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Caravelle Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City -
Vietnam |
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Eric Weiss and Monet's
Palate |
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Asian Reflections, Ho Chi Minh City -
Vietnam |
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Vietnam Airlines, Business
Class |
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Next Gazette: Furama, Danang -
Vietnam |
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Caravelle
Hotel
Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam |
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| 5 Stars and 6 Stripes |
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| Our
arrival at the
Caravelle
Hotel's main entrance, after less then an hour ride from SGN airport in a
Mercedes E 200, was nothing shy of 'grand'. The 1st district of Ho Chi Minh
City is the heart of one of the most pulsing and adventurous cities of the
world and we just couldn't wait to get our fill. Not to forget that four
million mopeds and bicycles are carrying anything and everything, besides
people. The Caravelle is located opposite the famous opera house and in the
midst of shopping, commerce, art, museums and all what they call 'controlled
chaos'; a wonderful base for all kinds of excursions. |
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| This
landmark hotel (first opened in 1959) received a complete rework in 1998 and a
24-story tower was added to the 10 story existing hotel, today offering over
three hundred spacious accommodations, an in-house casino, a spa and salon and
a top-of-the-line fitness center. The Caravelle grants breathtaking views of
the Saigon River, downtown Saigon and features a couple of restaurants and
bars. Our gracious accommodations displayed a unique combination of elegant,
but stylish colorful living comfort. |
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| Congratulations to all, from your Guests and from Seven Stars and
Stripes: |
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- For your visible commitment to excellence.
- For your willingness to be recognized for your latest
innovations.
- For your devotion to your staff and company.
- For your ability to receive.
- For your decision to raise the bar.
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Ho Chi Minh City -
Vietnam
Chef de Cuisine:
Timo
Reuss |
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| 5 Stars and 5
Stripes |
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| As we
were seated in the main dining room next to the window overlooking the business
center of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), we were immediately handed lightly
perfumed cold towels to refresh ourselves reminding us of the sub-tropical
location of the city.
Executive
Chef Reuss has made it his mission of building a capable cooking team by
training them to compete at the level of the international community. It was
obvious to us by the unique cuisine being presented at this dinner that Chef
Reuss was achieving his goals rapidly. |
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| Next
up was the unusual seafood combination of New Zealand Green Mussel, French fine
de Claire Oyster,
Vietnamese
Red Lobster Tail, Giant US Scallop and Red Snapper Filet. It was
refreshing to see that the preparations of seafood, which is held in reverence
in Vietnam, displayed the same careful arrangements of their time-honored
recipes. Also served was a Miso Crusted Norwegian Salmon with Arborio risotto
and Szechwan chili paste. This proved to be an outstanding blending of cultures
combining north and south Europe with the orient added for spice. |
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| Luxury Product Recognition: |
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| * Maybach - Transportation for the Elite |
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| * Rimowa - Luggage for the World Traveler |
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| * Pictured at
Emirates Palace -
U.A.E. |
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| Dear Friends,
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| Happy
February and Happy Valentines to All! |
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| February is indeed a great month to travel; lovers all over the globe
wouldn't miss this one for the world. Though not officially an international
'holiday' - February 14th is a great day for many of us searching for a
romantic escape or a change in season - after all February in the Northern
Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to August in the Southern Hemisphere, and
vice versa. But a true international holiday is the International Language Day
on February 21st, first proclaimed in 1999 by UNESCO! The world is a village,
indeed. Let me introduce you this month to one of the most adventurous cities
of the world: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (formerly known as Saigon) and one of
its finest hotels - the Caravelle. Meet Eric Weiss, one of our Seven Stars and
Stripes Advisory-Board Members & President of Service Arts, Inc. who
moderated recently a discussion about Monet's Palate and the connections
between food, art, wine and music. And don't forget to order a box of sinful
Neuchatel Swiss Chocolates for your Valentine. |
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| Thorsten Buehrmann |
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| Watch the Seven Stars and Stripes |
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| Award TV Show on |
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| Hamptons Televisions WVVH World-Wide |
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| Featured here on the set of the Seven Stars and Stripes Award TV
Show are co-hosts Ingrid Lemme and John Lomitola, VP of Seven Stars and
Stripes, Inc. WVVH Hamptons TV is a commercial cable and broadcast TV station
airing NOW also in New Jersey, New York City, Westchester, Long
Island (in the midst are the affluent Hamptons) and on TIME
WARNER `On-Demand´. The station may be viewed world-wide in
real-time via Live-Web-Stream on our website:
http://www.WADTV.com |
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Eric Weiss,
Seven Stars and Stripes Advisory-Board Member
& President of
Service
Arts, Inc. moderated a discussion about Monet’s Palate and the
connections between food, art, wine and music. |
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| Panelists included; Charles S. Moffet, Vice-Chairman, Modern and
Contemporary Art at Sothebys and former senior curator of the exhibition
“Monet’s Years at Giverny” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
Terrance Brennan, Chef/Owner of Picholine and Artisanal Restaurants, Michel
Nischan, Chef/Co-Owner with Paul Newman of The Dressing Room Restaurant and Ms.
Bordman, President of AFB Productions and founder of
www.monetspalate.com.
As a culinary-musical coda, Mr. Weiss introduced his latest presentation,
“The Taste of Music, The Sound of Food and Wine.” Master Violinist
Jennifer Choi interpreted the lush and captivating Cabernet Sauvignon,
“Monet’s Palate,”2004, with a corresponding musical selection.
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| Meryl Streep - © photo by Alan Light |
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| Meryl
Streep’s opening narration took the viewers through the
painter’s home and gardens in the pastoral region of Normandy. The film
also highlights London where the artist lived, painted and dined at the Savoy
Hotel. Great Chefs such as Roger Verge, Daniel Boulud and Alice Waters share
their thoughts about the cuisine Monet adored. The film was has been screened
at various film festivals over the past two years and was presented at MIP
Cannes in April. It received the Directors Citation Honorable Mention in
February from the prestigious Thomas A. Edison Black Maria Film
Festival. |
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| Seven
Stars and Stripes Awards for: |
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| Business Class |
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| 5 Stars and 4 Stripes |
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| On
board, the 11-hour non-stop flight experience was delightful considering that
the individualized entertainment system was unfortunately not functioning. This
did not compromise the well orchestrated, caring service, which we experienced
by Ms. Ngvygn Thi Giang Teang and her team. The airhostesses were conversing in
charming accentuated English and were well dressed in stylish native uniforms.
I was able to work on my lop-top instead and we both slept quite well for
several hours in the almost horizontal flat beds. Let me give you an example of
the small things that make service superior.
VA
is the first airline we have experienced where the hostesses placed paper
flowers (besides the fresh ones), they had personally created on board, in a
mouthwash glass and then drizzled them with a couple of drops of Campari to
give them the right color. I told my wife about it and she couldn't wait for
her turn to see them, and came back with a smile. |
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| In Next Gazette: |
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| * Furama Resort, Danang - Vietnam |
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| * Fairplay Golf Hotel & Spa, Spain |
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| * Restaurant Hradcany, Prague - CZ |
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