Althoff Hotel am Schlossgarten Stuttgart, Germany - Revisited

In September 2015 we stayed for one night at the Althoff Hotel am Schlossgarten in Stuttgart. It was our second stay.

Since we have written about the hotel more detailed before, this is a short review.

We were in contact with the hotel before arriving, because we wanted to have a room on a high floor again and asked if the hotel could accommodate a low fat and low salt diet. We received each time a quick reply and were in regards to our dietary requirements directed towards the Zirbelstube - the hotel's one Michelin starred restaurant. A review is going to follow about our experience at the Zirbelstube.

At check in we were recognized as return guests and given a room on the 6th floor, the same floor as last time. Check in was pleasant and efficient.

Our Superior room overlooked the Schlossgarten and the city. During our previous stay we had views over the main train station.

Other differences were the artwork (a Carolina Turtle Dove and a plant painting) and the size (This room was slightly smaller than the previous one, but same room type).

We liked the pillow menu and the "Help to sleep better" offer, which included hot milk and honey or a hot water bottle.

Turndown replenished the welcome Gerolsteiner Naturell water and left chocolates, which we appreciated.

During dinner and when returning to our room we could hear some noises, like a demonstration, from the park, but it quietened down after midnight and we could sleep peacefully.

Breakfast was again delicious and we were positively surprised how much the Maître d' knew. She welcomed as warmly and said: "I don't have to explain how breakfast functions, since you are return guests and it's also your last day with us."

She brought us into the dining room and offered us a large table for six persons or a smaller one for two. The larger one was already set up, but the smaller had to be cleared. We decided to take the smaller one, since we didn't need so much space and didn't want to block the larger table in case a group arrived and needed it. The breakfast restaurant was essentially full.

It didn't take long and the table was available for us.

We had to check out early since we had a lunch reservation at the Moevenpick Stuttgart Airport. While the receptionist dealt with the formalities we were asked if we enjoyed our stay and how the Zirbelstube had been.

We would return to the Althoff Hotel am Schlossgarten, since the staff is very warm, friendly, service orientated, personalized our stay and the hard product was as perfect as we remembered it from our previous stay earlier in the year.

 ©2015  

Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin Stuttgart, Germany

The Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin Stuttgart was on our bucket list as long as the Althoff Hotel Am Schlossgarten. When we had the chance again to go to Stuttgart in September we split our two nights between the Graf Zeppelin and the Althoff.

The Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin is a large, grand hotel, just opposite the Main Train Station.

When entering the lobby the check in is in the front with a large photograph of a Zeppelin airship. Overall the hotel is very well branded and there are a lot of historic photographs, showing the airship and light features in the shape of Zeppelins are placed on the Mezzanine floor and lobby. It is also included in the hotel's logo.

To the left is the Zeppelin Bar and to the right the Davidoff Cigar Lounge.

Check in was friendly and efficient.

We were promised a very nice room and our receptionist was right.

We loved our room immediately.

The room layout was unusual. It was L-shaped (caused by the location of the bathroom). When entering, the bathroom was to the right, the wardrobe and luggage rack to the left and the bed straight ahead. There was a seating area for two and a writing desk with a flat screen TV.

The room was medium in size and contemporary (The other style available is Art Deco). The color scheme was red, brown, white and cream.

We overlooked the courtyard and the neighboring office building.

The bed was two twin beds pushed together, but it was very comfortable as was the seating area with two chairs and a coffee table.

We received Teinacher Gourmet Water medium as a welcome gift and turn down had been already performed, so two Ritter Sport mini (milk and Knusperflake) chocolates were waiting for us, a nice touch.

The minibar was stocked with Coca Cola, Granini fruit juices, Vio mineral water, Bacardi, Steigenberger sparkling wine, white wine, Prosecco and German beer, including Radeberger and Clausthaler.

There was a good choice of regional and international TV channels. We liked CNN and Bloomberg best.

The bathroom was also medium in size. The amenities were Steigenberger own branded. There was a sink, a large shower - no bath tub - and a toilet.

The only issue we had with the room was the frosted glass door leading from the bathroom to the room. It was facing the bed and disturbed my fiancé when I had to use the bathroom during the night and switched on the light. Of course it looks stylish and the thought was good - ideal for a single traveller, but it would be better to replace it with a normal door.

We used the 24 hour room service and ordered two pasta dishes. He had the penne Carbonara. It was a Swabian version to the Italian. He liked it and thought it was different and tasty. Mine was penne with olives and tomato sauce. It was delicious too. I only wished the durum wheat pasta could be replaced with whole-wheat on request, which wasn't possible.

After an overall good night's rest we went to the Graf Zeppelin Restaurant, which serves breakfast only. It is on the same level as the meeting rooms and the one Michelin starred Gourmet Restaurant Olivo with French inspired cuisine and the chef is Nico Burkhardt.

Other outlets are the Zeppelino's for steak and Zeppelin Stueble for regional cuisine.

The breakfast restaurant is in a sun flooded room with dark furniture, dark wooden floor, a carpet with flower prints at the center and still life paintings. It overlooks the Main Train Station through floor to ceiling windows.

The choice at breakfast is of very good quality and featured lots of healthy selections.

We were brought to the table by the maître d'.

The headwaiter explained that the buffet contained cold items and one hot item - mostly egg dishes - could be ordered a la carte and were included in the rate of 26 Euro per person (ca. 28.15 USD).

There was also an extensive tea and coffee menu available. We ordered two Ronnefeldt Green Dragon green tea and an egg white omelette.

The buffet offered a wide selection of cold cuts, smoked salmon and Gravad Lax, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, fruit salad, honey from the hotel's rooftop, pastries, cakes, grilled vegetables, olives, a wide bread selection, at least five juices, a minimum of six different cereals and much more. It was a delight to eat, drink and talk here.

Beside all the restaurants there is also a spa and gym on the 5th floor.

All spa products are from Shiseido and the Ligne St. Barth.

Facial treatments start from 42 Euro (ca. 45.65 USD) and even teenagers can be accommodated.

Massages begin from 70 Euro (ca. 76.10 USD).

In our opinion this is reasonable priced and I might have a treatment when we stay here again in our future.

Check out approached as always too fast and it was time to move on to the Althoff Hotel am Schlossgarten. A review of our second stay there is going to follow next.

Staff was always friendly and efficient. The atmosphere was great and the food very good and memorable.

We will return and definitely try Olivo then.

 ©2015 

Impressions of the Board

The board was very happy the criminal cases were solved within Foreman Scandinavia Import and wanted now to meet the new Chief Security Officer.

Carnita Graziano, Wes Clinton, Roman Bush and Laura Meegan made up the board, while Stanford Powell was the CEO.

He had described Coldham Fintan Noose III as young, but capable and driven.

Neither Stanford Powell nor the others saw it necessary to inform Mr. Noose.

They were in for a surprise. When they arrived at the security they were shocked to hear a baby crying with earsplitting volume. Children weren’t normally allowed on the premises. What was a kid doing there?

