and my team, ‘does that mean I need to put my skinny jeans away?’ and the answer is no, if you love your skinny jeans and you feel that you look good in them and you’re comfortable in them, and if you don’t feel good in a big wide leg and then you shouldn’t wear it.”

Elyse Walker shares her start in fashion, her fashion point of view following New York Fashion Week and her love of helping women feel and look their best.

What’s for Dinner and Drinks?

We asked Chef John Tesar from Outer Reef to share his recipes and how-to’s to answer the proverbial question.

Chef John Tesar is behind the excellent cuisine at Outer Reef, the coastal seafood restaurant at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, and he has impressive accolades to back up his culinary expertise. Tesar was awarded with a Michelin Star for his excellent work at Knife & Spoon at The Ritz Carlton Grand Lakes in Orlando, and he is a five-time James Beard Award nominee for “Best Southwest Chef.”

By Kaitlyn Beickel

You’ll find Outer Reef perched atop the Dana Point cliffs, provid ing unparalleled views of the marina as you dine—and the ocean also serves as the inspiration behind the menu. Featuring Chef Tesar’s interpretation of coastal seafood, guests of Outer Reef enjoy inventive dishes like Pounded Dry-Aged Tuna, Black Cod Milanese and Kimchi Glazed Pacific Halibut.

We asked him to provide inspiration for all of us in the kitchen. So, what is for dinner and what are we having for drinks?

OUR EXPERT Chef John Tesar, WHERE YOU’LL FIND THEM Outer Reef at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, THE INSPO Coastal Cuisine, DINNER Black Cod Milanese, DRINK “Killer Bee” Mezcal Cocktail

DINNER BLACK COD MILANESE

INGREDIENTS

7 ounces black cod loin (skin off, no bones)

3 eggs, whisked

1 pint all-purpose flour

1 tablespoons ground white pepper

½ cup brown butter

½ lemon segmented (no seeds)

2 tablespoons fried capers

8 toybox tomatoes (halved)

Salt to taste

½ ounce lemon juice

3 tablespoons of canola oil (for frying)

Garnish

2 squash blossoms

3 nasturtium blossoms

2 nasturtium leaves

Maldon salt

METHOD

Pat cod loin dry and season with salt and white pepper. In three containers separate your egg wash, flour, and herby breadcrumbs.

Begin by dusting cod with flour, then moving it into egg wash and finally finishing with breadcrumbs. Be sure to coat all sides of the fish to ensure even cooking. Set aside the breaded cod.

Take a heavy bottom stainless or cast-iron pan and heat with canola oil to shallow fry. Introduce fish and cook at medium heat. Cook each side 3-4 minutes until golden brown.

In a separate pan heat brown butter and add halved tomatoes to cook lightly. Season with salt, add fried capers, and lemon segments. Finish with fresh lemon juice.

Plate cod whole portion and top with brown butter tomatoes. Garnish with 4 squash blossoms and nasturtium leaves and blossoms raw. They will warm with the heat from the Milanese.

Finish with extra virgin olive oil and Maldon salt.

DRINK KILLER BEE

2 ounces Mezcal

1/2 ounce lemon juice

1/2 ounce orange blossom honey

Pinch of sea salt

Mix all ingredients together and stir. Place ice into a rocks glass and pour contents into a glass. Top with Prosecco and an edible flower.

Nautical SPIN

Interior designer Rona Graf refreshes Lido House hotel owner’s private residence on Balboa Island.

By Nora Burba Trulsson Photography by Karyn Millet

Bob Olson’s home on Balboa Island is a study in classic coastal charm—shingled walls, crisp white trim and plenty of windows, patios and balconies to make the most of life on the waterfront. Inside, the abode is a study in light, airy spaces and darker, intimate spots, with traditional-meets-modern furnishings and finishes that make life comfortable for Olson, his family and guests.

The inviting, classic interior is thanks to interior designer Rona Graf, principal of Costa Mesa-based Grace Blu Interior Design and named ICONIC LIFE magazine Top Designer 2022, who oversaw a major refresh of the 8,000-square-foot, two-story residence.

“The interior was a bit Tuscan before, with a lot of yellows and reds,” Graf says. “Bob wanted to modernize it, but still with a tradi tional look.”

Graf and Olson’s professional paths converged at the nearby Lido Hotel in Newport Beach, a boutique hospitality project that Olson developed.

“Bob’s house, which was done in the early 2000s, was the inspiration for the hotel,” Graf explained. After the hotel—best described as “Newport nautical” in style—opened in 2018, Graf was asked to design one of the cottages on the property. “The cottage at the Lido Hotel was how we met,” she says, “and that’s what prompted him to ask me to do the remodel on his house.”

Though virtually every inch of the interior was updated, Graf trod lightly, mixing in new furnishings with existing and being respectful of the original architecture, done by Los Angeles architect Robert Sinclair. She also worked with Matt White, who oversaw the home’s original construction, on the renovations.

“We went for an overall look that was light, bright and fresh,” the interior designer says, “and we contrasted that with some darker, textural areas.”

In the first-floor living room that opens onto a waterfront patio, Graf suggested traditional nautical colors of blue and white, pairing a comfortable sectional with deep armchairs. She gave the floor added depth by placing a Kravet oriental-style area rug atop a sisal rug, and had the hardwood flooring inset with a dark wood band, delineating the space.

In the dining room, unique for its bowed, ship-inspired ceiling, Graf updated the existing Baker furniture with new seat cushions and tassels, then painted the paneling and wainscoting a deep lacquer blue, adding both sparkle and drama to the space. Off the living room, Graf upped the ante on the bar, with high-gloss black lacquer on the walls, a zinc countertop and funky animal print bar stools.

“It’s everyone’s favorite place downstairs,” she says of the cocktail nook, which also has a bookcase.

The kitchen, which has a glass-ceilinged atrium, was updated with new paint for the cabinetry, new countertops, lighting and appli ances. Upstairs in the master suite, Graf balanced both cool serenity and a masculine appeal with a four-poster Century Furniture bed inset with a deep blue leather canopy and headboard.

“My favorite thing about this bedroom is the turret sitting room, which has views of the water,” Graf says. “We designed a custom circular sofa for the space.”

Another favorite space? The second-floor office, with dark paneled walls, views of the water and custom furnishings inspired by vintage travel trunks.

“This house is really a reflection of Bob,” Graf says. “It’s a place where he can relax and watch TV with his children in the living room, invite friends to watch the annual holiday boat parades or host large parties.”

We’ve Got SPIRITS! Yes we do.

Photo courtesy of Handle

By Kaitlyn Beickel

There’s an on-going myth that Utah is a dry state, yet a burgeon ing distillery and bar culture is revealing the truth. I traveled to Utah to get to the bottom of it.

Utah is continuing to make serious strides toward modernizing its liquor laws, and is home to more than 10 distilleries and numerous high-quality bars. While some of the state’s liquor laws are the same as anywhere else in the US, Utah has a few uncommon laws that you need to know about.

One of the most unique liquor laws in the state of Utah relates to the difference between restaurants and bars. When you go to a restaurant, you can order a drink, but it has to be ordered with food—even if it’s just a side of french fries. Whereas, if you go to a bar, tavern or brewery, no food is required, if you just want a drink.

