Park Hyatt Tokyo is pleased to announce Ben Wheeler as New York Grill & Bar’s Chef de Cuisine. In his new role, Chef Ben brings his culinary passion and creativity to one of Tokyo’s most iconic restaurants.
Born in the United Kingdom, Chef Ben was raised in the Buckinghamshire countryside. From a young age, he felt he belonged in the kitchen and was fascinated experimenting with basic ingredients and turning them into something delicious. His fondest childhood memories were making pastries and cakes with his grandmother.
Chef Ben began his culinary career at The Stag at Mentmore, followed by the Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva, Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi and Four Seasons Trinity Square London. Thereafter he joined as Chef de Cuisine at Grand Hyatt Kuwait and Atlantis The Royal Dubai as a member of their pre- opening teams.
Japan has always intrigued Chef Ben, from its food, to cars and particularly the culture. He is fascinated by Japanese trends, both modern and traditional, and most of all, the attention to detail and dedication to perform any task artistically and efficiently. Chef Ben’s dream was to move to Japan and immerse himself in its culture, experiencing all five senses throughout the country and particularly the sense of taste and smell.
Food consumes most of Chef Ben’s time, both professionally and personally. During his leisure time, you can find him reading cookbooks and trying new restaurants and bars. In joining Park Hyatt Tokyo, Chef Ben said, “It is an honor to join Park Hyatt Tokyo, with its long history of setting international luxury hotel standards in Japan, both in culinary and service. I look forward to continuing New York Grill & Bar’s story and learning from the Japanese culinary team, while sharing my experiences and new ideas.”
After the completion of scheduled building maintenance, New York Grill & Bar will reopen on April 1, 2024. From April 15 to 18, 2024, Chef Ben welcomes Australia’s Rockpool Bar & Grill’s Executive Chef Santiago Aristizabal for a special four-hands culinary collaboration creating a unique six-course dinner menu. Colombian-born Chef Santiago Aristizabal joined Rockpool Bar & Grill in 2009 and quickly proved himself to be an integral member of the culinary team as his career progressed from Sous Chef to Head Chef to his current position overseeing all three Rockpool Bar & Grill in Australia – Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. The limited dinner menu is priced at JPY55,000 per person, including consumption tax and subject to a 15% service charge. Reservations are required. For reservations, please contact New York Grill & Bar at (+81-3) 5323 3458 or visit NEW YORK GRILL | Park Hyatt Tokyo.
About Park Hyatt
Park Hyatt hotels provide discerning, global travelers with a refined home-away-from-home. Guests of Park Hyatt hotels receive quietly confident and personalized service in an enriching environment. Located in several of the world’s premier destinations, each Park Hyatt hotel is custom designed to combine sophistication with understated luxury. Park Hyatt hotels feature well-appointed guestrooms, world-renowned artwork and design, rare and immersive culinary experiences, and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs. There are currently 44 Park Hyatt hotels in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Auckland, Bangkok, Beaver Creek, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Busan, Canberra, Changbaishan, Carlsbad, Chennai, Chicago, Doha, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kyoto, Maldives, Melbourne, Mendoza, Milan, New York, Ningbo, Niseko, Paris, Saigon, Sanya, Seoul, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Siem Reap, St. Kitts, Suzhou, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Vienna, Washington, D.C., Zanzibar, and Zurich. For more information, please visit parkhyatt.com. Follow @ParkHyatt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and tag photos with #LuxuryIsPersonal.
What’s New?
Belmond unveils a new summer house in Ravello, Belmond Villa Margherita. The 2,100 square foot villa comprises two fully equipped suites (Belvedere and Miramare) featuring custom hand-painted murals and antique terracotta. Ideal for families and larger groups of travelers, the villa offers all the services of a Belmond hotel while granting its residents complete privacy.
The Wauwinet on Nantucket and Serena & Lily have collaborated to present The Anchorage House by Serena & Lily opening on April 18, 2019. The three-bedroom beach cottage will feature the brand’s signature coastal furniture and design.
Shou Sugi Ban House is a new kind of wellness sanctuary offering three-, four-, and six-night retreats focusing on transformation, healing, and an exploration of one’s self, and it’s opening this May in Water Mill. Guests’ days comprise many forms of wellness ranging from beach hikes, reiki, spa treatments, sound healing, and meditation punctuated by gourmet cooking demonstrations (menus are curated by Mads Refslund, formerly of lauded Noma restaurant in Copenhagen).
