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Cuisine

In the kitchen with Allistaire Lawrence, head chef of The Werf

September 13, 2022 by Luxury Gold No Comments

Head Chef of The Werf at Boschendal, Allistaire Lawrence offers guests an exceptional soil-to-fork dining experience. Showcasing the spectacular produce of the Cape, he champions simple cuisine starring ethically sourced ingredients and served with unpretentious gourmet flair.

Exclusively for Luxury Gold, we asked Allistaire what our guests can expect when they dine at The Werf. And we also took the opportunity to learn more about South African cuisine.

Discover this on: Spectacular South Africa

Meet Allistaire Lawrence

Allistaire with fellow chef Todd English @delicious_al

Trained at the Institute of Culinary Arts (ICA) in Stellenbosch, one of the top three chef training schools in the world, Allistaire Lawrence boast an impressive pedigree. He has led the kitchens at some of the Cape’s most iconic restaurants and is now Executive chef of The Werf at Boschendal. Known for embracing and enhancing the simplicity in foods and letting the ingredients shine, he makes use of the freshest ingredients on his doorstep.

On the food philosophy at The Werf Allistaire says, “We are dictated to by the seasons, and the availability of produce from our farm and surroundings. The healthy rich soil for which Boschendal is famous translates into flavor profiles that are earthy and intense, as a result the dishes speak for themselves. I want guests to take away something special from our authentic farm-to-table experience, for it’s a process that continues to teach me so much.”

For inspiration: South Africa destination guide

The Boschendal Wine Estate

@boschendal

The Werf Restaurant is part of the Wine Farm Franschhoek, situated in the attractively revamped original cellar of the Manor House. All sited on the Boschendal Wine Estate, one of South Africa’s oldest wine estates, where the overriding philosophy is of family, food and reconnection. With sustainable at its core, the farm employs practices that ensure the soil is left better than found and to deliver quality produce and products.

@boschendal

With a vast organic vegetable garden and orchards on the doorstep of his kitchen, as Chef of the Werf, Allistaire always has a bounty of fresh ingredients available. In addition, other ingredients are sourced from small producers and farms from the surrounding Winelands, Stellenbosch and Cape Town.

Related content: Mind the culture gap: The chefs who make worlds collide through food

Dining at The Werf

@boschendal

 With such mouth-watering soil-to-fork dining on offer at The Werf Restaurant, we asked Allistaire Lawrence what Luxury Gold guests will gain from this dining experience. “Dining at the Werf restaurant gives guests an opportunity to make a visual connection with a taste and flavor experience” he tells us.

“Being able to sit and eat food produced on the farm and being able to see a working farm doing what it does, gives you a better appreciation for the food. It allows us to showcase the amazing produce the farm has to offer, while giving the guests an opportunity to sample it, as well as an opportunity to take some of it home, when shopping at our retail store.”

The seasonal menu features treats such as; aged black Angus steak with parsley butter and beef jus served with crispy potatoes with garlic emulsion; cured local trout with charred cucumber, fresh turnip, lemon sauce and foraged sorrels; and broad beans and ricotta, poached boschendal egg with chilli oil, white bean hummus, burnt lemon and hazelnuts.

For the ultimate souvenir of your visit, you can take away a recipe card to recreate one of Allistaire’s dishes at home.

Allistaire Lawrence on South African cuisine

@boschendal

“South African cuisine has many external influences” Allistaire goes on to explain. “There is no one type of South African cuisine. We all have a version of it based on where we come from.”

We asked him what he feels is so special and distinctive and he proudly told us: “The one thing that makes South African cuisine a magical experience is the extension of hospitality that you feel when you share a South African meal and experience. You are made to feel welcome and like family. We are very proud of what we cook, and we are very eager to share our food and hospitality culture with people.”

Related content: 6 of the best spas you can visit with Luxury Gold

His favorite South African dish?

@delicious_al

When asked his favorite dish Allistaire again reinforces: “Every South African has a different context when it comes to South African cuisine. Our food has been inspired by so many international influences and, due to how things were in the past, your family would have different food experiences to another based on social influences.”

