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Luxury UK hotel trains its staff for Valentine’s Day proposals

As Valentine’s Day approaches, one hotel isn’t leaving anything up to chance and is currently training all of its staff should any of their guests celebrate the special moment. The Lowry in Manchester has rolled out a programme to train staff whether they’re asked to help plan a surprise, or if there’s an unexpected proposal while they’re working. The bespoke training includes knowing which tables in the bar and restaurant have the most romantic lighting, how to calm those pre-proposal nerves in a discreet manner, advice on how to choreograph such a moment, and even how to capture the perfect photo on a phone if they’re asked.

By News Editor

@AirGuide Destinations Cruise & Yachting Hotels & Resorts

The world’s largest luxury cruise suite will have a sauna, pool and $200,000 bed

Cruise cabins are notorious for being tiny, cramped, and pretty much lacking in the luxury department. The Regent Suite, aboard Regent Seven Seas Splendor, however, is likely more luxurious than any hotel room you’ve stayed in. In fact, I’d bet on it—unless you’ve ever slept in a $200,000 bed. According to a press release, the Regent is the largest suite ever built on a luxury cruise ship, and will be on the fourteenth deck of the Seven Seas Splendor, overlooking the ship’s bow. The first guests in the suite will set sail in February 2020, in the insanely luxurious 4,443-square-foot accommodations.

By News Editor

@AirGuide Destinations Destinations Hotels & Resorts

Vegan luxury vacations are the hot new travel trend

The travel industry has gone vegan. The five-star Hilton London Bankside hotel has a posh new vegan suite created entirely without animal products. Think cotton carpets and fabrics, plant-based toiletries, pillows made sans animal feathers and the ability to summon a cauliflower steak and five-bean dal with room service.

By News Editor

@AirGuide Destinations Cruise & Yachting Destinations

Rethinking luxury: in search of the un-Google-able experience

Jon Grutzner, president of the U.S. for Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold, is happy to be “back home” in the business of land vacations. Grutzner joined The Travel Corporation as head of its upper premium and luxury land vacations brands eight months ago, after 10 years directing sales for Azamara Club Cruises, a division of Royal Caribbean. Previous to that, he spent nearly two decades in the land tour business.

By News Editor

New luxury expeditions make solo traveling for women more appealing than ever

With the rise in popularity of booking solo vacations, more high-end companies are following suit with creating experiences that are truly once in a lifetime, specifically for women. Vacationing alone via an excursion company offers up the opportunity to visit many parts of the world that in the past may have not been as hospitable toward single women by presenting an additional element of safely, but it can also be an empowering experience to meet women across the globe who have completely alternate life experiences and upbringings. That, and traveling solo offers up the rare opportunity to do exactly what you want, when you want, wherever you want to do it.

By News Editor

@AirGuide Destinations City Guides Destinations Food & Drink Travel Tips

A cheese lover’s guide to Barcelona

As a country, many consider Spain a relatively lesser-known nation of cheese compared to its European brothers and sisters, and although it may not host as many dairy delights as its French neighbours, Spain does offer its very own unique variety of tasty cheeses.

Cheese trading in Spain dates all the way back to the start of our modern era, where the smoked cheeses of Northern Spain were sold in Rome. By the 13th century, Spanish cheese trading had even reached Britain, in particular the Mahón cheese from the Balearic Island of Menorca.

Perhaps the country’s most famous cheese is its queso Manchego, a cheese that can be dated all the way back to the Bronze Age. History has it that Manchego was created when the inhabitants of the La Mancha region mastered the art of making cheese using sheep’s milk. The cheese then became even more popular after it was mentioned in Miguel de Cervantes’ literary classic, Don Quixote de La Mancha.

A particularly important region for el queso is that of Catalonia, home to the city of Barcelona. You don’t have to go far to get good cheese in Barcelona, and aside from Mahón and Manchego, there are countless other classic Catalan cheeses in the Ciudad Condal.

Tupi is a local specialty made in the region’s Pyrenees Mountains and comes with a strong and fruity taste made from the clay pot where the cheese is fermented. Typically, Tupi is made with Cazalla (a liqueur of dry anise) and either cows, goats, or sheep’s milk. Another cheese made in the Pyrenees is Costa Negra, a type of soft cheese with a mix of sweet and sour notes.

Head south of the Pyrenees to another mountain range and you can find Mató cheese, or Mató de Montserrat, to give it its full name. Made in the villages near the Montserrat Mountain, Mató is a cream cheese served with honey in the form of a traditional dessert, Mel I Mató. It can even be traced all the way back to Catalan cookbooks from the 14th century!

Alt Urgell-Cerdanya is the first and so far the only cheese in the Catalan region with a protected designation of origin. Its soft and creamy texture and sweet taste make it extremely popular at artisan markets and paired with wine.

Another two of the four provinces in Catalonia also produce notable cheesy feats. Drap cheese is made in the province of Girona and has two forms: fresh – white, milky, and with no rind – and tender – with a thin yellow rind. The Lleida province is known for its Tou del Tillers, a traditional cheese made with raw milk that takes a creamy texture not too dissimilar to Brie.

Where to eat cheese in Barcelona

Vila Viniteca

A family run business popular since 1932, Vila Viniteca offers a selection of 350 different handcrafted cheeses, the majority made locally in Viniteca’s own cold rooms and the rest supplied locally from other independent cheese factories in the country. All the cheeses are also available to try in their tasting area along with a refreshing glass of wine…

Carrer dels Agullers, 7.

Colmado Múrria

Located in the city’s Eixample district, Colmado Múrria is a traditional delicatessen that offers visitors the very best of goods from the Catalan capital. It has more than 240 varieties of cheese, including a truffle gorgonzola for €380!

Carrer de Roger de Llúria, 85.

Celler Cal Marino

Once a former fizzy drinks factory, Celler Cal Marino is one of the best places in the city for wine and cheese connoisseurs, alike. As well as local Spanish and Catalan cheeses, they have a selection of cheese from Switzerland, France, and other places around the world.

Carrer de Margarit, 54.

Formatgeria La Seu

La Seu is our favourite place to eat cheese in Barcelona, not because of its amazing variety of dairy treats, but because of its incredible owner who makes her customers feel like they have found a second home in Katherine’s cheesy nest egg. Born in Scotland, Katherine keeps strict guidelines for the cheese that she sells, whittling them down through an extensive selection process.

