Travel destinations: Guerledan Lake Area, Brittany, France

I am fortunate to live in the Guerledan Lake area of Brittany. This is arguably one of the most beautiful areas of France and I can do nothing short of enthusing about what the area has to offer the public. Why would I want an influx of tourists to my area ? Well, the fact is that it is so enormous, so widespread and so accessible that even on a busy day, it has a habit of camouflaging the tourists, and remaining a force of nature, and one that is splendid. The whole lake area is surrounded by the Quenecan Forest, which is privately owned by the Count, (locally known as Jaques). The significance of his ownership is that the area can never be developed, that it is forested in such a way as to preserve the very nature that has existed for centuries, and will never be spoilt like other forest areas that are dotted with private ownership and farm settlements.

Although the forest is privately owned, the Count has great respect for the area, and has allowed pathways to be cleared through certain areas of the forest, making it an walker’s paradise, where you can forget time and hurry, and enjoy the greenery, the wildlife, and the adventure of all its’ secret places, and believe me, even though there are hundreds of walks, you can always find that one that no one else chooses to tread, and rarely bump into other tourists.

The lake itself is a masterpiece of engineering, and leads off to the Nantes Brest Canal on both sides, and feeding a massive hydro system of electricity, and all manner of tourists are catered for. For example, for families, there are home made beaches such as Anse de Sordan, equipped with children’s play area and very safe, as well as picnic areas and camping. For the more adventurous, Beau Rivage offers a wilder night life, beaches, water sports and activities. Neither of these areas is my favourite area of the Forest, although they are good going out places for families that have limited budgets, catering in the least expensive restaurants and offering good value entertainment like pedaloes, crazy golf, etc., and enough to keep the kids out of mischief and safe.

My favourite areas around the Guerledan Lake are the more discreet areas, like the many walkways around the lake, which have been improved upon in recent times, and where the walking is easy, and there is much to see. I also enjoy very much the pathways along the Nantes Brest Canal, which are ideal pathways for bikes, and really not crowded, and completely safe.

Eating in

Proven Ways to Get a Fulfilled Holiday to Spain

Spain is a beautiful country, located in Southern Europe. It is neighbor to Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Morocco and Portugal. Every year millions of travelers come to Spain for beach vacations and to experience the rich culture and history of the country. Spain is an awe-inspiring country with a lot of historical cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona, scenic countryside, mountains, picturesque coast and art treasures. Holidays to Spain will leave you with great memories for a lifetime.

When visiting Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the most interesting sites in the country. Highlight is to walk down La Rambla, the famous street mall. La Rambla is a place where you can experience the local culture through traditional Spanish cafes. As you walk down La Rambla, you can freely visit local shops and meet local artists in central Barcelona. Beauty lines the street. As a matter of fact, you marvel at several of the great works of the outstanding 19th century architect, Antoni Gaudi. You can visit some of the well renowned buildings he created like the La Sagrada Familia, Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, Palau Guell, Casa Vicens, and Parc Guell. Don’t forget to find the fountain that is famous for its legend that all of those people who take a drink there will come back some day to the beautiful city of Barcelona.

But there are so many sites beyond La Rambla where you will go through this great culture of Barcelona during your holiday in Spain. Barcelona is full of amazing museums. These museums show the plentiful art and history of Barcelona. Ensure you do not overlook the local restaurant and tapas bar scenes while you are on holiday in Spain. Barcelona has many opportunities to enjoy the typical varieties of Spanish cuisine in the traditional Spanish eating places.

Taking a Holiday in Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain. Travelers regularly include Madrid in their itinerary as they are going for Spain vacations. Madrid has a unique clime amongst the cities of Spain, due to its higher elevation in central Spain. A must see in Madrid for any tourist is the monument of Puerta de Alcala located in the central part of Madrid. Close to this highlight you are able to relax in the stunning Parque del Buen Retiro or try visiting the Prado Museum. There are so many historic sights in Madrid that every culture lover or art lover will be awed by the plentiful history that Madrid has to offer.

Seeing the Rest of Spain

Barcelona and Madrid are the most popular cities, however you can find a lot more historical points of interest and ancient works in the other parts of Spain. When traveling within Spain, it is easy to move from one city to another, by bus or by train. If you want more control over your travel plan on your Spain holidays, consider hiring a rental car. Take out a tourist guide and a map to create your own great Spain holiday.