When La Réserve Ramatuelle opens for the season in mid-April, the property will introduce a new beach club on the famous Pampelonne Beach. Designed by Philipe Starck (whose work includes Le Meurice and Faena in Buenos Aires), La Réserve à La Plage will include a 120-seat beachfront restaurant from the resort’s Michelin starred chef Eric Canino and 75 sunbeds.
The Christopher in St. Barth is broadening its horizons and introducing its very own yacht, Lady Beatrice, in the Mediterranean. Based in Cannes, the yacht can be booked for a private cruise just for the day and up to multiple weeks. The 98-foot boat can accommodate up to eight guests and comes with a five person crew.
Nayara Tented Camp will open in Fall 2019 in Costa Rica. Each tent – designed by veteran luxury safari tent company Luxury Frontiers – will have a private plunge pool filled with naturally warm water from the nearby Arenal volcano’s hot springs, with open views of that volcano and surrounded by a sloth sanctuary.
As part of 33 sailings to Latin America in 2019 and 2020, PONANT announced a new 10-night itinerary, ‘An Exploration in Nature in Costa Rica & the Panama Canal’ with stops at Corcovado National Park, UNESCO World Heritage site Darien Jungle, and the San Blas Islands to meet with the indigenous people. Guests will sail onboard PONANT’s newest vessel Le Dumont d’Urville, departing January 6, 2020.
Almanac Barcelona created a series of experiences to celebrate the Easter holiday, including a sharing menu at Línia, kids’ egg painting classes, and traditional La Mona de Pasquas – decadent Spanish cakes topped with chocolate eggs and figurines crafted using the property’s own chocolate tempering machine.
The Chatwal, New York launched a dedicated Theater Concierge, Juan Espinal, to share insider knowledge on the hottest shows and work with guests to craft an immersive Broadway experience including a behind-the-scenes look at some of Broadway’s biggest theaters, tickets to otherwise sold-out productions, and meet-and-greets with cast favorites.
Pet parents may pamper their furry friends with Hotel Yountville‘s new pet friendly offerings. Dogs will enjoy a special culinary menu, complete with gourmet treats for dessert; monogrammed bedding; dog bowls; and ropes and frisbees to ensure playful adventures and a restful sleep.
Today, Guinot launches Crème Pur Confort SPF 15, a daily cream for sensitive skin that protects against environmental and internal irritants – from water to wind to emotional stress – to soften and even out complexion.
Coinciding with the launch of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s latest exhibition, Christian Dior – Designer of Dreams (on display through September), The Kensington is offering a three-night suite package, including tickets to the exhibition and a custom cocktail, ‘The Corolle’ inspired by Dior’s first couture collection in 1947 ‘La Ligne Corolle’.
Pop-Up Chefs at Hotels
Belmond British Pullman
The Great British Bake Off’s Mary Berry will host two afternoon tea journeys aboard Belmond British Pullman on May 3 and 4, 2019. While dining on a selection of her favorite cakes and desserts, Mary will regale guests with stories from her award-winning career and share some baking tips. This marks the first in a series of pop-up gastronomy journeys in 2019 for the UK day train.
July 9, 2019 marks the date of Park Hyatt Tokyo’s 25th anniversary, and the hotel is celebrating with a host of guest chef collaborations, including celebrity Michelin-starred chef, Sergio Herman of The Netherlands, and Chef Gilles Vérot of Maison Vérot in Paris, who is known for introducing French charcuterie to the NYC dining scene.
Recently recognized as one of the 120 best restaurants in Mexico by la Guía México Gastronómico 2019, La Marea at Viceroy Riviera Maya will host a series of guest chefs who also received the coveted award. Chef Carlos Zamora will welcome Chef Francisco Ruano from Alcalde in Guadalajara on December 4, 2019.
Hotel Partnerships
The Lady Mansour at Royal Mansour
Royal Mansour and Christian Louboutin partnered to create exclusive babouche slippers, inspired by the hotel’s distinctive latticework and hard-carved ceilings and paired with Louboutin’s signature red sole. The collaboration is the designer’s only creative partnership within Morocco.