To Stanford’s dismay Mr. Noose had brought his 21 months old daughter Casey to work, because his wife had suddenly become ill and couldn’t take care of the daughter. Stanford didn’t believe his ears, when Mr. Noose claimed he had given him permission to bring the kid to work. He was fuming. Mr. Noose hadn’t told the CEO anything about his intentions. Of course Stanford had to play along.

Thank goodness the rest of the meeting went fine and the impression the board of Mr. Noose was overall good. They thought he was a specialist in his field and competent.

Of course the toddler had to cause an embarrassing incident. She called Carnita granny, who wasn’t delighted at all since she was only thirty eight. Mr. Noose apologized and explained what he thought was going on in Casey’s mind. The board didn’t believe it, though. It was unlikely that Casey would ask after her real grandmother, when Carnita didn’t know the family at all.

When they were back in Stanford’s office he was confronted by Wes about the child. “How could you let Mr. Noose bring the kid to work? Even if it was only an exception if others hear about it you will soon have a crèche and a kindergarten. This place isn’t made for kids and we aren’t insured to have them around. Did you think about what kind of liabilities we could face should something happen to Casey?” “Yes, I thought about it, but what is better? Mr. Noose is here and taking care of the business or he’s staying at home, because that’s what he was threatening to do, since he was unable to get a babysitter at such short notice?” Stanford was furious with Mr. Noose, who forced him essentially to lie and take the blame for him bringing the child unauthorized to work. “Now, don’t worry, Wes. It seems Mr. Noose has the toddler under control and it’s not in his own interest something is going to happen to her. From tomorrow there’s a babysitter in place and everything’s back to normal.” Roman soothed. “I agree with Wes,” Carnita put in, “it was irresponsible of you and hope this is a once off.” “Naturally it is.” Stanford struggled to keep calm. Laura touched Stanford’s arm and said: “It’s not a big issue for me and maybe we should really consider to offer a day care option for our employees…” “No, that goes too far!” Carnita interjected. “We aren’t a welfare state. The workers must look out for themselves.” The others agreed, so the idea was buried. The meeting came to a close.

As soon as they were gone Stanford went looking for Mr. Noose, who had conveniently left for the day.

Sleeping over it the CEO was much calmer when he confronted his CSO the next day. Originally he had asked Mr. Noose to come immediately to his office. Being own minded Mr. Noose didn’t obey. He first released his nightshift team. Stanford thought a serious talk was necessary. "When I ask you to come immediately to my office I mean it, is that clear?" "Of course. If I follow the order is another thing." "I think you have a real problem with authority, haven't you?" "I do." Mr. Noose admitted it freely. "Does it make sense to reprimand you for bringing your daughter to work, which isn't allowed?" "Probably not." Stanford sighed and nodded defeated: "I thought so. I still demand that it won't happen again, or I will cut your pay. Is that clear?" "Very." "Good. Go back to work." "Yes, sir." When Mr. Noose had closed the door behind him, Stanford shook his head. Mr. Noose and he had very different personalities and it caused them to clash on a regular basis. The CSO was going to leave in five months’ time to pursue his own career somewhere else. Originally the position had been offered temporary to Mr. Noose, but he had proven to be capable of doing the job, so Stanford had offered Mr. Noose he could stay on as the head of the security department, which he had refused. Stanford wasn’t clear what he felt about it. There were going to be less arguments. That was for sure. On the other side it was refreshing to have somebody, who wasn’t a yes sayer. It added a bit more flair and drama to the day to day business. No matter how Stanford looked at it he was going to miss Mr. Noose.

 ©2015 

The Chocolate Lounge @ Dublin International Airport Terminal 2 air side, Ireland

Normally we always go to Butlers or Flutes at Dublin Airport, Terminal 2. This time we wanted to try something new, so we went to the Chocolate Lounge.

Unfortunately it turned out to be one of the worst experiences in a longer time in terms of eating at Dublin Airport.

The first impression was good with contemporary furniture and views over Dublin Airport and the runways.

There was even a bar with a Sushi restaurant set up (a conveyor belt transporting small champagne bottles).

The lounge was packed, which in hindsight we couldn't understand given our experiences.

The waiter took our order and there came the first turn off. We have a dislike for Deep River Rock water. It was served warm, which isn't a good sign at all.

When our main courses arrived they were a disappointment too. He had ordered the Monte Cristo, but it was stone hard - presentation wise it looked perfect. There was no maple syrup or any other fluid condiment offered, so it was dry as well.

I had a "Nicoise Salad", but didn't recognize it as one. It could be maybe called tuna salad, but it definitely wasn't a Nicoise. The fish was flaked and drenched in mayonnaise. It hadn't been stated on the menu. Beside the fish there were salad leaves, chickpeas and tomatoes on my plate. The side dish of toasted bread was very good and there was nothing to complain about the salad itself, but for health reasons I couldn't and wouldn't touch the tuna. It also looked very unappetizing.

Our next issue was to catch a member of staff to complain the first time ever about a meal. The waitress apologized and offered my fiancé a replacement, which he took. Unfortunately it was as hard / unedible as the first. This time around the waitress apologized again and offered to send the manager. We agreed, because we weren't willing to pay for the meal. The manager asked if he would like to have to have a third Monte Cristo. We refused, because we had enough and had to go to our boarding gate for our flight to Stuttgart. The manager agreed to waive the fees, but wanted to know what they could do better or how a good Monte Cristo should look like, so my fiancé described how it's done correctly and as we had Monte Cristo a few times at other outlets in Dublin. We received another apology. We went our separate ways afterwards.

We were glad we found a solution, but very disappointed with our experience and will not eat / drink again at this outlet.

©2015 

Aqua Restaurant @ The Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

We already had visited Aqua at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur when this outlet was operating under the name Cascade.

When booking the hotel - please see also our review -, we thought the new venue at the pool wouldn't have open during our stay. We were positive surprised when Aqua opened around two weeks before our stay.  We reserved a table for dinner.

Aqua is an improvement and is much more in line what guests would expect in regards to dining and design today in a Mandarin Oriental hotel.

It is casual, but elegant and the staff very attentive and friendly.

When we showed our reservation we were brought to our table with great views over the pool, the KLCC Park and the city.

We ordered a bottle of still Armani water, two glasses of Patron XO Cafe, homemade Conchiglie Bolognese, Pizza Chorizo, Valrhona chocolate ice cream sundae and warm Valrhona chocolate lava cake.

The food was delicious and the portion size was generous.

During our meal a very strong thunder storm was raging. Even though we were sitting under umbrellas and nearly under the roof, we were getting a bit wet, so our table was pushed back by the staff, but this wasn't a problem at all.

We were also invited for a free cappuccino, an offer we picked up. Overall, we loved our experience at Aqua.

Our bill came in at 321 MYR (ca. 68.85 Euro or 75.30 USD).

We would return to the Mandarin Oriental and Aqua.

  ©2015

The Greenhouse Restaurant Dublin, Ireland

Every year we have a pre-Christmas lunch. This year we went to the 1 Michelin starred restaurant The Greenhouse in Dublin, lreland.

Reservations are only taken by calling or filling out a reservation form and sending or dropping it in.

