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Daily Mirror
01-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I visited absurdly beautiful island loved by Parisians with £40 UK flights'
Many years ago, when people would escape polluted cities to 'take in the sea air', the French island of Île de Ré is likely what they were after. And today at the entrance of the port of Saint-Martin-de-Re – the historic capital of the island – lies the chic seaside guesthouse of Hotel De Toiras that would have seen plenty of such fugitives. Like all buildings on the island, its exterior has been shaped by the whims of the Atlantic Ocean. Located on the cobblestone seafront it has painstakingly designed rooms with many stories to tell, much like the hotel's delightful staff. This charming old style hotel is laid back but precise – French hospitality at its best. Toiras' conscientious team oversees 18 rooms and a further handful at Villa Clarisse & Spa, the sister boutique property around the corner. Historic luxury is certainly the theme of this hotel – in a converted 17th century shipowner's house. Remarkable suites immerse guests with their striking themes which are rooted in the lives of leading figures from history and literature. Ornate reproduced pieces go with each theme, and most rooms have a bath and shower, with robes, slippers and a turndown service. Guests can indulge in the range of high-quality toiletries and there is a lounge downstairs to relax with the daily paper or book next to the fire. 'The owners really wanted to put the style of the island, history and their family touch to this hotel,' said general manager Maxence. 'We have some clients that are stressed when they check in, and when they leave they are totally relaxed.' Villa Clarisse & Spa – which is more contemporary and more polished than the Hotel de Toiras – got its fifth star last year, which means both properties now operate as five-star. Just a three-minute walk from the Hotel De Toiras, Villa Clarisse & Spa offers a heated outdoor pool and, as the name suggests, a spa – but unfortunately, that was being renovated while we were there. Guests can dine in the mornings and evenings in George's Restaurant and take an afternoon snack at the wonderful Salon D'Olivia. Prices come with the five-star territory, boasting seasonal menus with a strong, high quality and regional focus. The colourful vegetables du jour are simply joy on a plate. The beef chuck is rich and comes with a delicious Bearnaise sauce, the Langoustine Royales starter has varied textures and a wasabi kick. For those readers who have a sweet tooth, the star of the show was one of the two desserts on offer, the chocolate, praline and fleur de sal of Il de Re. It proved to be somehow simultaneously hot, cold and foamy with a wafer heart – you should try it and marvel. The two a la carte gastronomic menus cost €75 and €130. With Ile de Re being less than three hours from the French capital, you will find throngs of Parisians in the summer months. You can see why – the island is relaxed, tiny but full of things to do – all with an absurdly beautiful backdrop. Il de Re is an oasis of salt, vineyards and sand dunes off the coast of La Rochelle, with a bridge to the mainland only arriving in 1988. It's very noticeable how the island's proud residents are so keen to embrace and promote its gifts of salt marshes, potatoes, oysters, vineyards and animals who are the true symbols of this Atlantic outpost. Poitou donkeys were once an integral part of life on Il de Re, helping with agricultural work and transporting goods between villages. They would often be dressed in hand-crafted striped trousers (mistaken for pyjamas) to protect them from flies in the marshes, but now the shaggy long-eared locals are much more of a rare sight. The best way to see the island is to cycle between its charming villages, such as La Flotte with its busy food market, or Ars-en-Re, officially one of the most beautiful villages in France, offering antique emporiums. With a network of cycle paths 60 miles long, you can see the island on two wheels, and feel safe while doing so. Bike hire costs are around €30 a day for electric and €9 for standard. Take a break from the bike and enjoy lunch in one of the many oyster shacks that line the marshy coast, then chat to the last remaining artisan salt farmers who still use techniques from the Middle Ages in their production. Cross the 1.8-mile bridge by bus or taxi to La Rochelle, a jewel of a city and capital of the Charente-Maritime department. It's been a centre for trading and fishing since the 12th century. With its show-stopping Vieux Port (old harbour), it's a must, along with the modern Les Minimes marina, Hôtel de Ville dating from 1298, half-timbered medieval houses, Renaissance architecture, natural history museum and aquarium. In need of a holiday? With the summer in full swing, the Mirror has launched its very own Travel WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest holiday recommendations from our travel experts straight to your WhatsApp. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is , select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our .
