destinations of the world news - june 2014 - preview

@DOTWNEWS FEB Option 2 l5.indd 11/26/09 9:11:31 AM

June 2014

Dramatic views and picturesque villages make the Amalfi Coast an unforgettable Italian escape

ON THE ROADMaserati Ghibli S

CHEF’S TABLEYannick Alléno

SUITE DREAMSThe St. Regis Abu Dhabi

BEST OF BAKU24 hours in Azerbaijan’s capital

SUMMER IN AUSTRIA

An insider’s guide to SalzburgVIETNAMEN VOGUEThe best luxury resorts

SWISS CHOCOLATESA history of indulgence

TASTE OF AUSTINThe Texas food explosion

SPANISH TREASURECulture and cuisine in Madrid

RED CARPET IN GERMANYVIP at Munich Film Festival

AMALFI COAST

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JIMMY CHOO FLASH.pdf 1 1/29/2013 12:17:04 PM

dotwnews.com December 20XX 17

title SectionyContentsJune 2014

56 Amalfi CoastA magnet for the rich and famous, Italy’s

most famous coastline always sparkles

68 Vietnam en vogue Oriental allure and post-Colonial charm

entice in Vietnam’s finest new resorts

80 Destination Madrid Culture and cuisine go hand in hand

in the picturesque Spanish capital

90 Baku in 24 hours Ancient towers and ultra-modern shopping in the capital of Azerbaijan

92 My city... Salzburg Salzburg Festival president Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler introduces her home town

On the cover

68Good evening Vietnam

The Nam Hai is one of a new generation of design-driven

luxury resorts in Vietnam

Phot

o: T

he N

am H

ai, V

ietna

m

19-21 ContentsNew_FINAL.indd 17 30/05/2014 15:13

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Club Level Ad Standard Size.indd 1 5/29/2014 11:40:31 AM

dotwnews.com June 2014 21

ContentsJune 2014

98 Taste of... AustinThe smokey flavours of the Deep

South are making a comeback

102 Restaurant news The World’s 50 Best Restaurants

2014 – the results are in

104 Gourmet journey A guide to eating and drinking your

way around Melbourne in style

106 Chef’s table Cooking is all about the finer

details, says chef Yannick Alléno

110 Spirit of travel From the rugged Highlands to the wild coast, Scottish whisky reigns

114 The restaurant A table at Eleven Madison Park, North America’s best restaurant

116 Swiss chocolatesA sweet journey around the world’s chocolate-making capital

Gourmet travel

106114

104

19-21 ContentsNew_FINAL.indd 21 30/05/2014 15:12

The therapeutic use of water was first introduced to Europe by Muslims in the Middle Ages — a practice that garnered popularity via Spain’s al-Andalus region and continued to spread northwest, with just a little help from the Roman Empire. The art of wellness has not ceased to evolve since, nor have Europe’s elite lapsed in their love of pampering. The continent’s rolling green lands now host about 1,200 spas and health resorts — and they’re just the ones recognised by the European Spas Association.

This year welcomes a new pack of luxury spas from Montenegro to St. Moritz. Europe’s “most impressive and innovative” spa will open later this year in Baden-Baden, Germany, with a swathe of spa suites and an array of medical services.

Launched by the Oetker Collection’s flagship property, Brenners Park Hotel & Spa, Villa Stéphanie will comprise a 500-square-metre sauna, recovery plunge pool (below), a private fitness centre with physio and spinal treatments, a hammam, ladies spa and private park in the northern foothills of the Black Forest. The mega-spa is also linked with ‘Haus Julius’, a 1,700-square-metre complex dedicated solely to Brenners Medical Care.

Next month also sees the doors open at St. Moritz’s Ovaverva Pool, Spa & Sports Centre, opening July 5. The Swiss winter wonderland doubles as a summer getaway, and in addition to the exhilarating Alpine air, guests can make the most of the multiple pools, saunas and spa oasis.