When you go to order at the bar, don’t expect an over-pour—there are limits on how much spirit can be added to each person’s cocktails. You can order two at a time, but the alcohol between the two drinks can only equal two and a half ounces of total alcohol. For example, you could order a specialty cocktail (with one and a half ounces of alcohol) and a shot (with one ounce of alcohol) at the same time.

Before 2019 in Utah, you could only purchase beers on draft or at grocery/ convenience stores with four percent alcohol or less, but a new law upped that percent age to 5, opening the door to a much wider variety of beers available. Beer is the only drink you’ll find for sale at the grocery store—if you want bottles of spirits and wine, you have to purchase them exclusively at a Utah state liquor store.

Don’t believe the myth that Utah is a dry state— here are our favorite watering holes to get a drink in Park City, Utah.

Photo courtesy of Park City Chamber Bureau

Now that you know the laws around spirits, head to the beautiful Park City, Utah, to try some of our favorite spirits and excel lent cocktails.

“Since there are certain restrictions on how a beverage can be made, our bartenders here are really clever about figuring out how to make that beverage a unique and delicious cocktail,” Dan Howard, Vice President of Communications for Park City, Utah says. “Park City has so many bars, saloons and restaurants where it’s expected that these beverages are world-class. I’m really proud of the bartending community here.”

Ready to grab a drink? Here’s are our favorite places in Park City, Utah (and a couple of Salt Lake City gems) to enjoy spirits:

THE EATING ESTABLISHMENT

Opened in 1972, The Eating Establishment, now owned by comedian and “Modern Family” star Ty Burrell, is a beloved spot in Park City, Utah by both locals and visitors alike. It was featured on Food Networks star Rachael Ray’s “Rachel’s Vacation,” as the oldest ‘joint’ in Park City and a local favorite.

The breakfast-all-day diner was upgraded with the addition of a bar in 2017, and they now are known for their delicious bloody Marys, craft cocktails and sizable beer list.

ALPINE DISTILLING AND ALPINE PIE BAR

A multiple ‘Best Casual Eatery’ and ‘Craft Distillery of the Year’ award-winner, Alpine Distilling and Alpine Pie Bar is a can’t-miss spirit experience for gin and whisky lovers. Alpine offers four different types of premium whisky and two varieties of gin that are “100 percent vapor extracted from naturally gluten-free, corn ethanol.”

Alpine Pie Bar is also home to Alpine Distilling’s custom gin experience where you can blend your own custom gin. If you love pie, get there early—Alpine Pie often sells out of their daily pie allocation, which they serve fresh in a speakeasy setting.

Photo courtesy of The Eating Establishment

HIGH WEST SALOON

Founded in 2006, High West Distillery has made a name for itself as a favorite Sundance stop among celebrities. Park City was selected as the home for this whiskey distillery for two key reasons—founder David Perkins’ love of the Old West and the surprisingly rich history of whisky in Utah. High West also puts an emphasis on sustain ability—all of the distillery’s waste goes into an anaerobic digester that produces electric ity to power the grid.

High West began as a small whisky opera tion, and has grown to be an internationally recognized and award-winning brand. When you want a delicious whisky cocktail, head to Park City, Utah’s High West Saloon, “the world’s first and only ski-in gastro-distillery.”

Photo courtesy of High West, Photo courtesy of Alpine Distilling + Pie Bar

STEIN ALPENGLOBES AT STEIN ERIKSEN LODGE

If you’re an avid fan of winter sports, you are likely already familiar with Stein Eriksen Lodge. Atop the deck of the luxury ski resort are six life-size Alpenglobes, used as climate-controlled outdoor seating for fine dining at Stein Alpenglobes. The fully-enclosed unique clear domes give an awe-inspiring panoramic view of Deer Valley while you dine or lounge.

Enjoy the award-winning culinary options and your favorite drink as you take in the beauty of nature around you.

Photo courtesy of The Lakehouse at Deer Creek, Photo courtesy of Stein Eriksen Lodge

THE LAKEHOUSE AT DEER CREEK

If lake views and great drinks are what you seek, The Lakehouse at Deer Creek has the breathtaking ambience you are looking for. Helmed by celebrated chef Tamara Stanger, who was featured on Food Network’s “Chopped,” The Lakehouse puts an emphasis on local ingredients and small farms. And when we say local, we mean it—Chef Stanger forages for local ingredients herself.

You’ll find these foraged ingredients in the food, and as an ingredient in the delicious craft cocktails—like a freshly-picked flower or flavorful berries. Plus, you can enjoy a sunset cruise around the lake on a private charter before you dine.

SCION CIDER BAR

If you love hard ciders, this is the place for you. Scion Cider Bar has an ever-changing lineup of draft ciders, as well as a wide selec tion of craft cider in bottles and cans. Rio Connelly, the cider bar’s general manager, has an impressive history in Utah’s craft beer scene. With over 10 years experience in the industry, he was a co-founder Proper Brewing and assistant production manager in the early days of Epic Brewing. From sweet to funky, Connelly can help you pick a cider that pleases your palette.

HSL RESTAURANT

Using the freshest, local ingredients is the key to Chef Briar Handly’s delightful culinary cre ations at HSL Restaurant—and the drinks are no exception. The restaurant is an evolution of Handly’s first restaurant, Handle, in Park City, Utah. Touting their interesting wines and thoughtful cocktails, almost everything you have at HSL will be locally sourced— making it that much more enjoyable.

Photo courtesy of Scion Cider Bar, Photo courtesy of HSL Restaurant

COCOA COZY

What’s more dreamy than a decadent cup of hot chocolate to share by the fire? Here are some decadent recipes you can whip up all season long.

By ICONIC LIFE

LAVENDER ORANGE BLOSSOM HOT CHOCOLATE

MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH

INGREDIENTS

1 head fresh lavender

2 cups whole milk

2/3 cup cream

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

3/4 cup dark chocolate, finely chopped

1 drop orange blossom water

METHOD

Cold steep a head of fresh lavender flowers in the milk and cream overnight. Remove the lavender and add the brown sugar; heat until boiling. Pour hot milk/cream over the chocolate, which has been previously chopped. Allow the chocolate to melt, then whisk smooth. Add a drop of orange blossom water and whisk vigorously until frothy. Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream, then add lavender flowers and orange slices for garnish.

CHEF’S FAMOUS HOT CHOCOLATE WITH WHIPPED CREAM

JACQUES TORRES CHOCOLATES

INGREDIENTS

1 cup heavy cream, chilled (for the whipped cream)

2 cups whole milk*

50g (about 1/2 cup) milk powder

3g (about 1 tspo) cornstarch

150g (about 1 cup 60% dark chocolate, in disks or coarsely chopped)

*Note: This hot chocolate is very rich. If you like it slightly thinner, use 3 cups of milk.

METHOD

First make the whipped cream: Pour the heavy cream into a medium mixing bowl and put it in the freezer for 5 minutes. (If you don’t have room for the bowl, just put the heavy cream in the freezer.) Take the mixing bowl of cream out of the freezer and whisk with a large whisk until soft peaks form.

For the hot chocolate: Bring milk to a boil in a medium sauce pot over medi um-high heat. Lower the heat to medium then add the chocolate, whisking vigorously until the chocolate is completely melted. Add the milk powder and cornstarch, still whisking, until everything is dissolved and the mixture is smooth and thick.