“The one language all South Africans speak is “Braai”” he says, “so anything from a snoek with apricot jam, to wors (sausage) and a skaaptjoppie (lamb chop), to a Skope and pap (sheep’s head and maize meal). Anything over the coals would be a proudly South African meal.” However, to conclude the question without a doubt he tells us: “My favorite South African dish is my mother’s tripe, trotter and sugar beans curry.”

Related content: This is what it’s actually like to travel on South Africa’s Rovos Rail

His favorite ingredient?

@delicious_al

As Chef of the Werf, there are many fresh ingredients for Allistaire to choose from when we ask his favorite. “South Africa and especially Cape town has an amazing selection of fish to work with. Nothing beats fresh fish, cooked well,” he says. “I’m also a big fan of eggs. Such a simple, yet versatile ingredient.”

Home comfort food

@boschendal

To conclude our chat, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask what an acclaimed chef cooks at home with his family. “Because of the hours I work, cooking at home doesn’t happen too often,” he shares. “When I do cook it will be something hearty like a stew or curry, or something over the coals. I enjoy meals that bring back nostalgia of my family life when I was younger. I’m a sucker for an oven roast chicken, as my mom makes a killer one. My ultimate favorite comfort spoil is my wife’s spaghetti Bolognese – its like a bowl of delicious love.”

Related content: 5 Michelin Star chefs celebrating local culture through food

Allistaire Lawrence’s exceptional cuisine as chef of The Werf Restaurant is one of the culinary highlights on our Spectacular South Africa luxury guided tour. A showcase of beautiful wilderness, eclectic cultures, warm hospitality and rich heritage, journey from Cape Town into the heart of Big Five territory. Discover Robben Island, Table Mountain, the finest wineries and view iconic wildlife on a luxury safari. And why not extend your tour aboard the luxurious Rovos Rail to the mighty Victoria Falls?

Related content: Where the wilderness and luxury combine: Step inside the Lion Sands Game Reserve

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Why New Orleans’ Ritz Carlton Hotel is a cut above the rest

September 11, 2022 by Luxury Gold No Comments
Courtyard of the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

The splendor of New Orleans’ French Quarter emanates from ornate balconies to brass bands to sugar-dusted beignets. One hotel in New Orleans that captures the Big Easy spirit is the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Canal Street. Named one of the top hotels in New Orleans by Travel and Leisure’s 2022 World’s Best Awards and set in the historic Beaux Arts Maison Blanche building, this luxury locale offers the intimacy of a boutique hotel with the amenities of a grand resort. 

GET INSPIRED BY: Southern Grace 

The location  

Set at the edge of the French Quarter and near the Garden District, the Ritz Carlton hotel in New Orleans is in the ideal spot to explore the city’s most notable – and under the radar — sites and a top choice on where to stay in New Orleans. Walk to iconic Jackson Square and the legendary Café du Monde. Should you like to delve into the city’s history and culture, several museums are just a stroll away, from the colorful Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes & Culture, the unique New Orleans Pharmacy Museum and New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum to the macabre yet fascinating Museum of Death New Orleans.  

Jackson Square

@ritzcarltonneworleans

The architecture 

Gazing upon the Ritz Carlton’s detailed façade and oversized columns of glazed white terracotta, you’ll sense the hotel’s rich history. The Beaux Arts Maison Blanche building was originally the thriving Maison Blanche’s flagship department store. After a storied run, its 15 floors and the neighboring Kress Building five-and-dime store were turned into the Ritz Carlton in 2000 and completed a second renovation in 2006. Soak in its splendor as you are welcomed inside by seersucker-clad bellmen and step through the lush courtyard. 

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

@ritzcarltonneworleans

RELATED CONTENT: How to spend 24 hours at 7 of the most exquisite hotels around the world 

The rooms  

Decadence extends from the front door to your spacious room featuring commissioned artwork inspired by New Orleans’s heritage, and balconies overlooking the French Quarter. Each room presents its own style. The Executive suites are decorated in tones of sky blue and orchid. The Deluxe Rooms in shades of ruby and slate. Sit back in your plush bed topped with Frette Italian sheets and down comforters and take in the surroundings, or enjoy your smart TV with streaming apps and premium channels. For the ultimate in relaxation, your bathroom features bathroom phones, bathrobes, slippers, designer toiletries and a deep Italian marble tub for a relaxing soak after a full day exploring. 