How To Find A Good Restaurant Abroad

Traveling brings with it many different and difficult circumstances. There is a new language, that proves to be a difficult barrier to many and there is a totally new culture. Working through these disadvantages for a tourist can be pretty challenging but rewarding when done. One of the toughest things a tourist has to work through is…food! If you are from the United States, you are going to have a much different perspective on what tastes good then say the European restaurant you are at! There are a few tricks of the trade to finding good restaurants abroad- you just need to be aware of them!

Here is a quick man’s guide to finding a great restaurant in an area where you don’t know the language or the culture!

• Ask a local person! This is the most basic of suggestions but is often the most effective. Most local people would be glad to assist you with finding a quality restaurant. If you can, find a local who speaks your language at least a little bit and they should be able to comprehend what you are looking for! Locals know the good restaurants, the poor restaurants and the ones that will make you sick!

• Look for popularity! Now this tip doesn’t take a lot of time or a lot of knowledge, just observation! If you are in a city where there are streets full of restaurants and shops, just merely see which ones have the longest lines when dinner time rolls around! Chances are the restaurant with the longest line is going to have at least half way decent food!

• Research your area! The internet has opened up many different options when it comes to researching a specific area for restaurants. Not only can you find out how far the restaurant is from your hotel or accommodation, but you can find reviews from other people who have eaten there! Yahoo! and Google offer some of the best restaurant guides online for your convenience; so if you’re looking at a specific area, look on the internet first! Another form of researching is asking your travel agent. Often your agent will have at least a good sense of the restaurants in the area, if not first hand experience!

Finding the best restaurant for you when you are abroad doesn’t have to be impossible or stressful for your vacation- make it a fun part of the excitement that international traveling brings along with it! Follow the tips above to get the restaurant that has your tastes and preferences in mind!

Experience Sant Juan the Best Summer Fiesta in Barcelona Spain

The festival of Sant Juan (Saint John) is celebrated every year all over Spain between June 20th- June 24th. It climaxes on June 23rd when the summer solstice, or shortest night of the year is marked with an explosive mix of fireworks, bonfires and beach parties that wont stop until the sun comes up.

As well as the fireworks, stages with concerts, music and dancing will be set up around the city, with the busiest areas being Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Montjuic and Barceloneta, the popular beach side district of the city.

Bars and clubs will be open all night, and thanks to the free-spirited culture in Spain, alcohol will be cheap and fast flowing, even in the streets.

Party-goers will be arriving from all over the world to celebrate with the locals. Cava (champagne) will be drunk, Coca ( a traditional cake) will be eaten, and people of all ages and all walks of life will come together to party hard.

The festival of Sant Juan is without a doubt one of the best reasons to visit Spain, especially Barcelona, at this time of year. So, now that you have decided you want a piece of the action, here is a few tips from the locals as to how to get the most out of your experience.
The festival of Sant Juan (Saint John) is celebrated every year all over Spain between June 20th- June 24th. It climaxes on June 23rd when the summer solstice, or shortest night of the year is marked with an explosive mix of fireworks, bonfires and beach parties that wont stop until the sun comes up.

As well as the fireworks, stages with concerts, music and dancing will be set up around the city, with the busiest areas being Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Montjuic and Barceloneta, the popular beach side district of the city.

Bars and clubs will be open all night, and thanks to the free-spirited culture in Spain, alcohol will be cheap and fast flowing, even in the streets.

Party-goers will be arriving from all over the world to celebrate with the locals. Cava (champagne) will be drunk, Coca ( a traditional cake) will be eaten, and people of all ages and all walks of life will come together to party hard.

The festival of Sant Juan is without a doubt one of the best reasons to visit Spain, especially Barcelona, at this time of year. So, now that you have decided you want a piece of the action, here is a few tips from the locals as to how to get the most out of your experience.
The festival of Sant Juan (Saint John) is celebrated every year all over Spain between June 20th- June 24th. It climaxes on June 23rd when the summer solstice, or shortest night of the year is marked with an explosive mix of fireworks, bonfires and beach parties that wont stop until the sun comes up.

As well as the fireworks, stages with concerts, music and dancing will be set up around the city, with the busiest areas being Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Montjuic and Barceloneta, the popular beach side district of the city.

Bars and clubs will be open all night, and thanks to the free-spirited culture in Spain, alcohol will be cheap and fast flowing, even in the streets.

