Latest news with #fineDining
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sleep like a Princess in the Glow of the Eiffel Tower at Shangri-La Paris
Sleep like a Princess in the Glow of the Eiffel Tower at Shangri-La Paris originally appeared on L.A. Mag. As a girl who read Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea over and over again, I have long dreamed of sleeping in a royal palace. So, when the Shangri-La Group invited me to visit such a palace, a chance to bed down in pure opulence like a pampered princess in a room aglow with the warm and sometimes twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine river, I packed my tiara. The five-star Shangri-La Paris was once the private residence of Napoleon Bonaparte's grandnephew, the botanist and member of the turn-of-the-century Parisian literati crowd, Prince Roland Bonaparte. The hotel now has 100 perfectly appointed rooms and suites that Shangri-La likes to describe as an embodiment of 'the quintessence of Asian hospitality and French art de vivre,' and it did not disappoint. The Shangri-La Paris is situated in what is known as the city's 16th arrondissement, which makes it centrally located to luxury fashion houses, café life and museums, including the Musée d'Art Moderne. Even better, travelers are invited to experience a host of curated experiences that lean into its new international campaign, "Eat, Play, Love," and that we did. Eating was pure joy at Shang Palace, the fine dining establishment that offers haute Asian cuisine, which was so extraordinary that it's easy to see why it earned the first Michelin Star for any Chinese eatery in Paris. Then there was the butler curated Pique Nique Chic, the fancy French way to picnic, a the Champ de Mars under the world-famous La Dame de Fer, or Iron Lady's. Nothing like toasting breathtaking views with some bubbly and artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, fresh fruits, and oh-so elegant finger sandwiches. Play came in the form of zipping through picturesque Paris in a vintage Citroën 2CV for a visit to the cobbled streets of Montmartre, an artists' mecca centered by the world famous Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur, the highest summit in the city that offers commanding 360-views. The Shangri-La organized a private visit to the Montmartre Museum, once the home of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who painted two of his exquisite works, "La Balançoire" and "Le Bal du Moulin de la Galette," in its gorgeous gardens. As part of this spectacular and unique experience, a local artist sketched my portrait, which is a perfect Parisian memento I will treasure. For Love, it came in the form of self-love with a glorious massage at the hotel's Chi spa, centered around an indoor 56-foot infinity pool awash in natural light. And, of course, the love that comes with exploring Paris on foot along the River Seine, which runs through the heart of the city of light. All of it made me feel very much like a princess This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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Travel + Leisure
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
This Central Vietnam Resort Has the Region's First Michelin-starred Restaurant—and It Just Opened an Ambitious New Eatery
Vietnam's coastal city of Da Nang is known for buzzy street-food vendors, rich coffee culture, and the country's freshest seafood. Now that the Michelin Guide has come to town, there are more reasons to visit this culinary capital. Since the guide first debuted in Vietnam in 2023, Michelin has awarded stars to seven restaurants throughout the country. So far, just one can be found in Da Nang at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort's French fine-dining restaurant, La Maison 1888. The chef's table at Michelin star restaurant, La Maison 1888. Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort Set in a colonial Indochine mansion, the restaurant marries haute cuisine from chef Christian Le Squer, who is also behind three Michelin-starred restaurant Le Cinq in Paris, with local ingredients and an exceptional wine cellar containing more than 450 premium bottles focused on French wine regions. 'It was truly an honor and an emotional milestone—not just for La Maison 1888 and InterContinental Danang, but for the entire region,' says the resort's general manager, Seif Hamdy. With its reputation as a culinary destination solidified, the InterContinental Danang just opened another ambitious fine-dining restaurant, Tingara. The modern Japanese restaurant is helmed by executive chef Junichi Yoshida, who brings his own Michelin pedigree to the InterContinental Danang from his experience at the first teppanyaki restaurant to ever receive a Michelin star. From Left: Grilled Kyori Beef tableside; Tingara's dining room. Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort Tingara skillfully showcases the breadth of Japanese cooking styles with two distinct omakase experiences that highlight sushi and teppanyaki. Throughout dinner service, the open kitchen at the center of the restaurant becomes a stage with skilled chefs carefully preparing sushi and using fiery teppanyaki tables to craft dishes like grilled ise ebi lobster and the restaurant's signature crispy wagyu beef, which is slow-cooked at a low temperature and finished over high heat using binchotan charcoal on a robata grill. 