The US has New York, Asia has Tokyo and Shanghai and the Europeans? Well, we have London, the epitome of urban energy. With a striving art scene, endless shopping opportunities and a fast paced culinary landscape, London is at the very pulse of time. Once every so often La Bonne Vivante returns to refuel on artsy trends, fashion and the latest culinary fad. While you don’t really travel to London for the weather it is particularly pleasant when the weather is in fact nice and warm and you can take a long stroll through Hyde Park or have a drink in the many restaurants and cafes around Covent Garden.We spent a weekend in London and can’t wait to bring you the very latest must do’ sand see’s.
Restaurants:
The Palomar – This a relatively new restaurant. It offers Israelian cuisine in the bustling neighborhood around Leicester Square and is therefore ideally located for a post-theatre dinner.The space is limited and most guests are placed at the kitchen bar where they can watch the chefs in action. Further in the back of the restaurant, there are a few tables. It is loud, it is convivial and trending. When it comes to the food now you either love it or you don’t. We have to go with the latter. The ingredients are interesting however the combination of all of them together is requires some getting used to to say the least. The Palomar caters small plate cuisine and prices are moderate. thepalomar.co.uk /34 Rupert St, London W1D 6DN, Grossbritannien, +44 20 7439 8777
The Chiltern Firehouse – As the name suggests a former fire station, this hotel which also hosts a restaurant has become the hottest place to be. Celebs and Politician and of course Kate Moss stream in and out and the restaurant has been highly acclaimed by foodies and bloggers. Why, you ask? Well, partly because of the huge hype around its self created cult but also because the interior and the terrace are simply lovely, warm and very inviting and the atmosphere is jovial. The service is friendly with a hint of sophistication. Naturally it is fairly difficult to score a table at short notice (although we were lucky) and it is advisable to book well in advance.
The menu consists of light, innovative dishes however the size of the dishes is very small and unless you are a Victoria Secret model on a diet you might want to order some snacks to start with. It is not cheap however considering that the place has reached its pinnacle of culinary fame we might go as far as calling it reasonable for London standards. Dinner tables are hotly sought after and are therefore double or even triple booked. The service is therefore very “efficient” and you might feel a little rushed through your dinner. http://www.chilternfirehouse.com/
The Delaunay- The Delaunay is a brainchild of Jeremy King and Chris Corbin owners of the Wolseley which has become an institution in London. The interior represents Old Europe of the 30s and emanates the cool elegance of a Viennese cafe . It caters predominantly Germanic, hearty, comfort food such as “Frankfurter” . We were particularly intrigued by the “Berner Würstel” which according to my Swiss Lunch Companion should have been called “Würstli” Oh well, details we say. What’s important is that it tastes well and it sure does. While it is an upmarket restaurant you can get away with a moderate bill – it really depends on what you order. The Delaunay serves brunch, lunch and dinner. It at short distance from Covent Garden and can therefore be combined with a shopping tour if you are heading here for lunch. A last advise to my dear Vegetarian readers; this place will make you cry. The central theme is the sausage in all its variations but none are made of Tofu. https://www.thedelaunay.com/
Shoppng: Shop till you drop and then some more…We simply can’t get enough of the endless shopping opportunities in London. La Bonne Vivante’s favorite high street brands include:
- LK Bennet – great for office attire and shoes. Their black pumps are comfortable and last for ever
- Ted Baker: Great for classic Etui Dresses with a twist
- Top Shop: Not much needs to be said here. A huge selection of affordable fashion. The largest Top Shop Store is close to Oxford Circus and even hosts their own vintage selection, a mani & padi salon and hair dresser.