Party-goers will be arriving from all over the world to celebrate with the locals. Cava (champagne) will be drunk, Coca ( a traditional cake) will be eaten, and people of all ages and all walks of life will come together to party hard.

The festival of Sant Juan is without a doubt one of the best reasons to visit Spain, especially Barcelona, at this time of year. So, now that you have decided you want a piece of the action, here is a few tips from the locals as to how to get the most out of your experience.

Find accommodation. And do it quickly.
In a city experiencing a continual and aggressive increase in tourist numbers, it may be difficult to find accommodation for this time of year in Barcelona. Especially if you have left it this late to make a booking.

Skip the hotels and hit the net to find an apartment for your stay. Renting an apartment is the perfect choice of accommodation for groups, couples or families of any size. It is the most affordable, private, safest and comfortable choice of accommodation.

Select your location strategically.
You are in Spain. It is summer. It is hot and the sun is shining. You need to be close to the beach. Not only will the beach be packed with parties, bonfires and the freshest seafood on the Spanish coast, you need a comfortable place to recover from the night before during the day, and the beach is obviously a great choice.

Barceloneta is the area of the city to stay if you want to be close to the sand whilst still being well connected to the main areas of town, where all the action will be taking place.

Originally a small seaside fishing village, Barceloneta is a grid of narrow streets and residential apartments. The perfect place for a quiet retreat when and if, the bars discotheques finally close at dawn. Best of all, you are an easy 20 minute walk to the main areas of town such as La Rambla, El Born, Barrio Gotic and Raval.

In Barceloneta you will also find plenty of corner stores, cafes, restaurants and bars dotted around the place where you can buy anything from groceries, alcohol, cigarettes, souvenirs and sun cream.

Try the seafood. Trust us.
Again, you are in Spain, on the coast. Barcelona is one of the cheapest places to sample really fresh seafood. From Paella to Octopus to Shrimp and Fish. It is all here.

You will not find it hard finding good seafood in Barceloneta. We recommend Ancora for a traditional (not packet) Paella starting from 10 euros per person. Find it on the corner of the main street Passeig de Joan de Borbon and Carrer de Almirall Cervera. They also do a great Sangria.

Get some rest. You are going to need it.
The night of the 23rd is not to be missed. You are going to need all your energy to get the most out of it. Do this the Spanish way with a siesta after lunch on Saturday. We recommend a massage on Barceloneta beach. A full body massage will cost you about 10 euros and it is definitely money worth spent.

See the sights. There is plenty.
You have come all the way to Barcelona, so you might as well check out some of the local attractions. There is plenty to choose from. If you do not have a lot of time, taking a bike tour is an excellent way of getting a glimpse of the city is top attractions and getting your bearings around town. If you have got a bit of time to spare, your list should include some of the following:

Gaudi masterpiece La Sagrada Familia
The Gothic Cathedral and surrounding labyrinth of streets with some of the most well preserved architecture in Europe
The Picasso or Dali museum
The Aquarium (the biggest of its kind in Europe)
Performers, tapas and shopping on La Rambla
La Boqueria where seafood, fruit, meat and cheese can be found at its freshest.

So, that’s about it. The essentials. That’s all you really need to know. The best way to experience Sant Juan is to jump right in and go with the flow. Like most fiestas in Spain, anything can happen… Enjoy

Nonfiction book reviews: Eat, Pray, Love: One Womans Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert – Part 5

Just exactly how does one find her true self? Well, if you are Elizabeth Gilbert-a.k.a. “Liz”, you pack a few things and trek off to Italy, India, and Indonesia. Eat, Pray, Love chronicles her internal and external journeys seeking pleasure, happiness, and peace-not to mention her true self.

Fashioning the lay-out of her book after 108-bead japa malas (strings of beads) used by Buddhists and Hindus during prayers and meditation, Liz sets out to tell her story of loss, search, and discovery.

THE CONFLICT

The book begins with Elizabeth-a married woman and journalist-on the floor in the bathroom of her newly purchased home in New York state, crying hysterically. She is experiencing incredible angst, yet does not understand why. Her history of following along the commonly accepted pathways in life is catching up with her. Now married, she and her husband have agreed to have a family.