'We want to make a real mark on Da Nang's culinary landscape,' says Hamdy. 'Tingara brings refined omakase dining to Da Nang, offering an intimate, chef-led experience not otherwise found in the city.' Tingara, the latest addition to the property's slate of six restaurants and bars, is nestled 100 meters above sea level in the jungle of the Son Tra Nature Reserve. Between courses, diners can take in sweeping views from the bird's nest-inspired dining room designed by famed American designer Bill Bensley. Spread out across nearly 100 acres, the hotel's lush gardens mimic the maximalist sensibilities of the interior design also dreamt up by Bensley. It takes a team of more than 100 gardeners and landscapers to maintain the teeming greenery that stretches from the resort's fourth level all the way down to the waterfront. Inside the 172 rooms and suites, plus 17 private villas and residences, bold patterns in citrus-like colors contrast the white-and-black color scheme. Each room is infused with playful details like lantern-shaped door frames and unexpected monkey statues hidden throughout the property. Look out for the real monkeys on site as well. Macaques and endangered red-shanked douc monkeys are native to the only remaining coastal rain forest in Vietnam—they love to play in the tropical almond trees, helping bring this whimsical playground for beachfront vacations and culinary explorations to life. Nightly rates start at $550 with daily breakfast for two. Learn more and book your stay at
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Novikov Abu Dhabi first look: London-born bistro brings comforting Mediterranean flavours
After testing the UAE waters with a cafe in the Dubai Mall, Mayfair restaurant Novikov is bringing its Mediterranean flavours in a fine-dining setting in Abu Dhabi. Located on second level of Galleria Mall in the heart of Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, the restaurant is due to open on or around June 14. But I have taken up the opportunity to check out what's on offer in advance. It is located in a corner of the mall by itself, but when I step inside it becomes immediately clear from the plush interior that it has an atmosphere all of its own. Pushing for the best A selection of fresh fish on ice catch the eye, across from a DJ station. The open kitchen, where guests will be able to watch chefs prepare and plate their food, takes up a large part of the space. The seating area is spacious, with comfortable sofas hugging each table and an expansive view of the water canal. Later, when the sun begins to set, a warm yellow glow washes over the area, soaking guests with sunlight and creating a cosy sanctuary. The resident pianist's soft sounds play in the background and a smell of aromatics and herbs fill the air, adding to the overall charm. Once night falls and the lights dim, the space transforms into a lively evening destination, as the pianist suddenly becomes the in-house DJ and the bar lights up. Italian head chef Alberto Dorigo, 26, says he will feel the responsibility of making customers happy. 'We will communicate through taste,' he explains. 'Taste sometimes is much more simple. It creates one unique culture, which is about enjoying food together. 'We are here to create the best restaurant in Abu Dhabi, so we push for that and we're going to succeed.' Italian executive chef Marco Lubian adds: "I like the concept of bringing comfort food to a very high level. Here we have 60 to 70 per cent Italian food and we bring our vision from the Mediterranean sea." Plates from the Mediterranean and beyond Offering more than 45 dishes, Novikov's menu is a colourful and diverse, bringing together comforting Italian flavours, classic Greek dishes and staple Asian bites. One of its signature starters is the beef carpaccio (Dh105), elegantly arranged with thin slices of Parmesan, rocket leaves, small dollops of truffle mayo and black truffle pieces. While the truffle and cheese pairing with the beef is exquisite, the presentation of the dish is even more enjoyable. The pieces of truffle and cheese are extracted to the side, while the carpaccio is carefully rolled up with the arugula stuffed inside. It is cut and served with the toppings, creating a perfect bite into one. The salads are light and fresh, stimulating the palate before the main dishes arrive. The catalana lobster salad (Dh220), made with fresh lobster, celery and potatoes, is a tribute to the summertime. The celery is an unexpected yet pleasant addition to the dish, enhancing the flavour profile to the next level. As for pizza, the black truffle (Dh187) is a Novikov special, made with three cheeses and fresh black truffle pieces adorning each slice. The dough is neither thin nor thick, while the cheese and truffle melt together. If you are a fan on black truffle, this dish is for you. Pasta dishes are a focus of the Mediterranean brand. One of them is the lobster linguine (Dh265) featuring sweet meat tossed in an herby tomato sauce. This dish transported me to the shores of a Greek island, its ocean-fresh flavour distinct with every bite. Another fan-favourite in Novikov branches across the world is the rock shrimp tempura (Dh110), which is fried to a crispy-golden perfection and paired with a spicy mayonnaise sauce. While a simple dish, the visually-appealing presentation and satisfying crunch is a marker of its success. As for the meat, the Australian grilled Wagyu sirloin (Dh480), which happens to be the most expensive dish on the menu, is worth splurging on. Cut into neat slices cooked medium, the well-salted meat is paired with a warm umami-gravy and a side salad with sun-dried tomatoes. Its tenderness is evident and the gravy seeps in the meat's crevices. It can all be washed down with a 'where's your smile' sweet lychee mocktail (Dh50), infused with pieces of strawberry and blueberry. Every sip is refreshing and addictive. The dessert menu is extensive. I try the vanilla gelato with candied cherries (Dh55) and it turns out to be a light yet sweet homage to Novikov's Italian cuisine. Contact information Novikov Abu Dhabi can be found in Galleria Mall, Al Maryah Island. When open, the restaurant will open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations can be made from June 14 by calling 02 563 2937.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Khaleej Times
Restaurant Review: Baoli at J1 Beach is a chic, Cannes-style escape
One of the glittering jewels in J1's elegant and aspirational crown is the ever-chic Bâoli. The half-indoor, half-outdoor restaurant was filled to the brim with beautiful and glamorous diners, sipping blush, and enjoying sparkling conversation, creating an infectious buzz throughout the space. The views of the Arabian Gulf beyond the pristine infinity pool perfectly framed the restaurant's open-plan concept, immediately putting us at ease and creating an air of vacation. We were seated and instantly welcomed by our warm, French waiters, flown in from the Cannes establishment to mark the new opening. The seamless service added to the 'holiday' feel of the place, with the French waiters catering to our every whim before we even anticipated it ourselves. We had a refreshing aperitif and then, the meal began with a series of raw crudos, including salmon ceviche, tuna belly in ponzu, and hamachi topped with shaved truffle and crispy ginger. The hamachi was to die for. Following the raw selection, we enjoyed crispy kimchi gyoza and togarashi-topped squid — both utterly delectable. The standout, however, had to be the chicken karaage, coated in a sweet and spicy glaze, each bite delivering the perfect balance of crunch, tang, and juicy freshness. For mains, we opted for sharing plates, both of which sounded absolutely epic. The glazed half rack of lamb had hints of curry and a delightful char in all the right places. The hero dish of the lunch, without a shadow of a doubt, was the creamy, umami-packed lobster udon. Served tableside in a beautiful claypot, the udon was coated in an indulgent sauce, cut by fresh chunks of lobster tail, delicately shaved spring onions, and hints of sesame throughout. As one of the more extravagant lunches of my life, the indulgence didn't stop there. The meal concluded with a sesame chocolate fondant, cooked to perfection and topped with a delightfully sweet and savory sesame brittle. Alongside, it was the banana millefeuille — a perfectly rich and satisfying bite.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Arab News
Where We Are Going Today: Iris Cafe in Riyadh: diverse menu, inviting atmosphere. What's not to like?
Iris Cafe is an elegant dining destination nestled within the new Ramla Terraza complex, offering a delightful blend of food and ambiance. Located on King Fahd Road in the Sahafah district of Riyadh, this cafe and restaurant boasts a beautiful interior, complemented by both indoor and outdoor seating options. The upper floor features a stunning garden with an open seating area and a mocktail bar, perfect for enjoying a refreshing drink in a serene environment. The menu at Iris Cafe is a culinary journey, showcasing gourmet dishes inspired by international cuisines, including Mediterranean, Japanese, and Latin American flavors. Guests can indulge in a variety of offerings, from sandwiches and pasta to vibrant salads. The drink selection is equally impressive, featuring specialty coffees and a creative array of mocktails alongside delicious desserts. Visitors may begin with the Iris Oriental Dips, which include creamy black hummus, spicy roasted chickpeas, and special muhammara seasoned with parmesan cheese and fresh basil, all served with homemade crackers. This appetizer sets a high standard for the meal to follow and does not disappoint. However, the chicken tacos, featuring buttermilk-fried chicken topped with Asian slaw in a soft tortilla, are less memorable. On the other hand, the crispy chicken and shrimp wontons served with sweet chili and lime sauce are a highlight and a must-try. For the main course, you may try the glazed chicken, marinated and grilled with pomegranate sauce. The beef cheek, slow-cooked for 12 hours and served with caramelized onion cream, is absolutely delicious. This dish is a standout and sure to impress anyone looking for tender, flavorful meat. The San Sebastian cheesecake is rich and incredibly satisfying. Overall, Iris Cafe offers a wonderful dining experience with its diverse menu and inviting atmosphere, making it a must-visit spot in Riyadh.