To serve, divide the hot chocolate among four mugs or glasses, then garnish each with a large dollop of whipped cream.

THE BOOZY BOURBON PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE

HEARTH 61, MOUNTAIN SHADOWS RESORT

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces of finely chopped semi sweet Ghirardelli chocolate

4 ounces of steamed (or hot) milk

2 ounces of heavy cream

1.5 ounces Makers Mark Bourbon

¼ tsp peppermint extract

Garnish with fresh unsweetened whipped cream and crushed candy cane.

METHOD

Put the chopped chocolate in an Irish coffee mug. Pour the steamed milk and heavy cream into the mug and let stand for 2 minutes, then stir with a spoon until smooth. Add Bourbon. Garnish with whipped cream and crushed candy cane.

Luxury BELOW

SEA LEVEL

Nestled in idyllic south Orange County, Dana Point is a destination for surfers ready to ride a legendary wave and tourists looking for an approachable, less-crowded beach paradise. But, beyond those looking for new ways to experience the Pacific is a stunning Europeanstyle villa designed by Hawk & Co and built by Hill Construction Company. The exquisite home is located in The Strand, the gated housing development that overlooks Dana Strand Beach.

By Sam Micatrotto Photography by Manolo Langis & Brandon Tigrett

Aptly named Oceanfront Place, the home is of course positioned in the ideal spot to take in the ocean views at any given moment—sun sets being particularly beautiful. In addition to stunning views and beach living, not a single detail was overlooked during the construc tion and design of this home with all 8,000 square feet meticulously thought out and oozing with pure luxury.

“What I love most about living in my home is the unique detail in every little space,” says homeowner Danielle White. “Although I didn’t custom design it, I believe it was built for myself and my fami ly—I love the modern vibe mixed with the elegance and style.”

“And the incredible Orange County ocean view and sunsets are unbeatable,” she added.

The moment you enter Oceanfront Place through the private court yard, you are greeted by a custom chandelier inspired by dripping icicles and gorgeous marble flooring, and the centerpiece of the home—an immaculate spiral staircase that takes you to all three levels of the massive house. And, like every other detail in this home, so much thought and planning went into the construction and design of this staircase.

Ryan Hill of Hill Construction Company let us in on a little behindthe-scenes when it comes to the staircase.

“The amount of engineering and coordination that went into this staircase was absolutely tremendous. Working hand-in-hand with our subcontractors, the design partners on this project, as well as mate rial suppliers from around the world, we had to have a significant amount of attention to detail to make sure it came out the way it did.” Hill continued to add.

“There’s a tremendous amount of structural steel to create these simple structures all the way through and on top of that, we had to perform a vibration analysis, so as you’re walking up and down the stairs, you feel that it’s a very solid piece of structure going up and down between the levels.”

As if the staircase wasn’t impressive enough, walking through the home, you will find the great room lined with walnut paneled walls and encapsulated by an Art Deco-inspired stepped ceiling.

Opening up to the impressive dining area, ocean view included, you then walk through to the adjacent kitchen that is fitted with custom metal cabinetry and large, double islands to fit in with the family’s lifestyle. But, what might be the most impressive room in the house— and quite possibly any house we’ve ever seen—is the one that houses the human aquarium. Yes, you read that right, a human aquarium.

The home’s subterranean cocktail lounge was designed to emu late a London nightclub, and there is no lack of natural light. The wall-sized acrylic windows that look into the gorgeous, 20-foot-deep swimming pool allow light to filter into the private lounge area, giving off a cool, blue glow. At double the weight of a standard swim ming pool that you would find in most homes, it’s no doubt that this unique design required extensive structural coordination.

“The other thing that I thought was so interesting was the amount of engineering and technical application that we had to make sure that this area was structurally sound and doesn’t leak,” Hill says.

The details throughout the home, both small and large, were all intentional and expertly thought out by Hawk & Co. Principal Designer, Summer Jensen. To keep the design fresh and on par with what the homeowner was looking for, Jensen incorporated small reveals throughout the home.

“It just gives us this crisp quality to the environment,” Jensen says. “We also inlaid beautiful brass into all of the floorboards, and not to men tion the fact that the floorboards here are actually 18 inches high.”

Ascending up the spiral staircase to the top level of the home you can find the owner’s suite with corner walls that open up allowing for unobstructed views of the water, as well as letting in the cool, ocean air.

“In here we really wanted the view to take front and center,” Jensen says of the striking suite. “Waking up to the gorgeous views every single morning and being able to just look out. We really wanted to make this space somewhere you didn’t want to ever leave.”

We think the goal was accomplished, not only by the views, but with the stunning midnight kitchen that can be found in the suite. The homeowners can wake up with a cup of espresso or wind down with a glass of champagne, all without ever leaving the bedroom! And, the views and never ending details don’t end there. The same retractable glass walls can be found in the bathroom, allowing the homeowners to take in the views while they take a nice long soak.

And while the house no doubt dazzles at every turn, with new wow factors waiting in every room, it is still at its core, a home.

“Although the basement human aquarium is impressive,” White says, “I love family time in the kitchen and living area with the beautiful, unique kitchen space, and the fantastic endless swimming pool and sunset view.”

NEW YEAR in the

The holiday season is here, and we’re shining bright with all that glitters— diamonds, crystals and sequins.

By ICONIC LIFE

FRINGE WITH BENEFITS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Renee Dee, PHOTOGRAPHER: Mark Sacro, LIGHTING: Kyle Finley, STYLING: Jackie Rose, HAIR & MAKEUP: Charlotte Tilbury Beauty—Adam Harwood and Celina Mata-Valle, MODEL: Allison from Women Management Los Angeles, ICONIC LIFE TEAM ON SET: Carlye Klick, Kaitlyn Beickel, LOCATION: Laguna Beach Estate. Interior Architecture And Design—Aria Design, Arianna Noppenberger. Design Architect— Horst Architects, Horst Noppenberger. Builder—McKeehan Construction, SPECIAL THANKS: A special thank you to South Coast Plaza

Alexander McQueen Denim A-line Skirt, Leather Buckle Point-Toe Mules and Bangle, Oscar de la Renta necklace.

RED HAUTE

Lanvin Long Wrap Dress, Oscar de la Renta necklace and Silver Leather Mini Tro Bag, Simon G earrings.

MAGICAL MOMENT

Oscar de la Renta Strapless V Neck Crystal Embroidered Gown, Simon G necklace, Saint Laurent heels.

SEE & BE SEEN

Oscar de la Renta Sequin Embroidered Skinny Pant and Floral Strapless Sequin Top, Simon G ring and earrings, Saint Laurent shoes and clutch.

ICE QUEEN

Oscar de la Renta Strapless Crystal Flower Embroidered Gown, Simon G earrings, ring and necklace.

WINTER WILDFLOWER

Oscar de la Renta Floral Threadwork Embroidered Cocktail Dress, Jimmy Choo shoes.

STAR-STUDDED

Lanvin dress, Alexander McQueen Graffiti Mini Jewelled Satchel and Leather Buckle Point-Toe Mules.