She also offers a range of tasting experiences, from a small platter of three cheeses and a glass of wine, to private lunch and dinner sessions with a selection of her favourite cheeses from across the country! But before you go, don’t forget to try her sensational homemade ice cream made from La Seu’s very own cheese…

Carrer de la Dagueria, 16.

By Sandra Roig from www.apartmentbarcelona.com

By Destination Editor

February 6, 2019

@AirGuide Destinations Destinations Food & Drink Travel Tips

The most romantic restaurants in the world

If you’re the type of person who woos their loved one with a tired bunch of roses purchased from the local gas station the night before, why not up your game this year? We’ve made the task slightly easier by rounding up the world’s most romantic restaurants.

Tantris

Ochre walls and subtle lighting (provided by individual table lights) make this one of Munich’s most romantic spots.

Tantris has two Michelin stars and is famous for its dedicated team of staff, many of whom have worked at the restaurant for years – so if you’re lucky enough to get a proposal here, which happens quite regularly, there’s a high chance the waiter who poured your celebratory champagne will still be around when you return to toast your tenth anniversary.

Tantris, Munich, Germany

La Sponda

This hotel’s oyster and champagne bar is the perfect spot for a pre-dinner tipple prior to dinner at La Sponda. Silver screen lovebirds Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor are just two of the celebrities who’ve dined at this beautiful restaurant, perched on the Amalfi coast, high above the waters of the Mediterranean.

Inside, vines hug the white stone archways, light is provided by hundreds of candles and the soundtrack is created by a duo of musicians who’ve been serenading diners for over 30 years.

La Sponda, Le Sirenuse Hotel, Positano Italy

Rock Maison

Rock Maison, at the Cap Maison hotel, isn’t a restaurant, but a small area of decking overlooking the Caribbean sea. There’s room for just one table, making it one of the Caribbean’s most romantic spots. But if the setting isn’t enough to blow you away, a zip line connects your private dining area with the bar.

But don’t worry – it’s not intended as a mode of transport but as a method of delivering champagne straight to your table. As for the recommended dish? “For couples enjoying a romantic meal I’d suggest a dessert called Wait and See,” says Ross Stevenson, general manager at Cap Maison. “It’s prepared table-side for guests. Our pastry chef creates a dessert, on a mirror, which the couple shares – it’s a real work of art.’

Rock Maison, Cap Maison Hotel, St Lucia, The Caribbean

Sierra Mar Post Ranch Inn

If you like your romantic dinners to come with a spectacular backdrop, Sierra Mar is for you. This beautiful restaurant sits atop the cliffs of Big Sur.

And the view is gorgeous wherever you sit, but never the same – whether you opt for a seat inside, where floor-to-ceiling glass windows provide shelter from the breeze, or outside on the decking, where the air is filled with the scent of fragrant herbs. Sunset is the best time to dine here.

Sierra Mar Post Ranch Inn, California, USA

5.8 Undersea Restaurant

If you’re searching for a table with a jaw-dropping view, but don’t want to be hassled by selfie stick-wielding tourists, this new restaurant is for you, because it’s located 5.8 metres beneath sea level. Every table seats just two people, making it the perfect place for a romantic meal.

The restaurant’s style is deliberately minimalist, allowing you to focus solely on the colourful fishes floating past your table – while trying to forget that you’re probably feasting on their distant relatives.

5.8 Undersea Restaurant, Hurawalhi Island Resort & Spa, The Maldives

Wiener Riesenrad

Probably not one for those prone to vertigo, this particular table for two can be found inside one of the luxury cabins on the Wiener Riesenrad, a Viennese Ferris wheel which dates back to 1897. As you spin over the city’s rooftops, you’ll enjoy a candlelit dinner for two in this beautiful cabin, which has been decorated with the help of Swarovski.

On the menu? Goose liver with Eisvogel brioche, turbot wrapped in crispy potato and served with vegetable pearls, and candied walnut brittle for dessert – washed down with plenty of Austrian wine.

Wiener Riesenrad, Vienna, Austria

Apsara

What could be more romantic than a cruise along Thailand’s Chao Phraya in a traditional sailing boat? Set sail on the Banyan Tree’s Apsara and you’ll feast on fresh fish and decadent desserts as you float past Bangkok’s most beautiful sites, including the Grand Palace and Wat Arun.

The menu is a tribute to Thailand’s best bits, and includes delicacies like crab claw in coconut broth, steamed snow fish with lime and coriander, and massaman lamb curry.

Apsara, Bangkok, Thailand

La Cúpula

The darkness of Tenerife’s night skies recently resulted in Teide National Park being recognised as a top stargazing destination by the Starlight Foundation, and what better place for a romantic meal than an island where the main source of light is the stars above?

La Cúpula’s position, on an upper floor at the Hotel Jardines de Nivaria, combined with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, allows diners uninterrupted views of the night sky. The most romantic options are the booths, which have intimate circular seating, positioned to make the most of the beautiful setting.

La Cupula, Hotel Jardines de Nivaria, Tenerife

By Tamara Hinson www.avis.co.uk/inspires/

By Destination Editor

February 6, 2019

@AirGuide Destinations Destinations Food & Drink Hotels & Resorts North America

The Panama Hotel is both a working hotel and a living museum

The Panama Hotel opened in August of 1910, a five-story brick building of single-occupancy rooms for laborers built at 605 South Main Street in Seattle’s International District, which was then known as the city’s nihonmachi—Japan Town (literally translated to “Japanese street”).

Designed by Seattle’s first architect of Japanese ancestry, Sabro Ozasa, with the intention of housing Japanese laborers who lived and worked in the area, its ground-level businesses included a laundry, a tailor, a dentist, a bookstore, a billiards room, and a sushi restaurant. It also catered to fisherman who were en route or returning from Alaska. Ozasa was a graduate of the University of Washington and built several other commercial buildings in the neighborhood, such as the local branch of the now-defunct Yokohama Specie Bank, which was demolished to make way for Hing Hay Park in 1975.

The Panama Hotel also provided a full-service traditional Japanese-style sento or public bathhouse, which is still intact in the building’s basement to this day—and is the only surviving such bathhouse in the United States. Because most homes didn’t have private bathing facilities, the Hashidate-Yu, as this sento was named, provided an important resource for families in the area, with a separate bath for men and another for women and children. It also served as a place for social gatherings—a kind of community center. The sento is unusually well preserved today, to a high degree of integrity.