The conflict is that Elizabeth truly does not want to have a baby, and this fact confuses her. She has convinced herself that something must be terribly wrong with her. How could she not want what everyone else seems to want? Praying adamantly, she is suddenly filled with a peace that overtakes her. She ceases sobbing. Thus begins her process of separation from life as she’s known it over the past 8 years.

Realizing she must leave her marriage, Liz was absolutely certain that she and her husband would amicably separate all their material possessions and money. However, this certainty was eventually blown to bits by her soon-to-be ex-husband’s hurt and anger. He became uncooperative, manipulative, and demanding when Liz attempted to equitably divide their assets. The fight was on.

THE PLOT THICKENS

Complicating the picture is Liz’s relationship with “David”, a man with whom she had established a relationship as the demise of her marriage ensued. And so, she moves in with him. On the first night at his place, Liz made the acquaintance of an Indian Guru.

Finding herself profoundly affected by the meeting with the Guru, she began to meditate and study. Upon hearing the Guru had an Ashram-a spiritual community-in India, Liz was elated and began to focus on visiting such a community to seek harmony and self-understanding.

Liz’s pattern of unhappiness continued to spiral downward after she moved in with David. She felt quite dependent upon him, which triggered his retreat. She clung, he pushed away. Ultimately, she didn’t blame him and realized she needed to move

Madrid Capital of Spain

Madrid is relatively young when compared to the other great Spanish cities such as Seville and Valencia and so it lacks the traditions of the ancient Andalusian and Castilian towns. It lies on a vast open plateau and is subject to extremes of temperature, the daily variation is sometimes 22°C. The locals sum up their climate as nine months of winter and another 3 months of hell.

It is the nation’s chief transportation and administrative centre. Its commercial and industrial life developed very rapidly after the 1890s and today it is nation’s chief transportation and administrative centre, rivalled only by Barcelona. Besides it’s many manufacturing industries, Madrid are foremost as a banking, education, printing, publishing, tourism, and film production centre.

The general aspect of Madrid is modern, with boulevards and fashionable shopping areas, but the old quarters have picturesque streets. In the heart of the city is the Plaza Mayor, a 17th century square, built in the style of Juan de Herrera. Madrid’s loveliest gardens can found the Buen Retiro Park which opened in 1631. At the weekends street performers including musicians, tarot readers and puppet shows for children play in the park but this does bring in the crowds. Other landmarks include, El Pacicio Real, the huge and very opulent royal palace. A restored 1850 opera house and the imposing 19th-century building containing the national library, the national archives, and an archaeological museum. Also noteworthy is the modern University City, which transferred from the town of Alcalá de Henares in 1836.

The best area in Madrid for bars and clubs is Malasana. If you arrive before 1 am you’ll find the night yet to get underway. Cool Ballroom is probably numero uno in the city. And don’t forget to end the night with the traditional Chocolate con Churrus. Madrid, as you would expect has numerous eating-place but try Casa Mingo in the Rio Manzanares. The house speciality is a whole roast chicken served with a salad and a bottle of cider. On Sunday you should head for, along with most of the population of the city, the Embajadores for the flea market on El Rastro. Most of what is on sale is junk but there are a few stalls with genuine antiques. If you’re a football fan try to obtain tickets for one of Real Madrid’s home games at the spectacular Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Here you will see the famous “galacticos” perform, or as is more usual under perform.

Madrid places host to three superb art museums, the Prado, which houses one of the finest art collections in the world including works by Veleazquez, Domenikos Theotokopoulos, Goya, Murillo, Ribera, Hieronymus Bosch, Rubens, Botticelli, Mantegna, Titian, Rembrandt, Mengs, Poussin and Gainsborough. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace and is home to one of the most wide ranging private collections of European art. The Queen Sofia Museum of modern art includes turn of the 20th century Catalan Modernism, Juan Gris’ cubism, the bronze sculptures of Pablo Gargallo, some 20 canvases by Salvador Dali and Picasso’s work condemning the German bombing the town of Guernica in the Basque country during the Spanish civil war. Also worth a visit is the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales which holds an interesting collection of treasures.