See a show: There is always a huge variety of shows taking place in London and you’ll be spoilt for choice. We loved George Orwell’s 1984. Admittedly this is not your light hearted musical however we were impressed by the cast and creative stage design. If you want to see it, you better hurry as it closes on September 5th
Some art: Most tourists will visit the British Museum and Tate Modern. Tate Britain often gets overlooked although it is a worthwhille trip to Pimlico as it hosts the world’s largest collection of British art showcasing some fantastic works by Francis Bacon and David Hockney amongst others. The building itself is stunning and in the summer there is a garden bar where you can rest those tired legs on a blanket on the grass and indulge in a glass of something sparkling. www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain
Where to stay:
The Pelham offers comfortable rooms, a cute interior, super friendly staff and great concierge service. The location just steps from South Kensington Station is very convenient. http://www.pelhamhotel.co.uk/
There is a saying that a journey of thousand miles begins with a cash advance – well the same applies if you are taking a trip to St. Tropez! Who ever said that less is more hasn’t been to St. Tropez. Yes we love understatement and unpretentiousness 363 days a year however there comes a point in every girl’s calendar where we want to escape from gray and ordinary daily routine and exchange Swiss bliss for a few superlatives.
Welcome to St. Tropez!
A yearly visit to the South of France in the high season has become a firm part of La Bonne Vivante’s travel schedule.
Now malicious gossip has it that St Tropez has been replaced by Ibiza as the new jet set’s playground. That might be true however there is something about this pine-scented, Mediterranean village that is simply adorable and makes it our all- time favorite. If you agree, continue reading as we will bring you our list of favorite best beach clubs, restaurants and clubs in 2015.
Best Beach Clubs:
Indisputably Beach Club 55 is THE beach club of St. Tropez. The beach club’s success is owned to is its laid back, warm and welcoming atmosphere which has attracted celebs for decades. For some close up celeb spotting come early, chose a sunbed close to the jetty and watch them come and go. The beach club came into being by catering to the crew of the movie “ And God Created Woman” which starred Brigitte Bardot in 1955, hence the name.
In July and August tables at the restaurant are so hotly sought after that you’ll need to reserve weeks in advance. If you do score a table you’ll indulge in the restaurant’s simplistic and healthy cuisine while rubbing shoulders with the likes of Silverster Stallone or Heidi Klum. Try the crudités and artichokes with dip and pair it with a glass of Rosé. Très bien! (two sunbeds at 55 Euros) http://www.club55.fr/
L’Orangerie is a laid back beach club which offers a delicious, fresh lunch menu and spacious sun beds. The atmosphere is relaxed and the service is personable and very friendly. This is a very stylish yet welcoming beach club roughly 5 minutes from club 55 (two sunbeds at 38 Euros) http://www.plage-orangerie.com/.
Restaurants:
B at the Byblos caters comfort food to a well- heeled and very stylish clientele. From here head to the legendary club les Caves du Roy in the same hotel and share the dance floor with George Clooney or Naomi Campbell. Make sure you look the part as the bouncers can be merciless. The club opens at 12.30 am.
Chez la Thailandaise is a cute little restaurant just at the yacht harbor in St Tropez. The interior is lovely. The food however is simply mediocre grossly overpriced. That’s a real shame as the service is friendly as well.
Where to stay:
Hotel Font Mourier offers cozy rooms and a pittoresque pool and garde. The hotel is a 15 minute drive from the center of St. Tropez (http://www.hotelfontmourier.com/de/).
Do’s and Don’t in St. Tropez:
- Don’t complain how expensive everything is; you are in St. Tropez, it is August and you should have known
- Don’t go anywhere (restaurants, beach clubs) without booking well in advance.
- Don’t be overly impressed by guys and gals sporting their massive yachts. Most of them are chartered anyway.
- Do let your hair down and relax – you are on vacation after all
- Do have a glass of Rose or two during the day – you are in France
For a small country Switzerland certainly isn’t short of great music festivals. Whether it’s Locarno’s Moon and Stars, the Frauenfeld Festival, Zurich’s Life at Sunset or the Paleo Festival in Nyon. Yet, the Montreux Jazz Festival is unique in many ways. For starters it is one of the longest festivals, it attracts top notch artists and international visitors and although it has 49 years of heritage to look back at Montreux hasn’t lost any of its contemporary edginess. It is arguably the most sophisticated and upscale festival in Switzerland. and it doesn’t come as a surprise that it has found a sponsor equally sophisticated and unique. Parmigiani, the Swiss watchmaker masters the art of combining tradition with modernism by creating beautiful timepieces which last a lifetime and longer.