Takashi Hori was the owner of the Panama Hotel in 1942, when, just months after Pearl Harbor was bombed, some 120,000 of the West Coast’s Japanese and Japanese-American residents were given weeks or sometimes days to pack before they were sent to internment camps, per President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066. Limits were severe on what they were allowed to take with them. As Seattle’s Nikkei—immigrants from Japan and their descendants—were forced to leave their entire lives behind, many approached Hori and asked if they could keep their important possessions in the basement of his hotel, and he agreed. Soon, the space was filled with these people’s steamer trunks.

Hori himself was incarcerated later the same year at the Minidoka Relocation Center in Idaho until the war ended in 1945, when he returned to Seattle to continue operating his hotel—with more than 50 trunks still stored in the basement. (An acquaintance of Hori’s had kept an eye on the property in his absence.) Some Nikkei came back for their belongings. Others never did. Hori made several attempts to try to locate their owners, to varying degrees of success.

Jan Johnson bought the Panama Hotel from Hori in 1985 with the intention of preserving it, and for decades, she left the basement just as she found it, full of dusty trunks, nothing moved since 1942. She made efforts to contact their owners, as Hori had, and later fashioned a small museum in the hotel’s basement from some of the items left behind: old photographs, an old overcoat with a fur collar, a set of golf clubs, a child’s plaster cowboy gun holster.

In 2001, Johnson opened the Panama Hotel Tea House on the main floor of the hotel, intended as a gathering place, as the sento had once been. The exposed brick walls are hung with large black-and-white photos depicting busy scenes at the hotel during the first half of the century: launderers working, the bookstore, a pre-war parade. There’s a window built into in the floor, so that the Hashidate-Yu baths can be viewed by customers, and tours of the sento’s century-old marble baths are available upon reservation—replete with the trunks and foot lockers still hanging around.

In the early 2010s, representatives from the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles came to town and went through most of the trunks, documented their contents, put everything back, so most of them are packaged in bubble wrap now. Like those displayed in the museum, the bulk of the items turned out to be of the everyday sort: a pair of ice skates, a bottle of wine, bowls, books, lots of family photos. Johnson has loaned some of the items out for display at the JANM as well as the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006 and declared a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a distinction that only 60 sites in the United States can boast. The landmark status, while nice, doesn’t necessarily protect the building or ensure its preservation. But National Treasure status recognizes that the building is not only historic but rare—and endangered—and it means the National Trust is taking action to preserve it and promote its stories.

Fortunately, the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience and public development authority Historic Seattle also participate with Johnson in this endeavor and are helping Johnson search for a new buyer and future steward for the hotel’s historic—and physical—preservation. It’s been for sale since 2016.

The effort was additionally helped by the 2009 novel Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, a fictional account of a Chinese-American boy who lived in the ID in the 1940s, fell in love with a Japanese-American girl, witnessed her family and countless others being sent to camps, and watched over her belongings at the Panama Hotel. The book became a New York Times Bestseller, found a worldwide audience and was printed in 34 languages.

A full-length documentary by Seattle-based Big Story Group, The Panama Hotel Legacy, is also currently in production; you can watch a 10-minute preview, packed with lots of those lush old photographs, here. Per the film, architectural historian Michael Sullivan of the University of Washington describes the experience of the Panama Hotel beautifully: “It’s like picking up a diary a hundred years ago and not having a page missing, not having the ink faded. You can read it and almost hear the voices coming out of the writing in the diary. That kind of integrity in a historic building is just such a rarity … it really is an unusual thing.”

Despite its iconic status, the hotel itself is actually still in operation as a working hotel, for the purpose it was originally designed, via its third-floor lobby, offering spartan rooms equipped with small sinks and white linens. (Reportedly, everything is pretty much unchanged from 1910, so caveat emptor.)

If you feel like chipping in to the preservation cause, maybe go down to the tea house, get a hojicha latte, take the tour, and learn a little bit about the history of one of Seattle’s immigrant communities. Especially, perhaps, in light of current events surrounding deportations, presidential decrees, and history seemingly repeating itself.

By Destination Editor

February 6, 2019

@AirGuide Destinations Africa / Middle East City Guides Cruise & Yachting Destinations

The QE2 is now floating hotel in Dubai

Arguably the most famous passenger ship of the 20th century, the Queen Elizabeth 2 began its new life as a floating luxury hotel last fall. The last of the Atlantic liners, the 70,000 ton steamship will never set to sea again, but will continue to operate as an upmarket accommodation, tourist and dining attraction, and museum center at Mina Rashid on the Dubai waterfront.

In November 2008, the Cunard steamship named after the original Queen Elizabeth liner and affectionately known as the QE2 retired after four decades of service. No longer able to legally sail, it was decommissioned and sold to Dubai World for conversion to a floating hotel. However, financial problems stalled the original plans and the ship sat idle at its pier for several years, where it looked as if it would share the fate of many other majestic ships by ending its days as a neglected, rusting hulk.

But new management, new funding, and extensive work on the QE2 has apparently paid off. For this the “soft” opening on April 18, visitors will be able to avail themselves of a selection of restored staterooms and suites, five of 13 planned restaurants and bars, and the adjacent QE2 Heritage Exhibition on the quayside that showcases the history and career of the liner and the 2.5 million passengers who sailed on it during 1,400 voyages, including 25 world tours, for a total of 6 million nautical miles.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 was the last of the Atlantic liners that dominated travel between Europe and America before the jet age. Cruising at an easy 28.5 knots (32.8 mph, 52.8 km/h), the QE2 cost US$80 million to build at the John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, and when it was launched in 1967 by Queen Elizabeth, the new ship was intended to act with the Concorde supersonic airliner as 20th century Britain’s answer to the Space Race between the superpowers. It was designed not only as a money earner, but as a showcase of British engineering and innovation.

Sporting new technologies that included an aerodynamic smokestack to keep fumes away from passengers and a revolutionary aluminum superstructure welded to the steel hull, the QE2 burned half as much fuel as its predecessors and was designed to alternate between summer transatlantic travel and winter cruising, with a hull narrow enough to navigate the Panama Canal and shallow enough to visit most ports.

Even the interior was thoroughly space age, with modern materials replacing the wood and velvet with steel, aluminum, and plastic. It even had a forward observation complete with a bright red plastic instrument panel like something out of Star Trek.