The National
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
African Queen review: Playful addition to Dubai's J1 serves up colourful cuisine
African Queen opened on the shores of the French Riviera 55 years ago and can count Naomi Campbell, Bono and Sylvester Stallone among its customers. The renowned restaurant has now brought its blend of Mediterranean, African and continental flavours to Dubai's with the opening of an outlet at J1 Beach. The original dining venue takes its name from an Oscar-winning 1950s film that also inspired its bold, maximalist interior design. The J1 Beach outpost showcases contemporary elegance in a colourful yet chic space suited to both intimate dinners and lively celebrations. It has quickly become a busy midweek venue. My dining partner and I visit on a Tuesday night to find out if this is due to its reputation as a celebrity hangout spot in the Cote d'Azur or its new kid-on-the-block status. We're greeted by a zealous front-of-house team as we walk into the dimly lit, green-tiled entrance. The enclave opens up to a spacious open-air dining area, and we're shown to our seats a few steps shy of the pool. This way, we can soak in the bold interior design while also taking in the golden-hour glow reflected in the water. Meanwhile, the music (think funk tunes and soul remixes) from our seats is at an ideal volume for an early evening meal, keeping the energy high and conversation flowing without vocal strain. The menu is an eclectic mix of cuisines, with pages of both fresh, healthy options and indulgent comfort foods, from Riviera salad to truffle pizza. Fluffy flat bread served with olive tapenade is placed on our table to start our meal. It's delicious and is a modest portion as we don't want to fill ourselves up too early. For starters, we order calamari (Dh85), tomato tatin (Dh95) and the old-fashioned artichoke and truffle salad (Dh135), which is our favourite. Served in a hollowed artichoke with shavings of ingredients within, it's a flavour-packed start to our meal. For mains, we chose grilled tenderloin in Bearnaise sauce (Dh285) served with a side of truffle mash (Dh70) for my meat eating partner and, as a vegan, a simple orecchiette pasta served with fresh arrabiata sauce for myself. It's a stripped-down version of the orecchiette with octopus ragu, which ordinarily costs Dh125, made vegan-friendly just for me. For dessert, there's a selection of delicacies, from pastries to cakes. Yet the golden chocolate bar is the one that stands out, oozing mousse, passion fruit, caramel and biscuit bites. So indulgent, my guest only makes it through half, taking the rest home for her four-year-old son, who later offers his testimonial by crowning it the 'best cake ever'. Our server tells us that the wood-fired truffle pizza (Dh180) is one of most popular dishes. Then, there's the African curry made with chicken, served with mango chutney and basmati rice (Dh135); the Nicoise salad complete with tuna ventresca (Dh135) prepared tableside; and the fanciful royal sea bass with baked potato and sour cream (Dh480). We sample just a sliver of this comprehensive menu. While our selections span both decadent dishes and comfort foods, there's a surprising one that stands out for both of us: the old-fashioned artichoke and truffle salad. The ingredients are minimal, yet a full-bodied blend of flavours. It's an optical treat, too, and becomes a dish easy to associate with African Queen's playful personality. All the food is delicious, but this is memorable as well. African Queen is located at J1 Beach in Jumeirah, Dubai; 04 570 55 46. This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Yahoo
Firepitz: One of JB's best open flame charcoal-grilled steak & dry-aged fish spots
Meats grilled over charcoal are arguably one of the most delicious ways to enjoy them. I recently visited Horizon Hills in Johor Bahru to check out Firepitz, a steakhouse with an open flame charcoal grill that's been working its magic since 2021. We stepped through the door that led us to the second floor and were immediately greeted by a sprawling space, exuding warmth and charm, with seamlessly integrated elements of wood and fauna. The steakhouse seats a total of about 80 pax, including a private room for cosy gatherings that caters up to a group of 10. As you head over to the open-concept kitchen, you can catch a glimpse of the kitchen theatrics unfold right before you. The meats here are grilled using a combination of Binchotan and traditional charcoal with firewood for the perfect aroma and char. Firepitz has a wide and ever-changing variety of steaks (depending on the day's availability). It's also the