Archive for February, 2011
i heart the beach
Who doesn’t love a good beach? Abbi’s back to share some of her favourite places for some sun and sand.
I am a self-confessed sun junkie. Show me a blue sky, tropical heat and you literally won’t be able to wipe the smile off my face. So if there’s one place I’m most content then it’s on a beach. Sun, sand and water. There isn’t anything better.
silhouettes at sundown - abbikemp.com
I’ve been very fortunate to have seen some breathtaking beaches. I started off life spending most of my summers in Juan-les-Pins, France and following this I spent some time living in Antigua, sailed around the Grenadine Islands, travelled the coast of South-East Asia, island-hopped in Fiji, got love struck in Goa and tested the various coastal locations in South America. So many beaches… so little time…
sun dried - abbikemp.com
neon palm - abbikemp.com
pole for a perch - abbikemp.com
black and white roost - abbikemp.com
sea on the slide - abbikemp.com
huts - abbikemp.com
(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...the page turners we’re packing
In our new series, Travel Lit, we’re going to be getting the lowdown on what books to pack for your upcoming travels. This is the inside track on the very latest new season titles from first-time authors and a few old favourites that we reckon you shouldn’t get on the plane without.
We’re already excited about the opportunity for a bit of printed escapism whilst we’re away…cue the slow pace of an afternoon before the evening rolls around and the shade of a wide brimmed hat.
First up for March, our hot top has to be Andrea Eames’ debut novel, The Cry of the Go-Away Bird.
Set in Zimbabwe, the novel follows Elise’s passage from idyllic childhood dream-world of the 1990’s to adulthood, against the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s collapsing economy during the period of the farm invasions.
Inspired by Eames’ own childhood experiences in Harare, this moving story sensitively deals with the intricacies of Zimbabwe’s breakdown from a familial perspective; recounting how the innocence of a seemingly permanent world is usurped by an awareness of intensifying violence.
The Cry of the Go-Away Bird, published by Harvill Secker, is out now.
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...same world, just a little higher up
We’re huge fans of the incredible photo collection by the gifted French photographer Yann Arthus Bertrand and felt we had to share his online photo library (we’re just nice like that) because, quite frankly, it made us do a double take on the planet: evidence, we say that there’s a lot out there we need to be discovering.
It’s his magnum opus, it induces serious wanderlust on a gargantuan scale and we think it’s really rather amazing. Check it out here…
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...follow your senses to…
Our reporter Ed caught up with the Mast brothers to discover a little more about them and their world of chocolate making. Follow them this Friday to their chocolate paradise in New York.
Rick & Michael Mast are Master Chocolatiers and brothers alike. They run their intimate chocolate factory straight out of Williamsburg, New York, keeping it in the family of course. Their lovingly made chocolates are born from fairly sourced cocoa beans, and ingredients like sea salt harvested from the Guerande paludiers, and serrano peppers from the Dominican Republic, the results as you can imagine are sublime.
Read on for an mmmm moment…
Hey guys how are you doing? Can you tell us a little about The Mast Brothers and what it is that makes your chocolate so special?
Our chocolate is made in-house, from scratch – or ‘bean to bar’ as we like to say. We source cacao from small family farms around the world, ship the beans here to Brooklyn, and craft chocolate in small batches. We are the first and ‘only’ to make chocolate this way in New York and one of only a handful in the world.
It must be an incredibly long and complex process from start to finish, but could you possibly help us to understand a little about the creation of your chocolate from finding the perfect cocoa beans to the wrapping of the final product?
Craft chocolate seeks to highlight the integrity of the ingredients by simplifying and reducing the processing. Like finding the most delicious apple, it starts with finding great people farming great land. We are lucky to have nurtured great relationships with farms in the Dominican Republic, Madagascar, Venezuela and Brazil.
Our chocolate uses two ingredients; beans and sugar. We have chosen not to dumb down flavor by adding extra butters, oils, soy, emulsifiers or preservatives.
You have some incredibly interesting products and variations of your chocolate, Can you introduce us to some of your products? What are your personal favourites?
