Embark On A Culinary Journey Of Unique Gastronomic Experiences With Small Luxury Hotels Of The World™
March 2009: Whether you are a passionate gourmet, an avid wine connoisseur, a novice in the kitchen, a culinary whiz, or you simply relish delicious meals and exquisite wine in the company of friends, Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s (SLH) new range of unforgettable experiences, ‘Gourmet by Small Luxury Hotels of the World’, presents you with a wealth of tantalizing delights.
Perhaps you would like your own personal butler to serve you lunch on a fully crewed yacht or relax in a luxury gondola with a picnic of Venetian finger-food? Maybe total privacy is a priority; in which case, enjoy a helicopter ride over the Whitsundays in Australia before being dropped off on a secluded island for an intimate gourmet picnic for two. These are just some of the options on offer with ‘Gourmet by Small Luxury Hotels of the World’.
As part of the luxury hotel brand’s gourmet programme, it has produced a 64-page brochure, which features an enticing selection of gourmet packages, mouth-watering recipes, fascinating interviews and useful tips from some of the world’s leading experts in food and wine. Visit www.slh.com/brochures to order your copy. Reservations for any of the gourmet packages can be made via the UK toll-free number 00-800-525-48000 or www.slh.com.
From unusual gourmet experiences, fascinating culinary schools to dining at some of the world’s best restaurants and appreciating the finest of wines, ‘Gourmet by Small Luxury Hotels of the World’ has it all.
Be Tempted By Unique Gastronomic Experiences….
With over 480 of some of the world’s finest small independent hotels in 70 countries, the world is literally your dining room with Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Take a leisurely sunset dhow cruise at Hemingways Resort (www.slh.com/hemingways) in Kenya before enjoying a gourmet dinner with cocktails and wine surrounded by flaming torches set in the sand under the starry skies of the African night.
For true truffle aficionados, Park Hotel ai Cappuccini (www.slh.com/parkcappuccini), a beautifully restored 17th century monastery in Umbria, Italy, is offering a hands-on ‘truffle hunting’ package between March and August 2009. If the idea of foraging for your dinner appeals, head to Treetops Lodge & Wilderness Experience (www.slh.com/treetops) in Rotorua, New Zealand, where you can join a world-renowned expert on a Maori food trail to gather organic herbs and wild vegetables for the evening’s meal!
We have also searched high and low to find the world’s best ‘cuppa’ for our guests. Take tea at Cameron Highlands Resort (www.slh.com/cameronhighlands) in Malaysia in a beautiful old plantation house at a height of 1,500 metres, surrounded by strawberry fields and tea plantations. Equally exotic is Desert Palm (www.slh.com/desertpalm) in Dubai where you can enjoy tea whilst watching the polo. Or, for something quintessentially British, there is always afternoon tea at Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club (www.slh.com/ashdown) set in the heart of the forest in Sussex, England.
Small Luxury Hotels of thee World properties do not restrict themselves to the dining room or kitchen when it comes to gastronomic delights. For example, at Hôtel Les Ottomans (www.slh.com/lesottomans) in Istanbul, Turkey, you can indulge in a wine-based spa treatment in the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa and then enjoy a dinner cruise down the Bosphorus.
Test Your Culinary Skills….
If do-it-yourself is more your style, then SLH offers you the opportunity to learn from the very best as you embark on personal tutorials with leading chefs. At Wharekauhau Country Estate (www.slh.com/wharekauhau) on North Island in New Zealand, guests stay on a 5,000 acre working farm where they can cook succulent Texel lamb reared on the lush grasses of the estate, supplemented with ingredients from local artisan producers. An equally hands-on experience can be enjoyed at Kasbah Agafay Hotel and Spa’s (www.slh.com/kasbahagafay) cookery school where you choose the dish you want to cook and then wander through the hotel’s organic vegetable and herb garden and fruit orchards. Then, having selected ingredients with the chef, you return to the outdoor kitchen to learn how to prepare them in the local style.