INSPIRATION

It’s time to pull out your bold red lipstick and your favorite sparkly dress. Winter is here and so are dazzling dresses, blinged bags and festive shoes that are perfect for helping you ring in the new year. For our holiday fashion shoot, we were inspired by the magical delight of the season, complete with elegant evening gowns and glam makeup.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY BEAUTY

Using the power of makeup, Charlotte Tilbury believes that everyone deserves to look and feel like their most beautiful self—this belief is evident in all of the Charlotte Tilbury products that were selected for our glam holiday fashion shoot.

For the face products, we used the Beautiful Skin Foundation and Concealer, Airbrush Brightening Powder and Pillow Talk Beautifying Face Palette, and for the beautiful lip shades we used Pillow Talk Lip Cheat and Lipstick, Kiss N’ Tell Lip Cheat, Tell Laura Matte Revolution Lipstick and KISSING Lipstick in Nude Talk and Runway Royalty.

To play up the drama on the eyes, we picked the Supernudes Eye Palette, Pop Shot Single Eye Shadow in Diamond Eyes, Rose Gold and Cosmic Rocks and the Exaggereyes Double Ended Eyeliner.

When the MICHELIN STARS ALIGN

By Fran Miller

To auto aficionados, the name Michelin likely conjures images of fat black tires burning rubber through the streets of Le Mans. After all, Michelin, upon its founding, was first and foremost an automotive industry company. But to the world’s gourmands, the name Michelin prompts visions of stars—Michelin stars, the culinary equivalent of an Academy Award.

Both versions of the Michelin name are correct, but it’s the cui sine-focused Michelin Guide, featuring thousands of recommended eateries throughout the world, that resonates deeply with a food-lov ing public and talented chefs who reach for those stars. Make no mistake, in the restaurant world, a Michelin star matters. Orange County is home to three spots that carry the distinguished title of Michelin star restaurants, including Knife Pleat, Taco María and Hana re.

The culinary equivalent of an Academy Award, a Michelin Guide star denotes quality, creativity, consistency…and the promise of a really great meal.

Photography courtesy of Michelin, Grand Hotel

Villa Serbelloni, Knife Pleat and Jarad Gallagher

The Michelin Guide as culinary authority happened organically. Originally conceived in Clermont-Ferrand, France at the end of the 19th century as motivation for motorists to get out and drive, its founders Andre and Edouard Michelin (sibling proprietors of the tire company) strove to help tourists create personal itineraries by pro ducing the small red guide that included tire-changing instructions and gas station locations.

For 20 years their guide was gratis. In 1920, they started charging seven francs for an expanded version that included Paris hotel and restaurant lists. Success dictated additional growth and the brothers recruited a team of inspectors to visit and review restaurants anony mously. In 1926, the guide initiated its single star system—five years later, they added the one, two, three star ranking system for which the guide continues to be known to this day.

The Michelin Guide rating system is now present in 39 destinations throughout the world, with stars awarded annually for outstanding cuisine. A Michelin Guide-covered destination can be a city, a region, or a country which inspectors visit regularly to appraise local restau rants before drawing up their annual selection.

A one star establishment is defined as “a good place to stop on your journey, indicating a very good restaurant in its category, offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard.” Two stars indicates “a restaurant worth a detour, indicating excellent cuisine and skill fully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality.

And a celebrated three stars is “a restaurant worth a special journey, indicating exceptional cuisine where diners eat extremely well, often superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients.” Worldwide, the number of rated restaurants includes 2,658 one-Michelin-Star restaurants, 482 two-Michelin-Star restau rants, and 137 three-Michelin-Star restaurants.

“The decision whether to award one or more Stars to a restaurant is a collaborative effort among the Michelin Guide’s anonymous inspectors,” Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides, says.

“When the inspectors are considering awarding a Star, they always visit the restaurant multiple times, with different inspectors each time, to ensure consistent quality and the satisfaction of our five criteria: 1) quality products, 2) harmony of flavors, 3) the mastery of cooking techniques, 4) the personality of the chef in the cuisine, and 5) con sistency between each visit.”

“These five criteria of the Michelin Guide are always the same worldwide, and this is what gives our method and our recommen dations its strength. The decision to award Stars is always a collegial one. Moreover, there is no set rule for how many times inspectors must visit a restaurant, and our inspectors do not have quotas. Coming from a wide range of countries and backgrounds, they are open-minded to any kind of culinary propositions a destination offers,” Poullennec added.

Inspectors, each of whom shares a passion for food and an eye for detail, are prohibited from communicating with the media and are even encouraged to keep their line of work secret from friends and family.

“Our anonymous inspectors are constantly on the ground to monitor the culinary landscape,” Poullennec says. “The decision to introduce a selection in a destination is made by the inspectors when a destina tion represents a remarkable gastronomic potential. We are always looking into bringing the Michelin Guide to new destinations and discovering new types of cuisines and gourmet concepts.”

Restaurant ambiance cannot be denied as a factor in a lovely dining experience, yet ultimately for Michelin, it’s what’s on the plate that counts. The theme of a restaurant and its level of for mality have no bearing.

“Though caviar, foie gras, and Wagyu beef are certainly luxurious ingredients that many people love to eat and which chefs creatively prepare at their Starred dining rooms, the perception that Michelin Stars are awarded only to formal or fancy restaurants is a common misconception,” Michelin Guide’s anonymous chief North America inspector says. “Regardless of the atmosphere – be it formal or casual – Michelin Stars are awarded solely for the food on the plate. Michelin Stars are awarded to restaurants offering a variety of cuisines in various settings – the key word being variety.

Some interesting and delicious examples of the range of Michelin Stars include tapas at Casa Mono in New York, Korean-style noodles at Jeju Noodle Bar in New York, Middle Eastern live-fire cooking at Maydan in Washington D.C., and a Californian take on “dim sum” at State Bird Provisions in San Francisco. Globally speaking, Michelin Stars have even been awarded to street food stalls in Bangkok and Singapore.”

“In the eight years that my restaurant consistently earned a Michelin star, I never knew who the inspectors were or when they visited,” Chef Jarad Gallagher, formerly of contemporary French restaurant Chez TJ in Mountain View, California, a one Michelin star restau rant, says. “My team and I were always on the hunt – every moment and every second we were aware that we were possibly being evalu ated. This not knowing actually makes the dining experience better for everybody. We were always on our toes.”

Gallagher, who now owns Spanish-focused Mediterranean restaurant Broma, also in Mountain View, feels that Michelin is a supportive company, and he greatly admires the inspectors, whomever they are.

“They are smart, and they know that Michelin representing a restau rant means that the restaurant represents Michelin,” Gallagher says. “But trying to define the essence of Michelin is futile, though we do have enough data from those star-awarded establishments to see some generalities. Michelin star restaurants are consistent; the chefs tend to know and understand their product, delivering it in a way that’s informed and enjoyable. As a Michelin restaurant chef, you need to have a voice, and you need to work really hard at developing and maintaining that voice. Michelin does not give passes.”

Another Michelin misconception? That a star automatically trans lates to business and attention and that once awarded, a restaurant automatically gains mythic status in the food industry. “No doubt it’s a huge advantage for a brand and for a chef,” Jan Bucher says, general manager of Lake Como’s Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni and its one Michelin star Mistral Restaurant, whose executive chef Ettore Bocchia is considered the father of Italian molecular cuisine. “But it’s also an immense responsibility, as we have to work hard to preserve it. In our case, we invest in innovative cooking techniques and the quality of the raw materials, and we have some products that are really hard to find.”