Our friends over at Stumptown Coffee have provided us with amazing coffees to add to our chocolate. It is great to work with incredible roasters who happen to be amazing people.
My mouth’s watering at all this talk of chocolate, where can I get hold of some of your products?
Primarily in the New York City area at your local market. You can check out our website to see our list of locations. Our factory’s tasting room is open on the weekends from noon to eight.
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...a day in the life: News Cafe, Miami
Tony Magaldi, General Manager of Miami Beach’s famed spot, the 24hr News Cafe, dropped us a line to give us a sketch of a typical day at the joint that keeps the night owls and the early birds happy…
The sun rises at 6:40 a.m. Another glorious February day is in store. It’s a breezy 74 degrees already. Gradually our first customers start trickling in a little past 7 a.m. “Sun or shade” the hosts ask…just to give the option. The answer is obvious. “Sun please”, back home they would be freezing their buns off no matter where they are from.
The morning passes and as the day progresses the sun inches west over the building. By now we’ve already fed hundreds on the way to the beaches or shopping or whatever. Late afternoon is the lull of the day. A brief moment of quiet descends and you can actually hear the jazz playing in the cafe. That ends when Happy Hour arrives…The thirsty beachgoers slowly roll up for the cocktail of their choice. The bar fills up and the mood is most jovial. The vacation spirit is a little infectious.
The winter sun sets a little past 6. What will the night be like on Ocean Drive? At News Café? One cannot predict as no two days are ever the same. The full moon, large as life appears directly across the street with a reflection over the ocean worthy of a painting. Yes, the night is young and anything can happen.
For more reasons why we love Miami’s sorbet shades and deco silhouettes have a peek here.
(12 votes, average: 4.92 out of 5) Loading ...couture crashpads
With London Fashion Week all wrapped up (neatly in a couture bow of course), the world’s most sartorially astute folk are currently decamping to Milano. We’ve poised over our morning cappuccinos and biscotti’s to pitch our top 5 favourite international boltholes where Senora Donatella and co. get their beauty sleep…
These are our favourite fashion pads where those in the know can get everything they want by the bucket load (style here doesn’t come in a size zero, oh no)… who says fashion is only made for the catwalk.
uno: 3 rooms 10 corso como, milan
contemporary cool at como
Furnished in homage to the vision of many mid-20th century designers and architects, the three spacious suites are filled with nifty pieces of furniture all handpicked for the hotel. Take one step outside your home away from home and you’ll find yourself surrounded by Milan’s famed boutiques.
le maurice bar
due: le meurice, paris
Dripping in elegance and luxury, this iconic Parisian hotel exhibits everything we love about the classic, chic French way of living. Located opposite the Tuileries Garden, this magical 18th century institution has seen a lot of history taking place over the years. Famous painters, writers, and designers have all sauntered through the grand doors of Le Maurice. The result is a setting that drives the artist flair that runs right through the veins of Paris. From Louis 6th marble bathrooms, to the recent embellishment of Philippe Starck, this place fuses historical decadence with contemporary cool.
tre: byblos art hotel, verona
byblos art
Another show-stopper from Italia. Once past the Shakespearean stone façade, you’re met by a riotous mix of rich colour, textures and pop art emblems. Think Medici meets Warhol and Dali, and you’ve got the Byblos. And falling under the umbrella of Gianni Versace’s label it’s no surprise really.
quattro : pelican hotel, miami beach
the cubarean
On the oh-so-hip Miami Beach strip, this eccentric and slightly naughty hotel has Diesel splashed all over. The owner of the brand Renzo Rosso even resides there. The vibe is all-out originality, with each room kitted out in an original theme. Our favourites include the Cubarean Islands room, and in true Miami Beach style; The Deco (cktail) room.
cinque: claridges diane von furstenburg suite
bold prints and sheer style
Fashions fairy godmother of print has sprinkled her magic dust around the suites of London’s classic institution; Claridges. Retaining the original Claridges characteristics, von Furstenberg has suped up these suites with bespoke fabrics and furniture with her iconic prints and bold colours. Ensuring the most glamorous of stays whilst exploring the capital.
