Food and Travel Trends 2012

Here we take a look at food and travel trends via the bon vivant blog:

Restaurant and Food Trends

Repeat Customers

2012 and beyond will be about focusing on customer loyalty and retention, moving away from one-off ‘daily deal’ offers with large discounts by focusing on securing repeat business by loyal customers. As such, restaurants will need to really focus on customer service as a priority and consistently exceeding expectations.

No More Pop-Ups?

The end might also be near for the pop-up phenomenon in its current form as consumers move away from always searching for the next temporary fad. For the pop-up to re-appear next year, it will need to evolve and offer something more inspiring.

Sharing Plates

The small sharing plate concept that has been so popular recently looks set to continue. The ‘tapas’ effect has already been firmly established with Italian restaurants (think Polpo, Tempo, Bocca di lupo) and will undoubtedly make its way into other cuisines over the next year.

Fat Content

We might also see more restaurants offering nutritional information on their menus, which will surely cause a stir. A sensible solution would be to make it optional and not mandatory on menus.

Travel Trends for 2012

Call The Experts

Travel experts will become increasingly popular over the next few years, moving away from the recent trend of social media platforms and review sites. Consumers will want itineraries tailored to their own specific tastes and desires, which relies on the personal touch of a reliable, trustworthy travel expert who gets to know you personally.

Forward Planning

To coincide with this, planning further in advance will become more of the norm, with a decline in last minute holidays.

South America = Hot

South America will become a popular destination, combining food and wine experiences in Argentina with activity based holidays in the Patagonia region, for example. Brazil will also start to feature more heavily in the run-up to the major sporting events over the next few years.

Once in a Lifetime

‘Once in a lifetime’ holidays will become more prevalent with travellers wanting ‘bucket list’ experiences, ranging from visiting the natural wonders of the world to trying world-famous restaurants across the globe.

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Poppies and Lilies provide Lifestyle Management and Wedding Planning Services.

Travel: The Four Seasons, New York

Taken from the blog of bon vivant, we rather like this 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 is one of New Yorks finest hotels, which is quite the accolade in a city bustling with world class hotels.

The hotel’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 hotel 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 come with a separate dressing area and large marble bathrooms with deep-socking baths that fill in 60 seconds.

The hotel’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 Leob 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 hotel 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.

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From the Bon Vivant Blog

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Poppies and Lilies provide Lifestyle Management and Wedding Planning Services.

Day out: The Wallace Art Collection, London

I was introduced to the Wallace Collection 18 months ago whilst working on a project. I was looking for inspiration for a mood board and I was directed to the Wallace Collection by a lovely chap who runs an antique store on the New Kings Road.

After I fought my way through the summer crowds on Oxford Street, I walked into the most beautiful haven of stillness.

The Wallace Collection is one of the most comprehensive collections of furniture and paintings from 18th Century France ranking along side the Musee de Louvre in importance for furniture from this period. There are 5,500 peices in total from the 15 – 19th Century, mostly from the 18th and 19th Centuries however also including some UK pieces.

I love most art galleries apart from what they contain within them, for the simple reason that they exude this certain stillness and the Wallace Collection certainly doesn’t disappoint. And as I gently made my way around those 18 months ago I couldn’t help but fall in love with the venue and artefacts.

It is a treasure of furniture, paintings and trinkets, wtih a couple of pieces actually hand made for Louis XVI

It really is a treasure and a wondeful way to pass a few hours also enjoying their tea room and book store.

Rembrant self portrait c 1637

John Hoppner 1758-1810;

Gilt Bronze c.1770 possibly Jean-Louis Prieur

Venerred with tulipwood and purple heart c.1776 Martin Carlin

Oak veneered c. 1783  Jean-Henry Riesener

The most stunning piece for me was an almost identical replica of a desk made for Louis XV – simply divine. Not quite the same impact as when I walked into the V&A having no idea I would find Michelangelo’s sculpture of David there (one of my heros) and my jaw nearly hit the floor for a good minute – much to the amusement of the heavily laden with camera equipment gentleman to my left. But almost.

c. 1770 Jean-Henry Riesener

The fireplaces are also just gorgeous and dotted about in nearly every room which is a real delight.

The staff are really friendly and the tea room is beautiful, offering a welcome place to put ones feet up.

The book is well worth taking home, at £15 is very sensibly priced and will give you greater insight into the works at home.

Entry is free and there is a pot on the cloakroom counter for donations.

The Wallace Collection is found in Manchester square just round the back of Selfridges – nearest tube, Bond Street. W1U 3BN

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Poppies and Lilies provide Lifestyle Management and Wedding Planning Services in the Home Counties and London. Also Virtual PA services.

Yummy Simple Snack – Roasted Red Peppers with Goats Cheese and Parma Ham

This is a wonderful and simple warming snack – the peppers are easy to prepare, just need to be washed, sliced and the seeds taken out.

Heat the oven to around 180C and then drizzle some oil and balsamic vinegar over the peppers.   Add to the oven and leave for about 10-15 minutes.

Towards the end of that time, add some goats cheese and return peppers to oven and watch the cheese melt. When you are ready, remove from oven.