Madrid was first mentioned in the 10th century as a fortress of the Moors. Alfonso VI of Castile drove them out in 1083. The Cortes of Castile met in Madrid several times, and Ferdinand and Isabella as well as Emperor Charles V often resided there, but Madrid became the capital of Spain only in 1561, in the reign of Philip II. The city developed slowly at first, but it expanded rapidly in the 18th century under the Bourbon kings. The royal palace and the Prado date from that period. A popular uprising against the French took place at Madrid on May 2, 1808 at the beginning of the Peninsular War. A fierce battle was fought in the city’s central square, the Puerta del Sol. In reprisal, hundreds of citizens were shot at night along the Prado promenade. Goya immortalized the events of that day with two of his most celebrated paintings, both can be seen in the Prado gallery. Madrid again played a heroic role in the Spanish civil war, when, under the command of General José Miaja, it resisted 29 months of siege by the Franco’s Nationalist forces, suffering several bombardments and air attacks. It finally surrendered in late March 1939 effectively bringing the conflict to an end.

Alcalá de Henares lies some 30 km to the east of Madrid, on the Henares River. Once surrounded by wheat fields, the building of a major road has drawn it into the suburban orbit of Madrid. Chemicals, plastics, electrical appliances, leather, and china are produced in the town. Among the landmarks are a Gothic collegiate church and the former archiepiscopal palace. The new University of Alcalá de Henares was founded in 1977.

The town was called Complutum in Roman times. It is famous as the former seat of a great university founded in 1508 which subsequently transferred to Madrid in 1836. Also as the birthplace of Cervantes, Ferdinand I and Katherine of Aragon. And lastly as the scene of the Cortes in which Alfonso XI promulgated the Ordenamiento de Alcalá. The Spanish civil war saw the town severely damaged.

Other towns within the autonomous region of Madrid include Toledo, which preceded Madrid as the Spanish capital. Avila, whose old walls remain largely intact and a walk along them provides superb views of the town within and the harsh Castilian landscape outside. Segovia and it’s ancient
aqueduct which is an example of Roman engineering at it’s very best and Guadalajara.

Things To Do And Food To Eat In Fukuoka, Japan

Fukuoka isn’t that small of a place. Actual numbers bring the population to about the 5 million mark, with the city having roughly 1.3 million people. With that amount of people around, you know there has got to be something to do. On any day of the week if you look you will be able to find something that interests you. There are often festivals in one area or another in Fukuoka city. With a little help from a friend or the domestic foreigner magazines and information centers you will be able to find out where the festivals are being held.

The center of Fukuoka city will have to be Tenjin (though others may argue it to be Hakata). It is the shoppers’ haven of the prefecture. Feel you need to do a little shopping for some nice named brands from Italy or France? head on over to Tenjin. Want to blow off some steam and hit a bar (including foreigner bars)? Tenjin is the place to be. Want to meet some new friends? Rainbow Plaza in… you guessed it, Tenjin, is the place to do just that.

Right next door to Tenjin is Nakasu. Nakasu hosts nightlife entertainment but tends to cater to the more affluent individual. However, Nakasu also has a huge shopping complex named Canal City which has so many shops that you wouldn’t be able to count them all. The complex holds many restaurants, two hotels, a large cinema and in the center of Canal City is an area called Sun Plaza where it is common to find street performers doing their acts.

Of course Tenjin and Nakasu aren’t the only place you can have fun. I live about 10 minutes away from Tenjin by subway in a town called Nishijin and I can do nearly as many things here as I can in Tenjin. Bowling, swimming, soccer, billiards, game centers, and even a movie theater are just a few of the things Nishijin and the nearby areas have to offer.

Yahoo Dome (formerly Fukuoka Dome) is located in Momochi which boarders the sea. Yahoo Dome is home to the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. The Hawks are a strong baseball team, beloved by the city and its residents. In fact, there are only two teams in Japan’s professional baseball league who attract more than one million fans to their home games per year, and the Hawks are one of them. When the Hawks don’t have a home game you can sometimes find other activities occurring in the Dome. Yahoo Dome hosts various flea markets and concerts throughout the year.

Food, food, food!

As far as I’m concerned, Fukuoka has the best food to offer in all of Japan (though I hear food in Sapporo is quite good). Fukuoka has its own well known dishes and of course the chefs here are well capable of recreating dishes found throughout the world.

Yatai

When night begins to fall on Fukuoka city you may suddenly notice many little street vendors (usually operating out of their vans) popping up all over the sidewalks. These vendors serve a variety of foods ranging from ramen to yakiniku to tempura. Yatais themselves are really a site to see.