Probably the most dramatic tech episode for the QE2 occurred in 1982, when it was requisitioned during the Falklands War as a troop transport. Not only was it converted to carry 3,000 combat troops, but engineers had to find a way to install giant helipads on the light aluminum superstructure by setting them over the swimming pool and the forward capstans – the two strongest points on the structure. And, like her earlier sisters of the Second World War, the QE2’s speed and agility was counted on to keep her safe.

Sadly, it was improved maritime regulations that finally put paid to the QE2’s career. After weathering storms, airline competition, bad economies, and even war, it was sold off by Cunard because it would not be economically viable to refit the ship to meet the new standards.

Now under the management of Dubai’s Ports, Customs and Free Zones Corporation through PCFC Hotels, the restored QE2 still displays its famous collection of art and memorabilia and retains much of its original character in the public areas – including a restaurant with 1969 British cuisine – combined with updated decor in the rooms along with up-to-date digital amenities. Standard Rooms start at 17m² (183 ft²) and range up to the 76m² (818 ft²) Royal Suites, which were once reserved for the Queen herself and the Queen Mother.

Available restaurants include the Chart Room (an historical lounge and bar) a traditional English pub, all-day dining rooms, a cabaret lounge, and a new interpretation of the ship’s old Yacht Club.

“We have dedicated more than 2.7 million man-hours into transforming this legendary ocean liner into the multi-faceted tourist destination that she is today and I am very proud to reintroduce her to the world as she embarks on the next stage of her celebrated journey,” says Hamza Mustafa, CEO of PCFC Hotels. “It has been an honor to work on this wonderful project and to help ensure that our lovely Lady lives up to her new slogan: still making history.”

The QE2 hotel did its grand launch in October 2018.

By Destination Editor

February 5, 2019

@AirGuide Destinations Food & Drink Miami North America

Upscale restaurants in downtown Miami

Between the beautiful beaches, subtropical weather, bright sunny days, thriving nightlife, and well-known Cuban food, it’s hard to pass up any opportunity to visit the wonderful city of Miami. Miami has been described as the “Capital of Latin America” and if you have ever been, you can see why. Miami has a heavy Cuban and Latin population and is dominated by South American cuisine. The city is divided into five sections, with South Beach or SoBe, being #1 with tourists because of world-class hotels, and restaurants, spectacular beaches, and excellent nightlife. The other four sections include Coral Cables to the West, Coconut Grove to the South, North Miami Beach to the North and Downtown Miami, which is the region’s central business district.

The following restaurants are located in downtown Miami, also known as the Financial District (a twenty-minute drive from Ocean Drive in South Beach). The area is very upscale and filled with gorgeous high-rise residential buildings and high-end hotels, lots of fine dining options, and a funky art district, also known as Wynwood. It is a 20-25 minute drive from Miami International Airport and a 45-minute drive from Fort Lauderdale airport.

Bazaar Mar

The James Beard award-winning restauranteur, author, chef and now humanitarian, José Andrés, opened his second location in Miami in 2016, and it is truly spectacular. Bazaar Mar is located inside the luxurious SLS Brickell and focuses on upscale sustainably sourced seafood. Each dish is designed so meticulously, beautifully, and creatively, you will find yourself wanting to upload every plate on Instagram almost immediately. The interior of the restaurant is designed to make you feel like you’re in an ocean-themed fairytale, with images depicting the adventures of the Roman god Neptune drawn in navy blue on white tiled walls. Along the walls are giant sculptures of fish heads with horns that seem to gaze at you while you are dining in the main room. It is definitely one of a kind experience.

Dishes are presented in a manner that evokes the sea and is created in such a way that you make your jaw drop. A few ‘must-have’ dishes include California ‘funnel cake’, which is Andrés take on a California roll. The ‘cake’ sits on a white sheet of paper on top of an upside-down octopus. Ingredients include crispy seafood, chopped cucumber, Maryland blue crab, spicy mayo and flying fish roe. Another best seller of the restaurant is Neptune’s Pillow, which is comprised of air bread stuffed with spicy tuna and topped with tuna sashimi that’s dressed with a dash of soy, lemon zest, and wasabi. As a side dish, the Japanese peaches are unique and highly recommended. The dish comes with small peaches, burrata, hazelnut praline, croutons, and nuts. One spoonful of the sweet, salty, creamy flavor combination and you’re completely swept off your feet. If dessert tickles your fancy, be sure to check out the key lime pie. It’s a key lime ‘mousse’ with graham cracker on top that’s shaped like a sandcastle, with a dash of foam on the side. In addition to the imaginative and uniquely crafted dishes, the restaurant attracts beautiful, classy, well-dressed patrons, as well as gorgeous staff members. It’s certainly an experience you will not forget.

Zuma

Zuma, one of two Miami restaurants at the Kimpton Epic Hotel (and already a staple in the London restaurant scene), was founded by chef Rainer Becker, who was inspired by informal Izakaya-style Japanese dining. In that style of dining, dishes are brought to the table steadily and continuously throughout the meal. The restaurant, which is already renowned in cities around the world, has been a staple in the Miami food scene for eight years. The restaurant has an upscale, classy, and sexy vibe to it, and the clientele is as sexy and beautiful as the modern setting. Inside the restaurant are a lavish bar and small lounge area surrounded by wall to ceiling rows upon rows of high-end wine. The bar area opens to a cozy, contemporary dining room with ornate windows on one side of the restaurant showcasing and gorgeous views of the Miami River. An open kitchen is found on the other side of the restaurant. If you have the opportunity to sit outside, you’ll find yourself right next to one of the 80” yachts parked outside. If arriving in true fashion is your style, yacht docking is available, and Zuma is one of the only restaurants in Miami with boat accessibility.

In addition to the beautiful ambiance, the food is fantastic, the sushi is high quality, and the cocktails are superb. Zuma does a fantastic business lunch, as well as a lavish tasting menu, and an extravagant brunch with unlimited champagne, a robata counter, and a sushi bar. Signature Zuma dishes include Spicy Beef Tenderloin (with sesame, red chili, and sweet soy); Yellowtail Sashimi (with Yuzu, truffle oil and salmon roe); Kurobuta Pork Belly Skewers (with Yuzu mustard miso); Black Cod (marinated in saikyo miso homemade hajikame); King Crab (with Ponzu lime butter) and Arjun Negi Toro Roll (with otoro and finely diced scallion), to name a few. Although the prices are on the higher end, it’s worth the splurge!