For the jetsetting mom, Belmond Hotel Cipriani has launched two exclusive bags in partnership with Venetian leather brand Dellaluna. Choose between a limited-edition tote bag inspired by Venice’s signature cocktail, the Bellini – invented by Guiseppe Cipriani, founder of Hotel Cipriani – and a weekender bag made of leather and canvas complete with Belmond’s signature luggage tags from the Southern Europe properties. Both pieces can be shipped worldwide, priced at $1,680 and $1,345, respectively.
In honor of the pending arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first baby, due in April, The Kensington has partnered with Sarajane Ambrose, Founder of the UK’s leading nanny and maternity nurse agencies, Imperial Nannies and Maternally Yours. New or expectant parents can now book a two-hour, one-on-one session with Sarajane to learn the dos and don’ts of parenthood over The Kensington’s new ‘London Landmarks’ Afternoon Tea.
andBeyond has partnered with Thule to bring stylish, versatile, and durable luggage to future guests (meeting the tight size regulations on bush planes in Africa). Once guests arrive at the lodge, they will now be able to use a pair of custom Swarovski Optik binoculars on game drives during their stay, and can even buy a pair of their own at the safari shop.
Thanks to Nantucket Island Resorts’ partnership with New York-based cycling startup, Priority Bicycles, guests can enjoy complimentary bike rentals to explore the island, including popular sites such as the oldest house on Nantucket, built in 1686; Sankaty Lighthouse, located a historic fishing village; and Cisco Brewery, known for their local beers and live music. Guests of White Elephant Loft at 32 Main Street and The Anchorage House receive the keys to a BMW hybrid-SUV for use throughout their stay.
Almanac Barcelona partnered with Master Perfumer Jimmy Boyd to create private label scents exclusively for the hotel – pear apple and bergamot. There is also an accompanying retail line conjuring aromas of the sea, botanicals, and the essence of citrus representing the city’s Mediterranean energy.
The Chatwal, New York launched an exclusive collaboration with Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow’s yoga and spiritual guru, Eddie Stern. His “Pause & Take a Breath” app, featuring nine 12-minute yoga lessons are available on a complimentary basis through the in-room and in-suite iPads.
Guests of Belmond can join equestrian polo player and fashion model Jodie Kidd for the second annual six-night Horseback Safari through the wilderness of Botswana this September 13-19, 2019. Splitting time between Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge and Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, travelers will join Jodie for daily expeditions into the Okavango Delta, a traditional Boma dinner, and an evening sunset cruise along the delta.
UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa collaborated with local NGO Despartar to launch MAMA Trancoso, an education initiative to teach local students how to identify environmental threats and ways to combat these abuses. Over the past three years, the program has worked with 30 dedicated students (10 each year) hosting 10 exhibitions in local schools, participating in two civil actions to battle an environmental threat, and joining the United Nations Youth Assembly in 2018 and 2019.
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
Brant Point Grill
Instead of a box of chocolate, give a chocolate making experience at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort. The class entails learning about how cocoa is grown and what cocoa varieties make the very best chocolate. Participants learn how to temper chocolate to make molded creations and rich, dark chocolate truffles. They also learn how to make traditional, St Lucian Cocoa Tea and best of all… they get to taste and take home the fruits of their labors.
Breakfast in bed is a nice gesture, but Mom will enjoy the “Best Brunch on the Island” even more! From the Benedict Burger to the make-your-own Bloody Mary bar, a Sparkling Station for mimosas, and a brand-new tapas station, this brunch is complete with all of Mom’s favorites. Nantucket’s Brant Point Grill’s Mother’s Day Brunch is $85 for adults, $39 for kids. Combine your brunch with a stay at White Elephant and enjoy special Hot Dates Cool Rates, starting at $195 per night.
Treat moms to a signature Hunan-Kab (Honey ceremony) at Viceroy Riviera Maya, incorporating honey harvested on-property. The property’s resident shaman oversees the Jardin Pak’al, the garden where he grows herbs used to treat guests at the Wayak Spa. One-on-one consultations with moms are conducted in the K’óben (Mayan herb kitchen), to determine individual preferences and needs before a personalized experience is created. The Melipona Bee Honey (Bee Cheii) is thought by the Mayans to be medicinal. The honey is applied using herb compresses soaked in a special tea before guests enjoy a massage in nature next to a waterfall.
The international chocolatier La Maison du Chocolat has an anthology of chocolates for mothers with a sweet tooth available online and in New York City boutiques. Choose the timeless Emeraude Hatbox ($210) or Grenat Hatbox ($360), and she won’t be disappointed.
