1 Hotels Group has mindfully created a healthy, service-focused environment with a focus on sustainability that does not come at the expense of the guest experience.
When GoodLife Report first launched in 2010, I pledged to dedicate a certain amount of our coverage to the natural, eco-friendly lifestyle niche—from hotels, to restaurants, to products you can buy on Amazon. At that time, though, most of the applicable products and places, especially those within the travel industry, came with a bit of a caveat: Continue reading →
Bordeaux style blends from Napa Valley have always been a favorite of mine. Whether it’s a left bank style (heavier on the Cabernet Sauvignon), a right bank style (heavier on the Merlot and Cab Franc) or somewhere in the middle, the concept of blending varietals together to make a more rounded, complex wine has been around for a long time. The French championed the style a couple centuries ago in Bordeaux—more out of necessity than preference, since their climate does not always yield ripe enough fruit. Thus blending was needed to smooth out the edges and soften the tannins. Napa’s trailblazer vintners were initially reticent to blend because they did not want to copy the French—nor did they need to. Thanks to its warm climate and consistently sunny days during most of the growing season, a lack of ripeness is rarely a problem in Napa. But the practice eventually took hold nonetheless. Joseph Phelps is considered by many to be the first winery in Napa Valley to practice the technique, back in the 1970’s. Their flagship wine “Insignia,” considered the first Bordeaux-style blend in Napa, remains one of my favorite wines to this day.
Of course, many producers in Napa Valley still prefer to make 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and excel at it. Caymus Special Selection and Shafer Hillside Select are two of the most revered Napa cabs on the market, with international name recognition and cult-like status—not to mention hefty price-tags. Thanks in part to ideal vineyards plots, perfect soil and a long growing season—these producers can make world-class red wines that consist of 100% Cabernet, yet with decidedly soft, plush tannins and layers of complexity that might easily be mistaken for a blend. While most Napa wineries tend to concentrate—and subsequently excel—at one or the other, a few excel at both.
Cliff Lede, located in the Stags Leap district of Napa Valley, is one of these producers that has mastered both. They make blends—namely their “Claret” and “High Fidelity” labels. And they make Cabernet—though depending on the label and the vintage it could be anywhere from 85% to 100% Cabernet, give or take a few percentage points. All of their wines, even their Sauvignon Blanc, are extraordinary in my opinion. Before I delve more into their wines, let’s take a quick look at the winery itself and it’s rather short, yet successful history in Napa Valley.
History of Cliff Lede
Cliff Lede Vineyards was established in 2002 by Canadian born Bordeaux enthusiast, Cliff Lede, following the acquisition of a sixty acre estate in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. With a focus on producing wines from estate vineyards, Lede tapped David Abreu, considered the best viticulturist in Napa Valley, to replant the vineyards. Lede decided to name each vineyard block after some of his favorite rock songs and albums—from “My Generation” to “Dark Side of the Moon,” creating what is known today as the Cliff Lede Vineyards “Rock Blocks.” In 2005, a state of the art, 25,000 square foot winery and cave system was etched into a hillside overlooking the estate vineyards. Winemaker Christopher Tynan crafts Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, with the flagship, Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from the steep eastern hillside portion of the estate.
Ok, so what makes these wines special? After all, Napa Valley is home to a lot of great producers. For me, it’s the balance, complexity and polish of their wines. And while winemaker Christopher Tynan deserves a lot of credit, even he would probably agree that the vineyard plots Cliff Lede lays claim to in the Stags Leap District play a major role in the final product. There are 16 AVAs in total in Napa Valley and each one has different characteristics. Yet, while the differentiating characteristics of these AVAs can be debated, it is hard to argue against the notion that Stags Leap District Cabernets have distinctively softer, silkier tannins than their neighboring AVAs. This is what SLD Cabernets are known for. Power and elegance.
Situated in southeastern Napa Valley, along the Silverado Trail, about five miles north of the city of Napa, the Stags Leap District is only about a mile wide and three miles in length. This makes it is one of the smallest AVAs in Napa Valley. And given its southern location in Napa Valley, it is also one of the cooler AVAs, resulting in a more subdued style of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Often referred to as a “valley within a valley,” the district is bounded on the east by the towering Stags Leap Palisades, to the west by the rolling hills and Napa River, to the north by the Yountville Cross Road, and to the south by low-lying flatlands. These landscape features lend the district its clear physical identity while a unique set of topographical characteristics make it ideal climate for growing Cabernet.
