WHEN CONNOISSEURS COLLIDE
In an indulgent celebration of gourmet food and fine wines, Bali’s buzzing Potato Head Beach Club hosted a spectacular Wine and Dinner event at their sleek and sexy Tapping Shoes restaurant, where the culinary genius of Executive Chef Hikaru joined forces with the world-class winemakers of Château Fuissé. Located in the southern regions of Burgundy, France, the Pouilly-Fuissé vineyards of Maconnais are home to the exceptional wines produced by the famed Vincent family. The evening saw a decadent 8-course degustation dinner cooked up by Chef Hikaru, paired with six fine wines from the Pouilly-Fuissé vineyards. The fermented stars of the show included “Les Clos”, “Les Brûlés” and “Les Combettes”, which, during the event, the latter two were paired respectively with Chef Hikaru’s crab salad, served with celeriac, guacamole and coriander, as well as the succulent grilled scallop in a creamy turnip purée. The dinner was topped off with a special guest appearance from Philip Tuinder of Château Fuissé, demonstrating the “different facets of the wines”.
CULINARY TRAILBLAZERS
To celebrate a much-deserved reputation as one of the most exciting foodie destinations in the world, four of Bali’s top chefs will kick off the summer’s culinary festivities at Mozaic Beach Club on May 22nd with ‘Four Chefs & A Feast’. Hosted at Mozaic Restaurant’s chic sister-venue, and partnered with W Resort and Garuda Indonesia, the evening will commence with a red carpet arrival and sunset cocktails and canapés by the sea. A decadent four-course feast will be thoughtfully prepared, each chef showing off his exquisite talents. Hailing from very different backgrounds with varied styles of cuisines, each featured chef shares a passion for exploring Indonesia’s culinary traditions and using local ingredients whenever possible. They’re also quite keen about pushing the envelope to create distinct dishes found nowhere else in the world. When asked about the exciting new concept to bring Bali’s hottest chefs together in one evening, Chris Salans said the event is a ‘celebration of having achieved a common goal of making Bali a renowned international culinary destination, really putting it on the fine dining world map of fine cuisine’.
AMAN CANAL GRANDE VENICE
Built on water, steeped in history and synonymous with romance, Venice is a fabled destination with a glorious past. Once a major power in the Mediterranean, today this Northern Italian city and its lagoon are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every two years, the city hosts the Venetian Biennale – a major contemporary art exhibition which incorporates the famous Venice Film Festival, and one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the world. This year the Biennale opens on 1st June, the same date as the launch of Amanresorts’ fourth Mediterranean destination – Aman Canal Grande Venice. Home to the Piazza San Marco and Saint Mark’s Basilica, it is perhaps the Grand Canal which is Venice’s most iconic feature. Meandering in a sinuous s-shape through the heart of the city, the Grand Canal is its main thoroughfare, lined with more than 170 gracious buildings between 200 and 700 years old. Physical reminders of the city’s grand heritage, most were built to demonstrate the wealth and artistry of the Republic of Venice in its heyday. It is in one of these regal old homes directly on the water that Aman is housed, fusing the romance and history of this legendary city with the hospitality and service for which Amanresorts is renowned.
Aman is situated in the historic district of San Polo – the smallest of the six sestieri (districts) of Venice. Named for the Church of San Polo, this is also one of the oldest parts of the city, known for its beautiful palaces, churches and market. The palazzo which houses the resort and its 24 suites consists of two five-story adjoining buildings, one of which was built in the 16th century by the architect Gian Giacomo dé Grigi. Known as Palazzo Papadopoli, it was originally commissioned by the Coccina family of Bergamo, but is named for the two brothers – Nicolò and Angelo Papadopoli Aldobrandini – who bought the property at the beginning of the 19th century. They entrusted the internal decoration of the piano nobile – the main living area of the palazzo, to Michelangelo Guggenheim, a leading exponent of the Neo-Renaissance and Rococo styles. He reinvented the space, turning the palazzo into one of the most significant examples of these styles in Venice. The brothers also bought two adjacent buildings which they razed in order to build two gardens. In this city of canals, it is fitting that guests will arrive at Aman by water, alighting at a landing that leads directly into the resort’s Reception Hall. With its soaring ceilings and historic frescoes and reliefs, the hall offers an elegant welcome, and sets the tone for things to come. www.amanresorts.com
SEMINYAK WELCOMES THE ALANA VASANTI