Belmond Charleston Place Hotel’s Tata Harper Exclusive package is perfect for a moms-only weekend, including a Tata Harper Nothing But Nature facial at the on-site spa. Guests can also enjoy the Mother’s Day Brunch with garden seating at the Palmetto Café before spending an afternoon perusing The Shops on the ground floor of the hotel.
Perfect for your yogi parent, Nayara Springs’ Wellness Package invites travelers to disconnect from reality in the rainforest of Costa Rica – days are filled with yoga and meditation, daily spa treatments, healthy mixology classes, and walks through the on-site sloth sanctuary.
Cliff Lede Vineyards’ Mother’s Day Celebration offers complimentary light bites and tastings from the vineyard’s FEL wine portfolio, named in homage to Cliff’s own mother, Florence Elsie Lede, a home winemaker and early inspiration for his love of wine. Mothers will also receive a tulip, Florence’s favorite flower.
Guinot’s Huile Mirific is a multi-tasking dry oil. It nourishes skin, protects dry hair ends, and doubles as a floral perfume – the perfect way to pamper mom on her day.
Calendar
andBeyond Phinda Impact Journey
May
May 2019: Shou Sugi Ban House will open in Water Mill as a wellness haven offering multi-day programsMay 2019: Guinot launches a new Eye Lift Treatment designed to reduce signs of aging and fatigue through muscle stimulation and an eye mask
May 2019: Guinot launches Crème Lift Summum, a cream designed to minimize the appearance of wrinkles
May 3, 2019: First Sip of Summer cooking class with Chef Mackenzie Rupp showcasing her favorite warm-weather recipes at Vista Collina Resort in Napa Valley
May 5, 2019: Guests can celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Viceroy Riviera Maya with a Mayan Cuisine Class and learn to cook the indigenous fare of the Yucatan Peninsula
May 11, 2019: Stay with Belmond Hotel Cipriani as the 2019 Art Biennale kicks off in VeniceMay 11, 2019: andBeyond’s Bhutan Yoga Retreat departs through Asia’s spiritual heartland to achieve balance of mind, body, and soul with guided yoga and deep meditation
May 12, 2019: andBeyond’s Phinda Impact Journey explores South Africa through game drives, ranger training, sleeping under the stars, and visiting the local communities
May 14-22, 2019: PONANT’s Green and Gentle Lands: Exploring Gardens and Historic Sites sailing journeys from London to Bergen, Norway with a visit to the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh
May 15-19, 2019: Winemakers, chefs, and sommeliers celebrate the Nantucket Wine Festival
May 21-25, 2019: The Chelsea Flower Show takes place in London; stay nearby at The Kensington to usher in the spring season
June
June 8, 2019: 3rd Annual Napa Valley RoséFest at Sterling Vineyards
June 14-16, 2019: The 8th annual Nantucket Book Festival showcases award-winning authors as well as local and regional talent
June 17, 2019: Brazil waives travel visas for American, Canadian, Japanese, and Australian passport holders
June 19-24, 2019: The 23rd annual Nantucket Film Festival spotlights screenwriters and preview screenings
July
July 4, 2019: The Independence Day Parade sets off down Main Street in Nantucket and builds to the water fight between fire departments, ending with fireworks over Jetties Beach
July 13, 2019: Bastille Day Dinner at Swanson Vineyards in Napa Valley
July 14, 2019: Celebrate Bastille Day at La Réserve Paris
Park Hyatt and Daniel Libeskind Offer Largest Rooms in South Korea, Floor-to-Ceiling Windows, Three-Floor Spa and Residential-Themed Restaurants
NEW YORK (March 1, 2013) – Designed by the Pritzker-prize winner Daniel Libeskind, Park Hyatt Busan opened its doors today. Located in the iconic l’Park development in Marine City and adjacent to Haeundae Beach, the hotel now offers the largest rooms and suites in Busan.
Libeskind has designed the hotel to express the dramatic beauty and power of the environment. The building features a curvilinear geometry and glass façade inspired by the wind filling the sails of a ship, the waves of the Haeundae Ocean, and the camellia – Busan’s symbol flower. The award-winning architect has designed various world-renowned projects, including the World Trade Center rebuilding in New York City.