La Bonne Vivante was beyond excited to be invited to attend George Benson’s concert which also marked the closing night of the festival . We enjoyed dinner and drinks at Parmigiani’s VIP tent filled with laughter and fun with Parmigiani’s lovely team headed up by their charismatic CEO Jean-Marc Jacot.
Where to stay:
Well, there is really only one option. The Montreux Palace is where Musicians and visitors put up at. The hotel offers a classic interior, a beautiful terrace, a spa and a good breakfast buffet. Av. Claude-Nobs 2, 1820 Montreux 021 962 12 12
Where to party:
After the concerts the festival becomes a lively party scene and you can’t go wrong by grabbing a digestif in one of the many pavilions (our favorite is still the Nestle Pavillon).
The Funky Claude’s bar at the Palace is another traditional gathering point later at night. There is usually a band and the party can go on until the morning dawn.
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If Italy were a movie and its main cities were its cast the roles couldn’t be more diversified. Milan is the city of business. Venice is the city of love; Rome is the epitome of an open-air museum and Verona, the city of Romeo and Julia combines all of Italy’s charm.
And Florence? Indisputably, Florence is the city of art, chocolate and cuisine. La bonne vivante spent an unforgettable weekend enjoying both its art and culinary Tuscan delights. Most people come to Florence for a short stint often combining it with a trip to Rome, Siena or Pisa. If you are pressed for time these are our top 7 sights which you shouldn’t miss out on:
- The Duome of Florence is the cities’ most monumental sight. Walk up the 450 steps to the top of the tower for a view of the city
- Piazza della Signoria, the heart of the historic center is a free open-air sculpture exhibit.
- Galleria degli Uffizi is Italy’s most famous art gallery and hosts Boticelli’s birth of Venus. Book tickets in advance online
- The Gucci Museum leads you through the history of this Italian fashion empire. Apart from robes and purses, the museum also displays a Gucci car.
- The national History museum hosts an impressive collection of sculptures and one of the oldest handbags in the world.
- Piazzale Michelangelo offers an amazing, panoramic view of Firenze and can be reached by foot (no need for a bus or taxi)
- Ponte Vecchio bridges the Aarno. The shops on the bridge are filled with jewellery. When you reach the other side and feel like a refreshing gelato…stop right there unless you want to mortgage your house as a scoop of gelato comes at a heavy price tag of 9 euros. And no, it is not worth it. Skip this tourist trap if you can.
- And after a long day of sightseeing stop by the Minerva Rooftop bar and pool and indulge in a Prosecco while marveling an amazing view of Firenze from above. Contemplating the Duomo while taking a swim in the pool…la vita e bella!
Where to eat:
Il Trebbio offers leisurely Italian dining with a simple menu, reasonable pricing and a pretty outdoor seating. We loved the gratinated Gorgonzola ravioli and melone and prosciutto. The service is charming and friendly and was nice enough to charge our empty mobile phone. Via delle Belle Donne, 47/49R, Firenze, +39 055 287089
Il Palagio offers a lovely outside terrace. The restaurant can also brag with one michelin star. The atmosphere is lovely, staff is nice however the tasting menu is a culinary let down and fails to enthuse. The tomatoes filled with burrata are ok, the mushroom risotto with seared partridge lacks condiment and the vegetarian lasagne which is provided as a vegetarian option looks and taste like something out of a bad canteen nightmare. To top it all off the dishes are served luke warm. There are a few bright spots such as the wine pairing which is excellent and the Sabayon, which is prepared at our table and delights us with its subtle creaminess. Borgo Pinti, 99, 50121 Firenze, Italy +39 055 26261
Il Barretto offers a cosy restaurant kept in dark wood. The food is innovative and well presented however the tables are a little too close and if you are unlucky you’ll have to endure your jet lagged Chinese neighbor snoring over their dinner. Via di Parione, 50, 50123 Firenze, Italy +39 055 294122
For lunch head to Florence’s Mercato Centrale. On the second floor an abundance of food stalls offer a variety of pasta, pizza, salads, gelato and desert. On your way to the mercato stroll through the open air market on the way. You may spot a bargain. Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 50123 Florence
Trips outside of Florence: Well this is not an insider but while you are in Florence take a trip to Pisa and marvel this architectural mishap. From there, venture to the beaches of Livorno and stop at one of the beaches nearby.