The Residence Suite

@ritzcarltonneworleans

 The Vieux Carre Suite

@ritzcarltonneworleans

The restaurant 

M Bistro is the hotel’s farm-to-table restaurant where the finest meats, seafood and organic, seasonal, produce from farmers in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama is translated into inspiring Louisiana cuisine. Start your meal with fresh oysters or fried green tomatoes with crab and a rémoulade sauce. Tuck into favorite main dishes such as Atlantic Salmon with charred corn and Creole crab cream or braised short rib with truffle grits and kale chimichurri. Or, savor classics such as shrimp and grits and bouillabaisse.

M Bistro

@ritzcarltonneworleans

The Lounge 

Named for one of New Orleans’ best-known musicians, Jeremy Davenport, the Davenport Lounge invites you to enjoy its festive cocktails and light fare paired with live jazz performances four days a week. Sip on a Stormy Weather shaken with rum, lemon, pineapple, El Guapo Orgeat, and a rum float. Or, try the inventive Purple Haze Monkey 47 made with gin, lemon, blackberry sage syrup, Fee Foam and club soda. 

RELATED CONTENT: 9 essential cocktails to drink (and where to drink them) in New Orleans 

Jeremy Davenport

@ritzcarltonneworleans

Afternoon Tea at Davenport Lounge 

Should your stay fall on a Saturday, find a respite from the city buzz with the lounge’s afternoon tea service. Savor delicate cucumber tea and mousse chicken terrine sandwiches. Nibble petite pastries including freshly baked scones with house-made lemon curd, jam, and Devonshire cream. Sip on freshly infused tea by Palais des Thés and perhaps a glass of house champagne. For a sweet finish, the chocolate duo, lemon blueberry tart and mango passion cake are almost too pretty to eat. 

Afternoon Tea at The Davenport Lounge

@ritzcarltonneworleans

The spa 

At this top hotel in New Orleans, the 25,000 square-foot spa is the largest in the city offering over 100 treatments, a café and boutique. Treat yourself to a classic revitalizing stress relief massage or therapeutic hot river stone massage. Or, capture the essence of the city with a New Orleans-inspired 80-minute Voodoo Ritual in a Voodoo-inspired setting. For an enhanced massage, two massage tables have a base of either warm quartz sand or heated water. There’s a treatment for every indulgence including a Custom Facial, Body Nourished Glow, Mississippi Mud Detox Treatment and Southern Ceremony.  

Indulgence at the city’s largest indulgent spa

@ritzcarltonneworleans

A favorite hotel in New Orleans

When your exploration of New Orleans distinctive architecture, beautiful above-ground cemeteries, compelling museums and revered cuisine finds you ready to slow down and take it easy in the Big Easy, your luxurious stay at The Ritz Carlton awaits. Our Southern Grace tour includes three nights at this elegant property that celebrates the best of the city and is one of best hotels in New Orleans. 

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Luxury Journeys

5 benefits of visiting iconic tourist hotspots out of hours

September 6, 2022 by Luxury Gold No Comments

Imagine the luxury of having some of the world’s most iconic tourist hotspots all to yourself. To be able to take your time and enjoy them as you please. Well at Luxury Gold that’s how we believe travel should be and are proud offer our guests unique VIP access  to some truly amazing places. To tempt you further we’ve highlighted five benefits of visiting these magnificent landmarks out of hours.

You feel like a VIP

As you approach and the velvet rope is pulled back, with the doorman admitting only selected individuals to an iconic landmark, this is a truly VIP experience. This is Luxury Gold.

Join us to explore Italy and in Venice you’ll step into the spectacular Doge’s Palace after-hours for an exclusive tour. Bask in the 14th-century Venetian Gothic details, stroll the halls and  the magnificent Gold Staircase in an intimate group. Formerly the Doge’s residence and the seat of Venetian government, the Palace is the symbol of Venice and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.