Says the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association, “The rock facades of the palisades reflect the heat of the sun onto the vineyards below, causing temperatures to rise more quickly than in neighboring vineyards. As afternoon draws to a close, the hills funnel the cool, marine air flowing north from the San Pablo Bay through the Stags Leap District corridor. The cooling effect of this breeze, coupled with nighttime air drainage off the mountains and hills, means lower nighttime temperatures. This allows the grapes to achieve an excellent balance of acid and sugar and also minimizes the threat of frost. The end result is a longer growing season of warm days and cool nights—perfect for late-maturing varietals such as Cabernet.”
Cliff Lede currently produces a total of 10 Cabernet and Bordeaux-style blends. While all of them are muscular enough to stand up to a steak or lamb chops in the heart of winter they are also very elegant wines that can be enjoyed anytime of year with a wide array of cuisines. Below are my notes for the three wines I tried.
The fruit for this Cabernet (88% Cabernet Sauvignon,5% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc) was sourced from the hillside terraces of Cliff Lede’s Poetry Vineyard, Twin Peaks Vineyard estate which surrounds the winery, and a few neighboring vineyards in the Stags Leap District. The wine is composed of small lots from their best blocks, representing a diverse range of carefully selected clones and rootstocks. This wine is also rich in soil diversity ranging from Poetry’s volcanic origins, to the ancient riverbed alluvial soils of Twin Peaks, further contributing to the wine’s complexity. Great wines are indeed “made in the vineyard.”
The 2017 Stags Leap Cabernet has vibrant aromas of crushed flowers and dark fruits (blackberry, dark cherries) intertwined with chocolate, spice box and cassis. The wine has tremendous depth and layers of flavors that build into a long opulent finish that is framed with great minerality and loamy soil that personifies the SLD terrior.
89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, and 1% Malbec. The fruit for this one is sourced from Lede’s Poetry and Twin Peaks Vineyards. The Cabernet Sauvignon is planted in shallow volcanic soil and farmed to low yields, resulting in good structure with plush tannins and tremendous concentration.
This wine announces itself a bit more on the nose than the Stag’s Leap Cabernet, wafting with a bouquet of dark berry fruits, lavender and cocoa. Wonderfully complex with minerals and slate/graphite on the finish.
2017 Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District (SRP – $285)
The Poetry Vineyard, carved into a steep west-facing hillside, reaches from the highest elevations of the Stags Leap District appellation to the valley floor. This vineyard, designed by David Abreu specifically for Cabernet, draws its uniqueness from shallow, volcanic soils atop fractured shale. Due to the stressful nature of the site, planted with high vine density and farmed to very low yields, the vines develop slowly and produce small flavorful berries.
A blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot the bouquet on this one is loaded with black currants, crushed flowers, stone and cherry liquor. On the palate it has a complex medley of spices, tobacco, licorice, currant, dark cherries and even hoisin. The long finish includes cigar, dried cherries and warm slate.
The slow food revolution continues to sweep across the country. While restaurants in Europe and elsewhere have been utilizing locally sourced produce, meat and dairy for some time, Americans were slow to catch on. Beginning decades ago with activists like chef Alice Waters (Chez Panisse) restaurateurs around the country are continuing to realize the benefits of buying locally, whether its to help local farmers and purveyors or to have fresher and more beneficial foodstuff. If you live near a large city, chances are, you’ve eaten at a farm-to-table restaurant.
Years after a Spanish captain first discovered Bermuda in the early 1500s, a fleet of British ships departed Plymouth to sail to the then-colony of Virginia in 1602. Several weeks into the crossing, a storm felled one of the ships, Sea Venture, separating it from the rest of the fleet. The ship ran aground on one of the reefs near Bermuda’s eastern coast. All 150 passengers survived and made it to land, and thus Bermuda became inhabited.