The interiors have been designed by award-winner, Japan-based Super Potato. Each of the 269 rooms and suites feature natural elements of French oak flooring, granite stone bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for spectacular views of the ocean, Gwangan Bridge and Yacht Marina.
Reminiscent of a “home” setting, Park Hyatt Busan’s dining and entertainment offerings include the Dining Room, the Living Room and the residential-style Lounge – all located on the top three floors of the 33-storey hotel. A patisserie, specializing in homemade French pastries and sweets, is located at the ground level.
The Lumi Spa & Fitness center spans three full floors, with a 65-foot, indoor, glass-enclosed swimming pool and whirlpool with full ocean views. There are seven treatment rooms, men’s and women’s saunas, Korean scrub services, 24-hour gymnasium with private fitness studios and a golf simulation driving range.
About Park Hyatt
Park Hyatt provides discerning, affluent business and leisure guests with elegant and luxurious accommodations. Guests of Park Hyatt receive highly attentive personal service in an intimate environment. Located in several of the world’s premier destinations, each Park Hyatt is custom designed to combine sophistication with a distinctive regional character. Park Hyatt features well-appointed guestrooms, meeting and special event spaces for groups, critically acclaimed art, food and beverage programmes, and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs. There are currently 31 Park Hyatt hotels in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Baku, Beaver Creek, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Busan, Canberra, Carlsbad, Chennai, Chicago, Dubai, Goa, Hamburg, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jeddah, Maldives, Melbourne, Mendoza, Milan, Moscow, Ningbo, Paris, Saigon, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington D.C., and Zurich. parkhyatt.com.
Park Hyatt Chennai, Park Hyatt’s third hotel in India and the first Park Hyatt hotel in the “Gateway to southern India,” opened today. Located next to the prestigious Governor’s Residence and adjacent to the thriving green area of the Guindy National Park, the hotel is but a 15-minute drive from the city’s domestic and international airport. It features 201 luxury rooms and suites, two restaurants, the Antahpura Spa, a fully-equipped fitness center, and The Apartment – the hotel’s state-of-the-art meeting facility.
The hotel offers an array of epicurean tastes and experiences with its two restaurants, The Dining Room, overlooking the beautiful lily pond, and The Flying Elephant, opening in early 2013. At the Dining Room, guests can enjoy convenient, all-day dining featuring traditional South Indian cuisine and European bistro favorites. The Flying Elephant will be the hotel’s speciality restaurant offering diners a selection of exotic cuisines in an awe-inspiring ambience.
Designed as a contemporary oasis of wellness and rejuvenation, each of the six treatment rooms overlooking the tranquil greenery of the Guindy at the Antahpura Spa offers a blissful refuge from the strains of modern life. Indulge in a treatment inspired by the legendary therapies from the illustrious lineage of Chettinad or a holistic spa experience, which have been recreated by indigenous herbs and primordial beauty and wellness practices. The hotel’s fully equipped fitness center, Sphere, features hot and cold plunge pools, steam and sauna facilities, a yoga studio, and separate cardio and strength training areas.
The hotel also showcases beautiful, custom-made art installations that have been curated around the concept of Indian textiles and heritage. The impressive series of installations have been set up to lend a distinct character to the spaces and to enhance and create an unparalleled guest experience that is synonymous with the Park Hyatt brand.
Park Hyatt Chennai embraces the serenity of the surrounding Guindy National Park with flowing landscapes and relaxing interiors, complemented by a graceful lily pond dotting the heart of the inner courtyard. The elegant and chic interiors create a unique and calming ambience, reflecting the quiet and refined side of Chennai. With the new developments of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), Sri Perumbudur, and the Guindy Industrial Estate all in close proximity, the hotel provides a serene and tranquil retreat for the astute business traveler in the bustling city of Chennai.
To learn more about Park Hyatt Chennai and the inspiration behind the hotel’s design, please visit http://bit.ly/OnLX4R.
About Park Hyatt
Park Hyatt provides discerning, affluent business and leisure guests with elegant and luxurious accommodations. Guests of Park Hyatt receive highly attentive personal service in an intimate environment. Located in several of the world’s premier destinations, each Park Hyatt is custom designed to combine sophistication with a distinctive regional character. Park Hyatt features well-appointed guestrooms, meeting and special event spaces for groups, critically acclaimed art, food and beverage programmes, and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs. There are currently 30 Park Hyatt hotels in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Baku, Beaver Creek, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Canberra, Carlsbad, Chennai, Chicago, Dubai, Goa, Hamburg, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jeddah, Maldives, Melbourne, Mendoza, Milan, Moscow, Ningbo, Paris, Saigon, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington D.C., and Zurich. parkhyatt.com.
