An Evening at Studio – Montage, Laguna Beach

By Jesse Stirling

Executive Chef Craig Strong moved from Pasadena, California to Laguna Beach less than a year ago. After many years at the Ritz-Carlton, the move to Studio at Montage, Laguna Beach inspired this rising culinary superstar to spread his creative wings. “The days of fine dining with stiff service and worrying about which fork to use are over,” explains Chef Strong. “Modern food is going to a place of professionalism, but relaxed fun.”

After walking through the opulent Montage hotel lobby and surrounding gardens overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the restaurant itself feels low-key and breezy. This aura of casual refinement permeates the essence of Studio. The whole experience is delightfully surreal, like walking into one of those charming Laguna Beach watercolor paintings, strolling past the palm trees and right through the front door of an elegant coastal cottage.

Inside, the magic happens. Romance fills the air. The light level is a warm glow, the music ambient, server-to-guest ratio high and the noise level low. Everything you touch is the best quality: the linens, the china, Ridel stemware. Even though the vibe is casual, people appear dressy and chic. A cozy, welcoming atmosphere dominates. Not one chair is empty.

Our 12-course meal features progressive California cuisine. Chef Strong leans in and whispers, “I get to play around with a team of totally dedicated people. I love what I do. I want to share it with you.”

A series of one-bite appetizers starts with a caviar taco, consisting of crème fresh, chives, shallots and caviar folded into a delicate crepe no bigger than a fifty-cent piece. “Pick it up with your hand, it’s edible art!” Chef Strong encourages us. Next is the Crab Cone. A sheet of dried, hand- wrapped pineapple serves as a mini-cone, housing a delightful “scoop” of crab mixed with vanilla sauce. The juxtaposition of tastes and unorthodox presentation tricks the brain. Even the breadbasket is spectacular, with black olive, cranberry walnut, sourdough and house made brioche. The warm brioche, spread with lightly salted organic butter, is like a dessert in itself.

Almost impossibly, the quality of the drinks is on par with the food. We segue from cocktails with names like the Salty Dog and the Dutch Cooler to complex French wine. “100% sauvignon blanc, originating from the playgrounds of Royalty” our sommelier quips. A 1998 Hermitage, La Cuvèe des Miaux, Rhone, France is spectacularly balanced and brings the dining experience to yet another level.

Back to the meal. We dive into duck prosciutto, chipotle-cured for two weeks, served with an Asian pear ginger salad containing, foie gras mousse, cashews and raisins, drizzled with a blood orange sauce.

Have you ever sipped warm soup out of a hallowed out eggshell? Few dining experiences are as extravagant and decadent. Three-layered lobster bisque, accompanied by a lobster spring roll, comprises a dish named Humpty Dumpty. The name foreshadows events to come, as one of the servers accidentally tips the dish, causing the delicate egg to fall and soup to spill. In perhaps his finest and most telling moment, Chef Strong and his team retreat to the kitchen, reemerging 30 seconds later, a new Humpty Dumpty in hand. “I know from experience to always have an extra one in waiting,” smiles Chef Strong.

The next few courses arrive in rapid fire: fresh Maine Diver sea scallops and parsnip fettuccine. (Seriously, who puts vegetables through a pasta maker? Genius.) Jidori chicken and mushroom fricassèe are next, followed by veal tenderloin, flavored with whole grain mustard sauce. We are playing in culinary themes approaching a Salvador Dali level of food art.

As the main dish arrives, we exchange curious glances. We haven’t had the entrée yet? Do we have any room left? Yet the moment we catch a whiff of the succulent lamb we somehow get hungry all over again. Ravenous. Marinated for one week in olive oil and other herbs, the lamb is then plated with oven-dried tomato, bacon, artichokes, tarbais white beans, tuscan cabbage, lamb jus and hot tomato gel. We are now in dinner nirvana.

To finish with something sweet, we enjoy warm strawberry shortcake with coconut meringue crust, accompanied with strawberry consommé and coconut sorbet. This light, refreshing dish is followed by an array of daring taste combinations resulting in huge dessert wins.

As the meal concludes, Chef Strong invites us to tour the open kitchen and check out the prestigious 12-person Chef’s Table. This exclusive space provides the public with an opportunity to experience the preparation, interact with the chef, and receive a dining experience tailored to your every whim.

What’s next for Chef Strong?

“What’s next depends on the season, the new ingredients, ways to give the guests more fun. Summer brings terrific tomatoes, flowering pea shoots, cute little radishes. I try to deliver enough tweaks, tricks and surprises to be fresh and fun.” And with that, he’s off, mingling with the crowd, greeting every table. Grumpy, reclusive chefs, take note: the bar has been raised.

