My lovely surprise

A surprise! My only warning was this: I was told to pack a bag with jeans, gym shoes, high heels, black dress, dinner dress and most mysteriously a snorkel. Then in the middle of a meeting at Select Collection I got kidnapped.

My charming kidnapper was none other than Gerald Amoudruz, Sales Manager at Air France/KLM in Sweden. Next thing I was on the back of his Harley Davidson heading for the Stockholm island of Södermalm.

Heading through the traffic from our office

Arrival in Mariatorget - Gustaf Mellbin's Boutique

Thank you for bringing Leija to us - goodbye Gerald

Now it was fun for women only - my hen party or "möhippa". Lovely friends were waiting for me in a luxury lingerie shop, sipping champagne. Time for shopping for glamorous swimwear and an evening of Stockholm lifestyle.

Bubbly and friends

Surrounded by gorgeous lingerie

A gift card for shopping for something special

Next I was taken to nearby premises and told to change to the black dress. A Baroque dance lesson for all of us. This is a very sensual kind of dancing that reminds of the Can Can and the Moulin Rouge.

Ladies in black

Over from Finland my lovely friend Camilla

On to Hallwyl House (Hallwylska Palatset). It reflects the luxury lifestyle of its owners in the 1890s  who handed it over to Stockholm city as a museum in 1920, replete with their furniture, paintings and even clothing. Here we had our own private cultural tour...

Our party on a private tour of the palace

Grandeur

Fascinating culture

History - Grevinnan Irma von Geijer -
her parents Walther & Wilhemina von Hallwyl
built the extravagant palace

Then in the kitchen of Hallwyl House we had our own lifestyle party. Wine tasting with an excellent sommelier Sofia Ander, five different wines. First I was blown away by the Californian DeLoach Pinot Noir but one more sip of the Sicilian wine Norma persuaded me that this wine was best - yet not even a Pinot Noir.

That was followed by a buffet dinner, with delightful desserts and red and white wine. Then...

Presents from everyone - and I had to guess who from

Something borrowed, something blue

Champagne

Lots of laughter, and lots and lots of laughter

And then a great nightspot - Riche

It was a wonderful evening. Thank you Lena, Hanna, Ulrika and Louise for getting this party together.

But what about the snorkel on my packing list? Actually I did not pack it because at Select we never need to take snorkels when we travel. Our seaside hotels all have that kind of equipment...

One&Only Mary

Quality time in Stockholm with our wonderful Mary Bishara, the Director of Sales and Communications at One&Only The Palm. The venue was one of my best Stockholm tips, cosy Matbaren by Sweden’s celebrity chef Mathias Dahlgren.

At Matbaren with Mary together with Max and Neil
from Select Collection

Of course One&Only The Palm is also one of my hottest tips – one of my favourite properties world-wide. This is top luxury, nestled on one of the fronds of the astounding man-made Palm Island. Facing the glittering sci-fi landscapes of Dubai over the water, it is a serene hideaway with its own beach, beautiful architecture, quality all round and the ultimate in silken service.

I recommend it as a perfect, warm and pampering break from the cold weather of Northern Europe.

Far away from all our winter weather, One&Only The Palm

Relaxing by the pool.

Meanwhile, back to our pampering visit to Matbaren.

Matbaren (The Food Bar) is one of two restaurants by Matthias Dahlgren at The Grand Hôtel in Stockholm. Matbaren has one Michelin star, and Matsalen (The Dining Room) has two Michelin stars. Some of the evening's delights:

Herring - one of Mary's favourites

The cod was perfect

Apple and cloudberry crumble
with vanilla icecream 

Tonka icecream and cherry sorbet
 with buttermilk cream

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.

Rosewood at F12

Rosewood is one of my favourite brands, bringing tranquil elegance to beautiful surroundings. We had a lovely evening with their representatives  in Stockholm, sharing some local Scandinavian style and produce at restaurant F12.