If you’re heading to the Monterey Peninsula to play golf (or watch the pros play), why not stick around after it’s over? Monterey County has a plethora of pleasures to offer from world-renowned golf courses to interesting restaurants to craggy terrain. Continue reading →
A great way to get away from it all is a visit to the Turks and Caicos islands, a hidden slice of Caribbean paradise. Boasting some of the prettiest beaches in the world, colorful coral reefs, and a laid-back lifestyle, it’s easy to fall under its spell. Add in luxurious accommodation surrounded by swaying palm trees, and you’re left with one sophisticated destination perfect for a discreet Caribbean getaway.
Below, we’ve rounded up the top 5 luxury villas to rent in Turk and Caicos, so all you’ve got to do is kick back, drift off, and enjoy your slice of paradise.
The five-bedroom Coral House villa on Grace Bay is mere steps from the gorgeous stretch of sand, regularly voted as the best beach in the world. It’s a dream setting for a luxurious Caribbean getaway, with airy living areas that open to the ocean on one side and a sublime jungle-clad courtyard on the other.
The use of Coral Stone in the villa’s construction enhances the Caribbean vibe, as does the colonial architecture and designer furnishings awash with shades of cream, white, and island timber. Features include your very own volleyball court, everything you’ll need for a day by the beach and in the water, a well-equipped gym, library, and even your very own breezy yoga room.
And as a part of WIMCO’s Special Reserve Collection, the villa also comes with unlimited access to your own private chef – it doesn’t get much better than that.
Villa Salacia is an intoxicating six-bedroom residence, boasting an expansive outdoor setting that will leave you in a permanent dream-state the entire time you’re staying. Bringing the island paradise straight to you, there’s an expansive deck looking over the nearby ocean, a swimming pool, spa, and a huge outdoor dining area with a grill and pizza oven.
For balmy nights at home, the villa also comes with its own in-house bar complete with a pool table and pinball machines, or you can opt for cocktails around the outdoor fire pit. The unobtrusive chef, butler, and housekeeper cater to every need you might have, and the private location is surprisingly close to plenty of restaurants and shops nearby in Grace Bay – if you can drag yourself away, that is.
Set on its own sprawling 18-acre estate on Grace Bay beach, Villa Amazing Grace is a lavish and secluded setting for any sojourn into the Caribbean. With five bedrooms, a Tuscan-inspired kitchen with its own wine cellar, elegant living and dining areas, and a games room, this villa is a great option for those looking to spoil themselves.
A private chef caters to your meals, and the outdoor pool and dining area are steps from your very own deserted stretch of sand, meaning you can visit the beach on a whim. A plush outdoor living area features snug sofas for admiring the view towards the ocean, while temperate
Caribbean evenings are best enjoyed outside when the lush garden is illuminated with its very own custom-designed lighting system.
Photo Credit: WIMCO – Villa Amazing Grace (PL AMZ)
For larger family getaways and special events, the Villa Hawksbill offers a Caribbean escape with unrivaled comfort and class. The eight bedrooms are spread across several buildings, so you’ll feel as if you’ve booked out an entire resort for yourself.
Open plan living and dining areas boast sublime views of Grace Bay, and big windows let in plenty of the Caribbean sun to illuminate the designer furnishing. Guests can also enjoy the jacuzzi, heated pool, fire pit, gym, and tennis court on the grounds, or simply wander across to the nearby beach, which is a few tantalizing steps away.
With your own private chef, you’ll be free to make use of your day lazing around the villa or getting active on the water with easy access to kitesurfing, snorkeling, and diving.
Located in a private and upscale community called Leeward, Villa Sentosa is a refined and alluring option for a holiday in Turks and Caicos. This eight-bedroom villa features a contemporary curved design, capturing views of the sparkling waters and white sand outside from the bedrooms and serene living areas.
As guests head outside, they’re greeted with plush sun loungers lining a pool, a jacuzzi, and even a sun deck built discreetly over the beach, perfect for slow afternoons in the sun. The modern and clean interior is great for families, with a media room, ping pong table, and access to all snorkeling gear and anything else you’ll need for a day in the water, even your very own sailboat.