Prior to our visit we were in e-mail contact with the restaurant. All emails were timely and friendly answered.

For December reservations a deposit of 30 Euro (ca. 32.85 USD) per person was charged at the time of booking, otherwise the deposit applies to groups of 5 or more guests. It is higher for dinner reservations.

Two days before our meal Agnes from the Greenhouse called to confirm we were going to have lunch with them.

The Greenhouse is located on Dawson Street in Dublin city center. It is opposite The Mansion House and the Celtic Whiskey Shop / Wines on the Green.

The chef, who won only this year the Michelin star for The Greenhouse, is Mickael Viljanen from Finland. During our meal he was present and came sometimes out to observe the dining room.

It was a rainy and very windy day, when we arrived on a Saturday in December, so we were a few minutes early, but it wasn’t a problem. Our coats and bag were taken and kept safe for us. We were then brought to our table, which was just the ideal location for us. On the one side private enough on the other side we could overlook the whole restaurant and part of the kitchen.

The design is contemporary and residential with innovative Christmas decoration.

Our fellow diners were a ladies group, businessmen and couples. The further the afternoon progressed the fuller it got, but it was never really loud.

The wine list and menu were brought to us and we were asked if we wanted to start with still or sparkling water.

A bottle of still Tipperary water arrived moments later. We were still studying the menu, when we were asked if we were ready to order. We took our time and the staff was attentive enough to realize we had made up our mind.

We ordered van Nahmen gourmet juices (one white peach, one Riesling grape and one rhubarb) and the three course set menu. There was also a five course tasting menu available.

Originally we had been advised a six course surprise menu would be served, so we had mentally prepared for not knowing what we would be eating beforehand.

The drinks were followed by an amuse-bouche of crackers with cream cheese. The morsels were delicious and served on an interesting plate. It looked like it was material used at a building site.

When removing the napkin from the bread plate we realized the plate wasn’t one colored, but featured a wintery tree.

For our appetizers a bread basket with sourdough baguette and Irish Glenilen butter was brought to our table. It was very delicious and the presentation was rustic, understated and elegant at the same time.

We started off with the Foie Gras Royale with apple, walnut, smoked eel and frozen Foie Gras and the Celeriac Veloute with scallop, truffles and chestnut. The Foie Gras was melt in the mouth and he loved it. My Veloute was creamy and moreish. I liked also the scallops.

We both had the Sika deer with Jerusalem artichoke puree and skin, blackberries, potatoes and delicious croquettes. He had the dish without mushrooms. The presentation was beautiful too and looked like artwork. According to my better half the dish is more 2 Michelin starred than 1.

The desserts included the passion fruit soufflé, white chocolate sauce and bitter sweet chocolate pave , brown butter ice cream and peanuts.

He ordered the Tokaji Aszu Eszencia from 1999 with his soufflé. The sommelier bought the bottle and had already filled the wine in a carafe, so that it could develop its flavor. The Tokaji looked like liquid gold and was a standout in every way.

When I said I wanted the Rhubarb juice with my dessert, the sommelier replied it was his favorite and that they had only recently started to work together with van Nahmen. Later when the Maître d delivered it, she also said it was her favorite and it turns out it’s mine too. The flavor is fruity, not very sweet, but crisp.

The desserts were outstanding too.

To round up the meal we had two Valrhona hot chocolates. Even this was unusual, because there are two flavors involved. One is local honey, the other sea salt and praline. It came delivered in a cup (honey) and the sea salt hot chocolate came in a small jug. I mixed them up, when I was nearly finished with the first cup. The combination was tasty too and it was definitely an indulgence.

With it came four very tiny madeleines, which were again beautifully presented and tasty.

Too soon (even if we had already spent two and a half hours in the restaurant) we had to ask for the bill and leave our cocoon to face the cold and the crowds outside again.

The bill came in at slightly under 195 Euro (ca. 212.20 USD) minus the deposit we had already paid.

We are still raving about the memories and can hardly wait to book again a table at the Greenhouse, so there is no doubt we will return and rather sooner than later.

©2015

Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Before our flight to Dublin via Dubai, UAE we had two nights in Kuala Lumpur. We've known where to stay on our last night - the Sama-Sama at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, because our flight was leaving early in the morning. Please see review.

The first night was unclear, but we definitely wanted to spend it in the city. He wanted to have a hotel near the Petronas Towers; I the Villa Samadhi, because I enjoyed our last stay very much. After agreeing we wanted to go to the Suria KLCC and see the fountain show, it was clear we needed a hotel that was centrally located, so we decided to book the Mandarin Oriental and a Twin Tower View Room, which had been on our bucket list for ages.

We arrived by taxi. The doorman and bell captain greeted us warmly. We were directed to the reception. The queue was surprisingly long, but waiting time was minimal.

The check in was quickly done and all important features of the hotel explained. We were then brought to the elevators.

Finding our room was easy and soon we were gazing out towards the Petronas Twin Towers, the park and the fountain.

Our room was large and held in different brown and beige tones. We liked it and didn't see any need of it being refurbished or renovated, because the furniture was in top condition and looked classic and timeless. We know, that's a personal taste thing.

We loved the comfortable bed and seating area. We also received two oranges as welcome gift. Free water was daily provided and replenished during turn down.

Reading material on the coffee table included the Mandarin Oriental Magazine, National Geographic, KL100, Vision KL and essential Kuala Lumpur.

There was a writing desk with two chairs and a complete set of office supplies, a credenza and flat screen TV with regional and international channels.

The minibar was stocked with Swell Juices, Acqua Panna and San Pellegrino water, Asahi Beer and different liquors, snacks and the obligatory pot noodles.

The wardrobe was spacious.

Our fully marbled bathroom was on the smaller side, but well equipped with a separate bath tub and shower and a sink. The toilet was in a separate room. The only critisism I might have is that the toilet room was slightly too tight and I banged myself a couple of times on the toilet tissue holder.

Amenities were by Senses, exclusive for the Mandarin Oriental KL. We liked them a lot.

We had in room breakfast on the day of our departure, but also went to the newly opened Aqua Restaurant & Bar beside the pool. A review about this is going to follow.

Beside 24 hours in room dining there are also The Mandarin Grill, Lai Po Heen, Mosaic, Casbah, The Wasabi Bistro, the MO Bar, the Sultan Lounge, Lounge on the Park and the Mandarin Cake Shop.

When we were staying a pop up restaurant Azimendi 88 by Eneko Atxa from Azurmendi Restaurant was also on offer for 88 days. Eneko Atxa holds three Michelin stars.

There is also a spa on the same level as Aqua.

We organized also Limousine transfer (Mercedes E-Class) to the Sama-Sama KLIA Hotel with the concierge. It went smooth and cost 375 MYR (ca. 81.15 Euro or 88.75 USD).