(26 votes, average: 4.81 out of 5) Loading ...the king of extinction
roaming the tassie jungles
The Tasmanian Tiger is the Elvis of the extinct species club. The haircut may need a bit of work, but it’s certainly got a voice to make you weak at the knees, a host of regular impersonators, and a sightings log to rival The King himself. So how do you spot one in the wild?
First of all, ignore the naysayers. Elvis might be dead, but according to local Tasmanians, the Tiger certainly, maybe, probably isn’t.
Convinced?
the elusive tiger last seen here...
Good. So now you’re on the plane to Hobart, you’ll need to know how to distinguish that flash of fur from the many others. Wild cats, dogs, and even ‘roos are common mis-sightings, so make sure you look out for its distinctive dark brown or black stripes up its back. Its scientific name, Thylacinus cynocephalus, means “pouched-dog with a wolf’s head”, which sounds like you wouldn’t miss it in a line-up. Their unnerving high-pitched yelp and ‘hot, electric’ smell will also help you weed them out the old fashioned, hunter way.
Once you arrive to find the Tiger, you’ll receive plenty of encouragement from the locals. Although officially there have been no sightings since 1936 (maybe we should have told you that before you jumped on the plane), it won’t take long before locals Ned or Bruce (or alike) are regaling you with stories of a yelping cat-like creature following them along a track, or Tiger teeth marks in their livestock. Tigers were known to feed on all types of animals, so a night spent in the chicken coop could prove fruitful, if not life threatening. Though be patient; Tiger spotters have camped out for weeks and not seen or heard anything more than nature’s gentle hum.
track the tiger, then relax...
Use those hours holed up in the chicken coop to catch up on your Tiger history. Because of their greedy delectation for livestock, thousands were trapped and killed. The remainder fell victim to a distemper-like disease and the last few were bought by zoos, where the last died in 1936. Recent expeditions to find evidence of Tigers have produced nothing conclusive, leading to an official line that rates your chances of ever seeing one again as firmly, nil.
You’re thinking now that this has been a con, with no more chance of finding a Tasmanian Tiger than there is of the real Elvis showing up at your birthday party. But such are the frequency of claimed sightings (some with photographic evidence but which is too grainy to be ‘conclusive’) that this is much more than just another Loch Ness Monster or Big Foot. The locals truly believe the Tiger is there, somewhere.
And even if you return home empty-pawed, scientists are attempting to recreate a living clone to repopulate the Tigers. Though it sounds like crazy, big-haired science talk, they are confident that a clone will, one day, be possible. And once that’s done, Elvis’s clone is surely only just around the corner.
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...travel for technophobes
travel for technophobes
Here at Black Tomato, we understand that sometimes all these gadgets can, well, just get a little too much. So, here’s our guide to a world of travel without all the tech stuff. Leave the charger at home and celebrate the peaceful side of our planet…
giant tortoise
On the island of Floreana? Got a message but haven’t got a bottle? Fret not. If speed is most definitely not of the essence; if turtle courier sounds like an unnecessarily fleet-footed alternative, then Head to the ‘Post Office’ and send a message… in a barrel. Resident on the Galapagos Island of Floreana since its ‘installation’ by British Whalers in 1793, travellers can use the weather-beaten drum to drop off or pick up letters, helping see them safely delivered anywhere in the world (eventually), all without a stamp.
Man and beast working in perfect harmony to bring home the bacon. In Mongolia, the age-old pairing of man and eagle is as much part of an ongoing modern reality as it is intrinsic to the folklore of the nation. Make for the mountains in October to witness the country’s deadliest double-acts as they vie for supremacy at the annual Eagle Hunting Festival in Bayan-Olgii.
listen up in marrakesh
They may be slick, they’re almost legible and they even play audiobooks, but if your idea of a good story told involves the great night sky, a gathering hush and a bearded bard waxing allegorical over tales of lust, envy, adversity and triumph, then make for Morocco. The storytellers of Marrakech’s Djemaa el Fna are a dying breed, but, for now at least, their stories continue to draw crowds and pass wisdom with a drama as ever inaccessible to solitude, headphones and a digital screen.
