April Bloomfield at St John Chinatown

April Bloomfield will cook in London with Fergus Henderson on 30th and 31st October 2012 with a two-day residency at St John Chinatown, to coincide with the UK publication of her cookbook ‘A Girl and Her Pig’.

Originally from The Midlands, April Bloomfield is Executive Chef and co-owner of three of New York’s celebrated restaurants – The Spotted Pig, The Breslin, and The John Dory Oyster Bar. Having eaten at her new York restaurants regularly, this should be an excellent opportunity to try her excellent cooking.

Reservations will open on 1st September on 0203 301 8069.

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The Lion NYC in London

John DeLucie from celebrated New York restaurant The Lion will be popping-up at The Brompton Club from now until early July, giving Londoners a chance to try his acclaimed cooking.

DeLucie is one of the original chefs from the Waverly Inn in New York, therefore this is an excellent chance to try one of New York’s finest chefs in an exclusive private members’ club in South Kensington that is opening its doors to the public for a limited time only.

The Lion NYC in London

With signature dishes of Mac and Cheese with Truffles and The Lion Burger Special Blend (pork belly, Provolone, smoked Cheddar, caramelized onion and tomato), this is one pop-up to get your claws into.

For reservation enquiries, please call 020 7268 5906

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The Cinnamon Club Pops-Up in New York

London’s The Cinnamon Club, from executive chef Vivek Singh, will ‘pop-up’ at Desmond’s NYC between 4th and 11th February 2012

Desmond’s is located in a 1920s bank on the Upper East Side, under the direction of British chef and co-owner David Hart, formerly of Soho House and Claridge’s. Dishes may include seared breast of Long Island duck with Hyderabadi-style sesame and tamarind sauce, and 8 oz steak of US beef with slow-cooked onion sauce and stir-fried morels.

For a taste of London’s Indian cuisine in New York, book your tickets by calling +1 212 207 4949 or by emailing info@desmondsny.com

Address: 153 East 60th Street, NYC

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‘Gin & Jazz’ at the InterContinental Park Lane

The InterContinental London Park Lane has launched ‘Gin & Jazz’, a monthly event featuring classic cocktails and golden age Jazz.

Over the coming months, Emilia Mårtensson, Viper’s Dream and Benoit Viellefon and His Orchestra will be performing live, accompanied by a range of 35 different gins from the hotel’s The Arch Bar. Speciality Hendrick’s gin cocktails will also be created for the night, priced at £8.

Gin & Jazz will be held on the third Thursday of every month from 8pm to 10pm. The current schedule includes:

15th December – Emilia Mårtensson

19th January – Viper’s Dream with Elisa Caleb

16th February – Viper’s Dream with Sarah Mitra

Entrance is complimentary, but tables should be booked in advance by emailing thearchbar@ihg.com.

Address: 1 Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London W1J 7QY

Phone: 020 7409 3131

The Four Seasons New York: Hotel Review

The Four Seasons brand is synonymous with stylish, sophisticated hotels providing the ultimate in comfort and 5 star amenities, which is particularly true of its property in Midtown Manhattan. Towering over 57th Street, between Park and Madison, The Four Seasons New York is one of New York’s finest hotels, which is quite the accolade in a city bustling with world class hotels.

The Four Seasons New York’s most striking feature is its commanding lobby with its marble floors, giant pillars and cathedral height ceilings, which give the space a surreal feeling of peace and tranquillity in a clear juxtaposition to the hustle and bustle of the city outside.  Starting from the lobby and filtering all the way through the public spaces and guest rooms, the hotel has a timeless art deco elegance updated to reflect modern times.

With 368 rooms, including 63 suites, with the smallest room being a capacious 600 sq ft, The Four Seasons New York is a giant in all respects, but thankfully manages to retain a sense of intimacy and exclusivity.

The rooms are nicely appointed with light woods and cream furnishings, the epitome of understated luxury, with just the right amount of contemporary gadgetry. The large windows offer sublime views of the Manhattan skyline, some looking directly over Central Park and beyond. Rooms at The Four Seasons New York come with a separate dressing area and large marble bathrooms with deep-socking baths that fill in 60 seconds.