The final weekend of the 2012 Park Hyatt Masters of Food and Wine, a global series of seasonally- and locally-inspired culinary weekend workshops, will occur at Park Hyatts around the world from September 21 – 23, 2012.
Through engaging and interactive programming, resident and visiting gourmands and oenophiles can become ‘masters’ of regional cuisine. Park Hyatt chefs and sommeliers will lead masters-in-training in three hands-on ‘courses’ on the designated day:
In the Field: Interaction with artisanal food or beverage purveyors
In the Kitchen: Onsite cooking and prep workshops
In the Moment: Tips on service and presentation
Sample hotel itineraries during the September series include:
- Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi will introduce guests to a culinary weekend that will focus on the local and sustainable resources of the region. It will open with a “Sustainable Grill Dinner” hosted by Executive Chef Laurent Pommey and will feature a seven-course menu with dishes such as Seared Tuna and Omani Lobster Carpaccio with Coriander, Local Mackeral Fillet with Herb Crust, and more. The hotel’s signature restaurant, The Park Bar & Grill, will be offering a special four-course vegetarian grill menu throughout the weekend that will include specialities such as Orange Couscous and Mint Salad and Stuffed Purple Kohlrabi with Sweet Potato-Chili Puree and Kenia Beans. Chef de Cuisine Maik Lilenthal will also be hosting a cooking class that will focus on vegetarian cooking and feature a three-course menu.
- Park Hyatt Aviara will take guests to Orfila Vineyards & Winery where they will be greeted with a unique tribute to the European tradition of tasting the Bourru, a young wine derived from fermentation of the Must. Long celebrated during the harvest season, this tasting of the Bourru traditionally takes place from early September to late October and is generally served with savory foods or chestnuts. Masters of Food & Wine is honored to introduce guests to this unique and rarely seen experience. Guests will experience a tour of the winery and enjoy a family-style lunch led by Park Hyatt Aviara’s Executive Chef, Pierre Albaladejo, that will incorporate different types of estate grapes into each dish.
- Park Hyatt Buenos Aires will host an “Organic Springtime” event where organic producers and suppliers create a premium Organic Market in the gardens of the hotel, inviting guests to experience a uniquely organic universe. Attendees will be able to meet, taste, and learn about organic trends while celebrating spring’s arrival in Buenos Aires.
- Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme will offer a special workshop with Mr. Cohen at Les Vergers St. Eustache, the official supplier of all the Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris. Guests will have the opportunity to discover amazing and forgotten vegetables thanks to Mr. Cohen, a real fruit and vegetable storyteller.
For more information and additional itineraries for Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine September series, please click here.
Images courtesy of Departures.com. From left to right, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, MALBA, and the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art.
Love art, but hate the long lines and the crowds of tour groups that are inevitably at every major art museum? What’s a true art aficionado to do? Well, this recent article in Departures gives the best advice – skip the marquee museums and seek out some of the world’s most fabulous privately owned art museums.
Experience true luxury – pair a visit to one of these privately owned collections with a stay in an ultra-luxe hotel. By the end of your trip, you’ll feel like royalty.
For the 20th Century Latin American art-aficionados, take a trip to South America’s most popular city, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to visit the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires. MALBA’s permanent collection showcases towering figures of the Latin American art world such as Diego Rivera, Antonio Berni and Frida Kahlo. Currently, its temporary collection, “Bye Bye American Pie”, features works from artists like Nan Goldin, Larry Clark and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Get pampered like Argentinean royalty while staying at the Park Hyatt Buenos Aires – your personal butler will make sure of it.
For the contemporary art enthusiasts, a trip to the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, China is in order. Due to the global spotlight on artists like Ai Weiwei, China has transformed into a hotbed of new galleries and museums. Featuring works by China’s most celebrated contemporary artists, this world- class collection, founded by Belgian collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens, strives to fosters a “dialogue between China and the rest of the world”. Housed in a jaw-droppingly fabulous 1950s Bauhaus factory complex, architecture aficionados will be equally impressed. Part of the tallest skyscraper on Chang’an Avenue and a symbol of the new China, the luxurious Park Hyatt Beijing is the perfect home-away-from-home for the most discriminating aficionados.