Articulate, polished, young and charismatic, Craig Strong is not just a chef. He’s a magician, a kitchen visionary, half-chemist, half-artist, 100% daring culinary genius. We deem him “Chef 2.0,” a new breed of food engineer, with cover boy good looks and a passion you can feel. He’s found a home at Studio, producing dishes that push new ground, please the eye and warm the palette.

Source: http://bhlmagazine.com/?p=1364

The Gray is a bastion of rarefied elegance, making it amongst the most exquisite of Milan’s boutique hotels. The Gray offers top-notch accommodation that more than matches the Lombard capital’s sense of chic and style. What’s more, the establishment is only seconds away from the Duomo, La Scala Opera House and the Galeria Vittor Emanuele in the shopping district.

The boutique style is prominent in The Gray with the classical exterior masking the up-to-date interiors: modern shades of beige, brown, orange, and carefully designed and positioned pieces. It creates a seamless and brilliant effect where understated creative luxury predominates.

The 21 guest rooms are in 21 different styles but all bear a certain resemblance, with ebony wood furniture and ivory-colored fabrics and leather. Two of the suites (Gray 2 Fitness Room) have private workout rooms, and two others have steam rooms. Flat-screen TVs are standard, and there is wireless internet access all around, fitting for this most businesslike of Italian cities. As well as elegant and welcoming public areas, the property features a bar and a stylish restaurant. ‘Il Bar’ is made of attractive white glass, and contrasts with the all-black restaurant upstairs. ‘Le Noir’ features tables of black lacquer and black velvet upholstery.

Address

6, Via S.Raffaele – 20121 MILAN (Area: Historical Center) – Italy

Source: http://www.luxury-insider.com/features/2008/profile-the-gray/

Tucked away in Chiltern Street, tipped to become one of the most fashionable and stylish arteries of London, the eponymous modern British menswear brand Archer Adams has recently been drawing the attention of men with a keen eye for fashion.

In his premises in the Marylebone neighbourhood of central London, Archer Adams designs, manufactures and sells his men’s wear collections exclusively to the UK public, while distributing to select retailers worldwide. As a result of his strong focus on quality tailoring at every stage of the creative and production processes, the number of designs and garments produced are both relatively low. This, coupled with vibrant colour choices, means that his designs are much valued by men who pay attention to sartorial detail and are confident and comfortable in their own style.

Before starting his clothing label and opening his shop, Adams (a long time American resident in London) spent 12 years managing the careers of song writers, record producers and recording artists. During this period, he was involved in numerous photo shoots where he often ended up working as a stylist. From then on, it was just a logical step to start making clothes for himself, clients and friends. Adams’s past professional experiences have without a doubt influenced his current sartorial influences, making his garments favoured by men who work in the creative industries, such as musicians, publishers, designers, and film professionals.

Almost all products in the shop are manufactured in the UK, although Archer Adams also stocks two or three external brands exclusively, such as Aero leather jackets, LaFont sunglasses and men’s skincare range Portland General Store. The shop itself provides an attractive, intimate environment that resembles the workshop of a private tailor who is focused on all steps of garment production and is able to provide an individual service to his clients. Adams clearly puts careful thought into the choice of materials, fabrics and colours of his garments, and the results are stunning, particularly in outerwear. – João Paulo Nunes

Read the rest here on World Man About Town

Source: http://www.hautemimi.com/2010/11/introducing-archer-adams/

Karim Rashid is no alien to the world of design and innovation. His creative levels stand at par and this is clearly exemplified in designer Sphere Bed. After designing ‘Loveseat’ during last year together with Veuve Clicquot, year 2008 will witness their second joint creation. Dubbed as Globalight, it would be featured at the Milan furniture fair on 16 April, 2008. This is another revolution as it doesn’t limits itself to the tag of designer piece conveying a soft halo light (maintains the temperature of champagne for at least 2 hours) but also functions as a portable cooler.

This limited piece edition designer creation is available only in counted 500 pieces and is deservingly priced at $4000 a pop.

This device enables you enjoy champagne while relaxing. It is a true masterpiece. This has led to the latest association between Veuve Clicquot and renowned figures in the design industry such as Andre Putman, Pablo Reinoso, Pucci, Christophe Pillet, Christian Schwamkrug of Porsche Design Studio, and Jason Bruges.

Source: http://elitechoice.org/2008/04/15/limited-edition-veuve-globalight-cum-champagne-cooler/

They aren’t calling it recycling but upcycling, Hermes is cobbling together defective inventory and factory-floor leftovers to create what some are calling “unidentified poetic objects. A collection has been created under the direction of Pascale Mussard who is the great- great-great-granddaughter of Thierry Hermès. Leather scraps have been turned into a dramatic necklace. A teapot spout has been transformed into a jewelry hangar. The collection has been named “Petit h”.

