Champagne & Oysters - Skaka Zulu

Champagne & Oyster-Infused Cocktails

 Launch at Shaka Zulu

Luxury restaurant, Shaka Zulu in Camden is set to launch a glamorous new Champagne & Oyster Bar. As well as serving an extensive champagne menu, the venue shall also be showcasing some truly innovative oyster-infused cocktails, set to excite your palette.

Shaka Zulu has created a delectable selection of Oyster infused cocktails made with a single oyster. Sample the Sipping Mary, a heavy bloody Mary mix with chilled Grey Goose vodka or the Smoked Vodka Oyster Martini, with a pouring of chilled smoked vodka both of which are served with the finest Fine de Claire Oyster delicately place within. Alternatively, and for those more daring guests, why not try the Oyster Shot, a favourite in Knysna in South Africa this is made with a single oyster and resposado tequila slammer mixed with tobasco sauce, black pepper and fresh lemon juice.

There will be a stunning variety of Laurent Perrier champagnes on offer alongside a number of other brands including Bollinger, Dom Perignon and Veuve Clicquot to put some fizz back into your life.

If you prefer your champagne with a dash of fruity sweetness, Shaka Zulu will also be serving an impressive array of cocktails to complement the menu. These include Cherry Lane, a dark red concoction of raspberry vodka, cherry puree, fresh lemon, cherry liqueur and bubbly, La Fizz, an effervescent and refreshing mix of Grey Goose vodka, elderflower cordial, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup topped with Prosecco.

Shaka Zulu will also be serving a number of healthy cocktails as well as the supermodel’s favourite, Laurent-Perrier’s Ultra Brut. This light champagne is unique, being made without the addition of the sugar dosage found in most champagnes, the Ultra Brut can only be made in years when the grapes are at their optimum ripeness with a good balance of acidity and natural sugar.

To complement your choice of Champagne, the venue will be serving a selection of the finest Fine de Claire Oysters from the South of France. Whilst at the bar, watch the talented bar staff crack open the oyster before a delicious sauce is drizzled over the heavenly jewel located within, or alternatively have them in their purest form. Whether you prefer succulent or fiery flavour, Shaka Zulu have a tempting selection of sauces to choose from including Wasabi& Eldeflower Dressing for a taste explosion or for something seductively spicy, why not try the Smoked Chilli Jelly.

The Champagne and Oyster Bar stretches seductively over Shaka Zulu’s mezzanine level offering guests panoramic views across both floors of this breathtaking venue. Hand carved wooden murals cover every inch of the walls and ceiling and towering statues of Zulu warriors bring a sense of drama to the 850 capacity space.

24-carat gold iPads

Burj Al Arab introduces exclusive 24-carat gold iPads! 

Dubai, 20 May 2013 – Burj Al Arab, the World’s Most Luxurious Hotel, introduced today bespoke 24-carat gold iPads for its in-house guests. The exclusive launch makes Burj Al Arab the first hotel in the world to offer the Interactive Customer Experience (ICE) software available on the 24-carat gold iPads.

 The 24-carat gold iPads, designed specifically for Burj Al Arab and engraved with the hotel’s logo, will be offered to every guest upon check-in. The guests will be able to use the 24-carat gold iPad as a “virtual concierge” and - at the touch of the button - access both information and the extensive selection of hotel services, such as the Guest Services Directory, detailed descriptions of Burj Al Arab’s restaurant options and spa menu, as well as private dining, butler and housekeeping services, among many other options.

"The Gold & Co. London 24-carat gold iPad is the ultimate in luxury accessories, hence we wanted it to be paired with Burj Al Arab, the world's most luxurious hotel. The symmetry is obvious, as both the gold iPad and the hotel are unique in terms of  extraordinary quality and design", said Amjad Ali, CEO of Gold & Co. London.

It is not the first time that Burj Al Arab has offered a unique version of the iPad. Back in October 2012, the hotel premiered an exclusive24-carat rose gold iPad as part of its Pinking Burj Al Arabcampaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A single 24-carat rose gold iPad was created by Gold & Co. London especially for the cause, and had an engraved pink ribbon and the hotel’s logo on it.