The four-story Ovaverva also has an outdoor centre, which encourages walking and mountain biking in the warmer months, and a cross-country skiing school in winter.

Along the Adriatic, Montenegro’s Aman Sveti Stefan island resort launched its expansive Aman Spa in May. The 2,000-square-metre facility’s design is an homage to Villa Milocer, the former summer residence of Queen Marija Karadjordjevic, which is now part of the hotel’s room inventory, and is fronted by a pond and rolling lawns.

Meanwhile, the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo marked the halfway point in its six-month renovation with a classical music concert held last month in the empty swimming pool, which provided ideal acoustics for Maltese pianist Stefan Cassar. The renovation, which is part of the 150th birthday celebration of Société des Bains de Mer, will see the addition of more space and new technology at the historical facility, overlooking Monaco’s Port Hercules, when it reopens on October 1.

The Euro wellness renaissance

Recovery plunge pool at Villa Stéphanie

The spa at Aman Sveti Stefan, Montenegro

30-31 Euro News.indd 30 28/05/2014 19:56


Former glory restored It was two years ago that Starwood pledged EUR 150 million (US $205 million) to restore four of Europe’s most iconic hotels. Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville, Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastián, The Gritti Palace (above) in Venice and Prince de Galles in Paris were all revitalised and branded under The Luxury Collection — but that was just a taste of things to come. It was announced last month that the collection will be expanded with over EUR 300 million ($410 million) pledged to restore Hotel Imperial in Vienna; Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan; Santa Marina resort in Mykonos; as well as Lebanon’s Grand Hills in Broumana just across the Mediterranean.

Chopard BUys parIs hotelOn the heels of Versace, Armani, Missoni and Bulgari, watchmaker and jeweller Chopard is jumping on the hotel bandwagon. The Swiss firm has acquired Union Hôtelière Parisienne, which owns Hôtel de Vendôme in Paris. The 18th-century building has housed Chopard’s main boutique for more than a decade, but the jeweller will now take ownership of the hotel, which comprises 29 guestrooms (including 10 suites) and Le 1 Place Vendôme restaurant and bar (below).

The surrounding streets are a haven for jewellery lovers. The area’s boutiques are stacked with bounties of Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, Dior and Chanel products. Chopard is not a total stranger to the hotel business; the brand opened its Chopard at The Dorchester boutique in London last December, selling an exclusive selection of products from its Haute Joaillerie collection.www.chopard.com

From Art Deco summer hangout to ruinous graffiti den, the Piscine Molitor in Paris’ 16th arrondissment has quite a tale to tell — and now the birthplace of the bikini is back in business. The stylish swimming pool has just reopened after a three-year, US $110 million renovation project, which included a full restoration of the two pools dating back to 1929. The luxury complex also boasts the 124-room Molitor Paris by MGallery hotel, complete with spa and gym.

Between the world wars, this was Paris’ ultimate hangout. The venue became

synonymous with fashion shows and star-studded galas, and in 1946, Micheline Bernardini, a dancer from the Casino de Paris, modelled the world’s first bikini here. By the ‘80s, the facility had fallen into decline and was condemned to be levelled and turned into apartments. Thankfully the bulldozers never arrived. For the best part of two decades the urban oasis became a grungy graffiti den, playing host to illegal raves and other illicit gatherings. An annual Molitor membership costs just over $4,000, or $250 for the day.www.mgallery.com

New life for bikini birthplace

Europe

30-31 Euro News.indd 31 28/05/2014 19:56

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61_DBXSM_235_335_DOTWN.pdf 1 13. 10. 22 오후 1:58