Perhaps our favorite private art museum, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, is the perfect way to spend a few hours in the port of Venice while sailing with Crystal Cruises. Housed in the former home of lifelong gallerist, art patron and collector Peggy Guggenheim, the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni islocated right on Venice’s Grand Cana land is a work of art itself. Its classical triple arched facade decorated with stone lion’s heads and charming alfresco sculpture garden pay tribute to this romantic city. This private museum features works by the luminaries of the 20th century, including Georges Braque, Piet Mondrian, Robert Motherwell, and Jackson Pollock. In addition to Peggy’s personal collection, the museum also houses works bestowed by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.
While officially launching January, 2012, this September the Park Hyatt hotel brand begins the transformation of its acclaimed Masters of Food & Wine event into the new Park Hyatt ‘masters’, a global series of seasonally- and locally-inspired culinary weekend workshops that will take place four times per year at the change of the seasons. Through engaging and interactive programming, both resident and visiting gourmands and oenophiles can become ‘masters’ of regional cuisine. The new Park Hyatt ‘masters’ will preview its fresh philosophy and lighter programming across 19 Park Hyatt hotels internationally during the weekend of September 23, 2011. The official launch of Park Hyatt masters in January 2012, and all future quarterly Park Hyatt masters programs, will take place on the same date at all Park Hyatt hotels worldwide.
Led by Park Hyatt chefs and sommeliers, masters-in-training will learn about top-notch, seasonal cuisine in three hands-on ‘courses’ on the designated day:
In the Field: Interaction with artisanal food or beverage purveyors
In the Kitchen: Onsite cooking and prep workshops
In the Moment: Tips on service and presentation
“Our guests actively request one-of-a-kind, culturally rich experiences that have a take-home element, particularly in food and beverage,” says Achim Lenders, vice president of food and beverage, international, for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. “It is a natural evolution to transform our Park Hyatt Masters event into something more simple and interactive; pairing guests with local chefs and vintners to become masters themselves, and letting guests see the destination through local eyes.”
Individual hotel itineraries showcasing regional produce and producers during the September preview include:
- Park Hyatt Zurich will host a Swiss grape harvest, a workshop on Switzerland’s female winemakers, and a boat trip across Lake Zurich to a winery for a bottling lesson and picnic.
- Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Southern California will start the day with a farmer’s breakfast, then a visit Carlsbad Aquafarm where participants will meet the resort’s seafood purveyor, followed by a local wine and cheese tasting.
- Park Hyatt Mendoza will host an interactive cooking class with special recipes created for it based on a signature olive oil produced in a nearby grove exclusively for the hotel’s restaurant.
- Park Hyatt Maldives will take guests by boat to a nearby island to meet a local grower and after selecting ingredients, they will head back to the resort, first stopping to fish for their dinner in the waters surrounding Hadahaa Island. The day concludes with a chef-led cooking class on traditional Maldivian cuisine using the fresh ingredients collected that day.
The quarterly Park Hyatt masters events will take place around the turn of each season on the weekends of January 13-15, March 23-25, June 24-26 and September 21-23, 2012. All classes will be limited in size to ensure maximum interaction for each master-to-be, which, depending on the property, will be between eight and 25 guests. Participating guests will be provided with recipes and/or tasting notes associated with their experience, and photos and videos of Park Hyatt masters demonstrations will be shared with the Park Hyatt masters community on the brand’s Facebook page – facebook.com/parkhyatt.
Participating Park Hyatt hotels for the preview of Park Hyatt masters in September (as of August 2011) include:
In North America – Aviara (Carlsbad, Calif.), Beaver Creek, Chicago, Toronto, Washington
In South America – Mendoza, Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
In Europe – Hamburg, Paris, Istanbul, Zurich
In Southwest Asia – Goa, Maldives
In the Middle East – Jeddah, Dubai
In Asia – Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Saigon
Workshop itineraries and pricing will vary from place to place and will be available to reserve directly through each hotel’s concierge. Beginning August 1, more details about the global program, the calendar of events, pricing and additions to participating properties will be available at www.mastersfoodandwine.com.