Area 31

Area 31, by Executive Chef, Wolfgang Birk, is also located in the luxurious and swanky, Kimpton Epic Hotel in downtown Miami. While Zuma is located on the ground floor, Area 31 is located on the 16^th floor and has spectacular panoramic views of the Biscayne Bay and Miami River. There are also views of the upscale residential buildings across the river. While the panoramic views offer quite the wow factor, it’s the food that makes this space memorable. The chef prides himself on sourcing ingredients from local vendors to create fresh and innovative plates. Some favorite dishes include the tuna poke tacos, the Faroe Island Salmon, the swordfish, and the crispy pork belly.

The restaurant is perfect for multiple occasions, from date night to happy hour with coworkers. It offers an upscale indoor bar and restaurant, as well as a rooftop bar area with two pools, A top-notch craft cocktail bar complete with bar and couch seating is replete with a live DJ on weekends, and outdoor dining for the restaurant. While the outside bar area often attracts an upscale, fun-loving crowd, the inside area has a nice, modern, romantic vibe.

La Mar at the Mandarin Oriental

La Mar by celebrity chef Gastón Acurio features exceptional Peruvian, gastronomic dishes: ranging from upscale Novo-Andean fare to Asian-Peruvian fusion and traditional seafood ceviche. The space is contemporary, and trendy, while also being luxurious and upscale. Everything about this restaurant is incredible. Starting with the ambiance, which includes both indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the Biscayne Bay, to the professional, attentive, and knowledgeable staff. The menu is creatively designed, with dishes ranging from fresh ceviches to articuchos (traditional Peruvian dishes prepared on the anticucho grill) to unique Asian-Peruvian fusion specialty dishes. The desserts, such as la piña, el coco y el manjar (coconut ice cream with pineapple chips, foam, and ginger jelly) are true gastronomic wonders, that incorporate flavors which are sweet, sour, and creamy. In addition to the gastronomic cuisine, La Mar offers a variety of amazing cocktails. These include the infamous Pisco Sours, which come in a variety of flavors, each one better than the last.

La Mar offers an express lunch for $25 deal, as well as a Chef’s Collection for dinner for $75 which includes an appetizer, entrée, and desert, and a $85 all you can eat and drink Sunday brunch buffet from 12pm to 3:30pm, in addition to a la carte options for lunch and dinner. There’s a reason Acurio continues to gain culinary acclaim with his unique restaurants that rank best in the world, whether you come for brunch, lunch or dinner, you won’t be disappointed.

Quinto La Huella

Quinto La Huella is the urban reinvention of Parador La Huella, in Uruguay, which currently holds the number 22 position on the list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2015, sponsored by S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. The restaurant, located as Brickell City Center’s upscale East Hotel on the fifth floor, offers a menu centered around their charcoal-grilled and wood-fired meat options, as well as a sushi counter. If you are lucky enough to have visited Uruguay before, you will know that its citizen grill masters who are very proud of their meat, and Quinto holds true to Uruguay’s culinary pursuit for hospitality, attention to detail, wonderful customer service and excellent cuisine.

The space itself is beautiful. Once the elevators open on the fifth floor, you enter a swanky room filled with rustic wooden furnishings, quirky artwork, and copper accents on the inside. In addition to the indoor seating, the restaurant also offers a cozy outdoor ‘garden-like’ patio with sweeping views of the Miami skyline, as well as three bars and a lounge area. They offer a buffet or a la carte options for lunch and dinner. Favorite dishes here include grilled octopus, skirt steak, rib eye, and buttery nigiri. The welcome bread basket alone is delicious enough to write about. In addition to lunch and breakfast, La Quinto La Huella also offers a delicious Sunday brunch from 12 pm to 4:30 pm for $55 per person and unlimited Rose for $25. Since the restaurant is connected to the hotel, it’s worth taking a walk out to the pool area after your meal. There are hammocks outside, an outdoor bar, and lounge chairs surrounding a gorgeous outdoor pool.

By Destination Editor

@AirGuide Destinations City Guides Food & Drink North America

The top seafood restaurants in Boston

Having lived in Boston for a few years, I came to appreciate what fresh seafood really can taste like. Being on the coast has major advantages, like fish, caught the same morning, lots of availability, and a sustainable mindset. When looking for where to dine on seafood in Boston, there are many places to choose from, which can seem daunting. So take a look at these top 5 options to help narrow your search.

Neptune Oyster

Located near Quincy Market, and known throughout Boston as the best seafood in the city, it is a hard table to come by due to lack of reservations. But if you wait, it will be worth the wait. Along with fresh oysters (a local specialty of the NE), their crude menu and entrees such as the Maine Lobster Roll will please any seafood palate. This is a cozy and upscale spot, worth visiting for a romantic evening if you are willing to wait.

Island Creek Oyster Bar

Located in Fenway, this is a number two spot on this list, but #1 in my heart. Their menu is extensive and changing, and filled with delicious oysters, a daily Crudo, and several delicious entrees. I tend to fill up on oysters, with lemon and mignonette and top off the meal with a delicious buttermilk biscuit drizzled with honey. The drinks are divine as well, pairing several mixology favorites, fresh-pressed juice, and bartenders who will mix almost any creations for you. The atmosphere is airy and fresh, with huge oyster-shell filled cages as part of the decor.

B&G Oysters

If you are seeing an oyster trend here, you are right on. However, along with oysters you can dine on delicious lobster rolls and premium champagne at this intimate bar in South Boston. I prefer a glass of Veuve Cliquot with my oysters at B&G.

Legal Harborside

Located in the fast-growing Seaport District, this is a Legal Seafood location known for fine dining and casual dining on different floors and one of the best rooftops in the city. The lines can be long for the rooftop, so head up mid-afternoon and take in your fill of fresh sushi and drinks while taking in the view.

Clio Restaurant, now known as Uni

Located in the Elliot Hotel, right on the border of Back Bay and Fenway, this upscale restaurant boasts a lovely fine dining and modern atmosphere, with delicious food to ensure your experience is perfect. Feast on the changing menu which boasts local halibut and cod, and bluefin tuna, all of which come and goes with the seasons.