Hard Rock Cafe Fukuoka

On the occasions when I miss American and Mexican food, I always have the option to head on over to Hard Rock Cafe right next door to Fukuoka dome in Momochi. Momochi is adjacent to Nishijin so indeed I am in luck. Hard Rock Cafe Fukuoka boasts the largest restaurant of its kind in Japan. The food is fantastic and of course the atmosphere is like all other Hard Rock Cafes out there. The staff is very friendly and since I frequent their establishment often I am treated extremely well with occasional benefits.

Izakaya

Though not only found in Fukuoka, Izakaya restaurants deserve a notable mention. Izakayas offer a wide variety of food and more importantly drinks at a low price. University students as well as business men can often be found in these restaurants chatting with colleagues and drinking up a storm. All Izakayas offer a different ambiance, and with some searching you will be able to find one that suits you.

Famous Fukuoka food

Fukuoka ramen

Have you ever had that cup O ramen or that freeze dried packaged ramen? bah! throw that out and try some “Tonkatsu ramen” (pork ramen) famous in Fukuoka and well know throughout all of Japan. First time I tried it I was instantly hooked and to this day try and eat it once every week or so.

Mentaiko

Another famous food which Fukuoka is renowned for is mentaiko (very tiny fish eggs). To some people mentaiko may not seem very appetizing but please don’t knock it till you try it. Mentaiko spaghetti, as an example, is a delicious treat around these parts. And there are of course many other recipes which have use for mentaiko.

Transportation

Unlike the nickname given to New York, Fukuoka does tend to get a little tired at night but usually not until quite late especially on weekends. One of the reasons for this in my humble opinion is the transportation shutdown at around midnight. That’s right, the subway, train, and bus system all but stops once you hit the AM. Which leaves the weary and, more often than not, drunk to either take a taxi home, walk, or I have even heard the “I will just stay up until the subway starts again at 6:00 before I go home” line used by those who just aren’t finished partying when its time for the transportation system’s last call. This isn’t just a Fukuoka special, for the shutdown happens throughout the whole of Japan.

Though the transportation system does shutdown at perhaps inconvenient times, it is a wonderful system. Perfectly clean trains, buses and subways (which are amazingly quiet) are the consequence of the shutdown for they are all cleaned during the wee hours of the morning.

Location

Fukuoka is found on the southernmost island of the four main islands in Japan. The name of the island is Kyushu. Fukuoka happens to be closer to Seoul, South Korea than it is to Tokyo. Fukuoka prefecture is located on the northern tip of Kyushu.　S.B.

Partingtons At The Langham – Restaurant Of The Year 2006

(Auckland, 13 October 2006) — The Langham Hotel, Auckland is thrilled to announce their signature restaurant Partingtons has been announced New Zealand Restaurant of the Year at the world’s largest annual hot kitchen competition.

The title was awarded to Partingtons at the New Zealand Culinary Fare. The Fare is New Zealand’s longest running culinary competition attracting over 1000 competitors making it the world’s largest competition of its kind.

The Partingtons winning team comprised of chef de cuisine Sascha Exenberger, chef de partie Ryan Arboleda and restaurant supervisor Julieta Estrai.

“It’s still a bit of a dream,” says Sascha. “We consider ourselves extremely lucky to have had such strong direction from the rest of the Langham food and beverage team. It helps that there’s a lot of harmony and we all genuinely like each other,” continued Ryan.

“To be judged to be the best in the country by your industry peers is extremely flattering,” finished Julieta.

Langham Hotel, Auckland managing director John Dick said: “We are honoured to have such talent working at our hotel. All credit to Sascha, Ryan and Julieta and to the many other staff who supported them in their own special ways by helping, testing, cajoling, training and being bruisingly honest and critical.”

“This result further reinforces what a special team of people there are working together here to make every day something very special for our guests.”

Mr Dick continued that he saw the win as proof that the tables had turned and people were once more viewing hotel restaurants as the epitome of fine dining: “Our guests have a real appreciation for the whole dining experience which includes knowledgeable and professional staff, premium produce, first-class wine and attention to detail with the quality of the linen, and only the finest glassware, silverware and crockery.”
The Restaurant of the Year competition is open to restaurants nationwide and designed to test the skills of the chefs and restaurant service staff outside their familiar environment. The challenge is for each restaurant team to design and develop a menu from a mystery box of ingredients, cook, present and serve to guests.
The Partingtons team’s winning menu consisted of Porcini and caramelised onion roll and a main featuring poached roulade of Brill and Waikani crab on sautéed asparagus with smoked freshwater eel and potato tortellini in a light lemon sauce. Dessert consisted of chocolate toffee honey fondant with cherry and prune compote and rhubarb and yoghurt ice-cream.