Spontaneous travels are my favorite, so when I had the last minute opportunity to jet off to Morocco and the southern coast of Spain for a week of relaxing with friends I couldn’t resist. (Isn’t that what tax refunds are for anyways?)
Four flights and 24 hours of traveling, I arrived in Malaga, Spain, with the adrenaline and excitement of the trip erasing any jet lag. The next six days were filled with sunning on the golden beaches in Costa del Sol, swimming in the (freezing) Mediterranean, sipping Sangria and San Miguel on cobblestone streets, and touring the most charming historic towns… all while picking up a few Spanish phrases along the way, à la “Soy de la Gran Manzana” (I’m from the Big Apple!)
After a whirlwind, amazing trip, below are some highlights and recommendations for travelers venturing to the Andalusia region of Spain.
Ronda, Spain
The hidden town is worth the 45 minute, incredibly winding and slightly nauseating drive up the mountainous terrain. We immediately headed to the outdoor café, Buenos Aires, (don’t be confused by the name) and indulged in ice cold gelato, energizing cappuccinos, and the most delicious churros, served with a side of melted chocolate for dipping. (Five girls have quite possibly never been so excited.) After frolicking around in the ‘Corrida Goyseca’, the oldest bullring in Spain, we took in the most breathtaking views of El Tajo Canyon (a memory that I hope created a wrinkle in my brain).
Insider’s Tip: There are many clearly marked paths that take you eye level with Puente Romano, the famous bridge that spans the canyon in Ronda. Venture down the one less traveled (identified by the the broken gate… don’t worry, it’s safe!) at sunset with a bottle of wine for the most private, jaw -dropping view of the historic landmark.
Tangier, Morocco
If you can handle the one-hour ferry through the choppy Mediterranean, then be sure to make a detour to Tangier. We booked with Siad Tours – which I couldn’t recommend more highly for those traveling to the northern tip of Africa. During our private excursion we rode camels along the beach, rocked the Kasbah and shopped at local spice markets. An incredibly eye opening experience when walking through parts of town where running water and electricity are considered a luxury.
Insider’s Tip: Don’t spend the 200 euros on the Moroccan mirrors you’ll find in all the shops. Instead, buy authentic painted tiles in the market and create your own piece of artwork at a sliver of the cost.
Granada, Spain
The area is well-known for The Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace that look out onto the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains. The fine details and architecture of the palace are remarkable, especially as the property dates back to the 11th century. The grounds are complete with endless flourishing gardens filled with sprinkling fountains, blooming roses, perfectly shaped shrubbery, and secret passageways. Be sure to buy your tickets at least a week in advance because they often sell out.
Insider’s Tip: If you’re feet aren’t blistery tired after touring The Alhambra (ours were, but we endured the pain!), hop on the local bus (only 1.30 euros) and head into town. While walking around, you’ll pass calligraphers who set up shop on the street and will elegantly scrawl your name in Arabic for one euro.
As told by Lauren Wintemberg
After the season of indulgence, why not spice things up for your taste buds aboard Crystal Symphony’s South American Food & Wine sailing in February? Escape winter’s chill while savoring the red hot flavors of South America. Departing from Buenos Aires and sailing to Miami, let the culinary Latin locals lead the way.
Neriton Vasconcelos, owner and head chef of The Galley, one of the most exclusive restaurants in São Paulo; Matias Kyriazis & Estefania di Benedetto, owners and chefs at Paraje Arevalo in Buenos Aires; and Eugenio Jardim, Brazilian native and wine director at San Francisco’s Jardiniere with a reputation for seeking out unique and exciting vintages will all be aboard for tastings, demos, and special menus.
To wash it all down, “Modern Mixologist” Tony Abou-Ganim will provide onboard cocktail making sessions with tips and techniques on creating local concoctions. Travelers can keep up the flavors off the ship with a cooking lesson at a local Brazilian restaurant led by Crystal chefs.
We recommend a tango lesson to burn those extra calories!
Indagare.com just released their list of favorite indoor and outdoor pools for travelling families. Three of our Park Hyatt properties topped the list! Take a look at their fabulous details, and a few more of our personal favorite pools from around the world.
Indgare.com’s Picks:
Boasting the best pool area in the city, Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires features a large, indoor pool that is available to guests all year. The pool, which is 82 feet long and surrounded by soothing natural toned marble, is a great way to keep kids entertained or for couples to unwind after a busy day in the capital. (more…)