Destinations The world’s most desirable locations

68A new generation

Luxury and wellness go hand in hand at Fusion Maia Da Nang on

Vietnam’s picturesque coast

56Amalfi Coast: the

essential Euro escape

68Vietnam is the new

star of Southeast Asia

80A feast for all the

senses in Madrid

9024 hours in Baku,

Azerbaijan

92An insider’s guide to

charming Salzburg

55 Features Opener.indd 55 30/05/2014 15:10

AMALFIItaly’s iconic emerald coastline is almost as

famous as the glitterati who have called it home for the summer. From hillside towns and hidden

bays to picturesque hotels and marinas, the Amalfi Coast is the ultimate escape

life on the edge

Words: Jo Foley

Phot

o: D

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on /

Corb

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56-64 Amalfi Coast.indd 56 29/05/2014 18:19

A village of candy-coloured villas hugging quiet inlets is a typical scene all along the Amalfi Coast

56-64 Amalfi Coast.indd 57 29/05/2014 18:19

A heady blend of Oriental allure, post-Colonial charm and idyllic landscapes has always made Vietnam a top choice

for intrepid travellers. Now, luxe beach resorts and high-end hotels are capturing the attention of the jet set, too

Words: Devanshi Mody

very en-vogueVIETNAM

68-76 Vietnam.indd 68 29/05/2014 18:17

68-76 Vietnam.indd 69 29/05/2014 18:17

80-88 Madrid.indd 80 29/05/2014 18:12


From the treasures within its ancient plazas and prized museums to the gourmet delights of markets and luxury hotels, the Spanish capital

is a sensory wonderland Words: Steven Bond

A FEAST FOR THE SENSESMADRID

80-88 Madrid.indd 81 29/05/2014 18:13

Sa

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Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler, president of the Salzburg Festival, reveals her top things to see and experience in the Austrian city this summer

HOTEL SACHER SALZBURGIf you’re looking for a luxury stay in the city, then make reservations at the Hotel Sacher on the Salzach River. The Presidential Suite affords great city views and comes with its own steam room, jacuzzi, and two entrances. Schwarzstrasse 5–7; +43 662 889 770; www.sacher.com

SCHLOSS FUSCHL If you prefer to immerse yourself in the beauty of Lake Fuschl with its crystal-clear water and picturesque surroundings, then check into Schloss Fuschl. It’s a resort and spa and a paradise for golfers, with a nine-hole course adjacent to the hotel and a further 11, 18-hole courses in the area. Schlossstrasse 19; +43 622 922 530;www.schlossfuschlsalzburg.com

SALZBURG FESTIVALThe Salzburg Festival was founded in 1920 by writer Hugo von Hofmannsthal and stage director Max Reinhardt. They were convinced that only culture could reconcile a population that had been locked in deadly strife during the [First World] war. This peace project grew into the world’s biggest classical festival. In 2014, 250,000 visitors will attend operas, concerts and plays at 14 venues over 45 days. Our Festival Ball takes place in the Felsenreitschule (Winter Riding School) under the arcades, built in 1699.July 18 to August 31; +43 662 80 450; www.salzburgerfestspiele.at

GASTHOF SCHLOSS AIGEN Anyone looking for typically Austrian food served in a wonderful garden in the shadow of ancient trees might choose the Schlosswirt in Aigen. There, the specialty is boiled beef with fresh vegetables served on the side. Schwarzenbergpromenade 37; +43 662 621 284; www.schloss-aigen.at

GETREIDEGASSEOf course, all the major fashion brands are represented in Salzburg — Getreidegasse in Altstadt is one of the city’s most famous shopping strips. There, you’ll find the likes of

Louis Vuitton and local shoe store Denkstein, which has three branches on the street. Head to the branch at 25 Getreidegasse for high-end labels including Magli, Prada and Escada.

LAKE TOURINGAs early as the 18th century, Alexander von Humboldt wrote: “The most beautiful parts of the world are around Naples, Constantinople and Salzburg.” Salzburg’s lake districts are particularly beautiful. A chauffeured tour to one of the many lakes — Wallersee, Wolfgangsee, Attersee, Fuschlsee — is a delight for visitors of any age.

