Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize Cocktails

Dorchester Collection is a portfolio of the world's foremost luxury hotels in Europe and the USA. One of the most known are: The Dorchester (London), The Beverly Hills Hotel (Los Angeles), Le Meurice (Paris), Hotel Plaza Athenee (Paris) and Hotel Principe di Savoia (Milan). (See link for entire collection)

Every year Dorchester Collection shortlists 5 talented designers for Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize, where each of the 5 designers is paired with one of the iconic hotels to create a cocktail representing the spirit of designers' work and Dorchester Collection hotel, represented by the bar directors and managers. They produce a limited edition Fashion Prize cocktail menu, which will be available during the upcoming fashion season in Europe from 6 September to 3 October 2012 at 45 Park Lane in London, Hotel Principe di Savoia, Le Meurice, Plaza Athenee and Le Richemond in Geneva.

Featured cocktails:

Inspired by Calla Haynes’ colourful collection, Daniele Confalonieri of Hotel Principe di Savoia mixed the ‘Milanese Calla-pirinha’ - an orange-hued cocktail with a cinnamon stick, a sprinkle of saffron, white crushed ice and limes to add a touch of green.

After seeing the experimental design style of IRM Design, Thierry Hernandez, of Hôtel Plaza Athénée, conceived ‘IRM Cocktail’ composed of three shots of rum, sake and vodka, presented with three different pipettes containing iris (I), rose (R), and mint (M) essences. With the simplicity of the alcoholic base, the pipettes add colour to mirror the running paint effect used by IRM Design.

Annelie Augustin and Odély Teboul joined forces with Stefano Cossio of Bar 45 at 45 Park Lane to create ‘Black Velvet’, a tequila-based cocktail with blackberries, thyme honey, crème de cassis and lime juice, indicative of the designers’ sophisticated and dark designs.

With a collection evoking the famous prohibition era of the 1920s, designer Quentin Veron paired up with Le Richemond’s bar team to devise ‘Black Southside’. This gin based cocktail with blackberries and cherry syrup will take guests back to the early 20^th century speakeasy clubs of North America.

Emphasising the recurrence of black within their electrifying collection, Les Garcons’s Louis Gerin and Gregory Lamaud collaborated with Le Meurice’s William Oliveri and created ‘Nuit Noire’, a blueberry vodka based drink with blackberry liqueur. 

Conrad Algarve opens today

We could not wait to finally hear this news - Conrad Hotel Algarve opened today. A part of the Conrad Hotels & Resorts, it is a stylish getaway to an exclusive area of Portugal - Quinta do Lago. Conrad Algarve promises guests a bespoke experience with a discreet yet engaging service in a resort that offers a genuine reflection of the local culture. 

Besides 154 exquisite guestrooms, which provide the ultimate luxury comfort, Conrad Hotel boasts a luxurious Conrad Spa - an evolution of sophisticated spa culture. Conrad Spa’s Sensory Zone features a tranquil sun terrace with impressive views and includes a sauna, steam room, hydro massage heated pool, sensory showers, plunge pool and ice fountain, transporting guests into a haven of harmony and lightness. 

In addition, Conrad Algarve’s world class meeting and event facilities are unrivalled, with a range of flexible spaces available; from an impressive ballroom complete with panoramic views to six spacious meeting rooms boasting natural light and modern design. All of the dynamic meeting spaces come equipped with Wifi access, state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and outdoor terraces encouraging the alfresco element of Portuguese living. 

Conrad Algarve joins 20 Conrad Hotels & Resorts properties around the world including the recently opened Conrad New York.  Conrad Beijing, Conrad Seoul and Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa are also expected to open later this year.

Bentley suite at St. Regis in New York

St. Regis in New York has already collaborated with Dior and Tiffany & Co. for their sublime Designer Suites overlooking The Central park, 55th Street and Fifth Avenue. Now they will allow none other than Bentley to design a hotel suite, which was launched this month by the and will be available for $9,500 per night. 

This exquisite designer suite is situated on the 15th floor and incorporates Bentley brand elements like cream and neutral tones, wood finishes and custom Bentley leathers. At the same time, St. Regis will introduce the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne (first in the US) as the flagship vehicle in hotel's house fleet.

Ralph Lauren handbag event in Harrods

For those absolute Ralph lauren fans, Harrods will be hosting two events for the fashionistas, where guests will be able to interact with an Italian artisan and learn about the bespoke options available for Ralph lauren Ricky bag, which include exclusive fabrics, colours, hardware and an engraved interior plaque.

Harrods will let guests order a personalized handbag and shop the new Ralph Lauren collection at the events, both lasting 4 hours on the 28th and 29th of September from 2-6 p.m.

Dance on the ocean floor

The newest Per AQUUM's resort in the Maldives is offering something truly new and exciting - Edge, the overwater restaurant and Subsix, the world's first underwater music club. Located at Niyama, these two jewelles of the Maldives are only accessible by boat, yet very worth the trip. The celebration of the opening of Subsix is bringing together global superstars like Tinie Tempah and Poet Name Life together, to host exclusive performances this October 2012.