If the delicate infusion of herbs and spices in Thai cuisine appeals to you, then travel to Aleenta Resort and Spa Phuket (www.slh.com/aleenta) and experience the hustle and bustle of the morning market as you shop for the freshest of ingredients with the Head Chef. Upon your return to the hotel you will learn the intricacies of Thai cooking in the comfortable surroundings of your villa. Exploring local markets is also the theme at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain (www.slh.com/sanctuary) in Arizona, USA, but this time with celebrity chef, Beau MacMillan. You know you are at the top table when the chef has cooked for presidents, Michel Roux senior and the likes of the legendary pop group, U2!
Dine With The Stars….
Wherever your gourmet-inspired travels may take you, Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties encompass almost every conceivable cuisine of the highest standard – often illuminated by the elusive ‘Guide Michelin’ star. From The Chester Grosvenor & Spa (www.slh.com/chestergrosvenor) in the UK, which has retained its Michelin star for an impressive 19 years, to The Luxe Manor (www.slh.com/theluxemanor) in Hong Kong where the Aspasia restaurant has just been awarded its first Michelin star; SLH provides you with the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with these kitchen legends. Join Michelin-starred chef Antonino Cannavacciulo for a tour of his kitchen at Hotel Ristorante Villa Crespi (www.slh.com/crespi) in Piedmont, Italy and visit the cellars where, legend has it, the ancient tunnels connect Villa Crespi to the Island of San Giulio. At the Michelin star Mirabelle Restaurant at Hotel Splendide Royal (www.slh.com/splendideroyal) in Rome you can enjoy fantastic views across the city as you dine on the culinary delights of Executive Chef, Giuseppe Sestito. South of Munich at Alpenhof Murnau (www.slh.com/alpenhofmurnau), guests are given a ‘back stage pass’ to watch Executive Chef Thilo Bischoff and his team create exquisite classical French cuisine.
Discover A World of Wine….
Wine connoisseurs will delight at the number of Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties located in some of the best wine-producing regions of the world. Explore private vineyards and learn the intricacies of winemaking or simply leave the hard work to the experts while you sample the fruits of their labour from an impressive choice of wine cellars.
Ideally situated in the heart of France’s Provence, you will find the quiet and secluded Hotel les Frênes (www.slh.com/lesfrenes), which provides the perfect base to discover the world-famous wine areas of Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondason. As you wander through the wineries, your English-speaking guide will teach you about the entire wine process and also take you on a tour of caves where you can sample the wine.
Equally educational is Valle Perdido Wine Resort (www.slh.com/valleperdido), nestled in the midst of Argentine Patagonia. This delightful 18-room hotel, which opened last year, is a haven for wine lovers. Enjoy a leisurely tour of the winery and vineyards and then taste the different wines at the Tasting Table. After a lesson in regional cooking, the hotel’s sommelier will help you pair your meal with exquisite wines as you sit down to enjoy a private dinner in the ‘Cava Familiar’.
The Barossa Valley in South Australia is arguably the centre of the Australian wine industry. Here, in the heart of Shiraz country, you will find the idyllic vineyard retreat, The Louise (www.slh.com/thelouise), where each of the 15 suites has a private terrace with views stretching out across the extensive vineyards. No visit would be complete without a visit to the Penfolds winery where you can make your own wine blend under expert instruction.
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About Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Small Luxury Hotels of the World is an exclusive brand of more than 480 independent, luxury hotels offering an infinite variety of memorable experiences in 70 countries. Whether guests are seeking a blissful spa retreat, the rustic charm of a country villa, a secluded beachside resort, the refined splendour of an old English country house or a sanctuary hidden amid the vibrant atmosphere of a bustling city centre, Small Luxury Hotels of the World offers only the very best. Reservations can be made at any Small Luxury Hotel of the World by calling the UK toll-free number 00-800-525-48000 or via www.slh.com . Travel agents need only remember the GDS code LX for LuXury.
Media Contact
Anna Rajah
Director of Corporate Communications
Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Email: anna.rajah@slh.com
Tel:+44 (0) 1372 224 618