putting a touch of chic to your christmas shopping list

events at christmas

a chic christmas

Tis the season to be jolly, as well as decked out in all the latest fashions from across Europe. Our friends at Chic Outlet Shopping^® have set up a few yule tide gems at their various boutique shopping villages, we could help but take a closer look…

festive shopping in antwerp

This yuletide season Maasmechelen Village is opening its doors to a host of brand new stores to tempt you to its shopping paradise. For cooking up a storm over Christmas you can pick up a few Le Creuset casserole dishes in their new boutique, or wrap up with a visit to the new FTC cashmere boutique.

good santa

During the run up to Christmas Milan’s fashion mecca; Fidenza Village is launching its Santa’s Workshop Boutique, created in association with Convivio, the charity founded by Gianni Versace in 1992. Keep in line with the fashion credentials of course, Santa’s Workshop is a unique boutique where passers by can awe at the magical and timeless festive trinkets. This candle lite, mistletoe adorned grotto can melt the heart of any Christmas Grinch.

a festive o la la

This Christmas season the oh-so-chic La Vallée Village in Paris has launched its even chicer VIP days out. For an exclusive price enjoy return travel tickets, a two course meal at the gourmet palace of Natalie’s Cafe, as well as a gift voucher.

a pop up christmas

For the best German fashion has to offer, Inglostadt Village, Munich welcomes its new Pop-Up boutique BlackBox. Open through out December this new boutique is home to leading brands such as Blauer, and George, Gina, and Lucy. Looking for a show-stopping number to wow at your Christmas party? We think you’ll find it here.

Find out more about our festive shopping trips here

(2 votes, average: 2.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

next up: the fashion wave hits moscow

Have we got news for you fashion followers…Continuing on from the successful New York and London leg of its Fashion Next programme, W Hotels announces a unique collaboration with Moscow based Garage Magazine and Editor-in-Chief Dasha Zhukova. Garage nominated Russian designer Vika Gazinskaya to work with W Hotels’ newly appointed Global Fashion Director, Jenne Lombardo to celebrate a snapshot of Moscow creativity, featuring up and coming designers, Anna Miminoshvili and Alexander Terekhov. Check out this little documentary, that explores the trends and talent from a Moscow perspective including information on their upcoming collections.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

mixing it up W style

Eclipse bar

drink it up…

As we welcome September in and bid farewell to the summer that, well, never was, we’re looking to the sleek and innovative folk over at W hotels as they shake things up for the autumn months.  From September 1^st step behind the Eclipse bar and enter a world that’ll delight the senses, as you embark on a mixology master class alongside the Eclipse Barcelona’s cocktail gurus.

Discover the secrets behind the world famous Watermelon Martini, W’s very own Venezuelan Mojito and the seductive Passion fruit Martini, trust us your Friday night cocktail parties will never be the same again.

Find out more about the W Hotels here

(3 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

shout out to stonebarn

stonebarn hotel

Looking out over the epicurean heartland of Pemberton, WA, there aren’t many rooftops to shout from, so here, we’re going to have to climb one of the many trees in this verdant expanse of nature to tell the world about the amazing boutique hotel, Stonebarn.

Reflecting all of the surrounding nature’s serene brilliance, Stonebarn is the place to go to escape from the rushing reek of traffic and the stress of life in the urban fast lane. Witness as your world here transforms from stressed-out humbug to nature loving zen guru. Don’t think that discarding the city’s hum means you have to skimp on luxury. No, no. Having been designed by Paris’s famous architect, Aviva F Shpilman, at Stonebarn there is nothing that isn’t supremely chic and stylish; there are only six rooms, each handcrafted out of local stone and timber with luxury four-poster beds, handpicked furnishings, and stylish bathrooms, complete with an agelessly elegant claw-foot bath.

The kicker for Stonebarn though, ahead of even its setting and its style, is the amazing food and wine served up. In a region that is fast earning deep respect and racking up the accolades for its delicious fresh produce and wineries, Stonebarn is leading the WA way with their philosophy of sourcing locally and using it to create innovative and exciting dishes. Work your way through the menu of dishes prepared using ingredients from Stonebarn’s own herb garden, hen house, truffiere and orchard. Move onto the fresh artisan breads, cured meats, pates, cheeses and salsas, and wash it all down with one of Stonebarn’s brilliant selection of local wines. You’ll quickly discover that Stonebarn really is the ultimate treat for the senses and the soul.

Like the sound of Stonebarn, love the sound of WA click here to find out more….

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

safari chic

Elephant Outside Suite

your safari wake up call…

Out on the sun-crisped savannahs of South Africa, amongst grazing herds of elephants and rhinos, and hidden like its pride of lions in the long grass of the river banks, Makanyane Safari Lodge holds a secret that will surprise, thrill and change you: You can have a luxurious, and fun, family holiday.