While you’re lounging about the villa and on the beach, your private chef and butler will be taking care of everything else to ensure that you’re staying as relaxed as possible.
Photo Credit: WIMCO – Villa Sentosa, (PL SEN)
TCI offers something for everyone, whether you enjoy being pampered in your private beachfront villa, or want to experience the full range of water and land activities on your vacation. And for those of you who are foodies, there are dozens of high-end restaurants and waterfront bars. TCI strikes the perfect balance between undiscovered Caribbean paradise and a world-class destination.
Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, opening in 2021, will be located in a protected eco-reserve
Most of its 155 rooms will boast panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, enveloped by the surrounding jungle
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has announced a new luxury resort located in Tamarindo, Mexico. Opening in 2021 as Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo, México, the project will be located on a private peninsula along the Pacific Ocean. The area, known as “Costa Alegre” or “Joy Coast” is acclaimed for its picturesque beaches, lush landscape and unique topography.
“As we grow the Four Seasons portfolio in Mexico, this project in Tamarindo is the ideal opportunity to do so, offering our guests access to the natural wonder of the region, paired with Four Seasons renowned service and quality excellence,” says John Davison, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “
Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo will be located in a protected eco-reserve 25 miles north of the Manzanillo Airport. Most of its 155 rooms will boast panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, enveloped by the surrounding jungle and lush golf course. The contemporary architectural and interior design by the firms of Legorreta + Legorreta and Taller Mauricio Rocha + Gabriela Carrillo will blend with the natural surroundings and showcase local materials and textures.
The Resort will be part of the 2,100 acre El Tamarindo master planned development featuring multiple beaches and private coves. The development will be built to take advantage of elevations ranging from sea level to approximately 120 metres (394 feet) above sea level, providing breath-taking views of the landscape, golf course and ocean. Accommodations are well suited to both adult travellers and those visiting with children.
The Resort will offer four dining and beverage venues, including an ocean view bar and restaurant, beach bar and grill and golf club restaurant. The grounds will also feature three pools, a full-service spa set amid a tropical forest and a fitness centre, young adults centre and lounge, water sports centre, tennis courts and 370 square metres (4,000 square feet) of meeting space. The highly acclaimed 18-hole, par 72, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and David Fleming designed links golf course will round out the amenities.
Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo will join a growing collection of Four Seasons properties located in Mexico, including Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City, the recently opened Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, and the recently announced Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo San Lucas at Cabo Del Sol.
Imbibe Magazine and Campari, the iconic Italian aperitif, launched NegroniWeek in 2013 as a celebration of one of the world’s great cocktails with and an effort to raise money for charities around the world. Since 2013 NegroniWeek has collectively raised nearly $3 million for charitable causes in 70 different countries. With COVID-19 this year, celebrations will be done virtually. Campari pledges to match a total of up to $200,000 towards hospitality relief as #NegroniWeek2020 goes virtual to support bartenders.
History has it that at a cafe in Florence in the early 1900s, an Italian count named Camillo Negroni asked bartender Fosco Scarselli, for a boozed-up riff on an Americano- an even more easygoing concoction of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water. Scarselli swapped the American’s customary lemon peel for an orange peel, and the Negroni was born.
Now a globally beloved classic, the Negroni cocktail has been voted as the second most popular cocktail in the world and is listed as one of the main ingredients in the prestigious IBA Official Drink List.
Recipe ingredients:
1 part Campari
1 part Sweet Red Vermouth (Campari recommends 1757 Vermouth di Torino)
1 part Gin
Recipe instructions:
Pour all ingredients directly into a rocks glass filled with ice
Stir gently
Garnish with an orange slice
Negroni cocktail lovers around the world are invited to safely support the by enjoying a Negroni at home. Choose from one of the many online classes listed below with some of the country’s most esteemed bartenders.
Variety partners have pledged to donate a portion of sales from Campari bottles, Negroni “Kits” and special mixology merchandise to the cause:
Cocktail Kingdom (10% of proceeds from Gaz Regan finger stirrer sales),
ReserveBar ($2 for every Campari bottle purchased from September 14-20, up to $1,000),
SaloonBox (10% of proceeds from kit sales to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation)
Shaker and Spoon ($2 from each kit sale to the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program)
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the world’s pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol, will also contribute $20,000 to Negroni Week causes, doubling their donation from 2019.