The wakeup call arrived punctual. We had the previous night thought about what we wanted to order for breakfast and were ready to order. Room Service advised it would be delivered within 30 minutes. My fiancé had ordered the Mandarin Breakfast and I had the Arabic. We both could choose a hot beverage and a juice of our choice. His included sliced fruits with berries, yogurt, a bakery basket and waffles. Mine included sliced papaya, honey and lime, Arabic mezzeh selection and Arabic bread, Shakshouka eggs (scrambled eggs with onion and tomato) and Ful Medames (mashed fava beans with onion and garlic). The breakfast arrived on time and the bill was correct. The amount was 170 MYR (ca. 37 Euro or ca. 40.25 USD). The waiter and I were chatting a bit and I learned that he is from Penang. The service was attentive. The breakfast was delicious, it was a lot on offer, all high quality. The Arabic pastries were a delight as were the different dips.

Before checking out we explored the lobby, bought a Mandarin Oriental branded polo shirt and took in the new design of the superb and memorable public spaces of this elegant luxury hotel.

Having visited the hotel before our stay, it was unrecognizable. We enjoyed the Chinese elements and the idea of a pop up restaurant.

As always check out came too fast. Everything was in order and the checkout was done efficient and friendly. Our limousine was already waiting and our luggage in the boot.

We would stay here again, when looking for a luxury option in the vicinity of the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC, which is just a few steps from the lobby, when taking the right exit.

©2015

The Cookie

The Noose family was checking in. All went smoothly until five year old Solomon asked: "Where is my cookie?" "Sol!" Frieda, his mother reprimanded him. Fin, his father fought hard not to smile. They had recently stayed in a lot of DoubleTree by Hilton properties and of course they had always received cookies at check in. Fin loved the cookies in fact. They were gooey, contained a generous amount of chocolate chips and were warm. Thinking about them made Fin's mouth water. His thoughts were interrupted by eight year old Casey, who said: "Dummy, it's not a Doubletree." Sol got flustered. He didn't like being called a dummy by his sister. Before a fight could break out the receptionist said with a smile: "I will see if I can find a cookie for you.” She left for a few moments and returned with one for Casey and one for Solomon. The siblings thanked the lady. “You are welcome. I hope you will enjoy your stay.” She handed a key card to Fin, explaining, where the family could find their suite. Taking a bite from his cookie, when they were out of earshot Sol complained: “It’s not warm and there are too few choc chips.” “Well, darling, they use a different recipe and the lady went above and beyond for you, because they normally don’t give you cookies.” Frieda explained patiently. “Wouldn’t it be nice every hotel would offer free cookies?” Sol asked. “Yes, it would be definitely nice.” “And all should taste like the ones at the DoubleTree.” Casey continued Sol’s dream. “Yeah!” Sol agreed wholeheartedly. He had already forgotten he was angry with his sister and couldn’t wait to see their room.

©2015

Meeting the board

In this story Casey Noose is twenty one month old. Casey was at her father's work place, because her mother got suddenly sick and couldn't take care of Casey. Mrs. Graziano was a member of the board of directors, who wanted to meet the person, who solved the fraud and burglary case bugging the company. They arrived unannounced and found not only Fin Noose in his office, but also his daughter. Mrs. Graziano is in her late thirties.

I missed my Mama and cried. Daddy was there, but I still wanted Mama. She didn’t come. It was a big disappointment. Daddy tried hard to calm me. I felt inconsolable. The strangers in the room didn’t make the situation easier for me. I don’t like people I’ve never seen in my whole life. Watching them interact with my Daddy, who explained things to them I didn’t understand, I liked an old lady and wanted to go to her.

Daddy and the lady understood, so I gave her a big smile as soon as I was in her arms. She was delighted. The woman reminded me of my Abuelita. She smelled even slightly like her, which reminded me that Grandma was coming to visit us for something called Christmas. Since I didn’t know when Christmas was I wanted to check and asked: “Abuelita?” The old lady frowned. “I am not your grandmother.” The woman said disgruntled. That was an odd answer to my question. “Mm, I don’t think Casey believes you’re her grandmother, Mrs. Graziano. She wants to know when her real one is coming.” My Daddy told Mrs. Graziano. To me he said: “You have to sleep two times and Granny is going to be with you.” I wondered if this included my naps or only the nights. It would have been nice, if it would be with the naps included. I doubted it, though. I was glad Mrs. Graziano wasn’t angry with me anymore and the focus changed to Daddy’s work and of course I was right that my Granny did arrive on the third day.

©2015

Lobby Court @ The Swissotel The Stamford Singaore

After lunch at the Raffles Courtyard (Please see also review.) and shopping at Raffles City, we were thirsty and We looked for refreshments at the Lobby Court of the Swissotel The Stamford.

The Stamford was the highest hotel in the world, when it opened its doors for the first time. It still looks magnificent and fits in perfectly well with the cityscape of Singapore. The hotel incl. the Raffles City complex which also incl. the Fairmont Singapore was designed by architect I.M. Pei.

Having visited previously the hotel we knew already the New Asia and Intro Bar, so we thought it was time to try a new outlet.

The Lobby Court is located on the ground floor and is a place to see and be seen. The entrance and check-in are located on the same level.

The atmosphere was moody with dark furniture and low lightning. To give it a more cosy feeling there were shelves with books and vases and a bar area.

The seating was lounge style. We were brought to one of the sofas by a nice waitress.

We chose a bottle of still water and two mocktails, the melon cooler and the devil mango. Our drinks were memorable and we felt refreshed.

The waitress was attentive and must have overheard we discussed Singapore celebrating 50 years of independence, because she showed us a special glass, that commemorated it and was on sale. It was shaped like the Merlion. There was no visible opening to fill it, so the waitress showed us how you could do it (removing the Merlion's head) and after the head was put on again, a straw could be entered through the Merlion's nostril. It was a novelty and cute. We liked it very much.

Our bill was delivered promptly and was 35.31 SGD (ca. 23.45 Euro or 24.95 USD).

When at Raffles City and looking for some high quality refreshments we would visit again the Lobby Court.

©2015  

Revisit to Milano Dawson Street, Dublin, Ireland

In mid-November we took part in the 2nd Dublin Arabic Film Festival, which was coordinated by Jim Sheridan, the famous Irish director.

Between "I am Nojoom, age 10 and divorced" and "The Idol" we had time for late lunch and had reserved a table for two at Milano Dawson Street.

We were glad we did, because when we arrived it was quite full. There were a lot of families with small children. It was a bit loud, but overall the atmosphere was good.

It was our third visit to this outlet of the chain.

Like last time the tables were very close together. In fact it was too tight in our case. When he tried to get to the bench, he managed to swipe down the wine glass from the neighboring unoccupied table and it smashed to the ground. The staff accepted our apologies graciously and within a few minutes no signs of the accident were visible.

Our waiter was with us shortly after we had taken our seats and asked us if we wanted any drinks. We ordered a 1l bottle of Acqua Panna, two Leggera Pollo ad Astra pizzas, one broccolini as a side dish and two Leggera Tartufo Limoncello.

The Leggara pizzas had no center, but were filled with green salad, so they had under 500 kcal. The desserts were under 210 kcal.

All was delicious.

The service was quick, friendly and precise.

Our bill came in at 49.20 Euro (ca. 52.45 USD).