Thierry Hermes made a name for himself fashioning harnesses and bridles. Several generations later, the family is fighting off a hostile takeover bid and trying to transform waste into aesthetically appealing objects. Their Petit h collection was first presented in November at the Hermès flagship store at 24 Rue de Faubourg, Paris, where it was offered until Dec. 4. The collection is the result of collaboration between the company’s craftspeople and several notable artists and designers.

Hermes has made recycling luxurious. They have taken up defective merchandise and cutting-floor waste and turned them into high-end jewelry and decorative accessories. A second collection is scheduled for Tokyo and Osaka in May, and a third will be made available in New York and Beverly Hills sometime in October. It is a successful experiment that the others will emulate.

Via: ecouterre / http://elitechoice.org/2011/01/17/hermes-presents-petit-h-high-end-jewelry-and-object-made-from-cutting-floor-waste/#more-32699

Forget feng shui, the modern household nowadays is fast transforming into as perfect combination of beautiful aesthetics fused with state of the technology. The traditional factors involving the construction of a house are now being replaced by a hunger for luxury and comfort, to the extent that, people are ready to pay huge sums of money to make their homes as tech supportive as possible. Now, one of the foremost Italian companies in the furniture vertical, Presotto Italia, has announced the launch of an all new sensational product, that will not only satisfy your need for luxury, but is also a technical marvel at the same time.

We are talking about the all new range of DAMA TV doors, that have been designed and developed to bring out the best out of your wardrobe region, at the same time providing you with unmatched entertainment potential. Dama 2 and Dama TV sliding door wardrobes from Presotto consist of four panels and these panels can either be fitted with a lacquered glass panel, or if you are more into technology, then you can even opt for a Loewe 32″ HD Ready LCD TV, that fits neatly in one of the two middle sections. These sliding door wardrobes have been designed to hide the HDTV cables inside the wardrobe itself and the casings come with concealed handles. The Dama 2 and Dama TV sliding door wardrobes can be ordered in matt or gloss lacquer, wood veneer or color wood, or in gold or silver leaf.

Source: http://elitechoice.org/2011/01/18/presotto-italia-presents-luxurious-state-of-the-art-dama-tv-doors-with-built-in-hdtv/#more-32712

We have recently discovered Michael Cinco and are going crazy after his majestic designs. A Dubai-based haute couture wedding and ball gown designer, Cinco creates works of art with fabrics. His dresses take embellishment to another level, they can almost be described as an explosion of Swarovski crystals, beads and feathers. Old Hollywood glamour defines the ethos behind each dress, while awe-inspiring meets the reaction to the designs. It is no wonder he has a following of celebrity and diva clientele, as the dresses truly are stage-stealing. His dresses have not only appeared on the back of Angel Locsin who was nominated for Best Actress at the Emmy’s, but he hit the headlines with his embellished noir ball gown for Anne Curtis at the Star Magic Ball. Manically inspired by Hollywood black and white classics, Cinco hopes to inject a dose of glitz into the woman he designs for, and give his icons John Galliano and McQueen a run for their money. It is easy to see why Michael Cinco is the world’s greatest wedding dress designer and coveted evening wear designer. -Isabella Stockwell

http://www.hautemimi.com/2010/12/exclusive-interview-with-haute-couture-designer-michael-cinco/

The Memovox Deep Sea, the first Jaeger-LeCoultre diver’s watch, represents a milestone instrument in the history of the brand.

Following the success of of the re-editions of the Memovox Tribute to Polaris 1965 and the Memovox Tribute to Polaris 1968 unveiled in 2008, Jaeger-LeCoultre has now recreated the 1959 Memovox Deep Sea.

The 1959 model was created in two variations – one aimed at European sports fans and the other at American divers.

The first Jaeger-LeCoultre diver’s watch provided an exceptional level of reliability and functionality at that early stage of underwater exploration.

It became the first ever diver’s watch that boasted an alarm function. The alarm used on Memovox watches was transformed by the brand’s engineers into an acoustic signal to warn divers that it was time to progressively ascent to the surface.

The Memovox Tribute To The Deep Sea timepiece come in two forms – one for European watch enthusiasts and the other for the American market.

Both of the products will retain the styles seen on the original timepiece, though their sizes have each been increased to 40.5mm.

Two limited series of 959 and 359 pieces respectively will be exhibited at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie – SIHH.