“The Michelin star spotlight benefits restaurants in a significant way,” Bucher added. “For us at Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, the only luxury hotel in the entire Lake Como area with a Michelin star, the recognition presents an opportunity to share with guests our original approach. It’s a way to attract targeted guests looking for something really unique—the so-called Michelin experience.”

“Since its founding in 1900, the main goal of the Michelin Guide hasn’t changed: It strives to choose the best places by providing honest and high-quality recommendations to culinary connoisseurs all over the world,” Poullennec says. “The Guide’s methodology (a Michelin Star has the same value in New York or in Tokyo) as well as the independence and anonymity of its inspectors are a major element of differentiation and confidence for the gourmets who use the guide when they are looking for a good restaurant.”

Journey to PATAGONIA

By David Rubin

Experience all that the vast region of the planet has to offer.

Photo courtesy of Awasi Patagonia

Enjoy stunning nature exploring Patagonia. Many discern ing travelers are now eager to visit Patagonia after watching the CNN docuseries, “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World.” Across six captivating episodes, audiences travel across Patagonia’s diverse and spectacular landscapes.

“Stretching for more than a thousand miles through Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is a place unlike any other—wild, isolated, pristine and unexplored. The region’s ICONIC wildlife—pumas, penguins, condors and killer whales—thrive in a rich diversity of habitats, and species new to science. Insects, birds and even mammals—are discov ered here each year,” CNN exclaims enthusiastically.

Our “best of the best” itinerary takes you there. Let’s fly into Santiago, Chile to explore and begin tasting the great Chilean wines in the nearby Maipo Wine Country.

PATAGONIA NATIONAL PARK, CHILE

Your exploration of Patagonia begins by flying south and traveling to Patagonia National Park’s Aysen Region in Chile. South of Puerto Montt, is the region of northern Patagonia called the “Carretera Austral” (Austral Route), named for the 769-mile-long dirt and gravel road that bends and twists through thick virgin rainforest, past glacial-fed rivers and aquamarine lakes. You will see jagged, whitecapped peaks that rise above open valleys and precipitous cliffs with cascading ribbons of waterfalls at every turn.

The scenery is remote and rugged. This is Chile’s quintessential road trip. Along the way there are also some of the country’s best fly-fishing lodges, one of the world’s top rivers for rafting, and awe-inspiring glaciers.

The next leg of your journey connects two of the most remote areas in the country by private plane. You will board a private plane to fly 1.5 hours over the glaciers and fjords between Patagonia National Park and Torres del Paine National Park.

TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK, CHILE

The spectacular 600,000-acre Torres del Paine National Park in Chile rises vertically more than 6,500 feet. The park was part of a large sheep estancia (ranch) before being designated as a national park in 1959. In addition to the surrounding mountain vistas above pure lakes and glaciers, the region is carpeted with beauti ful wildflowers and an assortment of bird species (condors, swans, ostrich-like rheas), and herds of guanacos (cousins to the llamas).

A highlight for many is puma tracking in Torres del Paine with expe rienced trackers and a specialized guide. This is considered the most popular and sought-after destination on Earth for watching and photo graphing pumas. The puma, also known as mountain lion and cougar in North America, is the fourth largest cat in the world, after the tiger, the lion and the jaguar. Males usually weigh 110 to 180 pounds and

Photo by Marianna Ianovska, Photo courtesy of Explora Patagonia Lodge

Photos courtesy of Awasi Patagonia & Awasi, Photo courtesy of Explora Salto Chico

SAMPLE ITINERARY

A “Best of the Best of Patagonia” recommended itinerary is a 20-night journey with luxury accommodations:

1. Two nights in Santiago, Chile at Magnolia Boutique Hotel, Singular Santiago Hotel, Ritz Carlton Santiago Hotel, Mandarin Oriental Santiago Hotel, or W Santiago Hotel

2. Three nights in Patagonia National Park, Chile at Explora Patagonia National Park

3. Three nights in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile at Explora Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia Camp, Awasi Patagonia, Tierra Patagonia, or The Singular Patagonia

4. Three nights in El Calafate, Argentina (gateway to Los Glaciares National Park) at Eolo

5. Three nights in Ushuaia, Argentina (gateway to Tierra del Fuego National Park and sailings departing for Antarctica) at Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa

6. Three nights in Bariloche, Argentina (gateway to the Lake District) at Llao Llao Resort, Golf & Spa or Villa Beluno

7. Three nights (or longer!) in Buenos Aires, Argentina at Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires, Palacio DuhauPark Hyatt Buenos Aires, Faena Hotel Buenos Aires, CasaSur Palermo Hotel, or Alvear Icon Hotel.

Great expedition cruise add-on options include:

• Departing from Ushuaia, Argentina for an expedition sailing to Antarctica and South Georgia aboard Silversea Cruises, Abercrombie & Kent Cruises, Ponant Cultural Cruises & Expeditions, Atlas Ocean Voyages, Scenic Luxury Cruises, Quark Expeditions, National Geographic Expeditions, or Lindblad Expeditions

• In Chile, expedition cruising to explore the Patagonian fjords with Australis Patagonia Cruises or a private ship charter.

the females are 80 to 130 pounds. In Patagonia, some males can weigh more than 220 pounds. Adult male pumas grow 6 to 8 feet long and females average 5 to 7 feet. This excursion focuses on all the species that live in the area and involves spectacular nature photography.

Your visit to Torres del Paine provides fantastic hiking options and complete remoteness, stillness and inaccessibility to most humans. This is a place for adventure. The park has a network of trails which are regarded as some of the most scenic hikes in the world, and it is also a fabulous setting for horse riding, mountain biking and kayaking.

The three granite Towers that give Torres del Paine National Park its name are the dominant feature of the landscape and can be appre ciated from many different angles and many different viewpoints around the park. The Cuernos or ‘Horns’ are twin peaks of rock. A great viewpoint for the Cuernos is the Pehoé lookout point on the trail that runs between Lake Nordenskjold and Lake Pehoé.

A favorite spot is French Valley, one of the best places in Torres del Paine to enjoy a panoramic vista of the mountains. This theatrical view takes in all of the individual rock formations including the Blade, the Mask, the Sword, the Cathedral, the Shark’s Fin and the Fortress. Grey Glacier is one of Torres del Paine’s most ICONIC glaciers and best enjoyed on a boat trip on Grey Lake that weaves amongst free floating icebergs and tours up and down both of the glacier’s snouts.

Based on the area’s unpredictable weather conditions (and often biting wind!) please prepare several layers of adaptable clothing!

LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK, ARGENTINA

The next leg of your journey is a transnational transfer from Chile to Argentina and the city of El Calafate. El Calafate is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, an area of lakes, mountains and glaciers with astounding scenery that is best seen from one of the various boat tour options. Perito Moreno Glacier is the area’s main attraction. This is one of the few remaining glaciers in the world that is getting larger or advancing. It is grinding its way down the Andes range into a branch of the enormous Lake Argentino. For the more active, a glacier trekking experience over its millenarian ice field is highly recommended.