From the moment you enter to the moment you leave, the joy of such a rare and special experience at one of the world’s iconic tourist hotspots will leave memories for a lifetime.

Discover this on: Ultimate Italy

Read more: Dine, Sleep, Do: How to spend a blissful 24 hours in Venice

You have the place to yourselves

When we dream of seeing the world’s magnificent sights, we generally don’t account for the crowds. In our minds it is just ourselves, wonder and awe. But understandably, iconic tourist hotspots are also popular with other travelers which can have its drawbacks.

Now imagine gazing up at one of Egypt’s ancient structures with just a handful of your traveling companions for company. If it is serenity that you are after, travel with Luxury Gold and enjoy exclusive VIP access as you explore UNESCO World Heritage Site the Temple of Luxor after-hours. Founded in 1400 BC during the Golden Age of Thebes, this was the largest and most significant religious center in ancient Egypt.

Meander at your heart’s content without having to think of others. Choose your own route as you explore, stopping to view anything of interest to you, without waiting in line or jostling for space. Embrace the unique opportunity to really lose yourself in your location and appreciate the wonders of the world in such a decadent way.

Discover this on: Elegance of the Nile

Read more: Travel and Leisure names Mena House Hotel Cairo one of the world’s best

You can take as long as you want  

@museumrosengart

When presented with a Picasso or a Renoir, you want to savor the moment. And, with champagne in hand at a private viewing, you can take all the time in the world. Admire the subject and textures, the intricate details and contemplate the meaning of the masterpiece. With no pressure to move along, stay until your curiosity is sated.

At the acclaimed Rosengart Collection in Switzerland, we invite you to enjoy an exclusive VIP experience, with a private after-hours viewing. The collection exhibits over 300 works of art by 23 different artists of the so-called Classical Modernist Period, including Cézanne, Monet and Matisse. And is world renowned for housing two unique groups of work by Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee. The Rosengart Collection was originally the private Art Collection of the art dealer Siegfried Rosengart (1894–1985) and his daughter Angela.

Whether you are an expert or just an admirer, and be it masterpieces or artefacts, having the opportunity to take your time is priceless.

Discover this on: Majestic Switzerland

Read more: Majestic Switzerland through the lens of a Travelling Concierge

You have more time to learn from your expert guide

The joy of exploring a magnificent palace is only enhanced with a historian at your side. Whether an aficionado or a newcomer, the amount you can learn from such an expert greatly enriches your experience. And when visiting iconic tourist hotspots after-hours you have the time and space to ask everything you want and more.

During an VIP visit to Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace after-hours you can use up every minute of your Local Expert’s time. At Luxury Gold we have selected the most knowledgeable and likeable experts to bring the iconic sights to life for you, and to truly personalize your visitor experience. Stand beneath frescoed ceilings, crystal chandeliers and gilded Rococo frames, where Mozart performed as a child prodigy and ask anything you want. Whether you want to examine the opulent furnishings or the socio-political history of the time, there is no rush.

Discover this on: Harmony of Central Europe

Read more: Why a highly personalized travel experience has never been more important

You see things you might otherwise miss

Iconic landmarks have so much to offer, so many nooks and crannies and different aspects and angles. When you have access out of hours, you have the space and time to fully appreciate the finest details that you might otherwise miss.

Travel to England with luxury Gold and after the sun sets and London lights up, embark on a private tour of the Tower of London after-hours. Beneath the moonlight, a serving Yeoman Warder greets you and accompanies you through the grounds. While you walk they regale you with stories of this haunting site. Full of intriguing buildings and small historical details, enjoy the freedom to pick out the things that interest you most. With no one blocking your view or hurrying you along it is amazing what you can discover.

To round off a very special evening, you’re invited to to experience the ancient gate-closing ritual of the Ceremony of the Keys. This is the oldest practiced military ceremony in the world. Get an inside look at the history of the tradition and etiquette of handling the keys. This tradition has been carried out every night by the Yeoman Warder for the past 700 years.

Discover this on: British Royale

For inspiration: England destination guide

If you want to discover the world like a VIP and benefit from special access to iconic tourist hotspots, then take a look at our exclusive worldwide collection of luxury guided tours.

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