ONLINE CLASS SCHEDULE:
September 14 @ 7PM ET: Liquid Lineage: the Negroni Family Tree
Hosts: Linden Pride, Chelsea Gregoire, Paul Clarke
Description: We begin our week of celebrating the Negroni with a deep dive into its history and how to make a perfect classic. This session will explore the origins of Campari in Italy, aperitivo hour, the creation of the Negroni, and the invention of the Negroni Family Tree. Join us to learn what Negroni Week is all about, both in the perfection of the cocktail and the way this event gives back to the hospitality community.
Featured Cocktails: Campari Seltz, Americano, Negroni
Description: The Negroni is a classic cocktail that takes a moment to learn and then can be modified, edited and perfected over and over. Join these four bartending experts in learning how to make the perfect Negroni at home using the standard tools in your utensil drawer. Learn ice hacks, cool garnish techniques, and the service tricks that will make your home feel like a classic cocktail bar.
Description: Gin is lovely in a Negroni, but have you ever explored the aged spirit branches of the Negroni Family Tree? In this session, we dive into the dark and stirred Negroni variations and how the Negroni framework is well suited to brown spirits and stirred cocktails. If you love whisk(e)y, cognac, or rum then this is the class for you!
Featured Cocktails: Custom cocktails from Meaghan, Glendon, and Emily
September 17: Bitter meets Bubbles: Discover the Negroni’s Lighter Side
Hosts: Natasha David, Felicia Chin Braxton, Fred Dexheimer MS
Description: Bitter and bubbles are a match made in heaven. In this session, explore the magic of light, fizzy, and low ABV cocktails. The Negroni is the perfect blueprint for elegant Aperitivo moments, come learn how to make something just in time for sunset.
Description: Negronis aren’t just a cocktail, they are the key to the perfect aperitivo. We talk with an award-winning chef, a celebrated food and drink writer, and a nationally renowned mixologist and cocktail book author about entertaining with Negronis and how to plan the perfect aperitivo party.
Featured Cocktails: Classic Negroni, and custom riffs from Julie, Ashley, and Kaitlyn
With millions of children going to school remotely this fall because of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is offering a “schoolcation” package.
“This new offering exclusively for our Resort guests will be both helpful to parents, as well as something really fun for kids to experience,” says Thomas Steinhauer, General Manager and Regional Vice President of Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. “Many kids have been completing school work in their homes for a while now. A chance to mix up their learning environment, and combine school and playtime at the Resort, is sure to be a welcome treat and create a memory that will last a lifetime.”
The supervised schoolwork sessions will be held in small-group classroom settings, physically distanced with no more than six children per class. The spacious event rooms of Four Seasons Resort Orlando are the classroom setting, featuring airy and open rooms with a wall of windows for natural light, and a private terrace for outside break time.
Each student will have a dedicated desk area, physically distanced from the other students, and high-speed premium WiFi will be provided.
Supervisors oversee the study sessions, and they have experience working with children. With peace of mind, parents can then spend the day relaxing and vacationing on their own.
The supervised study sessions are available Monday through Friday beginning Sept. 14, 2020 for $50 USD per child for a half-day session or $100 USD per child for the full session including lunch. Reservations must be confirmed at least 48 hours in advance. The resort is also offering a special package through December 18, 2020, which includes a $200 USD nightly credit for stays in a guest room, or a $500 USD nightly credit for stays in a one or two-bedroom suite.
Once the schoolwork is done, children can take recess at the resort, which includes an island playground, a lazy river, waterslide and outdoor recreation activities and spots. Or, take a quick shuttle to experience the magic at Walt Disney World, which recently reopened.
While relaxing vacations certainly have their virtues—think pina coladas on a white sand beach, or a deep tissue massage at a desert spa—many people prefer a daily dose of action and adventure on their vacations. No, I’m not talking about golf, or tennis or long walks on the beach. I’m talking about real activities and adventure—perhaps even a little danger.
