Friday, August 31, 2018

Cédric Grolet's Inspirational Desserts

Cédric Grolet's Inspirational DessertsHave a look at some impressive pastries prepared by Cédric Grolet, the executive pastry chef of the two Michelin starred restaurant Le Meurice in Paris.

from Fine Dining Lovers

Fall 2018 Shopping Guide

Welcome to September. The month full of opportunities for fresh starts, serious pursuits and determined efforts to revamp aspects of our lives we know can improve.  Each of us has our own journey of style, and each of us will find ourselves at a different point along this journey when a new season arrives. For […]


from The Simply Luxurious Life®

2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition

The 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition boasts no mechanical changes whatsoever — not that it really needs to. It has the same 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine as the original, which produces 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque, channeled to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

from Men's Gear

Labor Day Weekend Sales 2018

I hope everyone is ready for the long holiday weekend. Make sure you give yourself some time to shop because there are some amazing Labor Day weekend sales happening now. While some of it is summer merchandise, there is a lot of fall fashions and home decor to be found on sale.

Bon weekend!

Ann Taylor – 40% off full priced styles + 50% off sale styles with code READYSETSALE

Anthropologie – 40% sale clothing + 40% off sale home + extra 20% off furniture

Bergdorf Goodman – Up to 40% off

Bloomingdale’s – Save up to 60% when you take an extra 20% off sale items labeled EXTRA 20% off

Boden – 20% off men + women and 25% off children’s + baby

Crate & Barrel – 15% off full-priced items with code SAVE15

Horchow – 20% off sitewide

J.Crew – 40% off your purchase with code BIGSALE

Mark & Graham – 30% off sale styles, plus free shipping sitewide using code LABORDAY

Neiman Marcus – $100 off $400 with promo code NM100

Nordstrom – Up to 40% off Summer Sale

One Kings Lane – 20% off sitewide

Pottery Barn – Buy more, save more, up to 30% off with code SAVEMORE

Ralph Lauren – Take 30% off when you spend $150+ on fall styles and more with code LDAY

Serena and Lily – Up to 30% off dining room furniture

Talbots – Extra 20% off sale

Target – Get up to 30% off + an extra 15% off furniture

Tuckernuck – 20% off all sale using code SENDOFF20

West Elm – Buy more, save more, up to 30% off with code SAVEMORE

Williams-Sonoma – 20% off your purchase with code FALL

Williams-Sonoma Home – Buy more, save more, up to 30% off with code SAVEMORE



from Habitually Chic®

It’s Not Too Late for a Rosé Tasting Party

The summer entertaining season is winding down, but that doesn’t mean you can’t squeeze one last get together. I’ll take any excuse to get girlfriends together for much needed mama time. You know it’s going to get sparse as we get into fall. So I recently gathered some of my fave bloggers for a little rosé tasting party! It combined all of my loves – designing a gorgeous table, trading blogger (and mama!) tips and sipping on lots of yummy wine of course.

rosé tasting party on apartment 34

To set a stunning scene, I created a relaxed, slightly boho vibe. A simple linen tablecloth, stemless wine glasses and charcuterie boards a plenty.

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I decided to set this gathering up as a blind rosé tasting. That means you don’t know anything about what you’re drinking. Being a long-time wine geek, I love the process of tasting wine, describing it, comparing one to another and really thinking about what you like or don’t like. It’s a really fun exercise and quite educational if you’re a wine novice. While rosé is often referred to as the pink water of summer, there are actually very good rosés out there. You just have to know what you’re looking for.

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shop the post: glass plates / notebooks / wine glasses / marble cheese boards / wood cutting boards / glass wine decanter / table throw

Throughout lunch, we sipped on each wine, talking about the flavor profile (fruity or earthy?), how heavy or light the mouth feel felt, how it paired with the food, and debated which wine we thought was the cheapest and which the most expensive. Conversation may have also frequently wandered to toddler tantrums and what the heck is up with the dang Instagram algorithm these days, but we tried to stay focused on the task at hand! Upon the final reveal, we discovered everyone actually liked the mid-tier, $16 bottle of rosé from California best.

All in all, the party was a total success. I was able to design a unique, personally meaningful way to bring friends together. The setting and the fun little activity made what would have otherwise been just any old lunch, feel a little more extraordinary. But in the end, the afternoon wasn’t really about the wine.  It was about the company, the conversation – the bringing together of friends that we’ll all remember.

for more end of summer entertaining ideas, CLICK HERE.

original photography for apartment 34 by stephanie russo, florals by lambert studio 

 

The post It’s Not Too Late for a Rosé Tasting Party appeared first on Apartment34.



from Apartment34

Sanlorenzo’s 60th Anniversary has impressive premieres to showcase at Cannes and Monaco

Sanlorenzo's engines are raring to go as it is bent on flaunting new models at Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show this year.

The post Sanlorenzo’s 60th Anniversary has impressive premieres to showcase at Cannes and Monaco appeared first on LUXUO.



from LUXUO

The Belmond Copacabana Palace, The Hottest Hotel in Rio, Brazil

At The Copa, The Belmond Copacabana Palace, The Hottest Hotel in Rio

The Belmond Copacabana Palace, The Hottest Hotel in Rio, Brazil

Where? Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Exactly? Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel

Why? As part of my mini sojourn around South America, the Belmond Group invited me to stay at the splendid Copacabana Palace Hotel whilst visiting Rio de Janeiro. My Journey starts in Brazil and ends in Peru. Stay tuned for regular updates on the trip or head over to my instagram to follow the full trip day by day.

