Wednesday 26 June 2013

Menu of a princess

The menu created for the wedding of Sweden’s Princess Madeleine was served again for the first time, and we enjoyed every mouthful.  The event was organized by the top luxury hotel chain One&Only Resorts, Mazagan Beach Resort and Atlantis the Palm, Dubai, and was held at restaurant Operakällaren in Stockholm.

The dinner was a treat for the Kerzner resorts' top partners in the travel industry.  I sat at the main table with Select Collection colleagues in good company.



With Saskia Schuller
Director, International Leisure Sales
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
 
Select colleagues Neil Bedford
and Max Albrechtsson
Eva Hylander with Stephan Killinger
Managing Director, Mazagan Golf & Beach Resort
 
In splendid setting at Café Opera


Fine dining
 
Mingling
 
With Max, Saskia Schuller and Fredrik


The chef explains that the Royal Wedding menu
is being served with special permission

Starters - a plate of flavours from local produce
 ("L'assiette: Mets aux saveurs des
produits du terroir du pays")
The following courses were served: all from the menu at the wedding on 8 June between Princess Madeleine and Chris O’Neill:
  • Skagen on crispy rye bread, bleakroe cone with wasabi, gratinated matured Swedish cheese tarlette, creamy baked farm egg with smoked cod roe
  • Slowly baked salmon with white and green asparagus, salmon roe and tomato concassé
  • Mustard gratinated fillet of veal from Holmbergs farm with roasted spring carrots and cauliflower, crispy onion and cider sauce
  • Wild strawberrie Pavlova a la Operkällaren

Monday 10 June 2013

Timeless London

Café Royal in elegant Regent Street. Embracing the deep traditions of the Empire and newer influences, this hotel showcases sumptuous Louis XVI ballrooms, along with trendy meeting places. It was a centre for London society way back in the 1800s, and its famous guests run from Rudyard Kipling and Winston Churchill to Mick Jagger and David Bowie…

After closure for extensive renovations the new Café Royal hotel opened in December 2012.

Always on the lookout for hotels for our Collection, I had an enjoyable visit to Café Royal, and felt its charm and history …

Met by Rachel Smith

And taken back in time…

Original staircase

 

Ballroom with sumptuous details
Old charm along with contemporary comforts...


Junior suite
Regent suite
Great mix of contemporary and old

Here we had a delicious meal...



Lovely meal at The Ten - Dover sole

...and halibut


A place to meet and sip wonderful beverages...

The Cafe - embracing old and new
 

Monday 3 June 2013

Honoured guests...

I have just received these lovely images from the pre-opening evening of Coba, Stockholm's new Mexican restaurant. The first is a picture of His Excellency Mr Jorge Lomonaco Ambassador of Mexico with his wife  Mrs Claudia Campbell.


We were honoured that the Ambassador said words of welcome to declare the restaurant open.

The other image is of my son Jonatan and me; he was remarkably calm despite the excitement of opening his own restaurant.


The newsletter of Quintessentially Scandinavia also spreads the word about Jonatan’s Mexican restaurant. Quintessentially is a highly exclusive members-only concierge service that offers the ultimate in knowledge on where to dine around the world, and gives other assistance to members as part of its luxury lifestyle management service in 65 countries.

Mexican flavours at Coba

“COBA is the latest addition to Stockholm’s superb food scene. Behind the scenes of this Mexican restaurant is a mother-son duo - Leija Graf, a renowned travel industry entrepreneur and her son Jonatan," explains the Quntessentially newsletter, continuing:

"During their many visits to Mexico and Los Angeles, they have collected inspiration and recipes for sophisticated Mexican cuisine, where close attention is paid to the produce and heritage of the Yucatan peninsula.

With a stunning interior, designed by Alexander Lundfeld and Jim Grundström from Oscar & Clothilde, this exciting new establishment will be premiering at the beginning of June when the doors open in Birger Jarlsgatan 44."

As one of the exciting developments at Select Collection, our valued clients can enjoy the perfect extension to luxury lifestyle: when on holiday they can use our concierge services at the destination in cooperation with Quintessentially.

Note Coba opens on 5 June.

Saturday 1 June 2013

Coba in action

Exciting. Jonatan's restaurant Coba opens to the public on 5 June, but we have already had a pre-opening evening. The whole team rose to the occasion to delight our first invited guests...

Jonatan as host

Chefs in action

Compliments of the chef: Tostada with
 Grasshopper served with Orange and
Mescal (tequila)

Very happy evening


Together with Juan Pablo and Edgar, two great chefs
from Maroma (Orient-Express, Mexico).
Jonatan and his girlfriend Louise

Coba is at Birger Jarlsgatan 44. It's all about quality ingredients, authentic and creative Mexican food and a great ambience...