Honorable mentions: Ostra, a new restaurant in the Theater District. Fine dining meets innovative cuisine, in a lovely and vast restaurant. Turner Fisheries, located in the Westin Copley Place, right in the heart of Boston; this is an old meets young spot, known for great seafood classics and the occasional twist. They have a wonderful wine selection to go along with your local Black Cod, or another dish of choice, and a location overlooking the lovely Copley Square.

If you are dining on seafood in Boston you will be sure to be pleased wherever you go, but for a special and luxurious experience, be sure to take in one of these delicious choices on your next trip.

By Parul Lahoti

By Destination Editor

@AirGuide Destinations City Guides Europe

The best art stops in Amsterdam

Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the North’, Amsterdam has been recognized as one of the most romantic and scenic cities in Europe. The floating city not only offers idyllic canal rides, Michelin-starred restaurants, and picturesque parks but also a rich cultural history. From the 1600s, Dutch artists from Van Gogh to Mondrian have produced some of the finest and most renowned works in the world. Holland’s capital boasts its artistic wealth, with museums dedicated to almost every kind of art throughout the city. Here’s our list of top Amsterdam art spots:

Van Gogh Museum

No trip to Amsterdam is truly complete without a visit to the Van Gogh Museum. Though Van Gogh spent many of the most notable years of his career and life in France, the young artist was sent to live in Amsterdam with his uncle in 1877, and even applied – but failed – to study theology at the University of Amsterdam. The city is now home to the largest collection of Van Gogh’s works, housed in three geometrical buildings: the Rietveld Building (1973), the Kurokawa Wing (1999) and the New Entrance Hall (2015). The museum carefully addresses the speculation surrounding the private life of Van Gogh, such as this year’s exhibition ‘On the Verge of Insanity. Van Gogh and his Illness’, amalgamating letters, paintings, and drawings from the final 18 months of his life. Keep an eye out for upcoming exhibitions on the artist’s life, his influences, and his fellow impressionists.

Allard Pierson Museum

Many things come to mind when thinking of Amsterdam: winding canals, evening bike rides, charming architecture; artifacts from the worlds of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome do not immediately spring to mind. However, the Dutch capital in fact holds an impressive collection of ancient art-objects dating from 10,000 B.C. to 1000 A.D. in the Allard Pierson Museum. The museum is part of the University of Amsterdam and derives its name from the university’s first professor of Classical Archaeology. It has progressed massively from Pierson’s plaster cast collection, with today’s museum experience being enhanced by the curators’ incorporation of digital technology. The Allard Pierson truly is an interactive experience, with touch-sensor scale models, original color projections onto artifacts and an open archaeology lab where visitors can get involved with the work in progress.

De Nieuwe Kerk

De Nieuwe Kerk – meaning the ‘New Church’ – has become one of Amsterdam’s unlikely top art spots. The 15th-century church has witnessed the evolution of the artistic city from its prime location in Dam Square. Being home to the Royal Palace, Dam Square was once the heart of political and monarchical administration. Today, it is a tourist hotspot with its countless bars, restaurants and shops – all framed by the never-ending queue of Madame Tussauds. De Nieuwe Kerk stands firm as a symbol of Amsterdam’s rich cultural history, juxtaposing its surrounding landscape of modern, hedonistic tourism. This juxtaposition continues within the church itself, as throughout the year the Nieuwe Kerk becomes a versatile host for exhibitions celebrating national and international as well as ancient and modern art. This year saw the hand of one of the Roman Emperor Constantine’s colossal statues visit the Netherlands, alongside other renowned imperial works from the Vatican and Capitoline museums in the exhibition ‘Rome. Emperor Constantine’s Dream. Art Treasures from the Eternal City’. Until February 2017, De Nieuwe Kerk will reflect on the life of Hollywood starlet Marilyn Monroe, presenting personal items from her Californian residence to mark her 90th birthday.

Foam

Housed in a beautiful old canal-side home, Foam is the place to go in Amsterdam to see interesting photography of every medium—from both established photographers and up-and-comers. (The museum has a designated exhibition space for new talent, which is a great place to discover rising artists.) In addition to their gallery space, Foam also organizes contemporary photography events and lectures and publishes an international photography magazine three times a year.

Foam photography museum was established in 2001, making it somewhat of a newcomer to Amsterdam’s historic art scene. Though lacking in the age and standing of its artistic competitors, the museum more than makes up for this with its consistent exhibition of photographic masterpieces. Foam has proven that it is not afraid to embrace its modernity, defying the city’s unspoken cultural convention of focusing on the works of the Dutch greats, such as Van Gogh and Rembrandt. The museum offers multiple exhibitions at one time, presenting both contemporary and historical works from renowned photographers and young, emerging artists. Iconic photographs with the unmistakable erotic character of fashion photographer, Helmut Newton, were part of Foam’s 2016 exhibition, ‘Helmut Newton: A Retrospective’, and recently the museum hosted over 40 years of work from the acclaimed Japanese photographer, Hiroshi Sugimoto.

Electric Ladyland

Unfortunately, Amsterdam’s emerging modern art scene is often overlooked by tourists eager to cram in the traditional art spots into their short-stay. One of the city’s most innovative art museums, Electric Ladyland, has become a favorite amongst young travelers but is a quirky and fun treasure that is not to be missed by any age group. Situated in the vibrant district of the Jordaan, Electric Ladyland is the first museum of fluorescent art in the world. The small, intimate museum is also unconventional in its approach to its visitors, encouraging visitors to participate in and engage with the art, rather than merely view it. Nick Padalino, the owner of Electric Ladyland, provides a passionate tour lasting under an hour with an education on the science and history of fluorescent art – perfect for a light afternoon activity after a heavy morning of sightseeing.

Kröller-Müller Museum

Kröller-Müller is a couple of hours outside of Amsterdam—you can get there by train/bus—and it is so worth it. The museum was a lifelong dream of a woman named Helene Kröller-Müller, who had one of the largest private collections of art the 20th-century has seen, acquiring close to 11,500 works of art with her husband between 1907 and 1922. The museum, which opened in 1938, is located in Hoge Veluwe National Park. The Kröller-Müller sculpture garden is one of the largest in Europe, with more than 160 sculptures on display from artists like Aristide Maillol, Marta Pan, and Pierre Huyghe. The museum is also home to the second-largest Van Gogh collection (after the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam), as well as works by Monet, Seurat, Picasso, Mondrian, and more.