Don’t let summer pass you by without hitting the beaches in Montauk for a weekend getaway. As the summer playground for well-heeled New Yorkers, this year some of the top chefs have taken up residence in the East End. Here are some of our favorite dining spots:
BEACH HOUSE GRILL @ Montauk Beach House
New executive chef Salvatore Olivella is causing a stir at the Montauk Beach House with his specialty, Roman Style Pizza, as well as some delicious summer grilled dishes. Guests will appreciate the sophisticated take on delectables like the Thin Crust Focaccia and Whipped Ricotta, Tuna Tartare with Mango Guacamole, and Hawaiian Style Short Ribs. If pizza is what your palate needs, try the Pizza Truffata with caramelized onions, mixed Italian cheese, and fresh truffles or Pizza Diavola with fresh mozzarella, Brooklyn pepperoni, spicy honey, and red pepper flakes. Don’t miss Wednesday pizza happy hour with half-price pies! Pair with cocktails like the Mezcalita Cocktail (Illegal Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, agave, fresh lime juice, and a chili salt rim0, Montauk Make Out (Don Papa Rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and fresh-squeezed orange juice), Frose, and a selection of MTK Brewery beers, wine, and Spiked Seltzers. For more information visit www.thembh.com | IG: thembh
Ruschmeyer’s
Ruschmeyer’s has been a staple in Montauk, and this year the iconic restaurant and hotel have over 10,000 square feet of social distancing dining space. The dining area has 27 tables spaced 15-feet apart ensuring that current social-distancing guidelines are enforced. The Mediterranean-inspired menu by Executive Chef Giuseppe Lentini and Enzo Lentini of Ruschmeyer’s is included fresh Montauk Calamari, Shrimp Cocktail, fresh local oysters, artisanal pasta and the only loaded lobster roll in Montauk. A wood-burning oven provides Neapolitan pizza, topped with their in-house made mozzarella.
Join Ruschmeyer’s for some amazing weekday specials:
Tuesday’s – Taco Tuesday- Buy one get one free margarita from 5-10:30PM
Wednesday’s – Italian Family Style Dinner- $19.95/person, enjoy spaghetti and meatballs and a complimentary bottle of rosé for the table
Thursday’s – Family Style Steak Night- Includes steak and appetizers served family-style for $50/person
Sunday’s – Lobster Bake – Including 2-pound lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels, fresh corn and potatoes for $75/person
Solé East is offering breakfast, lunch, dinner & a tapas-style poolside menu under the direction of self-taught Executive Chef Adam Pitré. With a focus on seasonal cuisine, the menu features fresh, natural ingredients and sourced organic meats, locally farmed vegetables, and fresh catch from the Montauk local fishermen. Reservations can be made on Open Table. For more information please visit www.soleast.com | IG: soleeastmontauk
Move over, New York. Step aside, Chicago. Not you, Los Angeles. In the opinion of Travel + Leisure magazine, the top city in America for 6 years running does not have a major sports team, a thriving economy, or even a handful of famous people that call it home.
If you’ve lived in California then you probably know how much the Pacific Ocean affects the air temperature. Coastal towns and cities can experience temperatures that are routinely 15-20 degrees cooler than locations just a few miles inland, and this juxtaposition is at its starkest in the summer. [Top Photo: Cathleen Evangelista]
Our Tips for Perfecting the Mint Julep and Drinking It in Style
Looking to throw a derby party with mint juleps that people will actually remember? We have simple advice–go big or go home. Don’t buy any old whiskey, don’t cut corners on the ingredients and don’t serve Kentucky’s favorite cocktail in solo cups. These tweaks to your usual routine will have your guests looking forward to next year’s shindig.
While relaxing vacations certainly have their virtues—think pina coladas on a white sand beach, or a deep tissue massage at a desert spa—many people prefer a daily dose of action and adventure on their vacations. No, I’m not talking about golf, or tennis or long walks on the beach. I’m talking about real activities and adventure—perhaps even a little danger.