Archipelago International’s newest up-market hotel brand, Alana, launched this spring with the opening of its flagship property in Bali. The Alana Vasanti in Seminyak, ideally situated within the heart of Petitenget in South Bali, is in the direct vicinity of Bali’s most popular restaurants and clubs, yet also enjoys a serene setting enclosed by emerald green rice fields and the nearby famed Seminyak Beach. The multi-faceted resort offers a chic restaurant in a relaxed, contemporary setting as well as the AUM Wellness Center, an exotic hub of beauty, serenity and utter indulgence. Designed by Alex Bayusaputro from Genius Loco Architects, Alana Vasanti features four Presidential and twenty-four Deluxe Suites, with separate lounge space and a mix of 93 oversized guest rooms with private balconies, spacious bathrooms with rain showers, 42” LED televisions and iPod compatible sound systems. Suite guests have exclusive access to the 24-hour club lounge with complimentary WiFi, a lavish a la carte breakfast and canapés and cocktails in the evenings while the Presidential Suites also afford private outdoor Jacuzzis. www.alanahotels.com
BANYAN TREE’S HAUTE HOT SPRINGS
Embracing the natural healing waters of China’s North Hot Springs, Banyan Tree Chongqing Beibei will be ready to welcome guests this summer. Each of its 107 suites and villas will feature private hot spring pools so guests can enjoy the water’s healing benefits in privacy and comfort. The extensive Banyan Tree spa will also offer seven different outdoor and indoor hot spring pools. This is the first time private healing pools have been introduced in Western China by Banyan Tree, echoing the group’s continued mission to combine the best of local nature and culture with exhilarating holiday experiences. Located 40 minutes from the main city of Chongqing in the peaceful area of Beibei and surrounded by the magnificent landscape of Jin Yun Mountain and Jialing River, the resort will offer 48 Hot Spring Retreats and 59 Hot Spring Villas. The resort’s design has a strong sense of place and reflects the start of the Minguo era with traditional multi-story folk houses and an open bamboo-lined courtyard and foyer. The interiors will combine contemporary and traditional design with dark wood furnishings, marble floors and soft thick carpets complemented by the renowned Shu embroidery, brocades and lacquer art craft. www.banyantree.com
THE BEST OF JAKARTA AT YOUR DOORSTEP
PT Farpoint under Gunung Sewu Group is excited to announce the release of its latest real estate project, VERDE Apartment. Centrally located with convenient access to the best that Jakarta has to offer, VERDE is ideally designed for business executives and young families in search of that quintessential Jakarta lifestyle. Rich hardwoods, an exquisite private swimming pool surrounded by extensive decking and contemporary gazebos appointed with sleek sunbeds, complement the property’s internal and external modern minimalist design. Offering breathtaking views from floor-to-glass windows that showcase Jakarta’s skyline, each VERDE apartment feels like an exclusive residence overflowing with resort ambiance. Three world-class designers from the United States, including the cutting-edge design capital of New York City, designed VERDE with today’s discerning city dweller in mind. Nature enthusiasts will love VERDE’s environmental commitment as 65% of the property is dedicated to open spaces featuring lush greenery and immaculately landscaped gardens. There’s no need to leave for your gym appointment as VERDE has thought of every detail. The fully stocked workout facility features state-of-the-art cardiovascular machines offering inspiring views of the poolside area. Leave the rush of the city behind as you enter VERDE’s serene ambiance, bringing a deeper, more meaningful connection to your day-to-day life. www.verde.co.id
ENJOY SPRING IN VIBRANT MACAU
Situated in Guangdong province, on the western bank of the Pearl River Delta, Macau’s strategic location played a vital role as a vibrant port along the famed Silk Road. Today, Macau is a multi-faceted city with developed industries in textiles, electronics and toys – a world-class destination featuring some of the best resorts, restaurants and branded shops in Asia. A multi-cultural city that lists Chinese and Portuguese as official languages, Cantonese is also widely spoken. Easy travel access to Macau via its International Airport or direct helicopter service from Hong Kong and ShenZhen, provides visitors from all over the world an opportunity to experience exciting annual events. Throughout the year, Macau Government Tourist Office plans several cultural activities, so that no matter what time of year you visit, there will be something interesting to explore.
In May, the Macau Arts Festival is the place to discover the best shows displayed by the cultural associations and institutes organized by Macau’s Cultural Institute. The exciting line up includes musical concerts, dance performances, painting exhibitions and Chinese opera. This is an opportunity for visitors to discover Macau’s cultural diversity. May is also the time of year to enjoy Asia’s most interesting festivals. The first one celebrates the story of villagers praying to Buddha to help them fight against a disastrous plague. The dramatic story dates from the misty past of the Kangxi Kingdom of the Qing Dynasty. The second one celebrates the birthday of the God Tam Kong, a child god who is said to control the weather and help people when they are sick. In June, don’t miss the Dragon Boat Festival, an old Chinese Festival held to commemorate the heroic poet Wat Yuen who protested against corruption by downing himself. Today, all celebrations are concentrated on the famous Dragon Boat Races, which in Macau takes place on the Nam Van Lake. Many local and foreign teams take part in this colorful event. www.macautourism.gov.mo
