Christmas feeling with Ralph Lauren

This week Select Collection teamed up with Ralph Lauren boutique to enjoy some Christmas feeling in the (so far) grey winter Stockholm. It was a cosy evening. Mingle with Champagne & Canapees for our lovely clients.

A warm welcome by Max and Fredrik, dressed for the occasion!

 

 

 

As a special bonus - we offered hand massage by talented spa therapists Emma and Sara from our Select Collection Spa, where they usually perform fantastic treatments - from massages to high tech facials, nails and foot treatments. If you don't know what to give to your loved ones, here is a tip: Gift card at Select Collection Spa.  

 

 

 

And here is another tip; get your own Ralph Lauren car!

 

 

 

 

Here is a selection of our wonderful guests this evening:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And my Åke, on his way up!

 

 

 

 

 

Our old favourite

I had drinks and tapas at Mandarin Oriental during my short break in beautiful Barcelona. As classy and as trendy as ever with its hint of the Orient and its contemporary style and pace. Here we are at my old favourite, the Banker’s Bar.

A feast of drinks and tapas in a great ambience ...

Gabriela and Alberto, charming
members of the sales team

Nice Rioja

Tapas

The Mandarin Oriental - full of charming
surprises and creative elegance

This hotel is like a destination in itself, with five bars and restaurants including the new Terrat on the panoramic rooftop. Another place to draw in the local elite is Moments (2 Michelin star Catalan cuisine). The leisure facilities include a stylish rooftop dipping pool, a fitness centre and a luxury spa. Like everything else, they really know how to do that…

New in Barcelona

Alva Park has opened a lovely Japanese restaurant in the city, just a few minutes away from the Mandarin Oriental. GM Mr José Luis Cases invited us for a magnificent dinner show. Minamo is a perfect spot to dine for smaller groups but also just a stunning experience. It is certainly the place to go if you want to celebrate or propose ...

Here Mr Cases welcomes us. He is not just a lovely person but very creative and innovative.

A welcome from Mr Case

Beautiful Japanese ambience

Perfect details

And an astounding menu...

 

Fantastic oysters

And more...

Oysters

That is just the beginning, More amazing repast to come...

 And now..

Just for two!!

 Food is an art and a philosophy at Minamo...

 

Finale - very Zen

Meanwhile the show ran softly in the background...

Watching a Japanese presentation with lovely
atmosphere and lovely music

That was a superb and memorable dinner.  

If you are interested to see the current menu:

 MENU AT MINAMO 2 DECEMBER 2013:

    Gouthier Oyster fantasy with coriander and avocado cream.

    Tuna tartare with caviar. Dashi broth with shellfish and crouton of smoked eel. Apple, ginger and gold spherification.

    Wagyu veal tataki cooked over hot stone with enoki and shitake mushrooms.

    Vegetable tempura.

    Fog bubble with caviar caprice and Sashimi with:

        Bluefin tuna

        Alaskan wild salmon

        Palamós shrimps

        Toro (tuna belly)

        Wild seabass flower

    Garden of Sushi: Red tuna, Alaskan salmon and Palamós shrimp nigiris.

    Salmon tempura maki, tuna tekkamaki and king crab roll.

    Chocolate coulant.

    Apotheosis of exotic fresh fruits, strawberry cone, black sesame pudding, Small pina colada, coconut foam and caviar of Zacapa Centenario Rum.

    Zen Garden of Petit Fours.

“Minamo” menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . € 148 per person

(10% VAT included)

Deep into luxury

At high altitude over Spain, blogging through wifi after a fabulous short visit to Barcelona and the Costa Brava. I will start with the amazing Alva Park at Platja de Fenals. The perfect place to escape the autumnal world and sink deep into luxury…

Check in at the stunning Alva Park hotel…

Suite 163 - just the best

Greeted by the lovely staff

Luxuriating at the spa...

Relaxing in the magical Princess Bath

 And sinking into the luxury of our suite...

The beds are just great

 

Your own spa in the suite

And meals to keep up the impeccable standard...

The breakfast is perfect

My breakfast rose

Having a wonderful evening ...

At Alva Park's unique Butterfly Restaurant

Lovely Judy at our service

 

Delicious food

More delicious food

The butterflies dining as well

 

Evening finished with white roses for me

A great conclusion! Alva Park and the Butterfly Restaurant is just perfect if you want to celebrate some special occasion.

Here the butterflies are growing soon
ready to spread their wings

The exotically tropical Butterfly Garden

 

One of the many beautiful butterflies you
can watch during the dinner

This exotic environment came originally from Costa Rica, bringing the tropics to Spain and Alva Park. 

You can also have a courtesy car to explore the real world, where you can find small medieval towns and top level cosy restaurants.

This smart little car free of charge

For the children

A while back I attended a philanthropic event. We watched beautiful Balinese dancing, and all the money raised during an auction that evening went to children in need in Indonesia. One of the organizers is a very special person…

Kanthi Beck

Kanthi is the Founder of the International Philanthropic Society of Stockholm (IPS). She is not just a lovely person and a good friend but also an admirer and frequent client of Select Collection Travel & Spa

The evening was sponsored by the Indonesian Embassy, so many thanks to…

The Ambassador of Indonesia & his wife

The event was held at the Volvo show room in Kungsträdgården (the King’s former garden). Volvo is another of the sponsors, and so was Select Collection. We donated wonderful Spa treatments for the auction.

Åke and me

 

Guests

 

Pirjo and Samantha enjoying the evening

Since the money from the auction was for children in Indonesia, I would like to show some  lovely images of hotels in Bali - tourism to Bali also helps the welfare of the children ...

 

Banyan Tree Ungsan Bali

The Legian Bali

St Regis Pool Villa Bali.