The term “shoulder season” is most commonly used in the travel business, referring to a period of time between the high and low seasons of a vacation destination. In the wine world, a similar transitional period exists when the changing of the seasons can cause our preference in wine to change. Continue reading →
Now that the summer heat has given way to cooler temperatures, we can all enjoy the great outdoors without sweltering. Fall is the perfect time to spend an afternoon at the cider mill, go pumpkin picking for Halloween or hike up mountains. It’s closing in on peak foliage time in the Northeastern United States, arguably the best place to see the changing leaf colors. Continue reading →
It’s hard to imagine life without pickles — those crunchy delights straight out of the jar, the tangy, sweet surprises tucked into a burger, or the sliced spears served fresh, ready for the tasting on the side of your plate. Continue reading →
Classic, old fashioned cocktails are back in vogue. And their simplicity is what makes them so timeless—and good. Don’t overthink your mixology psychology this summer. Impress your guests with these easy to make, refreshing, summer classics.
Asheville, N.C., surrounded by the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, is a quirky, artsy, musical town considered by some to be the black sheep of the state. To townies, though, this is something to be celebrated. Continue reading →
Ah, the library bar. An urban oasis steeped in history (quite literally). Vintage, deep-seated armchairs, mahogany shelves and leather bound books ease the soul, while a single malt scotch calms the nerves after a long day of work. Ron Burgundy’s kind of place. My kind of place. Continue reading →
There are a lot of things trending right now in the adult beverage world. Rose, Froze, Hard Seltzers, Canned Wines and Cocktails. And then there is craft beer—perhaps on another level—which continues to bask in its ever-growing popularity. Continue reading →
Weighted blankets have exploded in popularity of late. They’re used therapeutically for a variety of issues including sensory processing disorder, anxiety, depression, autism, insomnia, ADHD and simply getting a better night’s sleep. Continue reading →
Tequila sometimes has to struggle with its brawling-bikers-under-a-hot-sun reputation. Rarely do people write on their garden party invites, “tequila drinks being served.” Which is a shame, because even though a shot of tequila may be the drink of choice for those wearing leather jackets in July, this base spirit also plays well in a variety of cocktails, from traditional numbers such as the Margarita to lighter and less-known summer fare that pairs tequila up with intriguing ingredients.
One such lesser-known tequila recipe that’s getting more popular by the minute, and one that’s perfect for backyard gathering when the mercury has risen up the thermometer, is the Green Garden from Paul Abercrombie’s wonderfully green cocktail book “Organic, Shaken and Stirred.” The Green Garden mixes organic Blanco tequila with a cucumber-infused syrup (if your own garden isn’t overflowing, pick up English cucumbers – what Abercrombie suggests using here – at a local farmer’s market), a hint of lime and Italian sparkler Moscato d’Asti. The end result is a drink that doesn’t sacrifice anything in tequila taste, but one that also stays light on its feet. Because even a biker doesn’t want to be weighed down by their drink when the summertime dancing starts.
Several edible organic flowers (such as small roses or lavender blossoms)
1. Combine the tequila, simple syrup, and lime juice in an ice cube-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously, then strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass or champagne saucer.
2. Add the Moscato d’Asti and garnish with the flowers.
Cucumber-Infused Organic Simple Syrup: Juice one English cucumber (leave the skin on for flavor and color). Place the juice in a small glass bowl with an equal volume of Organic Simple Syrup (see below) and 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed organic lime juice, and stir to combine. The syrup will keep, in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Organic Simple Syrup
Makes 2 cups
1 cup organic granulated sugar
8 ounces water
1. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. The syrup can be stored, in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Recipe Copyright 2009 by Paul Abercrombie, “Organic, Shaken and Stirred,” The Harvard Common Press; photo copyright 2009 by Jerry Errico
Looking to explore your favorite restaurant from a new vantage point, or maybe ease your way into a spot you’d like to try? Pull up a bar stool and experience all the atmosphere has to offer with a delicious drink in hand. Whether you’re ordering cocktails, snacks or going all out with a full meal, these beautiful bars are a great spot to take a seat and enjoy. Continue reading →
It’s not about being the first. It’s about being the best. When it comes to shipping golf clubs, there are a ton of reasons to use Ship Sticks—the five-year old company that specializes in shipping golf clubs to and from resorts for traveling golfers.
Riding the Natural Vibes of 1 Hotel South Beach