Another recommended excursion is a gentle hike to the Upsala Glacier Lookout Point. After a 20-minute walk on glacial erosion terrain, admire the imposing Upsala Glacier’s eastern front and the South Patagonian Continental Ice Field.

TIERRA DEL FUEGO NATIONAL PARK, ARGENTINA

The next leg of your journey is a flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Often referred to as ‘the end of the world,’ Ushuaia was once a penal colony. Now it is a busy port and the capital of Tierra del Fuego, the largest island in South America.

Ushuaia and its surrounding area are a Patagonian paradise with so much to offer visitors - including amazing wildlife, a rich history,

Photos courtesy of Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa,

treks and walks where you get up close and personal with beavers and unique birds, native to these woods, challenging trips for hikers and climbers, and the opportunity to hit the slopes depending on the season.

Explore Tierra del Fuego National Park to discover the secrets of this unique park. Here, the Andes are accessible from the sea and the fresh water of rivers and lakes mix with ocean water from the Beagle channel in pristine forests.

On a recommended excursion, arrive at Ensenada Bay and start a moderate 4.5 mile trek along the coast-line. Steamer ducks, upland geese and Magellanic woodpecker are some of the birds that you may spot during this three-hour walk. Then, go canoeing! Your guide will provide paddling technique and a safety briefing, rubber boots, over-pants, and lifejackets before rowing downstream on the Lapataia River in inflatable canoes. Floating at leisure down the Lapataia river will allow you to explore an area seldom visited and concentrate on every attraction the scenery has to offer involving ornithology, geology, ecology, and photography. After some ninety minutes of gentle paddling, you will arrive at Lapataia Bay.

BARILOCHE LAKE DISTRICT, ARGENTINA

On the next leg of your journey, you will fly to Bariloche, Argentina. Guarded by majestic mountains and Lake Nahuel Huapi, Bariloche stands proudly as the gateway to the stunning Lake District. Bariloche is one of Argentina’s most exciting resorts. It offers mountain resort activities and every season is distinctively charming. Summer is best for outdoor activities and sports such as trout fishing, horseback riding, rafting, trekking and hiking.

Enjoy lazy days at the lake at river beaches or more vigorous mountain climbing. In winter, Cerro Catedral is visited by increasing numbers of winter sports enthusiasts every year. It is the largest and most developed ski resort in South America with 1,482 acres of snow.

On one day, begin with a 50-minute hike through the forest with the opportunity to see the bluffs and valleys along the Nahuel Huapi Lake. For those who are a bit more adventurous, you will have the choice to rappel down the mountainside or hike down to meet your chef who will prepare lunch while you enjoy your surroundings. Complete the day with more hiking and the opportunity to see the native flora and fauna of Northern Patagonia.

Next, discover a favorite estancia or ranch. The pioneers of this land adopted the gaucho way to manage sheep and cattle. The heritage of more than 100 years of traditions are still alive. Here, you will enjoy a hidden gem within breathtaking nature on horseback (or hiking or by jeep), so saddle up for a two-hour ride along native woodland, mountain and valleys.

Also recommended is a full-day tour to discover Victoria Island, a universe of natural attractions. Travel by a boat across Lake Nahuel

Photos by Dudarev Mikhail, Villa Beluno and Llao Llao

GIFT OF GIVING

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) of Argentina is doing invaluable work. Among the most important ecoregions in Argentina are El Gran Chaco and La Patagonia, two ICONIC sites in Latin America. Here, environmen tal degradation represents a risk not only for the country, but globally. TNC provides nature-based solutions to address environ mental challenges in those areas providing a triple benefit to biodiversity, climate change and sustainable growth.

TNC in Argentina has three strategic pillars:

1. Freshwater—To help ensure water security through the conservation of watersheds.

2. Nature and Agriculture—To promote healthy agricultural systems that benefit nature and people.

3. Nature Conservation—To preserve strategic natural environments and promote land conservation.

To give a gift membership in TNC go to www.nature.org or to find out more email: argentina@tnc.org

Plus, to see gorgeous photos follow: @tnclatinoamerica

Photos by Dudarev Mikhail and Llao Llao

Huapi’s crystal clear waters to the island. Centenial cypress and coigue trees, and exotic fauna are found at every turn. Another part of the island is discovered on your way to Puerto Pampa before embarking for the 30-minute navigation back to Puerto Panuelo.

You will wave farewell to Patagonia as you fly to your international gateway city of Buenos Aires, Argentina….a personal favorite! Elegant, old-worldly, with a touch of Paris here, a touch of London there, a dash of New York cosmopolitanism, and a big splash of Italian exuberance, the city also has a strong Latin America personal ity. Plus, it has uniquely Argentine elements such as tango bars.

Here, everything is grand, on a scale fit for kings—Tourists pho tograph vast steaks at restaurants, Nueve de Julio avenue ranks as the world’s widest, a cemetery so fancy that it occupies one of the poshest parts of the most posh neighborhood, while the entire city fronts onto the world’s widest river. Buenos Aires never fails to impress. It is a perfect send off after your exploration of Patagonia, one of the most dramatically beautiful landscapes in the world.

READY TO GO?

To book your business and leisure travels worldwide, call on David Rubin and his team at DavidTravel. In 1996, David moved from a successful law practice, followed a deep passion for travel, and launched his travel company. For more than a decade, David has been on both the Travel + Leisure Magazine “A-List” and the Conde Nast Traveler Magazine “Specialist List” of the best travel advisors in the world. DavidTravel delivers unparalleled style, attention to detail, and insider access uniquely responding to each client’s goals, budget, interests, and dreams.

Photos by Henrik Dolle, Faena Hotel, Four Seasons and Park Hyatt Palacio Duhau

HOME HIGHCLERE FOR THE Holidays

By Dena Roché

Immerse yourself in the regal world of the real-life Downton Abbey this holiday season.

Put on your best frock, top hat and party like it’s 1920, and you’re holidaying with Netflix’s favorite family, the Crawley’s. At Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England, fans of “Downton Abbey” can experience the real life castle that was home to the Earl of Grantham in the popular series and movies. During December, the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, the real life aristocrats of Highclere Castle, even host a castle tour and showing of the most recent movie, “Downton Abbey: A New Era.”

HIGHCLERE HISTORY

It’s easy to see why Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellowes, set the ICONIC series at Highclere Castle. Dating back to the early middle ages in 749, Highclere Castle oozes history from every tower. The current Italianate Gothic façade was designed in 1842 by Sir Charles Barry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament in London. Driving in on a road that feels miles long, the grandeur of the imposing castle soars into view.

During WWI, the castle was converted into a hospital for wounded soldiers and run by the 5th Countess of Carnarvon (a plot line woven into season two of the series), and in WWII, it was home to children evacuated from London.

In 1922, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, along with Howard Carter, discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt. To commem orate the historic find, there is an ongoing Egyptian exhibit housed at Highclere Castle.

Highclere Castle boasts between 250 and 300 rooms on its 6,000-acre estate. Public tours take visitors to the main state rooms featured in Downton Abbey, as well as to several bedrooms, cellars, former staff quarters and the Egyptian Exhibit.

CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the theme for this year’s decorations is ancient Egypt. Holiday events are happening throughout November and December. Guests can enjoy

day castle tours and shopping at an onsite Christmas market, or evening castle tours with Champagne, canapes and Christmas carols.

Don’t miss picking up a bottle of Highclere Castle Gin as a holiday gift for your besties back home. The spirit is a collaboration between the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and Connecticut-based Onyx Spirits Co. distillery. The spirit is inspired by the gardens and botanicals on the estate including a lavender that was originally planted in the 9th century by the Bishops of Winchester.

LORD OF THE MANOR

For the die-hard fan, nothing beats extend ing your time at Highclere with a stay on property. While you can’t sleep in the castle, there are two lodges on the castle grounds available sporadically throughout the year for travelers to rent.

London Lodge was built in 1793, when Colonel Henry Herbert was named 1st Earl of Carnarvon by King George III. To celebrate he built London Lodge as an imposing entrance to his Park at Highclere. The building was completely restored and reconfigured as a cottage with two wings and one double bedroom.

Grotto Lodge was designed by the Victorianera architect, Thomas Allom, who was the assistant to Sir Charles Barry when he built the current Highclere Castle. It is a two-story lodge built like a turret that has a bedroom on each level.

If the Highclere lodges are unavailable don’t despair, the nearby Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire will still make you feel like royalty. The hotel is set in a restored 18th century manor and has more than 500 acres of bucolic grounds to explore.

For a romantic, throwback holiday that blends true royalty and Hollywood royalty, Highclere Castle is hard to beat.

Photography courtesy of Highclere Castle

WAN DERMust

Pique your travel desires with dreams of these faraway places that you MUST visit in 2023.

By Fran Miller

The world is once again a trav eler’s oyster. Take advantage of newly re-found freedom by indulging your wanderlust with a visit to one of these wander-must destinations. From Peruvian mountain peaks, to Adriatic Sea-fronting beaches, we’ve gathered intel on some of the globe’s most sought-after destinations, each of which is guaranteed to refresh, rejuvenate and inspire. What are you waiting for? There is no better time to turn your travel dream into a travel reality.

MACHU PICCHU, PERU

Those fortunate to have visited the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu claim it as a life altering experience. To catch the sun rising over Huayna Picchu as morning mists reveal the beauty of the Sacred Valley is spell-binding. This amazing, pre-Columbian, urban creation of the Inca Empire is one of the planet’s greatest architectural and artistic achievements.

Built in the 15th century and abandoned just a century later, it wasn’t until 1911 that the complex was discovered by a world enchanted with the mountain slopes, peaks and valleys that surround 200 struc tures—giant walls, terraces and ramps, all seemingly cut naturally into the landscape.

Despite the globe’s ongoing curiosity, many of Machu Picchu’s mysteries remain unre solved, such as its exact role in the Incas’ sophisticated understanding of farming and astronomy. At nearly 8,000 feet above sea-level, in the middle of tropical mountain forests, it’s not exactly easy to get there, but those who make the journey believe in its power to transform. While it’s possible to plan a do-it-yourself journey, the best way to experience the region is via a guided tour.

Companies such as Abercrombie & Kent or Tauck take the guess-work out of sometimes confusing logistics to provide not only luxe accommodations, but also insider access to Incan scholars and cultural activities, food tours led by local chefs, and expert guidance through necessary elevation acclimation.

CANOUAN ISLAND, CARIBBEAN

Described as the place where billionaires go to escape millionaires, Canouan (a Caribe word for ‘island of turtles’) is a mere 3.2 square mile island located in St. Vincent and The Grenadines. Remote and luxurious, this aptly named island where the turtles outnumber humans is the ultimate hideaway; most have never heard of the tropical paradise that is quickly becoming one of the most sought after luxury destinations in the world, thanks to its sumptuous full service resort, the Mandarin Oriental, where A list stars can be found lounging poolside.

Surrounded by Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada, the island features all of the welcome Caribbean clichés (think clear, turquoise waters, lush, green mountains, one of the largest barrier reefs in the region, and a luxury, super-yacht marina) and none of the annoying aspects (think crowds and hurricanes.) No expense was spared in the Mandarin Oriental’s impeccable detail. Elegant colonial style suites and Italianate villas are nestled along a white power stretch of Godahl Beach.

A collection of restaurants offers a variety of culinary options in settings that showcase stunning ocean vistas. A Balinese-inspired state of the art spa features the latest treatments. A large infinity pool overlooks the ocean. The water sports center features Hobie cats, wind surfers and kayaks, and a championship Fazio-designed golf course is the only 18-hole course in St. Vincent and The Grenadines. Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service includes private plane charters from Barbados.

Photography courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Canouan

CAVTAT, CROATIA

Croatia is having a moment. It seems everyone is traveling to this Central European Riviera where pebble-strewn beaches and dramatic mountains and cliffs are complemented by a rich history in which the Romans, Byzantines and the Hapsburgs figure prominently.

The most popular destinations within its thousands of islands are Dubrovnik (‘the pearl of the Adriatic’), the capital city of Zagreb, the romantic, Italian-esque Istria, cosmopolitan Split and the posh, jet-set ter island of Hvar. Venture beyond these spots to discover lesser known Cavtat, a charming harbor town offering a relaxed pace and a stunning waterfront promenade lined with palm trees and outdoor cafes.

Poised to be the next “it” destination, Cavtat resembles a pre-crowded St. Tropez. With a lovely bay and beaches, and historical flair, Cavtat overlooks the picturesque waterfront and the beauti ful baroque Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas, home to valuable works by European artists. Nearby, Our Lady of the Snow Monastery is well worth a visit for its early Renaissance paintings. In the heart of Cavtat’s charming historic center is Hotel Supetar Cavtat. Housed in an original 1920s three-story private villa with an infinity edge pool, Hotel Supetar is a boutique retreat with 16 spacious, stylish and individually designed rooms with Mediterranean soul.

The hotel features a cozy restaurant and wine bar, but additional Cavtat dining options include Bugenvila, a Dalmatian Coast culinary trendsetter and a favorite of visiting celebs and presidents, and Leut, where the day’s fresh catches are always on display.

Photography courtesy of Shutterstock

BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Though a tenth of the size of Paris, Bordeaux features much of what makes the City of Light so beloved—architectural beauty, art, shopping and a cosmopol itan café society, all with the bonus of fewer tourists. This historic capital city of Aquitaine is often an afterthought for travel ers. But for wine lovers, Bordeaux is the holy grail. No other wine region on earth is more recognized as a source for important labels.

The name derives from ‘a bord de l’eau,’ meaning ‘along the waters,’ and to explore its right and left banks (as delineated by the Gironde Estuary and the Dordogne and Garonne rivers) is to delve into historic deliciousness. While a visit to the destina tion-worthy La Cite du Vin (an interactive museum about the world of wine) is indeed a goal, go a step further with a more immer sive and expert-led experience.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ Bordeaux Affair cruise is an all-inclusive week-long escapade through the best of Bordeaux. Featuring tours of Medoc, St. Emilion, Blaye, Cadillac, Sauterne and more, Scenic offers the opportunity to e-bike through some of the most famous vineyards in the world while sampling the vinous offerings of many a majestic chateau. The cruise also allows plenty of time for exploration of its port city. Don’t miss the 18th century Jardin Public and its 27 bucolic acres containing an arboretum, a library, a botanical garden and a museum of natural history.