HOTEL GOLDENER HIRSCH BARI love the bar of the Hotel Goldener Hirsch, a Luxury Collection Hotel, which is located in the old town. The atmosphere is typically Austrian, yet international at the same time.Getreidegasse 37; +43 662 808 4824; www.goldenerhirsch.com

CATHEDRAL QUARTERA tour of the most sumptuous Baroque buildings surrounding Salzburg’s Domplatz (Cathedral Square) is a unique experience. Last month, the doors between the buildings opened to the public for the first time in 200 years, so being among the first to see it all again is something special.Residenzplatz 1/Domplatz 1a; +43 662 8042 2109; www.domquartier.at

HOHENSALZBURG FORTRESSThe castle sits on top of the historical city centre like a small city all its own. Visit after hours — you won’t have access to the museums but you can walk around the fortress and take in the city views with fewer crowds. +43 662 8424 3011; www.salzburg-burgen.at

CAFÉ BAZARCafé Bazar in Hotel Gastof Brandstaetter has a wonderful terrace overlooking the Salzach, good Italian coffee and Austrian pastries. Order the regional specialty, Schinkenfleckerl, a pasta bake with ham. Schwarzstrasse 3; +43 662 874 278; www.hotel-brandstaetter.com

MyCity

Hotel Sacher’s candy store

Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco at last year’s Salzburg Festival

Hohensalzburg Fortress

92 June 2014 dotwnews.com

92-93 Insider.indd 92 29/05/2014 18:09

dotwnews.com August 2013 93

Touring the Cathedral Quarter

Cabane du Mont-FortSiemens Festival Night during the 2013 Salzburg Festival

Phot

o: ©

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elli

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o: ©

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92-93 Insider.indd 93 29/05/2014 18:09

TasTe of...

Expect the unexpected when dining among the new breed of chefs in the United States’ culinary capital

Words: Dorothy Waldman

98-100 Taste of.indd 98 29/05/2014 17:56

Deep in the heart of Texas, jeans and boots are as ubiquitous as country music. But don’t let the laid-back atmosphere and friendly “howdy” lull you into thinking Austin is the home of culinary yokels. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those in the know head to the downtown area surrounding the Texas State Capitol and The University of Texas campus. It’s this pocket of real estate that has put Austin on the culinary map, home to an array of outstanding, award-winning chefs who create Texas magic in their kitchens.

From the beginning of its existence in the 1800s, Austin has attracted freethinkers and innovators. Although various bouts of political conflict in the 1830s and 1840s resulted in dwindling population numbers and an uncertain future, Austin bounced back. The willingness to experiment, even at the risk of failure, is alive and well in Austin’s modern food scene, where a new breed of independent chef is passionate about food and willing to gamble to make their visions a reality.

The hungry population is also open to new tastes. As well as the State Capitol and the university, Austin is also home to a number of high-tech industries such as Dell and IBM, and a burgeoning music industry. This international pool of creative intelligentsia with sophisticated palates has fuelled Austin’s evolution in the last decade from a steak-and-taco town to one of the culinary highlights of the United States.

Unsurprisingly for a city with a penchant for new tastes, Austin has developed and embraced the food truck concept. Food trucks can be found all over the city, sometimes staying put and sometimes moving around, but always publicising their location via social media. Among the many chefs who

experimented and developed a following through trucks is the award-winning Paul Qui, who said, “Food trucks are a different platform for the chef to create great food without the pretence and procedure of a restaurant.” Austin’s inhabitants enjoy a casual atmosphere and good food, so naturally the trucks are among the most popular eateries in the city.

Another hallmark of Austin's top restaurants is the movement towards local sustainable produce, including cheese, vegetables, meats and wine. Organic farms and ranches are scattered throughout the countryside, producing the fresh ingredients that fill the larders and dictate the menus of the top restaurants in town. By developing these relationships, growers and chefs are working together to ensure that only the best and freshest ingredients available are used — giving good cause to the mantra of the top Austin chefs: “Find the best ingredients and then don’t mess them up."