We like Milano, especially the one in Dawson Street, here service was always spot on, as was the food. We would look forward to eat here again in our future, especially pizza and other Italian specialities from their Leggera offerings.

©2015 

Rustic Stone by Dylan McGrath, Dublin, Ireland

Having passed Rustic Stone a lot of times we were aware that the restaurant is run by Dylan McGrath, a former Michelin Star winning chef of Mint Restaurant fame, existed, but didn’t think it would be suitable for us.

Since we are more health conscious it suddenly made sense. We were actively discussing for months, if this should be our next restaurant we were going to test. It also came highly recommended by the Maitre d’ of Glynn Purnell’s – a 1* Michelin stared restaurant in Birmingham, UK -, where we had lunch in October 2015, so we took the plunge. A review is going to follow about Glynn Purnell’s, but it might take some time.

Rustic Stone by Dylan McGrath is located on South Georges Street, not too far from Fallon & Byrne.

It is housed in a classic building (Georges Street Arcade) and contains one of the most expensive kitchens in Ireland. It is Chef McGrath’s experimental kitchen.

The cuisine is fresh, seasonal and healthy. Any dietary requirements can be accommodated and all dishes state if they are wheat, gluten, dairy and/or sugar free, if they are low in saturated fat or vegetarian/vegan. It makes it easier for allergy sufferers, diabetics, persons with high cholesterol or blood pressure or generally health conscious guests to choose.

We arrived on a rainy November day. Our reservation was in the system and we were brought to our table with a smile. The restaurant is rustic in design with lots of wood and mirrors. It is small and the tables are somewhat too tight arranged together.

Rustic Stone was humming with activity.

Our waiter was friendly and brought all relevant menus. We were asked if we wanted still or sparkling water, which arrived promptly in a non branded glass bottle with a flip top opening. A wonderful touch for an earlier era.

We also had the raw warm cinnamon and apple shake and the carrot, orange, sweet ginger shake. They were memorable, tasty and healthy, so we had them twice.

Making up our mind what to order wasn’t easy, because there were so many interesting items on the Raw Menu, which means the food is cooked on lower temperature than usual to keep as many nutrient as possible.

We had the tuna and sweet pickled peppers, seasonal melon cubes with ginger, basil and cucumber, citrus cured salmon, duck with celery orange and green olives and thin slices of heirloom tomato with crunchy courgette and black olive oil. We ordered small plates of those. Another starter was the beetroot broth infused with orange and dill, which didn’t belong to the raw food, but it was outstandingly good.

The raw appetizers were all served together on an understated marble plate. It reminded us of Japan. The broth came in a laboratory bottle, which we could serve ourselves in a bowl, filled with grated beetroot. The flavors were amazing and worked well together.

The melon cubes, heirloom tomatoes and the citrus cured salmon were our favorites.

Our main courses were Penne Pesto and Fish in a Bag. He had chosen the small portion of penne, but seeing how big it was it left us wonder what a large plate would look like. The basil pesto was delicious and the plate looked like a work of art.

My Mackerel was rustic and came with quinoa, carrots and saffron. Our main courses were very well balanced and so good, we could have ordered more, but dessert was waiting.

We ordered a chocolate soup with chocolate mousse and a Catalan Cassanade with toasted brioche. The Cassanade was Catalan Curd served with orange sorbet. The textures were interesting and the flavors good.

The soup, roasted and grated hazelnut and mousse went very well together and wasn’t bland at all, a fear I had, it was moreish.

A Kahlua for him rounded up the meal.

The bill came in at 113.95 Euro or ca. 120.80 USD.

The staff was extremely busy, because the restaurant was fully booked. Sometimes it was difficult to grab their attention, but they were friendly and helpful.

Fellow diners changed the later in the afternoon it was. At first there were many young couples under thirty there, then the clientele was suddenly over fifty.

The atmosphere was good, sometimes a bit loud. Conversations were possible, though.

Other guests favored the value menu. The chicken wings and steak or tuna grilled on a hot stone were the bestsellers.

We would return, because the cuisine is very rare and nowhere else to be found in Dublin or Ireland. It combines healthy components with being tasty and allowing to “graze” and try many different dishes.

We also hope that Chef McGrath tries his hand again in the future on Michelin stared fine dining possibilities with another new restaurant. At least we hope so.

©2015

Raffles Courtyard @ The Raffles Hotel, Singapore

When planning our full day in Singapore we wanted to go to one of our favorite places in the whole of the city.

We love the Raffles Hotel and surrounding areas.

We reserved a few months ahead a table at the Raffles Courtyard.

When we arrived it was very quiet and only another family with adult/teenaged children was there.

We were greeted warmly and brought to our table.

The setting was romantic with lush foliage, wicker furniture, the Bras Basah Wing on one side and the rest of the hotel encircling the courtyard.  Birds were singing in the background and we could hear a nearby fountain tinkling.

Singapore was celebrating 50 years of Independence and there were a lot of special offers available.

At the Raffles Courtyard it was a 3 course meal for 50 SGD++.

All items marked on the menu were included. We decided to have it, since it was good value and included many of the dishes we wanted to have anyway.

We started off with a bottle of Surgiva still water from Italy, a Singapore Sling, which celebrates 100 years in 2015, and a Raffles Indonesia cocktail. Each Raffles around the world has a signature cocktail and they appear on the menu of other properties as well. The drinks were beautifully presented and we enjoyed every sip.

We were looking forward for our meal to arrive, which was delivered freshly from the show kitchen at the back.

By the time our starters arrived the restaurant was filling up.

Our appetizers Gazpacho and Vitello Tonnato. Both were very enjoyable.

Our main courses were Orecchiette pasta with Burratina cheese, cherry tomatoes and basil and a Chorizo Pizza. We both loved our dishes. They were very sumptuous and full of flavor, but light enough to fit the climate.

As dessert we had both the same - a scoop of chocolate and hazelnut ice cream, in-house made, from the classic trolley. The ice cream was rich and just the right size.

Rain and showers are no problem, because every table is covered with a large umbrella. They not only protect from the rain, but also the sun.

The staff was attentive and friendly. We felt extremely well here at this gorgeous venue.

The meal took ca. 1.5 hours.

We paid 202.45 SGD (ca. 132.30 Euro or 142.30 USD).

Afterwards we felt rested and ready to explore the hotel and Raffles City.

We enjoyed the atmosphere, meal and surroundings very much, so we would return when we're in Singapore again in our future.

©2015

The Shangri-La Valley Wing Singapore

During my birthday trip we also wanted to revisit Singapore.

Making the decision where to stay was difficult, because there are so many great hotels, but the Shangri-La had been on our bucket list for a longer time. We visited many hotel websites, watched Youtube videos and read Trip Advisor reviews.

After all this we decided to have our second Shangri-La and booked the Valley Wing to make it very special. It was also a good chance to compare a Shangri-La Resort (See the review of the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang, Penang.) with a city property.

The Shangri-La Singapore was the first hotel of the group, opened in 1971, and it is also the flagship. Previously the grounds were an orange grove.

We took a limousine from Singapore Changi Airport, arriving from Kuala Lumpur (Please see also the review of the Sama Sama Hotel.) It cost 55 SGD (ca. 35 Euro or ca. 39.65 USD). The journey took around twenty minutes.