And just across the historic Pont de Pierre bridge (commissioned by Napoleon and inaugurated in 1822), you’ll find the inspir ing, alternative urban community of Darwin where ecological innovators congregate in artistic harmony.

Photography by Dan Miller

SAN SEBASTIÁN, SPAIN

Food is an art form in San Sebastián, where Michelin stars are nearly as numerous as those in the night sky. This Basque region’s culinary craft is creatively displayed within its colorful and creative pintxos. Meaning ‘small snack,’ there is nothing miniscule about the culture surrounding the Spanish gastronomic mainstay.

Within the narrow and picturesque cobbled streets of San Sebastián’s Old Town, guests amble from one bar to another in search of convivial sustenance. Two pintxos and a glass of cider or wine, and it’s on to the next. Those seeking Michelin greatness can’t go wrong at the three-starred Akelarre where Executive Chef Pedro Subijana has helmed the kitchen for nearly 50 years.

Take advantage of the full experience with an overnight stay within one of Akelarre’s 22 luxuriously appointed rooms. The elegantly minimalist Relais & Chateaux hotel hugs the cliffs and offers dramatic coastline views. Back in the town center, a stay at Lasala Plaza Hotel’s La Concha Suite delivers panoramic views of the skyline and La Concha Bay. Beyond cuisine, San Sebastián is known for its art and culture; open air sculptures surprise and delight, and its annual film festival features star power that rivals Cannes.

Active visitors find plenty of motivation in the miles of sea and bay front walking paths, while surfers flock to Zurriola Beach, and swimmers and kayakers dot the calm waters of La Concha Bay.

Photography courtesy of Donostia San Sebastián Turismoa and Akelare

Creating MY 2023

This simple goalsetting practice can be a gamechanger in the New Year.

By Renee Dee Photography by Carlye Klick

The excitement of this fabulous new year is on my mind, and I am feeling the mojo of 2023 big time. I’ve talked to many of you who are feeling the same way—I love the promise of opportunity and all the creativity it bubbles up for me.

You know me as publisher of ICONIC LIFE magazine, but you may not know I am classically trained as an executive coach, which comes in handy when I need a coaching moment for my team or myself. Throughout my life I’ve leaned on this training, and I am going to share one of my favorite processes with you to inspire you to Live Beautifully in the New Year.

I’m not a believer in resolutions—they can be forgotten before the end of January. In fact, 25 percent of people who declare resolu tions in the New Year give up by the end of the first week. I am a believer in shifting your mindset, creating new habits and embracing a new approach.

These are long and lasting lifestyle shifts that can create the change you want. There are simple and effective goal-setting strategies you can take yourself through if you want to start making a plan for an even better 2023. I have been doing this for almost three decades. You may know it as the “MORE OF/LESS OF” coaching process.

GET STARTED

This is usually my New Year’s Eve ritual. You’ll need a blank piece of paper and a quiet place. Write down everything that happened during the year—the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the mem orable and meaningful.

Walk your brain down memory lane and freely list everything that pops into your mind—a great trip, an awesome meal, an idea you had, a pair of shoes that made you feel powerful; maybe even a chance encounter, a chat with a friend, or something that angered you. No matter how big or how small, include it on this list. Make this an event; take at least an hour to create your list.

You can:

• Brew some amazing coffee, sit in your favorite chair and get going.

• Take a hike alone, open your notebook and go.

• Meditate in your comfy clothes, drink some tea and go.

• Light a fire, open a bottle of wine and go.

The idea is to break a pattern so that you can see something new.

When you’re done, simply reflect. Take your time and look at what resonates with you. What feels good? What raises your blood pressure?

Using two different colored highlighters, begin sorting through which items you want “MORE OF/ LESS OF.” Be brutally honest with yourself. No one is checking your work, and this is a private document. When you’re completely honest with yourself, you’ll find your path and heart’s desire for the New Year.

THE NEXT STEP

When you identify what you want “MORE OF,” start journaling ways to do just that. Take your time, as the answers may appear slowly. As the wonderful Wayne Dyer always said, “Simply notice.” From here, you can write your goals or commitment statements to get you from where you are today to where you want to go. I encour age you to write three to five goals for yourself. Too many turns into a list you’ll never achieve. Focus is the friend of success.

Set proactive and effective goals for yourself. If you don’t set a goal, you can’t achieve it. If you write it down, you are 42 percent more likely to achieve it. Tell others about your goals, and that likeli hood to achieve your goal soars again. Report your weekly progress to a friend or accountability partner, and your success will be so close you can touch it.

A well-known Harvard study asked graduate students if they had clear, written goals for their future and plans to turn them into reality. Only three percent of the students had written goals and plans to accomplish them. Thirteen percent had goals in their minds but hadn’t written them down. A staggering 84 percent had no goals at all.

IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS DONE, YOU’LL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS GOTTEN.

Ten years later the same group of students was interviewed again, and the conclusion of the study validates the power of goal setting and writing them down. The 13 percent of the class who had goals, but did not write them down, earned twice the amount of the 84 percent who had no goals. The three percent who had written goals were earning, on average, 10 times as much as the other 97 percent of the class combined.

One last piece on goal setting: Remember to write SMART goals— Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Sensitive. When you have the specifics, the roadmap to success contains all the information you need, and when you get where you want to go, you’ll know you’re there.

Wishing you a beautiful life and all that you want in it for 2023.

ICONIC

By Sam Micatrotto

TANK

THE COMPETITION

While the Tank began as an homage to war, it is now an ICONIC symbol of sophistication and style, a timeless piece of fashion loved for decades.

From Prohibition and Pearl Harbor, to the first man in space and the unveiling of the Empire State Building, a lot has happened over the last 100 years. But while the world has changed in the last century, there was one constant—the Cartier Tank watch.

While the watch wasn’t a part of all of these significant events in history, it has remained a constant all this time. The design had not changed in more than 100 years, a testament to its timeless elegance. While the ICONIC watch may not have always been a part of history, it certainly was inspired by it.

In 1917, the Tank was created by Louis Cartier, who was inspired by World War I and the rugged, armored vehicles that lend the watch its name. The watch’s flat, vertical brancards hint at a tank’s treads, and the hands mimic a cannon’s barrel. These details, plus the sapphire cabochon, symbolize understated elegance and have captivated the world’s most astute minds since the design’s inception.

The 1926 film “Son of the Sheik” is to credit for the watch’s increased popularity. Rudolph Valentino, actor and star of the afore mentioned film, wore the watch while starring in the movie and the public took note.

Since then, Hollywood heartthrobs and well-known figures like Frank Sinatra, Michelle Obama, Andy Warhol, Princess Diana, Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, Muhammad Ali and John F. Kennedy, to name a few, have been seen wearing the watch, and it’s become somewhat of a red carpet staple.

The clean lines and streamlined design make it a watch that complements any outfit. The Tank comes in a variety of different finishes, sizes, complications and movements, making it easy to find your perfect match when you’re making this investment in your wardrobe. Our publisher has been wearing her double-diamond-be zel Tank daily for 22 years. That’s an iconic piece that stands the test of time.