Source: Infoniac and http://www.luxuo.com/watches/jaeger-lecoultre-memovox-tribute-to-deep-sea.html#more-28412

Sense Spa at CordeValle, a Rosewood Resort is the new favorite relaxation destination of celebrities and fashionistas alike. The spa is located in the scenic foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, less than an hour from San Francisco and the Peninsula. A trip to this luxurious and peaceful spa is in call after a stressful week of holiday preparations and what I like to call, chaos. Refresh your mind, body and soul with one of the signature treatments that will be sure to help you rejuvenate after all the holiday madness.

· CordeValle Signature Body Therapy: Grape Seed & Cherry Bark Scrub – Sure to delight your senses while making your skin soft and silky smooth! We combine the powerful antioxidants inherent in grape seed and cherry bark in an exfoliation that smooths and nourishes your skin. This scrumptious scrub is followed by a grape seed vanilla body butter massage. Your skin will be noticeably softer and more vibrant. 1.5 hrs./2 hrs., $210/$280

· Rain Room Rejuvenation – Your experience begins with a private steam in our Vichy shower room followed by a revitalizing scrub. A therapeutic massage with rejuvenating oils will warm your muscles and renew your body. 2 hrs., $280

· Grape Seed & Rosehip Mud Wrap – This anti oxidant rich treatment begins with an exfoliation to prepare your skin to soak in the healing properties of grape seeds. A French clay and grape seed body mud is applied to your body to absorb impurities and tone and moisturize your skin. While you are cocooned in your wrap, a grape seed facial masque is applied. After you emerge from your wrap you will delight in a moisturizing grape seed aromatherapy oil massage. 1.5 hrs./2 hrs., $210/$280

Hidden in a secluded valley, CordeValle is sprawled over 1,700 acres of lush meadows, tree-dotted hills, and seasonal creeks and waterfalls. CordeValle offers a world-class golf course combined with the finest five-star quality spa, accommodations and cuisine. It is a sanctuary like no other. The 21,200-square-foot Sense Spa features seven private treatment rooms, outdoor gardens, therapeutic whirlpools, Turkish steam rooms, as well as separate, spacious men’s and women’s locker rooms with private whirlpool spas and relaxation courtyards. In addition, guests have the opportunity to practice yoga on the outdoor deck that overlooks the golf course, or hike one of the picturesque resort trails to further the balance between life, nature and spirit. A fully equipped fitness center, outdoor heated pool and tennis courts are also available for guests to enjoy.

CordeValle offers additional experiences that may be arranged by request such as:

· Wine tasting at Clos LaChance Winery

· A round of golf on the Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed golf course

· A private golf lessons

· Picnic lunch to enjoy at the winery after your tasting in the Mulberry Grove while enjoying a fun, competitive game of Bocce Ball – and more

For more information click  http://www.sensespa.com/

Source: http://www.hautemimi.com/2010/12/rejuvenate-your-mind-body-and-soul-at-sense-spa-at-cordevalle/

Domaine de Bel Ombre

Formerly a plantation estate dating back to 1765, Domaine de Bel Ombre’s history is visible in the small sugar plantations that still operate and in preserved structures such as the 19th century sugar mill or the former grand plantation house turned fine dining restaurant Chateau de Bel Ombre.

Noted 19th Century natural historian Charles Telfair chose to settle in Domaine de Bel Ombre before founding the Mauritian Natural History Museum. Here he made several botanical discoveries and introduced many new flora, fauna and fruit to the island.Today the natural beauty of the area remains in tact and offers tourists an alternative to the classic beach holiday that Mauritius is best known for.

Domaine de Bel Ombre boasts two five star hotels, Heritage Le Telfair Golf and Spa Resort and Heritage Awali Golf and Spa Resort as well as a new luxury villa resortVillas Valriche. Guests can use facilities at all three resorts and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities as well as relax on over 3km of pristine white sand beaches.

For nature and wildlife discovery there is Frederica Nature Reserve. With 1,300 hectares of lush terrain protected by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation it is home to the island’s tallest waterfall, many indigenous flora and fauna and rare wildlife species. Here visitors can participate in hikes, 4×4 night excursions, discovery tours for adults and children, quad biking or mountain biking. For those seeking a quieter set of activities, nature trails with a tour guide, yoga classes, outdoor spa treatments and even organised picnics are on offer to fully appreciate the tranquillity and scenery of the Reserve.

Adjacent to Frederica Nature Reserve is the multi-award winning 18-hole championship golf course Golf du Chateau. Situated on a rolling hillside it stretches out over 100 hectares taking in lakes, streams and tropical trees. The course is both challenging and varied, providing golfers of all abilities with an opportunity to improve their technique and know-how on a course that has a breathtaking panoramic view of the Domaine de Bel Ombre.

Source: http://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/