The 24-carat gold iPad introduced today will shortly be available for purchase at Burj Al Arab’s bespoke boutique, alongside other cutting-edge technology products, such as the gold iPad mini, gold iPhone 5 and gold BlackBerry Q10.

Full Bloom Afternoon Tea

As the RHS Chelsea Flower Show celebrates its 100^th year and London prepares for the abundance of brightly coloured blooms, the Radisson Blu Edwardian, Vanderbilt, located in  the fabulous South Kensington, marks the occasion with the launch of an exquisite Floral Afternoon Tea!

From £29.50 per person, guests can choose from a selection of rich floral teas or a glass of Champagne and indulge in flowery fancies such as orange blossom & lavender infused scones served with traditional clotted cream and strawberry jam; dainty finger sandwiches; elderflower crème brulée and rose fruit jellies..... gosh doesn't the elderflower crème brulée sounds fab!

 This timeless British tradition is available throughout May in the Radisson Blu Edwardian, Vanderbilt’s 68-86 Lounge and is a simply sumptuous way to spend a spring afternoon in London.

The Floral Afternoon Tea is served daily from 2-5pm and must be booked in advance.

John Walker & Sons Voyager

John Walker & Sons, the world’s leading luxury whisky house announces that John Walker & Sons Voyager, a super glamorous 1920s-style yacht will arrive in Europe this May to launch the new triple malt, John Walker & Sons odyssey.

The stunning yacht will begin its European voyage from Genoa in early May. It will visit Cannes, Monaco, Athens, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, Hamburg and Copenhagen before finally docking in Edinburgh in August – returning to the brand home of Scotland.

At each destination, the John Walker & Sons Voyager  will play host to a series of high-profile events and experiences that will celebrate each port’s own story of progress and innovation and recognise national influencers who embody the pioneering spirit and vision of the Walker family. These ‘game changers’ who have each broken new ground and carved new paths for those around them will come together with the region’s most progressive influencers to engage a new generation of whisky drinkers and luxury aficionados in a world of quality craftsmanship, heritage and modern innovation. 

The Voyager will dock in London on 15^th, 16^th, 17^th July and Edinburgh on 12^th, 13^th, 14^th August 2013. 

 John Walker & Sons Voyager was inspired by the launch of a new blend, JOHN WALKER & SONS ODYSSEY, which commemorates the 80^th anniversary of one of Sir Alexander Walker’s greatest innovations – the creation of a decanter for use on luxury cruise liners which moved to match the motion of the sea.

LYES & JONES PRESENT - ARINA

In keeping with the rising popularity of Russian art in the UK and around the world, from 16th - 20th April.

Exhibitors Lyes & Jones will be providing you with the perfect opportunity to invest in one of the most exciting and credible contemporary artists. They will be showcasing the paintings of Russian born hyper-surrealist ARINA at the 20th Century Theatre in Notting Hill.

The first glance at her paintings takes your breath away. Against the background of the monochromatic minimalism there is the sudden explosion of energy, the passionate call to participate and be involved in the depicted image - the vividness of Red Colour! 

With help of the deep and powerful cadmium red ARINA generates the hypnotic whirlpools of energy that mesmerise the viewer.

ARINA - Paintings from £17,500

ARINA - Prints from £270

11:00 to 18:00

Tuesday 16th - Saturday 20th April

                 20th Century Theatre291 Westbourne Grove London W11 2QA

The Pig in the Wall

Our much awaited visit to "The Pig in the Wall" at Southampton ticked all of the boxes!

The Pig On The Wall - Southampton, Hampshire.

 It was one of the coldest days in January and we were met with a warm greeting from Beth and her team , as we entered the Deli-bar/check in area it was like stepping back in time in this historic building, the stylish attention to every little  detail  was present, a roaring log fire, comfy seating, everywhere you looked something caught your eye. The Pig in the Wall has a choice of 12 stylishly furnished rooms offering snug, comfy or spacious accommodation.