Think safari-chic contemporary suites, with enormous beds, textured walls of natural rock and dried tree trunks, and glass walls to give you spectacular views onto bush scenery below. Pamper yourself in the open air bathrooms, equipped with opulent roll-top tubs for that special get-back-in-touch-with-nature soak, you might have an elephant for company mind…

Tired out from the exhilaration of seeing the wildlife and a day spent in the sun, then curl up on the sofa and retire with some world-class South African wine, gazing at the star-flecked sky sparkling through your bedroom windows. Simply dreamy.

(5 votes, average: 4.20 out of 5)

 Loading ...

from jamaica with love

golden shores

beaches at goldeneye

After rather a large shake (not stir) up, GoldenEye in Jamaica has reopened after two years of renovations in a blaze of glory…well they do say diamonds are forever. Just a 20 minute flight or 90 minute private car transfer from Montego Bay to the private Ian Fleming airport located 10 minutes drive from GoldenEye, this exclusive island retreat is set in 52 acres of tropical forests. Now boasting a brand new array of chic lagoon suites and beach cottages, the bedrooms are all individually designed with understated elegance meets modern Caribbean flair. The rooms are resplendent with lagoon and ocean views, private decks and outdoor dining tables for supping under the stars. The outdoor amenities continue with beautiful al fresco rainfall showers and claw foot bath tubs set in your own lush tropical garden.

Ian Fleming, the James Bond maestro, was originally sent to the Caribbean on his majesty’s secret service during WWII to monitor U boat activities, in an operation nicknamed GoldenEye. At the close of the War he decided to stay and make Jamaica his home. The great news…it is still possible to stay in his iconic home known at GoldenEye as The Ian Fleming Villa where he penned all 14 classic Bond novels and we wanted to go and check out what all the hubbub was about…

gardens of goldeneye

Starting our morning in a new lagoon suite, suspended over the edge of the water to create that dreamy floating illusion we sat taking in the uninterrupted lagoon views with the only ripple of water following the occasional guest on a paddle board quietly trawling past, we also simply loved wading out from the perfect powder white sand to a tiny Island, replete with sun decks and carefully carved stone seats, to enjoy a fruit punch. The most difficult thing then was deciding what to do next. The options for day time activities are endless. We found ourselves trying to decide between scuba diving and snorkelling in the calm waters of the protected reef, paddle boarding, jet skiing, fishing or even triathlon training with GoldenEye’s ex Olympian spa & fitness director Iona Winters or simply lazing on the beach (…fortunately we managed to squeeze them all in..well apart from the triathlon training).

We loved the fact that rooms came complete with a pair of kayaks for exploring the 250 metre lagoon and Caribbean coast line; we even paddled off to the field spa for our treatment one afternoon.  Much to our delight we found out that the dining options had expanded with the addition of two new restaurants. We loved tasting head chef Conroy Arnold’s decadent offerings in the Gazebo restaurant before heading down to the Bizot bar for a night cap. It may have seemed apt to finish off the night with an espresso martini but we were tempted away by owner Chris Blackwell’s (founder of Island Records) own Blackwell rum a popular choice served on the rocks throughout  GoldenEye…an excellent idea ‘ay Money Penny.

We made sure that before we left we became part of the Bond history and kept ourselves in very good company from ex PM’s to Hollywood A listers by planting a young guava tree in the GoldenEye garden with donations going to GoldenEye’s Orocabessa foundation…why not take a trip and see how it is doing?

(7 votes, average: 4.86 out of 5)

 Loading ...

we’ve just checked in to la la land

sunset tower penthouse

Whilst our co-founder Tom lands on the West Coast… we, back here at Black Tomato HQ, have taken inspiration from all the recent air-kissing at Cannes to have a teeny peek at Hollywood’s on/off screen love affair with one of our favourite hotels, The Sunset Tower Hotel.  Not out of jealousy mind… not at all.

Now LA wasn’t always the celebrity hotbed it used to be. Turns out this was once a hilly outback. Yep, hard to imagine many of the current inhabitants navigating that terrain with a latte in a pair of Nicholas Kirkwood wedges, we know.

The Sunset Tower Hotel is indisputably something of a tinseltown titan, almost as famous as the Hollywood Hills themselves- John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Howard Hughes have all called the penthouse of the ST home. And this Deco icon has been a favourite setting for Vanity Fair’s Oscar after party but, you know us, we can’t.quite.bring.ourselves to sound like a brightly coloured gossip rag. So instead, we’ll just have to let the gentle tinkling of the Tower Restaurant’s resident octogenarian pianist, Page Cavanaugh, fill the silence.

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

world’s finest cinemas

certainly no cine-plex…

As much as we advocate going out to explore the world, we understand that sometimes you need a night off. Which got us pondering our favourite cinemas around the world where we’ve slipped unoticed under the skin of local life to catch a classic film in more unusual surrounds than then nearest multiplex…

• First up has the quintessential American movie night experience at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas. It’s all about great food and cold beers at this cinema-come-eatery that creates bespoke gourmet menus based on any particular film. It opened in the mid 90s and whilst it may have expanded out a bit, we still think the original playhouse is well worth a visit.