Since there are two different entrances for the Valley Wing and the Tower Wing/Garden Wing combined, we told the driver where we wanted to be dropped off.

We were greeted warmly by the door man Krishna, who was wearing a colonial uniform. It was opulent and included a helmet.

Opposite to the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang there was no list and we were invited inside immediately.

There was a large painting of Shangri-La from the famous book Lost Horizon, after which the hotel chain is named.

The reception was right in front of the entrance. The check in formalities were done quickly, but there was still time to ask for the reason of our stay and to hand over a Dendrobium Orchid, which was created for the 35th anniversary of the Shangri-La Singapore, as a welcome gift.

When the receptionist heard it had been my birthday the week before he looked for a special room for us.

It was a smoking room on the 17th floor (the highest) with a balcony. He told us we could have a look, since we had originally stated in our booking we wanted a non-smoking room, and if the smell did disturb us we could always change again, but it should be beautiful and the smell no bother at all.

Another colleague accompanied us to the room. On the way she explained our privileges and pointed out things we might be interested in.

When entering the room there was no smell at all. If we hadn’t been told it was a smoking room we wouldn’t have believed it. We were very happy and kept it.

The room was very large and was a good mix between classic, Chinese and modern design elements.

There was a small hallway. To the left was the walk in closet, leading to the fully marbled bathroom. The walk in closet could be closed with richly decorated Chinese double doors.

There was a vanity table, large writing desk, a seating area with coffee table and Time, Robb Report, Epicure and Prestige Magazines.

The writing desk had a complete set of office supplies and a guest directory.

There was also a credenza with a flat screen TV and DVD-Player. All necessary international channels were available as well as regional ones.

The color scheme was green, gold, white and brown.

We liked the chandelier, the Nespresso coffee machine and Dilmah Tea selection.

The minibar was stocked with Sunrasia juices, other soft drinks (all non-alcoholic beverages were free of charge and replenished daily), liquors, Champagne, beer and Whiskey. The 375 ml bottle Veuve Cliquot was for example 72 SGD (ca. 46.60 Euro or ca. 51.30 USD) and the 50 ml Johnny Walker Black Label was 52 SGD (ca. 33.65 Euro or ca. 37 USD).

The fresh orchid plant, the fruit basket and nightly turndown service with free bottles of water, bookmarks with an excerpt from the Lost Horizon and a golden flower print and mint chocolates, packaged neatly in small Valley Wing branded boxes, were appreciated.

The king-sized bed was large and extremely comfortable.

We loved sitting on the balcony, which was fully furnished with wooden chairs and a marble topped table. We had views over the other wings, the garden, swimming pool and the city.

We saw one magnificent sunset.

The bathroom was large with double sinks and a separate bath tub and shower. The toilet and bidet were in their own room.

The bathroom amenities were by L’Occitaine Jasmin & Bergamot. We enjoyed it so much we bought a large hand soap at the L’Occitaine Raffles City store in Singapore.

During our two night’s stay we used in room dining, though there are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from, including Nadaman for Japanese, Shang Palace (Chinese), The Line & Shop, which was designed by Adam Tihany, the Waterfall, the Lobby Court, the Rose Veranda and the BLU Bar. Since we were very busy throughout our days we enjoyed to have dinner in the privacy and peaceful atmosphere of our large and beautiful room.

One meal included two carrot juice, one hot chocolate, one Milo, Singaporean Chicken Rice, which was fragrant and delicate flavored and very beautifully presented, Rigatoni Carbonara and a cherry banana crumble to share. Both were very light and flavorful. We would have this dinner again. It cost 124.75 SGD or ca. 81.50 Euro / 89.35 USD.

The other evening we weren’t very hungry and shared a Malaysian Chicken Curry with rice, which was messy to eat, but very delicious and spicy as we like it. Even though we didn’t order anything to drink the curry came with a glass of water, no charge, which was a nice touch. I had the dish before, but it was a first for him. We both enjoyed it. The curry cost 29.45 SGD (ca. 19.25 Euro or ca. 21.10 USD).

The ladies and gentlemen from In Room Dining were an asset to the hotel, discreet, friendly and generally interested in us.

During our stay we also used the shoe shine service, which was reliable and the shoes returned as good as new in a special box the next morning.

We decided to use the laundry service. Of course it wasn’t cheap, but worth the money paid for (103.60 SGD / ca. 67.70 Euro / ca. 74.20 USD). Each individual shirt was washed, ironed, starched and wrapped in paper. They looked as if we had just bought them.

Now to the benefits that come with the Valley Wing. It includes access to the Valley Wing Lounge and breakfast at the famous and lavish Summit Room which is gorgeous and memorable at the same time.

The lounge has snacks throughout the day, afternoon tea, canapés in the evening and free flowing Perrier-Jouet Champagne, cocktails or any other beverage one could wish for.

On the one evening we took part hot and cold canapés were served. They were watermelon and Feta cheese, Foie Gras on toast and decorated with a blueberry, tofu with soya sauce and green pesto, BBQ Chicken drum, Polenta, cod and prawn, which was brought to the table by the waiter, wearing white gloves.

At the bar was also a buffet with an excellent international cheese selection, crudités, salads, dressings and a very delectable cherry pistachio cake.

The quality was outstanding.

Breakfast was as high caliber and offered a huge choice of hot a la carte dishes. Guests can requests items, that aren’t on the menu or order as many dishes from the a la carte menu as they want.

The Continental buffet was large and included many cereals, fruits, berries, fruit salad, smoked salmon, cold cuts, cheese, bread, nuts, seeds and so much more.

The members of staff were the same as at the Valley Wing Lounge. Overall they were efficient, understated and friendly. They were happy to see us, but not so pleased when there was a small hiccup with our order on the last day. Many guests were ordering at the same and there was a confusion who should get what, so I received instead of an omelet fried eggs and baked beans. The mistake didn’t worry us too much and was quickly rectified.

We enjoyed a variety of egg dishes and French Toast.

Interesting enough every morning the table was set with different porcelain, which was a first for us.

We loved the elegant and lavish décor, the floor to ceiling windows and being able to catch a glimpse of the squirrels living in the garden.

The lounge was very large and had different seating arrangements from a bar/lounge to a restaurant setup.

It had a classic feel and beautiful design.

Besides spending time at the Valley Wing, we explored the hotel grounds, the Tower Wing and a bit of the Garden Wing.

When we needed transportation we went to Krishna, who organized taxis for us. Waiting time was minimal.

He was extremely friendly and showed us the VIP entrance/exit to the Valley Wing, allowing famous persons to avoid the lobby and go straight to their floor. There is also a secret door connecting the public spaces with the VIP entrance. Krishna was so kind to and let us use it, which garnered a few surprised stares and some disappointment by fellow guests, because we weren’t VIPs.

