May 11th, 2012
The Professional Restaurant Recommender
Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa
Bangkok, Thailand
Name: Chettha Khambunditkul
Title: Streetwise Guru
Job: Also the Chief Concierge, Chettha has worked at the resort for 15 years and is always testing out new culinary recommendations. He has developed a Bangkok gastronomy hot list that is second to none, so guests can simply head straight for the best places instead of attempting to navigate the city’s overwhelming choices. Guests can even ask Chettha to accompany t hem on a tour to explore lesser known attractions in addition to famous sights.
Fun fact: As a local food connoisseur, Chettha knows where to find the best sois teeming with food stalls like the back of his hand, and he can easily help hungry guests find the tastiest roasted duck noodles, BBQ pork noodles, fish ball noodles, and spicy tom yum soups.
April 16th, 2012
Image courtesy of WakeUpWorld.com
Everyone seems to be talking about the new “Chocolate Diet”, including The New York Times. With a new study showing that people who eat chocolate frequently have lower body mass indexes than those who it less often, we’re all about indulging our sweet tooth – in moderation of course. Here are some of our favorite places to satisfy a chocolate craving and stay healthy.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
The sweetest way to satisfy a sweet tooth? A trip to the Santa Fe Chocolate Trail, of course! The Inn on the Alameda even offers a special “Check Into Chocolate” package. Designed to let you sample the unique hand-crafted delicacies created by the talented chocolatiers of the City Different, this tasty package won’t break the bank or your waistline. With rates starting at $340, this package includes:
- Two (2) nights in a traditional Queen or King Room or a Deluxe King accommodation
- Daily continental breakfast
- Daily afternoon wine hour
- Four (4) $10 gift certificates, one each to sample some of the individual creations found on the Chocolate Trail at Todos Santos, Kakawa Chocolate House, The Chocolatesmith, and C.G. Higgins
- Four (4) melt-in-your mouth bolitos, the signature chocolates from Señor Murphy, Santa Fe’s first local chocolatier, upon arrival
- One (1) $30 gift certificate to dine at the Chocolate Maven, purveyor of some of the tasty treats found in the Inn’s Breakfast of Enchantment, serving high tea Monday through Saturday from 3-5pm
London
Since November, London’s famed boutique hotel, The Halkin, offers Couture Chocolate Afternoon Tea. The concept was created by William Curley, four-time winner of ‘Britain’s Best Chocolatier,’ for The Halkin as part of the hotel’s 20th anniversary celebrations. The exclusive new menu gives traditional afternoon tea an unexpected twist and is to be found in the hotel’s newly-transformed lobby bar, the Assouline Culture Lounge, showcasing coffee table books from the renowned book publisher, Assouline. In addition to the English teatime classic of freshly-made scones with clotted cream and jams and a selection of sandwiches, guests can choose from William Curley’s à la carte selection, that includes a Chocolate Financier with Passion Fruit Curd and a Sea Salt Caramel and Raspberry Tart. Priced from £37.50 per person, the tea is available daily between 3 and 6pm.
Bangkok
Located on the ground floor of the newly opened Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa, Numero Uno is a chocolate lover’s paradise. The boutique features over 100 types of chocolate, mouthwatering cakes, and delectable pastries made from raw ingredients imported from Europe. Visitors can also enjoy rich coffees and a selection of indulgent hot chocolates. Deli-style sandwiches along with Asian and Western cuisine make Numero Uno a perfect place to stop for an afternoon snack or a late-night treat.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Chef Fred Bisaillon, the Executive Chef at the White Elephant’s Brant Point Grill, has created a delicious and satisfying dessert. Using a decadent combination of rich dark chocolate and sweet fruit, the restaurant’s Cranberry, Pecan, and Orange Chocolate Clusters are easy to make and the perfect solution for a sweet tooth.
Recipe:
- 1 lb dark chocolate
- 1-1/2 cups pecan pieces
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- Zest of 2 oranges
Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl using 25-50% power, stirring every 25 seconds until melted but not burned. Remove from microwave and stir in cranberries and nuts, then orange zest. Using two spoons, drop spoonfuls onto a greased baking dish one at a time. Allow to rest in refrigerator until solid, about 15 minutes. Pull out pan and release clusters from it with thin knife or spatula.
On the Seven Seas
At least once on every sailing, Crystal Cruises hosts a special Chocolate Tea Time held in the charming sunlit Palm Court on both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. Guests can enjoy delicious savories and sweets accompanied with Might Leaf teas, the world’s finest whole tea leaf served in special silk pouches. Some of the chocolate temptations offered include Ganache cake, rings, and tartelettes; chocolate crème brûlée; chocolate éclairs; chocolate fudge cake; chocolate whiskey tart; chocolate pyramids and chocolate roulade. Yummm!
January 13th, 2012
Photo courtesy of thecrazypoint.com
In the Chinese calendar, January 23rd marks the end of the Year of the Rabbit, and the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. It’s the start of the 15 days of celebration for Southeast Asia’s most fêted holiday – the Chinese New Year. It’s a time to welcome longevity, wealth and prosperity and to eliminate any negative “chi” from the past year. It also predicts what the next year will have in store for us. For this year, the return of the Dragon characterizes 2012 to be a year of excitement, unpredictability, exhilaration, and intensity. It is said that people respond to the spirit of the Dragon with “energy, vitality, and unbridled enthusiasm, often throwing all caution to the wind,” according to Chinese legend, so this should be a very interesting year!
The New Year is traditionally rung in with a fabulous feast – and you can join in at several Anantara properties! Anantara Bangkok Riverside, Anantara Bangkok Sathorn, Anantara Phuket Villas, and Anantara Si Kao are all celebrating in their own distinctive way:
Anantara Bangkok Riverside – Welcome in the Chinese New Year of the Dragon with a vibrant cultural occasion overlooking the majestic River of Kings at the Riverside Terrace! Feast on an endless buffet of the finest cuisine from all over the world, enhanced by a thematic dim sum counter and other mouthwatering Chinese delicacies. Watch a calligraphy expert write beautiful Chinese greetings and enjoy an impressive lion dance show. Then open traditional Chinese red envelopes filled with indulgent Anantara surprises, such as a complimentary meal or discount vouchers to be used for amazing experiences.
Anantara Bangkok Sathorn – Invite friends and family to the stylish 100˚East restaurant to ring in the Chinese New Year! Share a delicious Chinese and International buffet prepared by a team of highly trained chefs both from Thailand and abroad. Featuring items from the most delectable Asian fare to freshly stone-baked pizza, there is sure to be something for everyone on the menu.
Anantara Phuket Villas – Savour a grand BBQ buffet of Chinese, Thai, and international cuisine, as Chinese lanterns sway overhead in the soft sea breeze on the Beach Lawn. Open traditional red envelopes to find wonderful gifts of discovery. Watch a colorful lion dance performance, a spectacular fire show, and auspicious Chinese crackers welcome in the Year of the Dragon.
Anantara Si Kao – Ring in the Chinese New Year at Leelawadee, Anantara Si Kao’s signature outdoor restaurant. Experience laid back Andaman luxury and Anantara Si Kao’s international buffet on the terrace, decorated with fantasy lighting and red envolopes hanging from mandarin trees. Then retire to your room or suite to find a mandarin orange and red envelope containing an indulgent surprise.