“In Austin’s modern food scene, there is a new breed of independent chef who is passionate about food and willing to gamble to make their culinary visions a reality”

Rust

ic ch

arm at F

ranklin Barbecue

Chic interiors at Jezebel

Bryce Gilmore's Odd Duck

98-100 Taste of.indd 99 29/05/2014 17:56

Sp

irit

of

tra

vel From the windswept isle of Islay to the rugged Highlands,

Scotland is the global epicentre of whisky making

There are few logos in the world more distinctive than Johnnie Walker’s striding man. Known the world over and endorsed by big names including

Winston Churchill and Robert Carlyle, Johnnie Walker is perhaps Scotland’s most well-known blended whisky and arguably its most famous export. Scotland will forever be known as the home of whisky making and its most famous names, from the smooth single malts of Speyside to the rich, peaty whisky of Islay, can today be found in bars and restaurants around the world.

The French use the term terroir to explain the character of their wines in relation to the land in which the grapes are grown. In Scotland too, the epic, varied landscapes play a vital role in the characteristics of whisky. Some connoisseurs attribute the flavour of Scotland’s finest blends to the purity of the natural spring water in the country; others believe it is the barrels that make it unique; and some think it is the centuries of expertise that go into each and every barrel that make it so special.

Anyone who has ever visited Scotland in the winter will know that a ‘wee dram’ of whisky when you come in from the cold is not only a

quintessential Scottish experience, but also a cultural and social tradition. Whisky is an intrinsic part of Scottish culture and its value has never been overlooked by discerning enthusiasts. Like anything of value, manufacturers have embellished the bottles of the world’s finest whiskies with diamond-encrusted fixtures and crystal-cut decanters to increase their value. Ultimately, it’s what’s inside that counts, but from time to time you find a combination of aesthetic appeal and rare vintage whisky that fetches astronomical quantities at auction. Earlier this year, Sotheby’s in Hong Kong sold a bottle of Macallan single malt in an ‘M’ decanter by Lalique for HK$4.9 million ($632,036).

A recent surge in demand for single malt whisky has seen the revival of many smaller distilleries, many of which went out of business in the 20th century. Today, big names and artisan producers are pedalling their wares from California to Shanghai. But the best place to sample it will always be the land where it was born, and no visit to Scotland would be complete without sampling the country’s most famous export in stylish surroundings while enjoying warm hospitality and good cheer.

AGEING GRACEFULLY Like a fine wine, whisky improves with age. Most single malts are defined by the number of years spent in the barrel, usually starting at 12 years. Blended whisky is made by combining single malt whiskies to create the perfect expression. In this case the blends are usually defined in a different way — red, black, gold and blue, in the case of Johnnie Walker.

Soul of Scotland


110-112 Spirit of Travel.indd 110 29/05/2014 17:50


The concept of food as art reaches new heights at Manhattan’s three-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park, says Caitlin Cheadle

If not for the plaques bearing its three Michelin stars and Relais & Châteaux membership, we might have walked right past Eleven Madison Park, first

mistaking it for a courthouse or museum. Once through the heavy revolving doors, a maître de simply nods as we give him our name, having memorised the reservation list (expect to wait around three months to secure a spot). Tables are generously spaced and arranged with linear precision under the high ceiling of this Art Deco space, which is dimly lit save for the light flooding in through large windows facing Madison Square Park. There is no music, and diners speak in hushed whispers, careful not to disturb the peace.

We are asked to choose one of four flavour themes — maple, cranberry, fennel or apple — which will appear in several of the 16 courses. We choose apple. Next, we are asked whether we would prefer pork or duck for our main course, and if we have any food allergies or dislikes.

First, a small box appears on our table. Inside is a New York classic with a twist: two macaroon-sized black and white cookies, reinterpreted as savoury biscuits, so buttery they practically dissolve on the tongue. A seashell then arrives; its contents are East Coast scallop ceviche marinated in apple and served with water chestnut and horseradish and sprinkled with apple ‘snow’.