• Next on our list is Govinda’s in Sydney, an Indian holistic centre that combines a scrumptious restaurant with a super comfy screening room replete with fully reclining loungers. Try one of the delicious thalis or pakoras from the buffet before heading upstairs to the screening room.

• Staying down under we’d hop over to Brisbane to the roof top of the Limes Hotel. The sophisticated chic space had us cooing at the prospect of mojitos and movies whilst admiring the stunning city views. It’s a smart casual affair and is the perfect place to begin a night out.

• We were pleasantly surprised when we found our next choice at the Evason hotel in the Ma’in Springs in Jordan. The ‘Cinema Paradiso’ outdoor screen is set in front of four hot waterfalls that cascade dramatically from the edge of the desert valley. The eighty foot falls may temporarily distract but the warm popcorn and homemade snacks are sure to induce that big screen feeling.

• Our final choice, for its futuristic, star wars appeal is the Multikino Zlote Tarasy in Warsaw, Poland.  Brainchild of designer Robert Majkut, the main screen has a majestic 6 foot LED powered chandelier overlooking a titanic 777 seats. The Velvet bar in the foyer with its dark padded walls and wing chairs is the perfect hideout for villains and heroes to converge after the showing.

Fin.

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

just the tip of copenhagen’s gastronomic iceberg…

copenhagen

copenhagen hues

As the sun slow-baked the industrial courtyards of the Copenhagen’s burgeoning Meatpacking district last weekend, impromptu terraces unpacked in front of the modestly glamorous restaurants that have credited this city with a world heavy-weight title in ageless culinary excellence.

This town is indisputably a design-aficionados dream and the food served amidst this blue-and-white gallery district certainly doesn’t disappoint the eye.  At Pate Pate (Slagterboderne 1) we broke the yolk of a perfectly poached egg over a savoury polenta cake cushion and lingered over a main of snails and beef. Yep, it’s not a combination you find too often, but trust me, it works. The desert I managed to shield from the eager spoons of my fellow diners, a molten blueberry soufflé with perfect posture, lives on in my memory of finest non-celebratory suppers…

copenhagen

Copenhagen’s cocktail culture doesn’t lag too far behind its culinary counterparts. At the (deservedly) frequently cited canal-side Ruby (Nybrogade 10) a team of hand-son experts seamlessly blend the offerings from an exceptionally large spirit cabinet amidst ultra laid-back drawing-room surrounds.  Across the other side of town, the lesser-known neighbourhood bar Salon39 (Vodroffsvej 39, 1900 Frederiksberg) – partner property to the distinctly un-Danish and therefore locally-esteemed tiki bar Brass Monkey (Enghavevej 31) – takes mixology to a new (spirit) level with an elegant dimly-lit intimate space reached via a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it doorway. No. 39 that is.

Un-surprisingly, the Danish do nourishing brunches exceptionally well too. Ricco’s on Studiestræde 24 was our favourite for a late Saturday morning. The hand-made bolle that came stuffed-to-the-brim with local produce were just as the owner himself had assured us from behind the counter; not savoury nor sweet. On the food journey between my clasped hands and my mouth I pondered yet another sensual balancing act, and then I stopped pondering and took another big bite…

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

paris when it sizzles

paris

Julia goes to Paris…

Breakfast in Paris should, I believe, ideally begin the night before. Which is why I was delighted to discover not croissants but a plethora of cupcakes upon our homecoming to the quiet sunlit lobby of the Hotel Amour at 7am last Friday morning. It got me thinking how it’s just the kind of highly portable breakfast you need to set yourself up with enough energy to move by foot from Pigalle to the 6^th arrondissement, get lost in the process, and crucially have the energy to enjoy getting lost.

Reviving food was, on reflection, something of a trend during my most recent visit… Myself and my Girl Friday made yummy noises in dark shades over restorative au natural superfoods at Super Nature (12 rue Trevise, 9eme), fearlessly swallowed down steak tartar and pillows of restorative squidgy ravioli at dining spot du jour Le Dauphin (131 avenue Parmentier) – the latest tapas offering from the folks behind Le Chateaubriand – and soaked up the Sancere with perfectly dishevelled frites served by the perfectly dishevelled waiter in the garden terrace at the Amour. Can’t complain really can you; Paris definitely pulls out all the stops when it comes to those rehumanizing bites to eat. Although there was barely enough room for an Easter egg. Barely, but still some mind.  Jacques Genin’s chocolate shop (133 rue de Turenne, 3eme) came to the rescue for one final gap-filling soft caramel before it was time to catch the train mumbling my new mantra ‘one must learn to say when, must learn to say when’.

Inspired? Have a look at some of our favourite Parisian jaunts here.

(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...