Add some parma ham before serving.

This is also really yummy with brie and a splash of red onion.

With thanks to simple speedy snacks blog.

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Poppies and Lilies provide Lifestyle Management and Wedding Planning Services.

Warming Carrot and Honey Soup

This is a hartily warming and nutricious meal with a hunk of home made or rustic bread; or as an elevenses in a cup. Its inspired by the blog of speedy snacks and slightly amended -

Ingredients:

- Bag of carrots (1.5kg)

- 1/3 a medium baking potato or 1 and 1/2 – 2 small new potatoes

- Honey (3 tablespoons)

- Garlic granules, splash of

- Fresh ginger, lump of (medium size lump)

- Fresh coriander, 2-3 good splashs of

- 2 tbsp of Low-fat natural yoghurt or cream/ or soya yogart

- 1.5-2 litres of water

- 1 litre Chicken or vegetable stock / or use fried red onion and garlic

- sprinkle of paprika or mixed spices (optional)

Cooking:

1. Turn the oven on to 180C. Cut fresh ginger into small peices. Prepare corriander (remove from stalks).

2. Peel the carrots and potato and drizzle with honey. The potato just gives it that extra thickness and different texture somehow. Place in a dish and into the oven for 30 minutes. (If you don’t want to use stock in this receipe now you can fry some garlic and red onions which will add to the flavour instead.)

3. Remove carrots and potato from oven and place into pan.

Next add the stock or your mixture of red onion and garlic (and here you would want to add in about a litre of water as well). Bring to the boil and then allow it to simmer gently for 5-10 minutes (longer if you wish).

4. Now place the mixture into a blender.  Add the splash of garlic granules, ginger and coriander and yoghurt. I also like a teaspoon of honey here.

5. Blend thoroughly – and then return to pan and heat as required or place into container and into fridge for storage.

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With thanks to simple snacks blog

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Poppies and Lilies provide Lifestyle Management and Wedding Planning Services.

Scrummy Hot Chocolate

If you like making your own home made drinks, we found this fab receipe for hot chocolate and with the cayenne pepper gives it a bit of kick:

Ingredients:

- 3 cups non fat dry milk powder
- 1 and ¾ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 and ½ cups cocoa powder
- ¾ cup white chocolate chips
- ¾ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon of corn starch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

To make:

1) Roughly whisk and mix together all ingredients in a large bowl.

2) Then transfer the mixture into a food processor – in small batches. Whisk your first batch until smooth and well combined and then place in another container. Take your second batch and repeat – placing into the container when you have finished. When you have finished all the mixture should be in the separate container.

3) You can store this (any extra) mixture in a sealed container in a dry and dark place.

4) To make a cup of hot chocolate, put 1/3 cup of mixture into a mug and mix with half hot water and half milk or soya milk/rice milk.

5) Top with a few marshmallows and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

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With thanks to Kris in the Kitchen’s blog.

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Poppies and Lilies provide Lifestyle Management and Wedding Planning Services.

London Restaurant Review : Flambe Menu at The Drift

Thankfully, what is usually the most miserable month of the year is nearly over. So why not celebrate its end with some serious wining and dining? There will be plenty new restaurants and bars opening in 2012 (see our article new restaurant openings spring 2012) and the ones that are already established are trying to tempt the post-detox crowd with exciting new menus.

The drift bar and restaurant in the Heron Tower at 110 Bishopsgate has introduced some hot and flaming dishes that were popular in the 1970s. Its Flambé menu offers Beef Stroganoff (beef fillet sautéed, creamy mushroom sauce with a hint of mustard, flamed with cognac), Scampi Mornay (scampi served in a creamy cheese sauce and also flamed with cognac) and Steak Diane (minute steak pan-fried in a rich creamy sauce with mushrooms, gherkins & hint of mustard & flamed with cognac) for the mains.

Meanwhile, Crêpes Suzette (pancakes with fresh oranges, lemon juice & sugar, flamed with Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao) and Banana Flambé (caramelised bananas with sugar & butter and flamed with cognac) can be ordered for dessert.

Starter, main course and dessert costs £29.95 and £45.95 if paired with Flambé cooking matching cocktails. I had a generous mug of “Flaming your Thai” (5 year plantation rum, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, pink grapefruit, orgeat, egg white, orange bitters & flaming lime) to kick-start my appetite. The cocktail was really good and for once I wasn’t complaining that the amount of drink in my glass was so insignificant.

I chose Beef Stroganoff for my main course and it came paired with “Cobbled together punch” – spiced & chilly mulled wine and plantation dark overproof rum 73%. The beef was juicy and I could really taste the rich flavour of the cognac cutting through the creamy mushroom sauce. The cocktail was without flames, but it was so spicy, it was almost fiery and went down very well with the meat. All the cocktails can be purchased separately for £7.95 each.

The Flambé dishes are always made by a dedicated chef at your table so you have to book 24 hours in advance. Bon Appétit! : Tel: 0845 468 0103

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Poppies and Lilies provide Lifestyle Management and Wedding Planning Services

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