By Pontus Silfverstolpe, Co-Founder of Barnebys

By Destination Editor

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Airline & Travel Weekly News Briefs

The most romantic way to experience the Northern Lights

Travelers looking for a unique adventure that combines luxury and experiential travel, comfort and romance, should direct their gaze at the Arctic coast near Tromso, Norway. It is there that the hunt for the Aurora Borealis, as well as the hunt for the perfect spot to melt life’s glaciers with love, comes to fruition… [read more]

The best Winter sun activities in Qatar

Qatar might be a small nation, but it’s swiftly earning a big reputation when it comes to winter sun. With a reliable climate, one of the best-connected airports on the planet, long swathes of sandy coast and a futuristic city with a stellar skyline at its heart, it’s too often an overlooked option for late-year getaways… [read more]

Masoala peninsula: Madagascar’s last untouched rainforest

As the boat lurches over another huge wave, a whale slaps its massive tail, against the water in front. These mammals make Olympic gymnasts look like amateurs as they acrobatically lift their enormous bodies in gravity-defying displays. We’re traveling across Antongil Bay to the far-flung Masoala Forest Lodge on Masoala peninsula, a vast national park on Madagascar’s northeast coast, and the island’s last remaining untouched rainforest… [read more]

Michelin-starred chefs are elevating cruise ship cuisine to new heights

As the cruise market grows, the quality of food on board ships has become as important to some passengers as the exotic locations they can visit and the suites they snooze in between them. In response to rising expectations, a number of dining trends have emerged on board today’s resort-like cruise ships… [read more]

If you don’t finish this Antarctic marathon in time, you’re left behind

Are you an adventurous runner? Maybe you have completed marathons all over the country, or even the world. Is your taste for adventure matched only by your healthy bank account? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, and are searching for something even more adventurous than you’ve ever done before, we might have the answer for you. You may be a perfect candidate for the inaugural Race the Jet Marathon… [read more]

By News Editor

@AirGuide Destinations City Guides Destinations Europe Food & Drink Travel Tips

Fine dining experiences in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city where culinary opportunities are rising faster than just about any city in Europe. The multi-cultural nature of the residents plus the fact visitors come from all over the world has resulted in Michelin star chefs painting culinary creations with a unique approach. And the product is meals and creations that expand the normal culinary boundaries. These five dining experiences are sure to provide an elegant and palate-pleasing evening.

Speakeasy Graphite by Peter Gast

The concept of a speakeasy lives, where you book your table, check-in on a street that resembles an alley, then are led to a table where cooking occurs in four stations around the open-concept restaurant. No drop-in dining here, you must book a reservation, then get an entry code for your dining time. You start in a posh bar, then sit at one of only six tables, which are placed around the open cooking stations. It has a private feel with a close-to-the-action view and only takes 20 patrons per night. Dining options are 10, 15 or 20 courses for the evening. None will disappoint as embodied with creations that optimize visual appeal with a unique taste. The menu changes daily and seasonally with the Michelin-starred Gast using unique seasonal ingredients. Combinations include langoustines with orange dressing and gingerbread croutons, stingray with chicory, and venison with beets and light Dutch cheese are examples of what mysteriously and carefully appears at your table. If that wasn’t enough, unique wines are chosen each evening for each course.

Brasserie Ambassade

If you want an excellent French meal along the canal, a stop at this unique hotel, bar and restaurant combination. Start in the Library Bar which has 5,000+ books along the shelves, all authors who have stayed at the hotel and signed a copy for the living display. Contemplate literature with one of their signature craft cocktails in a literary atmosphere. Then head upstairs for a canal view while dining in an environment that when combined with the service, might just place you in Paris for classic French cuisine. The Scallops with barigoule cream and confit tomato are a can’t miss starter.

Stromma Dinner Cruise

Possibly the best way to see the canals and accompanying history of Amsterdam is a Stromma Dinner Cruise. Usually dinner cruises are hasty buffets, yet in this case, you get a four-course meal, served professionally as you meander the canals with all beverages. You can choose between options for the courses, such as the Salmon en papillote prepared with lemon and dill as the main course. During the 2.5-hour cruise, your meal and beverages are spaced correctly to make a memorable evening. The captain intersperses historical and cultural notes during the sail.

Der Silveren Spiegel

The Silver Mirror is a Dutch house that dates to 1614. While you are under the original beams, walls, and stairs, the stage is set for fine Dutch cuisine including period-based china and silverware. The food is merely an incredible presentation to match the taste. You can’t go wrong with the fish of the day, prepared with spinach, green cabbage, smoked eel, lava, and Hollandaise sauce. Chef Yves van der Hoff goes to the same creative care with desserts such as the Stewed pear with chocolate mousse, curd, and Dutch treacle-waffles ice cream.

Vermeer

In the city center, located adjacent to the NH Barbizon Hotel, the comfortable neo-modern Scandinavian décor is a clue that an excellent meal is in store. The four to six-course dinner menu changes seasonally and it carefully matched so each course flows to the next. The staff is keenly aware of your preferred pace, so expect to dine at the appropriate speed for your preferences. The food and ambiance have a spa-like feel where one course melts into the next. The roasted pear and pumpkin salad prime the taste buds for the monkfish with roasted seaweed with oyster sauce.

By Neil Wolkodoff

By Destination Editor

@AirGuide Destinations Destinations Environment & Nature Europe Things To Do Travel Tips

Comparing Iceland and Norway

These two Nordic countries share some characteristics including dramatic landscapes, Viking history, and beautiful trails. But once you scratch the surface, each is distinctively unique. Iceland is wildly popular (for good reason), while Norway—still a bit under the radar—is more recently becoming the regional darling. Can’t decide which trip is for you? Maybe you’re intrigued by both countries and simply want to know what to expect. Perhaps this comparison will help you. No matter which destination you choose, we know you’ll have an amazing time exploring a new place and meeting friendly locals!

The landscape

Iceland’s landscape has been shaped by volcanic and seismic activity. Vast lava fields, black sand beaches, and dark, craggy cliff-faces contrast with moss-carpeted valleys, powerful cascading waterfalls, floating icebergs, impressive glaciers, deep ravines, and hot springs. It’s not called the “Land of Fire and Ice” for nothing. Norway’s landscape, on the other hand, has been carved by glacial activity and water. It is well-known for its fjords, where steep slopes covered in pine forests descend into narrow waterways. Higher up, the vegetation thins out to low-scrub and exposed rock. You’ll see glaciers here, as well as rocky shorelines and soaring, misty waterfalls.