Krishna and we also chatted about other Shangri-La properties we had been to, not that many in our case. He had been at the Golden Sands, the sister property of the Rasa Sayang. We talked about our jobs and Krishna proudly explained he was working for the Shangri-La for over twenty years and loved it. You could see he was very proud and happy. Krishna told us which presidents of the US and other politicians he had met. We realized his brother and I were working for the same global company on different continents.

Then it was unfortunately time to pack, check out and leave. It was hard, because the setting is very romantic, the comfort great, the cuisine outstanding and the staff attentive and can’t do enough for you.

We would love to stay here again, should we be in Singapore.

©2015   

Alchemy @ BT2 Dublin, Ireland

On a weekend in October we were out and about due to the annual Open House 2015 event in Dublin, Ireland and a film "The song of the sea", which was Oscar nominated, at the Chester Beatty Library we've seen there.

After the beautiful animated movie we were hungry and went to Alchemy for a late lunch. We had been there a few times already (Please see our reviews.).

On this Sunday afternoon we were glad the salad section was well stocked. At earlier times some items weren't available when arriving later in the day.

We chose an Anti-everything juice,  a chocolate coconut milk and two nut cake, beetroot and red cabbage
slaw salads and paid 25 Euro (ca. 28.40 USD).

Since we were the only sit down customers we could choose our table. During our lunch two teenage boys arrived for a quick drink.

As always the food was delicious and the staff friendly. The setting on Grafton Street within BT2 is fascinating.

©2015  

Pichet Dublin, Ireland

During a Mid-October weekend we were out and about, taking part at the Open House Dublin 2015, organized by the Irish Architecture Foundation.

After seeing an exhibition about accommodation and a tour of the Fumbally Exchange, 5 Dame Lane, Dublin 2, we were hungry and tried our luck at Pichet, which we had for a longer time on our radar, but hadn’t tried it yet so far, for late lunch. The bistro is under direction by Headchef Stephen Gibson. We were lucky and after a short wait at the bar area of the bistro we were brought to our table.

Our jackets were taken from us before we were brought to the main dining room, by the friendly and efficent staff.

We were seated at a window table. The restaurant was full. There was a good atmosphere, but it was sometimes very loud, people overall were in a good mood.

The interior felt like being in the South of France.

Our drinks were water delivered in a carafe and a glass of Alois Kracher dessert wine.

We chose the lunch menu. He had the three course, while I had a two course.

We both started with smoked Haddock Beignets, pickled cucumber and smoked paprika. It looked understated, was generous sized and delicious.

His main course was roasted chicken breast with pumpkin risotto and mine was the Veal Bolognaise with gnocchi and Ricotta.

My dish was colorful, but didn’t remind me of a typical Bolognaise. The veal was cubed, melt in the mouth and served in a rich tomato sauce. It was more like a stew and I loved it.

The chicken was a bit of a departure of what he would normally eat. He isn’t too fond of risotto or pumpkin. In this case the autumn dish was just right. The pumpkin was soft and not fibrous. He said it was very well done and he liked the textures and flavors.

We shared our dessert, a peanut butter parfait with milk chocolate ice cream. It was delicious, light and offered a beautiful balance and lightness.

The Alois Kracher dessert wine was dry with fruity notes. It was matching perfect to the parfait.

Even if the service was very busy, they still had time for a quick chat and were attentive at all times.

Our lunch came in at 52.95 Euro, ca. 60.10 USD.

We would return to Pichet, which holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand and 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence. It’s very well worth spending an hour or longer, savoring French cuisine.

©2015  

Camera Museum, George Town, Penang, Malaysia

After having had a rest at Wheeler’s (Please see review.) we were ready to explore Love Lane in the heart of George Town, Penang, Malaysia and the surrounding area. We saw signs for the Camera Museum and decided spontaneously to visit it.

It was shortly after Ramadan, so there were discounts and special offers everywhere, including at the Camera Museum. We received two tickets for the price of one at 20 MYR (ca. 4.20 Euro or 4.75 USD).

The museum is small, but has some rare cameras like Leica, Russian and Belarussian cameras to be viewed here.

There was also a section showing some of the most impressive press photographs over the years.

Other parts dealt with how cameras work and another one had spy cameras. It wasn’t boring at all and didn’t take too long to explore. There was also a darkroom to be discovered by visitors.

Staff is very passionate, knowledgeable and willing to answer questions or show visitors how things work.

There is also a café and a gift shop, where we bought a t-shirt and got even a bit more off due to the vouchers that we received when buying our tickets. It's all good and memorable here for the right reasons.

We would visit again, when in George Town and would recommend it to photographers.

©2015  

Silk Road Cafe and The Arrow that Murder Sleep at the Chester Beatty Library / The Platinum Awards Exhibition at the Coach House, Dublin, Ireland

On a Sunday in October 2015 we had lunch at the Silk Road Café again at the Chester Beatty Library in the heart of Dublin, Ireland.

Before we had problems finding a table due to the restaurant being full and one part of the restaurant had been set up for an event.

We concluded we had to arrive earlier this time around, which we did. It paid off. The Silk Road Café wasn’t that busy, so we could even go together to the counter and choose our main course.

He had the butter chicken with Pilau rice, Greek salad and a bean and lentil salad. I chose the stuffed aubergine. It was filled with tomatoes, the scooped out aubergine flesh, courgette and onions. It was sprinkled with Feta cheese. My sides were also the bean and lentil salad and Pilau rice and a carrot salad. We shared a Synerchi Green Tea Kombucha and bought two Seed & Bean chocolate bars to take home with us. We paid 31.50 Euro (ca. 35.30 USD).

We found easily a space in the atrium.

The meal was delicious and we didn’t have to haste to arrive on time for the musical event we visited at the Chester Beatty Library.

The music recital was called The Arrows that Murder Sleep.

It was about classic Irish stories in song and music by a trio.

The music event started fifteen minutes after the advertised time.

There was a short introduction of the musicians and what the stories were all about.

Lorcan Mac Mathuna was the singer, on the piano accordion was Martin Tourish and Daire Bracken on the fiddle.

The music lasted about 45 minutes and was entirely different to what we normally listen too. We liked it though, and it was beautiful.

All was in Gaelic / Irish. Only the explanation provided by Lorcan was in English. Otherwise it would have been difficult to follow.

One song was about Liadain and Curithir, another about a prayer to protect from lightning strike or the tale about Colmcille’s exile amongst others.

The music varied from being lively and happy to sad and depressed.

At the end CDs were on sale in case the audience needed a Halloween or Christmas present as the band suggested.

Feeling up to more culture we went to the adjacent Coach House and saw the Platinum A’ Design Award Exhibition.

Dublin is the World Design Hub in 2015, so there are year round celebrations of international and Irish design.

The Platinum awards are the highest given by A’Design. The purpose is to inspire discussion about design and how it influences people and their lives.

Some of our favorite pieces were the Zephyr (made of aluminum and can be used to hold bike rentals, but looks also like a sculpture and protects against the elements and vandalism); the best bottle opener on the market at the moment, which is unbreakable and uses materials normally only found in Military or spacecraft engineering; RAW restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan; ICE Arena in Krakow; the newest Airport Terminal in New Delhi and artwork in Santander, Spain, which was created for the 2014 World Sailing Cup.