Access to Subsix is via a staircase from Edge taking guests six metres below the surface of the Indian Ocean to a breath-taking underwater world. Guests will find themselves in an intimate music club with floor to ceiling windows surrounding three sides of the structure. A bar and DJ consul can be found along the back wall while seating is spaced throughout allowing unobstructed views of clown fish, manta rays, parrot fish and other exotic marine life.

Not to be overshadowed by Subsix, Edge, the over water restaurant is helmed by Chef de Cuisine Arron Rhodes who brings modern day cuisine to our shores. By experimenting with flavours, textures and memory, it is an educational experience. Signature dishes that guests can look forward to include, the slowly cooked Indian Ocean Cuttlefish with avocado, piccalilli, apple and ink krupuk, a succulent dish infused with sensational flavours from around the region or the thinly sliced Maldivian reef fish gravalax, mouth-wateringly updated with an accompaniment of tamarind cream, bulgur wheat, curry bubbles and mung sprouts.

In addition to the restaurant, guests can enjoy a drink at Edge Bar. Perched over water and offering incredible sunset views, this is the perfect location for pre-dinner drinks or an after-dinner digestif.

Avakian sponsors a charity event

Haig Avakian, Robert Shapiro and Nicole Richie

This year Avakian has become one of the main sponsors for the charity event of the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Drug & Alcohol Awareness, founded by the famous US attorney Robert Shapiro after his son passed away from addiction in 2005.  The event took place in Los Angeles, US on 15^th September, 2012.

Kristen Jenner

Founded upon a personal tragedy, the foundation’s’ mission is to raise awareness for drug and alcohol dependence, to provide support for other parents and their addicted children, to give a new and fresh approach to the problem.

Larry King and Wife Shawn Southwick

Avakian Vice President Haig Avakian was also present on the evening and expressed his commitment and support to the charitable cause of the event. “Alcoholism and Drug addiction is an epidemic in this country and we are proud to support Robert Shapiro in his vision to make this world a better a safer place for young and old generations to come”

The event was hosted by Robert Shapiro himself and was attended by a lot of celebrities like Nicole Richie, Kristen Jenner (Kim Kardashian’s mother) and Larry King to name a few.

“A strong body makes the mind strong.” - Is there a link between exercise and success?

Although Thomas Jefferson – to whom the quotation in my title is attributed – touted shooting as the most effective sport to develop both mind and body, I will also quote another famous American politician who said “If you make a commitment to better your physical health, you’ll find the same self-discipline, focus, and drive for success carries through into the rest of your life’s activities” (Schwarzenegger, 1998). You can’t argue with Arnie, at least not to his face. Both men can certainly be regarded as “successful”, and both seem to agree on a link between being physically active and improved performance in other areas of life.

To contemporise things a little, Coulson et al. (2008) investigated the effects of exercise on self-reported work performance. The type of exercise undertaken was monitored but regardless of type, duration, or intensity the study showed significant improvements in mood and self-reported performance on days that the participants exercised compared with days that they didn’t. The participants had been selected from largely sedentary jobs, but importantly their employers provided facilities for exercise in the workplace. So how is this relevant? A happier, more motivated workforce is undeniably a more productive and successful one.

To digress into the field of exercise/health psychology, there is a clear link between exercise and wellbeing. Ogden (2007) discusses the positive effects of exercise on longevity, and how important physical activity is in relation to heart disease amongst other potentially fatal conditions (it’s hard to be successful when you’re dead...). She also delves into the many psychological effects of regular exercise, including improved responses to workplace stress, and improved self-confidence (a reoccurring theme).  Can exercise improve intelligence too? Renowned child psychologist Jean Piaget (1936) stated that physical activity and motor development was a key part of a child’s cognitive development, and believed this link may continue in adulthood. Whilst there has been no solid evidence in applying this to adult populations, a running theme across research has found improved cognitive function tends to be linked to regular, structured exercise programs (Weinberg & Gould, 2003).

Back to the real world, and one important question; how can the improvements in mood, perceived performance at work, self-confidence, motivation, physical and mental health, and cognitive ability gained through regular exercise contribute to success? I don’t need to spell it out.

Coulson, J.C., McKenna, J., & Field, M. (2008). Exercising at work and self-reported work performance. International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 1: 176-197.

Ogden, J. (2007). Health Psychology: A Textbook. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Piaget, J. (1936). The moral judgment of the child. New York: Harcourt & Brace.

Schwarzenegger, A. (1998) The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks.

Weinberg, R.S. & Gould, D. (2003). Foundations of Sport & Exercise Psychology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Will Brooks

Chartwell Magazine is delighted to welcome Will as one of our regular sports, health and wellbeing writers. Will is degree educated in Sports Psychology, and aspiring to gain a Masters in Strength and Conditioning next year. Will has several years experience in the fitness industry and is a strong advocate of physical activity for all.