Bonnie Rakhit Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, best hotels Bonnie Rakhit Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, best hotels

The Hotel

The Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro is one of the most famous hotels in the world. The iconic hotel opened it’s hallowed doors in 1923 and has been one of the most loved and influential properties in tourism ever since. Having been voted the best hotel in South America so many times, even they’ve lost count, I was super excited to stay.

Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil 1950's

The exquisite art deco property lies like a shining beacon on the Copacabana Beach front parade and has seen more celebrities, dignitaries and royalty come through its doors than the hotel would ever giveaway. It’s a truly stunning property, they just don’t build hotels like this anymore.

Above: Original image from the 1950’s outside the hotel and below it still hasn’t lost any of its old school charm

Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil at night

Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, suite bedroom accomodation

The Decor

As you’d imagine in this grand dame, colonial style hotel, the decor throughout is decadent, grand and elegant. The corridors and reception areas are filled with marble floors, whitewashed columns and huge chandeliers hanging from the high vaulted ceilings.

The 239 bedrooms and suites, despite the four poster beds, are a much more homely and cosy affair. Colours are muted and subdued to mimic the natural beach tones of the views through the window, but all modern amenities, such as international adapters, wide screen TV’s, walk-in rain showers and Nespresso coffee machines are provided. All in all it’s safe to say you’ll love the hotel!Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil art deco grand interiors ball room

Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, best hotels breakfast at Pergola restaurant

Food and Drink

There are three incredible restaurants and two bars to chose from at hotel. Decide between the one Michelin starred Chinese restaurant,  Mee (as overseen by celebrity chef Ken Hom), or opt for traditional, Italian elegance at the world renowned Cipriani’s, but my favourite offering was the newest restaurant at the hotel, Pergula.

With a gorgeous pool view, relaxed Brazilian/international menu, bright, bold-coloured decor and a wonderfully relaxed vibe, this is THE place for Rio’s jet set and hotel guests alike to unwind. Sip caipirinha cocktails and listen to samba and jazz tunes into the evening, it’s Rio’s current haunt to see and be seen.

Pictured above and below: the sumptuous interiors at Pergula and me settling in for breakfast with a pool view

Bonnie Rakhit Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, best hotels breakfast at Pergolabest hotels breakfast

Above: tucking in to the amazing buffet breakfast at Pergula, can anyone tell me the name of this amazing fruit on my plate? And below enjoy exotic dishes like sea urchins (below) alongside more traditional and contemporary meals like burgers or empanadas!

Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, best hotels lunch at Pergola restaurant urchin

Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, ciprianis restaurant, best restaurants

Above: the decadent interiors at Cipriani’s Italian restaurant, which also overlooks the main part of the hotel, the swimming pool.

Bonnie Rakhit Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, best hotels poolside best pools

The Pool

Without a doubt the central hub of this beautiful hotel is the huge (half olympic sized) swimming pool. Chanel Grace Kelly vibes as you lounge around the pool and imagine yourself as one of the many fabulous 1950’s movie stars who frequented the hotel back in the day.

There’s a tanning butler, complimentary towels, water and fruit plates, as well as tantalising mini taster snacks from the facing restaurants for peckish sun bathers. Sun bathing doesn’t get more luxurious than this.

Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil art deco swimming pool

Bonnie Rakhit Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, best hotels poolside best pools coconut

I highly recommend one of the fresh coconuts which have literally been chopped down from the tree that morning. They are also a great natural rehydration source to combat the Rio heat.

Bonnie Rakhit Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, best hotels poolside best pools bahimi

Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, facade

Bonnie Rakhit Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, best hotels poolside best pools bahimi sunbath

Copacabana Beach

Rio is famous for its beautiful people (the self named, Cariocas). And they have a very specific way of life which is all about enjoying yourself and centres mainly around the natural beauty of the beach. Copacabana beach which lies directly opposite the hotel is central to Carioca life.

You’ll see locals and tourists alike enjoying beach life, getting involved in all sorts of sporting activities from swimming, surfing, weight lifting (at the beach stations), running, playing frescobal and volleyball, to simply lying in the sun and chilling out.

The great thing about the Copacabana Palace is they have a designated area on the beach complete with day beds, towels, drinks bar, bats and balls, magazines and even wifi! You literally don’t need to bring anything apart from yourself and you swimsuit!

Bonnie Rakhit Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, agent provocateur bikini

Above me wearing my new season Agent Provocateur bikini, trying to fit in with the locals. Beach bling goes down a treat in Brazil.

Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil art right on copacabana beach flip flops

The hotel is so iconic you can even get Copacabana branded flip flops!

Bonnie Rakhit Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, selaron steps

What to do in Rio?

Rio is without doubt one of my favourite cities in the world, the list of what to do and things to see is endless. Tune in to next weeks blog, for my list of the most instagrammable destinations in Rio, and my Style Traveller edit of the 10 best things to do in Rio.

Bonnie Rakhit Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil, christ the redeemer

For more of Bonnie’s Brazilian adventure click this link. 

A huge thank you to all the lovely staff and amazing PR team at Copacabana Palace for making my stay so memorable.

Room rates at Belmond Copacabana Palace, Rio start from £260 / R$1.085,00 + taxes per night based on two people sharing a City View Room. For hotel reservations please visit Belmond.com or call 0845 0772 222

Next stop Peru!

Bon voyage x

Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio Brazil

The post The Belmond Copacabana Palace, The Hottest Hotel in Rio, Brazil appeared first on The Style Traveller.



from The Style Traveller