Beth showed us to our very luxurious and spacious room, with two beautiful Georgian  windows giving views of the water. again the attention to detail was there -and  a super king sized bed, huge wardrobe with plenty of storage, bath robes, fluffy towels, tea and coffee making facilities, chocolate coated strawberries & home made granola !  the en-suite was fabulous with the roll top bath and his 'n' her's sinks. 

We were due to dine at The Pig in Brockenhurst at 8pm and met with Rachel the Manager of the Pig in the Wall in the Deli-Bar around 7pm for a chat and drinks.  Again the ambiance of the Deli-Bar was superb.  Beth was highly knowledgeable about the history of both the building itself  along with the vision of the PIG'S creators Robin and Judy Hutson. Whist chatting we enjoyed the flavours of a few "PIGGY BITS" from the menu - Bartletts Chorizo & Fennel and Coppa, pickled carrot & Capers, both highly recommended!  Beth had kindly arranged for the complimentary transfer between the two venues and we had Paul as our driver for the 25 minute journey. 

Again the familiarity experienced when arriving at The Pig in Brockenhurst was a good feeing, we were greeted and  seated and looked after by Duncan in the bar we were happy for Duncan to make a couple of choices of Piggy Bits and this time savoured the delights of The Pigs crackling & Apple sauce, Brock eggs & Coleman's dressing and Devils on horseback with cider dressing - they were so delicious the we offered some the our fellow diners as it was their first time at The Pig and we wanted to leave room for our meal!

Knowing how everything on the  25 Mile menu tasted as good as it sounded we took several minutes deciding - and finally chose Portland Baked Crab with mustard and tarragon & A Pinch of salts Hampshire Charcuterie Board - both 1st class and served to perfection. Adrien our  Sommelier recommended the  South African Chenin Blanc 2012 & French Savignon Blanc/Semillon 2011 which were matched perfectly. We then thoroughly enjoyed the melt in you mouth Char-Grilled rib of Hampshire beef for 2, served with roast potatoes, braised shallots, salad and bearnaise sauce. In fact there was so much that we copied the next table and asked for a doggie bag which the staff were only to happy with. Again Adrien's selection of the Sicilian 2010 Nero d'Avola, The Argentinian Malbec 2012, the Spanish Tempranillo/Mazuelo/Graciano 2007, and finally the Pinot Noir - Australian 2009. Each wine bringing a different taste experience with the beef.

To finish off a truly wonderful dining experience we sampled the Conference pear and beetroot trifle - which was a food match made in heaven and the Pigs local artisan cheeseboard - a delight for any cheese lover.

We were met promptly by Paul at the agreed time for the return journey back to the Pig in The Wall - where the night staff asked if there was anything else we needed before we settled down for the evening.  

We arrived for breakfast the at around 9am to be greeted for a second day with again a very relax atmosphere where we enjoyed fresh teas and coffee, toast and jams, pastries, cheeses and hams. 

The Pig in the Wall  9.5/10

Libratone Zipp

No wires, no hassle, no compromise!The must have for 2013? 

Attractive and compact....what more do we need to say!  

The Libratone Zipp portable speaker are the first and only device to deliver the performance and convenience of AirPlay without the need for a Wi-Fi network and complicated setup thanks to Libratone’s all-new PlayDirect™ technology.

With the battery-powered Libratone Zipp, you are able to take wireless high-end audio to the outside world, eliminating the need to be close to a wireless network. A full charge provides up to eight hours of playtime wired and up to four hours using the wireless connection, perfect for those summer picnics & evening BBQ's we're longing for! 

The slick Libratone Zipp offers a contemporary design with a Scandinavian heritage and a rainbow colour selection, including Salty Grey, Pepper Black, Raspberry Red, Passion Pink, Petrol Blue and Icy Blue. The fine Italian wool covers are sold separately and are quick and easy to change. Additionally, the minimalistic speaker features a leather handle for easy portability.

As with the rest of the Libratone product family, the Libratone Zipp works seamlessly with iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and Mac, as well as PC.

Libratone Zipp dressed in Salty Grey or Raspberry Red is sold exclusively at Apple Stores and Apple Online from October 2012 and retails at £329.99

The Libratone collection boxes is available from John Lewis, Dixons Travel and online - retails at £369.99.