About the Winning Team
Sascha Exenberger, Chef de Cuisine, Partingtons at the Langham
Austrian born Sascha Exenberger brings to Partingtons a unique approach combining his traditional European skills with fresh New Zealand produce.

Sascha was trained at the renowned five-star Salzburgerhof in Austria. Following the completion of his formal training, he worked first as chef entremetier and later as sous chef at a variety of fine-dining restaurants throughout Austria.

Interested in incorporating more European influences into his cooking style Sascha travelled around Europe adding an Italian and French flair to his style. He has also worked at the prominent Shengen Restaurant in Moscow, and at the esteemed Dunloe Castle in Killarney, Ireland.

Sascha says he likes to keep clear lines of distinction with his cuisine and diners can expect dishes that reflect his European heritage with a particular emphasis on Austria, Italy and France. He enjoys surprising people with new and interesting tastes that rouses further anticipation.

Ryan Arboleda, Chef de Partie, Partingtons at the Langham
The only born-and-bred New Zealander on the team, Ryan has been with the Langham since the hotel commenced operations in New Zealand in January 2005.

Ryan has held numerous chef positions including commis chef, demi chef, sous chef and chef de partie at various hotels and eating establishments in New Zealand and Australia. He has previously worked for Sheraton Auckland Hotel and Towers, Ascot Metropolis, Copthorne, The Heritage, Quay West, Mercure, Hamilton Island and the Auckland Club.

Julieta Estrai, Restaurant Supervisor, Partingtons at the Langham
From Argentina, Julieta joined Partingtons in May 2005.

She has a degree in hospitality and a degree in tourism from Cesyt Institute in Buenos Aires. She has held several management positions at restaurants in Argentina. She also spent two years working for cruise liner Royal Caribbean and three years as the assistant director of Berlitz Schools of Languages in Argentina.

Other Langham Awards at the New Zealand Culinary Fare
Langham staff cleaned up a further 19 awards at the Fare including a gold in ‘Practical Wine Tasting’, achieved by Partingtons sommelier Josselin de Gesincourt and a gold in ‘Hot Main Presented Cold Junior,’ achieved by demi chef de partie Shannon Persterer.

A complete list of awards earned by Langham staff is included at the end of this release.

Background notes on the Langham
Langham has a legendary hotel heritage dating back to 1865 when the Langham Hotel in London originally opened as Europe’s first Grand Hotel. For 140 years, this flagship hotel has been at the forefront of sophisticated and gracious hospitality. Today, all Langham Hotels worldwide inherit the same philosophy that reflects elegance in design, innovation in hospitality, genuine service and captivation of the senses creating a truly unique hotel experience.

Restaurants in Madrid, the Best Places for Eating Out

The best places to eat in Madrid are not necesarily expensive, but as the offer of tapas bars and restaurants is so high, the difficulty of just getting it right it is very obvious. I was very recently asked by a friend who was visiting Madrid, what where the best places to eat well, and here a brief result of that conversation.

In the city centre of Madrid you can eat a daily menu for 8 €, which is roughly £5 on most of restaurants around the Old Town. The famous tapas are actually quite widespread but Spaniards go primarely to two parallel streets called Cava Baja and Cava Alta, to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer with tapas (Spanish appetizer).

One of the ‘must stop’ restaurants is located in Calle Cuchilleros, known as Restaurante Botin, it is in fact the oldest in the world, and important celebrities, Hollywood stars, Presidents and Prime Ministers have been seen there. In fact this restaurant has been so successful that the owner, Emilio Botin, is now one of the richest people in Spain, and enjoys being the president of the Santander Bank apart.

Although Restaurante Botin does have the fame, it is not necessarily the best quality restaurant. Just a few minutes walking distance from Calle Cuchilleros there is a place called Casa Lucio, which has to be booked months in advance. The speciality of the house is called ‘Huevos estrellados’, which are simply chips with fried eggs on top. Once you try this dish you will surely become addicted to it. Casa Lucio has seen guests like Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher or George W. Bush. The rates are still really affordable.