The Four Seasons New York’s proximity to Central Park creates an ideal pairing between one of the city’s most iconic features and one of its most luxurious hotels. This was particularly true on our visit, which featured a wedding in the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park. The wedding party was staying at the Four Seasons and all had views from their rooms of Central Park to constantly remind them of the event.

The hotel staff went out of their way to ensure that the preparation for the wedding was as memorable as the event itself: floral arrangements arrived in the bride’s room on the morning of the wedding, a bottle of champagne was on ice for the couple on their return from the ceremony, and the hotel’s house car, a Maybach, was offered to transport the bridal party to various events throughout the weekend.

The Four Seasons New York is also ideally positioned for the city’s most luxurious shopping experience with Fifth Avenue, Barney’s and Bloomingdale’s all a mere credit card’s throw away, as well as being convenient for the mid-town business district and expertly equipped for the business traveller, despite having to pay for WiFi in the rooms.

As one might expect, The Four Seasons New York excels with its dining options, the showpiece being L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon from legendary chef Joël Robuchon, which recently achieved the prestigious accolade of 2 Michelin stars in the 2012 Michelin guide. Breakfast is served in the magical setting of The Garden restaurant with its enchanted forest feel.

The crowning glory of the hotel must surely be its service levels – from the attentive doormen to the 30 minutes’ pressing service, someone is always on hand, making sure that every whim and desire is taken care of.

The combination of its location, glorious views, service excellence and comfort levels make The Four Seasons New York a true giant in the hotel world, and deservedly so.

Our luxury travel service would love to plan your next trip to New York – contact us now to enquire about membership.

The Dutch, Soho

The team behind New York’s popular restaurant, Locanda Verde, based inside Robert DeNiro’s Greenwich Hotel, has opened The Dutch, a new restaurant in Soho, Manhattan, on the corner of Prince Street and Sullivan Street.

The Dutch is an American Restaurant, Bar and Oyster Room where the menu is filled with classics like Peel N’ Eat Prawns, Dry-Aged Bone-In NY Strip and platters of fresh shellfish. A late night menu is available every night until 2am and lunch is served Monday through Friday, with a brunch menu to follow shortly.

Website: www.thedutchnyc.com

Address: 131 Sullivan Street, New York, NY 10012

Phone: + 1 212 677 6200

The Mark Hotel New York – Hotel Review

In a city full of luxury hotels, it takes something special to stand out – The Mark hotel in New York manages to do just that.

New York’s Upper East Side is the epitome of class, style and sophistication and the recently rejuvenated The Mark Hotel is the perfect companion. Originally built in 1927, The Mark stands with splendour at the corner of 77th Street and Madison Avenue in the shadow of Central Park, following a transformation by designer Jacques Grange.

The Mark Hotel exudes a sense of understated luxury, expertly combining traditional elegance with modern touches. The lobby is full of design statement, including the black and white checked marble floor and striking objets d’art.

The rooms at The Mark Hotel are spacious, elegant and ­­­­­­subtly luxurious with muted beige and cream sitting seamlessly next to art deco touches and technological innovations specifically designed and made for The Mark by Bang & Olufsen. The bathrooms are beautifully decorated in black and white marble and pastel green, with deep bathtubs and polished nickel fittings.

One of New York’s most lauded chefs, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, oversees the restaurant, with the added benefit that guests can enjoy his world famous cuisine from the comfort of the bedrooms with 24-hour room service. At the front of The Mark Hotel, the intimate bar has already firmly established itself as one of the most chic destinations on the Upper East Side.

The Mark Hotel is expertly equipped for the business traveller, with complimentary wifi throughout and a dedicated business centre.

The Mark is the perfect mix of understated glamour, impeccable service and modern design touches, and with its location right next to Central Park, it’s a beautifully modern take on a classic Upper East Side hotel.

Website: www.themarkhotel.com

Address: Madison Avenue at 77th Street, New York, NY 10075

Phone: +1 212 744 4300

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