Bubbly and roses...

Looking back on the most wonderful evening, just one week ago. So much joy! Åke and I exchanged rings as a sign of our engagement and future marriage. It all happened in that incredibly romantic city – Paris.

And the evening began in one of the world's truly great hotels, full of romantic spirit – Four Seasons George V. Our beautiful room just flowed over with champagne and roses!

Bubbly flowed...

We exchanged rings

White roses everywhere -
heart stirringly romantic

That evening we ate at Apicius – 2 Michelin stars heading for 3, housed in a lovely villa with a garden, not far from the Champs Elysees.

Engaged couple dining at Apicius

A lovely dinner...

An evening to remember...

Into the warmth

This is the time of year when staff meetings bring much needed warmth and good cheer. I have just met with my team from the Select Collection office in Finland for business with pleasure. The venue was a fashionable meeting place, the grillroom at Teatteri.

Happily together at Teatteri

 There we ate really well – including a starter of grilled scampi – “the best ever” my staff declared.  

Best ever...

Other courses included whitefish, lamb or beef – all really good and perfectly prepared.

Back at the office, my team in action again and ready to craft perfect holidays for their customers. Here are two of them …

Marita Aarnio

Arja Laukkarinen

The office in Helsinki has a central location at street level on fashionable Bulevardi, and is much admired for the lovely atmosphere and design, creating the mood to travel…

Items picked up in my travels

Exotic, inviting....

Welcome in to our lovely offices in Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Stavanger and London to discuss how to get out of the cold and dark, and into the light and warmth,,,

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

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)

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

 

 

Tapas and Top Luxury

We had a lovely evening at Restaurant Coba  in Stockholm, hosted by one of my favourite resorts One&Only The Palm - a top luxury hideaway in Dubai. It was a chance to mingle with some of my valued customers, to sip great wines and taste tapas with a scintillating difference, created by the chefs of this classy little Mexican restaurant.

The evening sets off downstairs at Coba in Birger jarlsgatan

Select consultants chatting to
their special customers
at the bar in Coba



Enjoying meeting Select clients and hotel partners 



Our One&Only Frauke Hinrichs getting ready
to address us, with Max

Then finally we all had the pleasure of listening to the inspiring words of Frauke, who is Account Director Leisure Sales at One&Only Resorts, Atlantis & Mazagan Beach Resort.

Frauke creating One&Only magic

Taking us on a One&Only journey...

Frauke took us to from Mauritius and Cape Town to Mexico and the Caribbean. Not to forget the ravishing One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives.

And back to Dubai, our much loved One&Only Royal Mirage; and One&Only The Palm resting quietly at the tip of one of the fronds of the famous Palm Island.

 

One&Only The Palm
Classy boutique hotel and haven - tucked away with pool and beach
and yet with views of the amazing urban skyline

Back in restaurant Coba....

 

Tapas with tastes to explode in the mouth

 

 

Socializing after wonderful words and fabulous tapas

 

Well pleased - our product manager Neil

 And finally the man behind this fabulous little restaurant...

My son Jonatan, founder and
manager of Coba