If you want to experience the real Spain, go to any of the tapas bars called ‘Lizarran’, they are virtually on any district in Madrid. Lizarran is a franchise that offers drinks and a self service of tapas, you can take them from the display in the bar and you will be charged at the counter when you finished by the number of wooden sticks left on your dish. It is a common practice by people from Madrid trying to hide some sticks in order to get a few tapas free of charge, but be aware, if you are caught it is quite an embarrasing situation.

In front of the Royal Palace and right next to the Opera House you will find the Cafe the Oriente, probably the best terrace in Madrid with wonderful views and life music in the summer, it is decorated in an 18th century French style at affordable prices. The light of the candles, the atmosphere of Plaza de Oriente during the night and quality food make sit a perfect place for a romantic dinner.

If you can afford it, the Restaurant and summer Terrace at the Ritz Hotel is of the best places, in particular the Sunday Brunch will simply take your breath away. It takes quite a lot of preparation but the end result is fantastic. The Ritz Hotel is also ‘the place’ where all the Hollywood stars stay and eat during their film premieres throughtout the year.

Other high quality restaurants are Asador Donostiarra, El Amparo, Lhardy, and Portobello, where David Beckham enjoyed numerous lunches while he was playing in Real Madrid. Hotels in Madrid are really expensive, so by staying in privately owned Madrid apartments you can save lots of money and invest it more wisely on eating out. The same advice applies for or apartments in Barcelona

Toronto Restaurants – a Variety of Cuisines in One City

Toronto is a big city with millions of inhabitants. It is the place where you can find everything you need. You can get all the necessary information about all the restaurants you want online. The schedule and the information about the restaurants are posted online. You can book some places if you want, you can rent the entire restaurant for an event if you want, and all the services became accessible and easy to manage due to online address of all Toronto restaurants. The prices for the dishes are available for all the budgets. You can choose the cuisine specialization of the restaurants if you have some preferences for it. There are a lot of possibilities to have a nice meal in Toronto all you have to do is to decide what you want.

There are a lot of specialization restaurants, with certain cuisine among Toronto restaurants. For example you can find Russian restaurant, with traditional Russian, Ukrainian, Moldovan, Kazakh, Turkmen, Belarus and other cuisines of the former USSR countries. Russian restaurants are designed in typical Russian manner. There is always life music in Russian restaurants there are always Russian folk dances at certain events. The Russian restaurants are suitable for any kind of event.

The Amulet restaurant is one of the Restaurants Toronto which is very famous with the local Russian emigrants. Its banquet hall is perfect for weddings, celebration of anniversaries, corporate events, community gala evenings, birthday parties and other events which take place in Toronto. The restaurant big hall can seat up to 170 clients. In the menu, you will find traditional Russian Pelimeni meat wrapped in pasta, of round shape and boiled in salt water. Moldavian Mamaliga boiled think corn porridge served with fried ham and garlic. Ukrainian Vareniki special type of cheese or boiled mashed potatoes wrapped in pasta and boiled in salt water.

There is also African cuisine present among restaurants Toronto. The Addis Ababa restaurant impress with its Ethiopian cuisine, tasty roasted coffee and affable service. A dinner in this restaurant is a nice experience for those who are not afraid to discover new tastes. You will savor the soft and piquant crêpe, the brand of the cuisine to dig up pieces of spiced split peas, puréed black beans and collard greens. This all is carefully flavored with spices, garlic and ginger.

Blue Bay Café is another African food based restaurant. It offers fiery food of Mauritius, which is represented by a mixture of African, French and Indian cuisine. This is a comfortable place where you can sit on bentwood chairs; the tables are cover with white tablecloths and many traditional African art objects. The prices are pathetically low, with a respectable quality. The dishes contain a lot of vegetables and fish. The traditional dishes are more or less light.

There are Toronto restaurants that represent European cuisine. The Mediterranean cuisine has also its representatives in Toronto. Auberge du Pommier is a French restaurant. Its rustic atmosphere will remind of the French regions’ country charm. Its menu consists of many country dishes which are popular in France. The Hungary is represented by Country Style Hungarian restaurant. There you will find schnitzel and paprika, half-sausage top pleasingly chewy pierogies with deeply caramelized onions and with sour cream. The restaurant offers the best European beer and its best service.

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