We are pleased to inform you there is a slow service running as usual. No cars, no trains, no traffic, just reassuring clip following clop. Transport is no loose description on the Bali islands of Gili – it means horse and cart. Or bicycle if you’re feeling modern and think you might be in a ‘rush’ or a ‘hurry’.
mighty dunes
Dune 7 is a 130m high sand dune, 10km from Walvis Bay in Namibia – the highest ridge on the coastal dune belt. Don your goggles, strap in to the ski or sandboard and live the video game without having to worry about any icey falls…
Stop shuffling and have a fiddle in Nova Scotia. The Celtic roots run deep in this part of Canada and the best way to get away from the repetitive drone of your boss’ 80s power ballads could be a week-long fiddling course. Find yourself some step-dancers, get practicing and you’ll be ready for a Ceilidh in no time.
cruising down the amazon
The Brazilian Amazon is one of the most incredible ecosystems on the planet. Home to countless species of flora and fauna and with tribal peoples still living ignorant of modern civilisation, this is the ultimate destination for those of you who wanting to experience the raw beauty of unrestrained tropical nature.
(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...horse play
Sadler’s Wells Theatre is one London institution that always manages to push those pre-constructed artistic boundaries, to leave us inspired, probably a little shocked and eager for a little more. This spring they’re looking east…Far East to one of our personal favourites, Japan.
From the 1st- 6th of March, The Centaur and the Animal, a contemporary collaboration of world renowned Horseman Bartabas and Japanese Butoh master Ko Murobushi takes centre stage here in London. This Intimate haunting work recreates the birth of the iconic Centaur in Japanese folklore, following the fragile ancient relationship between master and horse which ultimately culminates in the merging of the human and animal form. Now you see why we say that this is not something you see everyday.
bartabas on horse back
The performance is choreographed in the radical Japanese style of Butoh, where taboo stories are acted out in a playful slow, hyper-controlled motion. The performance even sees four stallions making their Sadler’s Wells stage debut… equestrian master Bartabas has trained his horses to hold a state of intense concentration throughout the performance (no mean feat we’re guessing). Starring in the play himself, Bartabas sees his equine co-stars more as dance partners than stage-side steeds.
For one week only Japan’s dark arts arrive in London, we say allow yourself to be transported to another world.
(13 votes, average: 4.92 out of 5) Loading ...the weekend hangover cure
jubjub bar
New York may have always been regarded as one of the world’s finest cocktail destinations, but there is a new scene of cocktail connoisseurs currently overhauling the classics to throw some seriously innovative alchemy into the mix. The current trend sweeping the hidden and not-so-hidden bars and hotels of NYC involves a guest line-up of the finest international mixologists going head to head for a one night only performance. Perhaps it’s the opportunity for audience participation/digestion or maybe it’s just in the spirit of good Old Fashioned competition, either way these spontaneous performances are garnering something of a very dedicated following. Check out the blog of NY pop-up du jour, Fatty Johnson’s, to catch their live acts warming up here.
pick a cocktail, any cocktail
Incapable of being outdone, London’s equally enterprising (and thirsty) nightlife scene is stoking its own scene of experimental celebrity shakers. Just a stone’s throw from Black Tomato HQ you have Callooh Callay, but more precisely tucked away within Callooh Callay, through the wardrobe, you have the JubJub bar where each week a guest bartender takes centre stage to hand-craft a liquid menu for a teeny group of thirsty key holders.
Sean Ware, 42 Below Cocktail World Cup 2008 winner and creator of the infamous Ale of Two Cities gave us a very sneaky preview of the S/S 2011 “At the movies” theme menu which launches at C.C. on March 21st (don’t tell anyone yet…)
Popcorn & Cola
Bacardi Superior infused with buttered popcorn, vanilla bitters, cola tonic and rich cane syrup, served with lime and salted popcorn on the side.
Adult’s Playground
Hennessey Fine de Cognac, Grand Marnier, liquorice and Peychaud bitters, sweetened with pink Hubba Bubba Bubblegum essence.
Now if that doesn’t get you in the mood for the Oscars on Feb 27th, we don’t know what will…
(10 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...