Where to stay:
Hotel Spadai opened a few months ago and boasts incredible location just steps away from the Duomo. The rooms are bright, the bathroom is spacious with an enormous bath tub and the mini bar is included. For Italian standards, the breakfast offers a good variety and the staff is helpful although a little forgetful at times.
La bonne vivante had the pleasure of attending a Paleo Pop Up Dinner hosted by Verena Mumford. Now, as a complete and utter Paleo Novice I hardly had more than a remote idea of what Paleo comprises of except for an admittedly vague image of hairy cavemen.
Paleo (short for Paleolithic) diet has been trending for a while and there has been loads written about its benefits. It is supposed to help eliminate bloating, blemishes, allergies and even migraines. And as if that weren’t enough it can help shed a few pounds or maintain your weight. Sounds pretty amazing.
So what do we need to do? Simple, Skip grains, fast food, dairy, legumes, processed food and sugar in favor of vegetables, fruit, meat, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds and fats…puh, is it just more or does this sound like a lot of sacrafice. Verena Mumford’s pop up dinner was anything but…
Dinner started out with a delicious amuse bouche of pan- fried prosciutto crisps (a first timer for La Bonne Vivante). Next, we were served a refreshing gazpacho with avocado. The main course offered a veggie and a carnivore option. We tried both the burger with veggies and the artichoke frittata which were delicious. Sweet indulgences waited for us at the end of this great meal and we were surprised by the variety of Paleo-compliant desserts available. We tasted a mouthwatering lemon custard, a chocolate cake made of almond flour which was yummie but not too sweet and fresh fruit.
Water flavoured with healthy fruit such as watermelon and lemon was available throughout dinner and guests brought their own bottle of wine which added to the personal touch of the evening. We felt a bit like visiting friends who happen to be great Paleo chefs.
Vanessa and her team created a friendly, relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. We left, full and happy but not gorged and bloated. A fantastic dining experience and a great introduction to the Paleo diet.
Their next pop up dinner will take place on 4th of September. More information on: http://paleo-pur.ch/en/
Il Tavolo, Zurich’s annual food event premiered in 2013 and has since become a real gourment institution. La Bonne Vivante was lucky to be invited to its opening and closing night.
Wednesday’s opening night took place at Gate Gourmet’s gigantic kitchen and attracted Gourmets, Gourmands and Swiss celebs alike. The kitchen hosted various cooking stations and the various chefs of renowned restaurants such as The Dolder, Hyatt and the Baur au Lauc provided culinary pampering at the highest possible level. It was fun to get a glimpse behind the scenes of gourmet cooking and see the likes of Hyatt’s Frank Widmer and Dolder’s Ingo Kühn in action.
Food-wise we loved the tender bison which was offered at two cooking stations as well as a flavourful salmon. Yes, it was crowded, yes it was a bit hectic but that’s exactly what makes the charm of this great annual event.
The Mercato Dinner, the event’s closing night at Zurich’s Engrosmarkt Hall offered culinary delights and a 200 meter long table. Various cooking stations and bars invited guests to indulge. The hall was beautifully decorated and the ambiance on this balmy summer night was relaxed and pleasant. Various high caliber chefs of restaurants such as Carlton, Blaue Ente, were present and presented refined and playful dishes. The food trucks offered a variety of desserts for those who could still make space and The Giovanni’s, an Italian band complete in 30’s outfits rounded off the evening with Mediterranean music.
We enjoyed every bite! Thank you, Il Tavolo!