Hiking difficulty

Hiking in Norway is a rugged with steep trails. However, Norway’s trails are well-maintained and many have built-in stone steps. Elevation gains can be up to 1,700′, and there are many long distance trails for multi-day hikes or long day hikes. Generally, hiking in Iceland is not difficult. It’s mostly flat or with rolling hills, although the terrain can be rough, especially when hiking in lava fields, much of it is on dirt or mossy trails. Elevation gains are usually between 200 and 400 feet, although if you want to climb to the top of Skogafoss Waterfall, that’s 700 feet.

Other activities

In both Iceland and Norway, you can enjoy a 1/2-day glacier walk. This is weather permitting and all necessary equipment is provided, including crampons and ice axes (although in reality, the ice axes are more for show!). Hike with experienced mountaineers who have a great deal of knowledge about glaciers and safety procedures. Kayak excursions are available in both countries, as are RIB-boat cruises—in Iceland, you’ll get up-close to icebergs, while in Norway, you’ll glide through the fjords, past ski-high waterfalls and villages at the water’s edge.

Weather

Summer is the driest time in Iceland and Norway, although weather is still quite variable. You are unlikely to have sunshine every day, but it is also unlikely for it to be cloudy for long. Summer also bring near round-the-clock daylight. Average temperatures in Iceland range from about 45F/7C to 55F/12C, while Norway can get near 65F/17C. The shoulder months of April, May, September, and October are a bit cooler and have a higher likelihood of precipitation. Trails may be a bit muddy but hikeable in Norway, and you might see the Northern Lights in Iceland. Winter is also a gorgeous time to visit when the Northern Lights in Iceland are more visible and Norway’s ski slopes and nordic trails are open.

By Matt Holmes from www.boundlessjourneys.com

By Travel Editor

February 1, 2019

@AirGuide Destinations Africa / Middle East Airline & Travel News Destinations Europe North America

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This winter’s best new Alpine ski experiences

You wait ages for a fabulous new Italian mountain hotel, and then two come along at once. Happily, the much -anticipated pair – Le Massif in Courmayeur and Camp Zero in Champoluc – are markedly different. The former is a major slopeside development comprising a stylish 80-room hotel, two on-site restaurants, boutiques, a spa and a separate mountain restaurant, ski school and bar… [read more]

10 luxury glamping sites from around the world

Tired of checking into high-rise skyscrapers in urban cities, today’s travellers are seeking a fresh experience that they can’t find elsewhere. One of 2018’s top luxury travel trends, glamping, takes the weary globetrotter back to nature — without sacrificing on creature comforts. Here are Tatler’s top picks for luxury glamping experiences around the world, where you can escape the bustle of the city… [read more]

Why the world’s most high-tech water park is making waves with 3D

Thrill rides don’t come more basic than water slides. Formed from a tube with water rushing through it, the format hasn’t changed much since it was invented in 1923. The latest slides are longer and faster but rarely make a splash. That requires taking the plunge with something completely new as one water park in Abu Dhabi found out… [read more]

How Cairo caters to the world’s most affluent travelers

Rashwan is looking concerned. Having endured his tennis courts being removed to make way for a new 52m swimming pool (the largest in central Cairo), the former tennis coach’s new role as pool attendant is nevertheless taken seriously. But as he waits, towel in hand, to extend his habitual warm welcome, a barrier emerges between us: a line of Middle Eastern men in smart suits and crispy white jalabiyas suddenly pour past, chaperoned by anxious-looking large men talking into their sleeves – all oblivious to the disruption they are generating for Rashwan and myself… [read more]

John Allen Chau: What we could learn from remote tribes

When American John Allen Chau was killed by an endangered tribe in India last week, it brought a renewed focus on some of the world’s most isolated people. Officials in India said Chau was a missionary keen to convert the protected Sentinelese people on the Andaman and Nicobar islands. But the Sentinelese, who are fearful of outsiders, attacked Chau with bows and arrows…. [read more]

By News Editor

January 28, 2019

Indonesia is ‘world’s most chilled out country’

The South-East Asian nation of Indonesia is the world’s most chilled out country, according to a study by lastminute.com. The European travel retailer crunched numbers to come up with a list of the world’s 15 most laid-back lands. Considering factors across four categories: breaks, environment, culture and human rights, researchers looked at everything from weather and light pollution to number of public holidays, accessibility of Zen spaces and country’s natural resources.

By News Editor

Davos 2019: What you need to know about ‘the world’s most exclusive business bash’

The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will see the planet’s political and business elites descend on the Swiss city of Davos this week. The Local takes a closer look.

What’s the WEF? The WEF was set up in 1971 in Geneva by social entrepreneur Klaus Schwab. Independent and not-for-profit, it aims to bring political and business leaders together to help them collaborate on global challenges and find solutions.

By News Editor

@AirGuide Destinations

How to train for the world’s most elite wine exam

The master sommelier exam has a reputation for being impossible to pass. Becoming certified is so difficult that, to date, there are fewer than 300 master sommeliers in the world. Most aspiring masters fall at the last hurdle — the blind tasting portion of the exam — where they’re required to describe and identify the origin, grape, year, and quality of six wines — just by tasting them.

By News Editor

Crazy, rich city: what to do if you’re a super-wealthy visitor to Singapore

When I was growing up in Singapore in the late ’60s, foreigners never mentioned the city. I’ve seen it transition, in ways my parents’ generation could never have imagined. Now it has taken its place in the global community. This year marks 200 years since Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore and it’s just 54 years since the city-state achieved independence.

By News Editor

@AirGuide Destinations Destinations Food & Drink

How Americans acquired a taste for haggis, with help from the Scottish poet Robert Burns

When Anne Robinson and Andrew Hamilton founded their catalogue-order business, Scottish Gourmet, in 2005, they were focussed on importing luxury Scottish foodstuffs for American consumers: smoked salmon, grouse, pheasant. Hamilton, an Ayrshire-born chef, was active in promoting locavore food for the Scottish National Tourist Board; for a time, he’d been known as the man who brought the langoustine to New York. But no sooner had the company set up shop than demands for a humbler item began rushing in. “The next year, the cry got worse!” Robinson told me recently. “I said, ‘Andrew, there’s no good haggis in America; they want their haggis.’ ”

By News Editor