Globetrotting gastronomes will love the latest news we've rounded up from international epicurean hotspots.
It’s no secret that chocolate lovers find their bliss in Paris. (Sweet tooths get their sugar fix at some of the world’s best chocolateries and patisseries. Pierre Hermé macarons, anyone?) One of our favorite spots is Un Dimanche à Paris, a chocolate concept store tucked in a charming alleyway just off Boulevard Saint Germain in the 6th arrondissement, created by Pierre Cluizel. The boutique offers all manner of delicious treats; the Salon de Thé serves one of the best cups of hot chocolate available in Paris; the lounge has chocolate-themed gourmet dishes and cocktails. Fabulous cooking classes are also available. And now- to the great delight of Parisian foodies- a new gastronomic restaurant has opened upstairs in an atmospheric dining room, graced by an ancient tower, part of the Philippe-August fortress that protected the city walls in 1210. Order à la carte, or let yourself be surprised with a tasting menu. (75 euros for six courses; 105 euros with wine pairings.) Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 7 to 11:30 pm for dinner. For more information, visit www.un-dimanche-a-paris.com. Note: The store has closed for annual vacation until August 21, 2012 at 3 pm.
Here's a fun upcoming trip for fashion-savvy ladies who love Italy: Su Misura (which means "tailor-made" in Italian) is a new boutique travel concept in luxury fashion, artisan and lifestyle-themed experiences for women. The program was founded by Gabriella Contestabile and Norma Frassa-McGrody in 2012, and in association with Valerie Wilson Travel. During the one-week journey through Florence, guests get private access to exclusive viewings at the Gucci and Ferragamo museums, personal style consultations in one of the city’s most fashion-forward boutiques, personal fragrance workshops in the private atelier of a master perfumer and conversations with Florence's fashion masters--who might be traditionalists or trend-setters, ranging from the iconic La Scuola del Cuoio to the trendy Mara Broccardi boutique for the most cutting-edge bespoke shoes. The first Su Misura trip is scheduled to depart on October 28
Also in Europe, Istanbul's Çırağan Palace Kempinski—a historic landmark on the shores of the Bosphorus—is now serving authentic Ottoman cuisine in its Tuğra Restaurant & Lounge. Like asitane, one of Luxury Travel Advisor’s favorite restaurants in Istanbul, Tuğra is focusing on historic recipes- literally, the dishes served to the sultans during the height of Ottoman power when ingredients were sourced from all corners of the empire: wild herbs from the Aegean mountains; black cabbage and corn flour from the Black Sea; suckling lamb from Thrace; dried beans from Middle Anatolia; beef from free range cattle of East Anatolia; fresh fish from the Bosphorus.
Heading East, foodies have a new destination to explore in Amman, Jordan: FIVE Grill & Lounge opened recently at the Four Seasons Hotel Amman. Located on the lobby level, the new restaurant is a conversion of the hotel's terrace. The menu includes burgers and freshly-baked pizza (nothing frozen here, of course) to high-end seafood and steak dishes. Music fans are in luck, too: Lounge hits are featured on weekdays with more upbeat tunes taking precedent on weekends, courtesy of a resident DJ.