The exhibition has only opened beginning of October and runs until the 7th of November 2015.

If you have time and are interested in design, it’s worth a visit and can be done fairly quickly, depending if you are reading each text or just skim over it.

 

©2015  

Wheeler's, Love Lane, George Town, Penang, Malaysia

While exploring George Town we were also in Love Lane and stopped for a break at Wheeler’s Coffee. Penang is famous for excellent cuisine and good coffee.

The shop is quaint and easily identifiable because the entrance is decorated with bikes and there is a mural of a gentleman and his unicycle from a long bygone area, when bicycles were still in their infancy, plus a rabbit on a bicycle sporting a blue and red stripped balloons.

The bicycle theme continues throughout the café.

There were a lot of fresh cakes and sandwiches on display and a large board showed the drink menu.

The orders were taken at the counter, but brought to the table by the staff.

The different flavored teas, coffees and chocolates were mind boggling and fabulous.

For him it was easier, but I had difficulties deciding which drink to take.

He took the Nutella Hot Chocolate, while I had the Rose Latte. We chose two orange juices and two tiramisu cakes as well. All was delicious and fresh.

We paid 63.60 MYR (ca. 13 Euro or 14.50 USD).

Other customers were locals and Wheeler’s was very full, but quiet.

We would return next time if we are in Love Lane again.


©2015 

Marco Pierre White's Steakhouse and Grill Dublin, Ireland - Revisited

Having liked our experience at Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse & Grill earlier (Please see also review.) we decided to book a table for  lunch in late September after our visit to the Gallery of Photography at Meeting House Sqare, Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland.

We were recognized immediately, greeted warmly and brought to a corner table, which was already set.

There was no time frame given we had to vacate the table.

We decided to have the value lunch menu again. It had changed to reflect the season.

One starter was still the same. I had it during our previous visit and it had been delicious, so we both chose the Caprese Salad. The quality was the same, but the mix of the tomatoes was slightly different. It was very fresh, light, healthy and tasty at the same time.

He followed with a roasted half chicken and beurre blanc. It came with fries. They had a lemony flavor. The chicken was moist and delicious.

My main course was gnocchi with mushrooms, peas and truffle oil. It was a very satisfying, earthy and moreish dish and well balanced. A good seasonal dish. 

We shared a dessert, the lemon raspberry posset. It was served more like a hot beverage on a dainty saucer with flower print. To our surprise it was lighter then usual, but extremely tasty. 

We shared a large bottle of still water, Fior Uisce, True Water and he had a glass of Joly’s sweet wine with our dessert. The wine was very refreshing and complimented the posset perfectly. 

Staff was attentive and friendly. It seemed there were no walk in guests and the staff/diner ratio was just right. The atmosphere was pleasant and felt upscale.

We paid exactly the same as on our first time at 58.65 Euros or 66 USD. Good value all around.

Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse and Grill has turned out to be one of our favorite restaurants in Dublin. We will be back for more.

©2015 

Engagement

This is a story about Frieda's sister Bobby and how she met her future husband.

The ring burned in Juan Migallon's pocket. He was nervous and thought everyone could read his mind. Of course only his mother Yadra knew what he was up to. She had helped him choose the ring.

It wasn't easy to convince Bobby, short for Roberta Eduarda Leandra Pianas, to leave her family behind and have dinner on St. Stephen's Day. They had been invited by Bobby's oldest sister Frieda and her husband Fin to celebrate Christmas in Seattle. Bobby and her three sisters were very close, but Bobby didn't see too much of them, because they had dispersed to different corners in the world, so it was difficult to separate them when they met.

Finally Bobby agreed.

Juan had booked a table at the Space Needle’s revolving restaurant.

The views were beautiful and the steaks delicious. Juan was a bit absent minded, because he felt even jitterier than before. Bobby was displeased about it and asked him outright if something was wrong. If she went out for dinner with Juan she expected total attention. Otherwise it was a waste of time in her opinion. She rarely did anything half measured, had high expectations on herself and others and was difficult to please.

Juan had met Bobby the first time, when he started working for her father Roberto. His own father Zymon thought it was better Juan left the family business, because Juan and his older brother Aaden constantly clashed about decisions. Since Aaden was going to overtake the company and disputes weren’t good to conduct business, Juan had to go. It hadn’t been easy for Zymon. He wanted the best for his younger son, so when he heard through the grapevine that his old friend Roberto Pianas was looking for a left hand man, he suggested Juan. Roberto met Juan and thought he would be a perfect fit to Bobby’s temperament and supportive when she took the helm.

At first Juan had his doubts Bobby would be suitable as a leader. Bobby was small and petite. She had short black hair and green eyes. It didn’t take him long to understand Bobby liked to wear the trousers – figuratively and literally. She had charisma, was hardworking and tough. She wasn’t very feminine, but she was warm and generous. There was immediately good chemistry between Juan and Bobby. He couldn’t put his fingers on it, but he found the whole package attractive. Bobby felt the same. They had some things in common, like their Colombian background and having three siblings. They shared the same taste in music, films and cuisine. They disliked mushrooms and shrimps. At work Juan and Bobby had the same goals. It didn’t matter for Juan that Bobby was his boss. She did listen to what he had to say and generally took on his advice. Bobby was a bit hot headed and impatient, while Juan thought before talking and didn’t mind to bide his time. They complemented each other and that made them a strong couple on and off the job.

Juan could hardly wait to settle the bill. The butterflies in his stomach had increased. It was crunch time. Dining at the restaurant included also free access to observation deck.

When they arrived at the top it was already dark and the lights of Seattle were twinkling below them. It was romantic. Bobby went to one of the windows immediately to stare out. Juan retrieved the box from his jacket. Bobby was still concentrating on the views. Juan cleared his throat. “Um, Roberta, we have been now together more than two and a half years and I really love you.” He sank to his knees, took Bobby’s left hand and asked: “Will you marry me?” Due to his nerves Juan was a bit clumsy and had problems opening the box. Finally he managed to pry it open. Bobby took the box from him and checked out the trilogy diamond ring. It must have cost a fortune. She still hadn’t given an answer or shown any emotion. “I chose it, because it reflects our past, present and future and its 24 karat gold.” “It’s beautiful. Thank you.” “So, will you marry me?” “Of course I will, dummy! It was about time. I thought you were never going to ask.” Bobby tried the ring on. It fit like a glove. Juan laughed. Part of it was relieve, because Bobby had said yes and the other part was amusement about Bobby being totally unromantic. Well, at least one of them was. Having expected more or less such a reaction, Juan wasn’t disappointed and thought Roberta appreciated his efforts. Later she told him she had enjoyed the evening and it had been very well planned and executed.

Bobby wore her ring with pride and got oos and ahhs when she showed it to her sisters and mother. Vanessa, who was a designer and working in Paris, immediately said she would create Bobby’s wedding dress and help her with the planning if Bobby wanted. Bobby was gracious and said she would happily accept any help she could get, because she wanted a traditional wedding with lots of guests. She wanted all members of his and her family present as well as their friends.

A year later the wedding took place in New York City.

©2015