only spot in JB that serves Japanese Kobe (RM500 per 100g). We were served by the friendly Thachu, who brought out the steak board that showcased various cuts for us to choose from. They included the Korea Hanwoo Sirloin (RM220 per 100g), Aus F1 Wagyu Ribeye (RM128 per 100g), Saga A5 Wagyu (RM190 per 100g) and the massive Australian Sher Wagyu Bone In Ribeye (RM95 per 100g). We watched as our steaks were grilled over a charcoal flame and then set aside to rest, ensuring a perfect pink centre. Just when I thought I'd seen it all, the chef then places the steaks back to the fiery pit directly on top of the charcoal. The chef shared, 'This way, the temperature can reach up to 1000°C, ensuring a nice char on the steak's surface. The excess fats from the Wagyu are melted away as well to make it less cloying.' We kickstarted our lunch with the 210g Saga A5 Wagyu (RM399). The slices of medium-well steak were placed on a rustic wooden board, and served with a charred garlic bulb. No words can truly capture the divine sensation that overwhelmed me as I savoured the first slice of Saga Wagyu— it was aromatic, smoky, buttery and tender all at the same time. Indeed, that last step of the intense searing really did remove some of that jelak-ness. I paired the meat with some of the roasted garlic cloves. They were like mini bombs of luxury, adding a nutty creaminess to every mouthful. 9 best JB cafes worth crossing the border for [Nov 2024 update] The 28-days Dry Aged Black Angus Sirloin (RM108 per 100g) boasted woody charcoal that didn't mask the natural sweetness of the meat. Its nearly month-long dry aging process amplified the beefiness, striking a perfect balance without being overpowering. Both steaks came with a complimentary house sauce and we selected Pommery Mustard and Bearnaise. We also added Chimichurri (RM5) and Kizami Wasabi (RM10). I slathered the Chimichurri which added a grassy and zesty punch with a textural crunch, instantly cutting the richness of the Saga Wagyu. The Bearnaise was creamy and buttery with citrusy, licorice-like notes coming from the tarragon. The Kizami Wasabi jolted my taste buds with a spicy kick, giving a similar combination for those who love pairing their steaks with horseradish. The steaks also tasted great on their own with a light sprinkling of sea salt flakes. We took a brief respite from the meat and tried the Grilled Cherry Tomato On Vine (RM28). The grilled orbs of tomatoes were sitting on a thin layer of chive oil and balsamic reduction, then topped with chimichurri. Each tomato was fresh and had a double dose of tanginess from the balsamic-chimichurri combo. We then moved on to the NZ Ora King Salmon Crudo (RM48). Known as the Wagyu of salmon, the fresh raw slices were served with thin slices of pickled cucumber, ikura and doused in truffle shoyu dressing. The fresh salmon was complemented by the mini bursts of umami from the salmon roe. The crisp pickled cucumber was refreshing while the dressing gave a gentle, savoury earthiness that tied everything together. Besides steak, Firepitz also dry ages fish like barramundi and mackerel. The Aged Mackerel (RM68) was drizzled in charcoal oil and topped with slivers of spring onion, sliced radish, and half a charred lemon. The skin was delightfully crispy and filled with that fragrant char-grilled aroma. Beneath it lay pillowy, flaky flesh that had been expertly marinated— I could wolf down the entire fish by myself! We ended things off with the Duck Confit Risotto (RM98). A duck leg sat on a bed of risotto, garnished with shaved black truffle, pickled tomatoes, charred greens, and dressed in truffle ponzu dressing. The duck confit, topped with generous shavings of parmesan fell apart effortlessly with a light tug of my knife and fork. The skin was lightly crispy while the flesh was well-brined and perfumed with the duck fat. The duck paired really well with the al dente risotto, which had a light garlic flavour and a light musky taste coming from the truffles. If you're on a day trip to JB and hunting for food within a cosy dining spot, why not swing by Firepitz for some charcoal woodfire-grilled goodness? Both steak and seafood fans are sure to find something to satisfy their hunger pangs. So far, this place ranks as one of the best steak spots in JB… unless I discover somewhere better that will change my mind in future. Expected damage: RM230 – RM300 per pax * This article is brought to you in partnership with Firepitz. 10 best JB seafood restaurants worth braving the insane checkpoint jams for [Oct 2024 update] The post Firepitz: One of JB's best open flame charcoal-grilled steak & dry-aged fish spots appeared first on