One of many beautiful dishes at F12
Roast of Swedish sirloin with
potato au gratin and red wine

Here seated next to Andrew Hedley,
Regional Vice President for Rosewood ...

 

Andrew is based at Rosewood Jumby Bay, Antigua,
where he is also Managing Director

Karin Salinas, Director of Sales & Marketing
at  Rosewood Mayakoba...

 

Rosewood Mayakoba, Mexico - all from beach accommodation
to lagoonside in a protected ecosystem of dunes and waterways

More of our illustrious friends from Rosewood:

 

Paul Potkyras Regional Director of Sales
Europe, together with Karin and Andrew

 

Thanks Rosewood friends for a long partnership. Some of my favourite memories take me back to when my son Jonatan was still a kid enjoying the fabulous activities at Little Dix Bay Virgin Gorda

 

The perfect beach - Little Dix Bay, British Virgin Islands
and a great kids club

 

 

Menu of a princess

The menu created for the wedding of Sweden’s Princess Madeleine was served again for the first time, and we enjoyed every mouthful.  The event was organized by the top luxury hotel chain One&Only Resorts, Mazagan Beach Resort and Atlantis the Palm, Dubai, and was held at restaurant Operakällaren in Stockholm.

The dinner was a treat for the Kerzner resorts' top partners in the travel industry.  I sat at the main table with Select Collection colleagues in good company.


With Saskia Schuller
Director, International Leisure Sales
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai

 

Select colleagues Neil Bedford
and Max Albrechtsson

Eva Hylander with Stephan Killinger

Managing Director, Mazagan Golf & Beach Resort

 

In splendid setting at Café Opera



Fine dining

 

Mingling

 

With Max, Saskia Schuller and Fredrik

The chef explains that the Royal Wedding menu
is being served with special permission

Starters - a plate of flavours from local produce
 ("L'assiette: Mets aux saveurs des
produits du terroir du pays")

The following courses were served: all from the menu at the wedding on 8 June between Princess Madeleine and Chris O’Neill:

• Skagen on crispy rye bread, bleakroe cone with wasabi, gratinated matured Swedish cheese tarlette, creamy baked farm egg with smoked cod roe

• Slowly baked salmon with white and green asparagus, salmon roe and tomato concassé

• Mustard gratinated fillet of veal from Holmbergs farm with roasted spring carrots and cauliflower, crispy onion and cider sauce

• Wild strawberrie Pavlova a la Operkällaren

Honoured guests...

I have just received these lovely images from the pre-opening evening of Coba, Stockholm's new Mexican restaurant. The first is a picture of His Excellency Mr Jorge Lomonaco Ambassador of Mexico with his wife  Mrs Claudia Campbell.

We were honoured that the Ambassador said words of welcome to declare the restaurant open.

The other image is of my son Jonatan and me; he was remarkably calm despite the excitement of opening his own restaurant.

The newsletter of Quintessentially Scandinavia also spreads the word about Jonatan’s Mexican restaurant. Quintessentially is a highly exclusive members-only concierge service that offers the ultimate in knowledge on where to dine around the world, and gives other assistance to members as part of its luxury lifestyle management service in 65 countries.

Mexican flavours at Coba

“COBA is the latest addition to Stockholm’s superb food scene. Behind the scenes of this Mexican restaurant is a mother-son duo - Leija Graf, a renowned travel industry entrepreneur and her son Jonatan," explains the Quntessentially newsletter, continuing:

"During their many visits to Mexico and Los Angeles, they have collected inspiration and recipes for sophisticated Mexican cuisine, where close attention is paid to the produce and heritage of the Yucatan peninsula.

With a stunning interior, designed by Alexander Lundfeld and Jim Grundström from Oscar & Clothilde, this exciting new establishment will be premiering at the beginning of June when the doors open in Birger Jarlsgatan 44."

As one of the exciting developments at Select Collection, our valued clients can enjoy the perfect extension to luxury lifestyle: when on holiday they can use our concierge services at the destination in cooperation with Quintessentially.

Note Coba opens on 5 June.