These two starters set the tone for the rest of the meal. Executive chef Daniel Humm

treats each course like a work of art; beautiful combinations of flavours, colours and textures, presented as tributes to New York, either via their ingredients or origin. A hollowed-out sliver of polished bone is served next, and, using tiny mother of pearl spoons, we pierce through a smooth layer of smoked bone marrow mousse to scoop out tender morsels of beef tartar with black caviar.

A circular slice of rye bread follows, adorned with dollops of yellow and brown mustard and onion jam, resembling a painter’s palette. It is accompanied by sliced pickle and sweet braised red cabbage, and served alongside a hot skillet containing slices of smoked beef pastrami. Place the beef on the rye, add pickle and cabbage, and the taste buds practically sing. Wash this down with accompanying house-made sodas (apple or maple flavour in this case) and the result — warm, salty and fatty followed by ice-cold, bubbly and syrupy sweet — is mind-blowingly delicious.

Our server then wheels out a table and grates fresh apple and celery before our eyes, adding lemon-infused mayonnaise, Vermont blue cheese, crushed walnuts and dried cranberries while explaining the origin of the Waldorf salad. Served with this traditional version is Humm’s own reinterpretation: a bowl of homemade apple granola served with celery-infused yoghurt.

After an exquisite main course of roasted pork loin with white bean puree, wilted

cabbage, coco bean and suckling pig confit, we are given a wicker picnic basket and told to “unpack and enjoy”. Under a linen we discover gooey Greensward cheese, onion jam, warm pretzel and a slice of fruit loaf.

For dessert, a baked Alaska is brought to our table and set alight as we are told the history behind the ice-cream and meringue dessert. A teaser course of sweet potato curd with espresso meringue and orange sorbet is served before the baked Alaska reappears, now topped with rum, raisin and apple.

The finale is a chocolate-covered, sea salt-crusted pretzel and another small box, containing two sweet black and white cookies. As a parting gift, we are given Mason jars filled with the homemade granola. To dine at Eleven Madison Park is to engage in food as a sensorial experience, rather than just a meal. A feast well worth the wait. n

What: Eleven Madison ParkWhere: 11 Madison Ave, New York City, United States Price: The multi-course tasting menu costs US $225 per person (excluding alcohol)Book: +1 212 889 0905www.elevenmadisonpark.com

The important bit

A feAst for All the senses

114-115 Review.indd 114 29/05/2014 17:48

dotwnews.com May 2014 115

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Executive chef Daniel Humm’s extraordinary dishes helped Eleven Madison Park attain the number four spot on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list

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114-115 Review.indd 115 29/05/2014 17:47


Sail away

Launched: 2013Length: 85.10 m

Beam: 13.80 mDraught: 3.90 m

Cruise speed: 14 knotsCost: from US $1 million per week

www.lurssen.com

German shipbuilder Lürssen made headlines last year with the launch of the world’s largest ever superyacht, Azzam, which it built for an unnamed buyer in the UAE. But while Azzam grabbed all the headlines, the company was working on other projects including Solandge, which, at just over 85 metres in length, claimed a comfortable spot within the world’s 100 largest vessels when it launched late last year.

Designed by Espen Oeino Design, the vast, navy blue motor yacht is designed for pleasure on the high seas, with an outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi on the deck, swimming platform, movie theatre, beauty salon, steam room and its own nightclub onboard. With seven staterooms and one VIP stateroom, as well as two double cabins and two twin-cabins, Solandge is fully equipped for a summer at sea with a large group of friends and family.

Interiors were imagined by Rodriguez Interiors, which created a luxurious atmosphere throughout that blends contemporary and classical to striking effect. The result is a push interior that looks more like a European five-star hotel than a palace of the seas.

SOLANDGE LÜRSSEN YACHTS

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142-144 Yachts2.indd 144 29/05/2014 17:34

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