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Furama Resort & Spa, Danang -
Vietnam |
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Fairplay Golf Hotel & Spa, Andalusia -
Spain |
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Osborne, Andalusia - Spain |
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Restaurant Hradcany, Prague -
CZ |
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Cafe Indochine, Danang -
Vietnam |
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La Table de Philippe, Andalusia -
Spain |
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Next Gazette: Giardino di Costanza -
Italy |
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Furama
Resort & Spa
Danang - Vietnam |
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| 6 Stars and 5 Stripes |
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| We
reached our destination, one of the most
luxurious
oceanfront resorts on the Vietnam coast, safely within fifteen minutes. As
we arrived, we were simply enchanted by the first overall impression and the
incomparable oceanfront location. This is still one of the finest, secluded,
white sandy beaches of the world. The resort architecture could be defined as a
blend of contemporary Asian and French colonial, sometimes a little playful
always clean and flawless and without a doubt inspiring. Fuji Television, one
of the largest private television stations in Japan, had recently featured the
Furama in their serious: "High Vision World", which is considered as a great
honor. |
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next morning it was as if we were waking up in paradise. A small but
sufficiently sized walk-in dressing room granted us the utmost privacy within
the suite and was appropriately located adjoining the precious pale-colored
marble bath. The facilities were equipped with very spacious open-showers and
double sinks, besides other luxurious necessities and we found it fascinating
with its play of attractive, precious woods and highly polished
marble. |
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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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Fairplay
Golf Hotel & Spa
Andalusia - Spain |
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| 6 Stars and 5
Stripes |
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| As we
entered the resort area we were won by the simple architecture of the white
buildings and Andalusia's color palate. Check-inn does not exist here by
conventional means at this 'all-suite / all-inclusive', modern distinctive
resort; guests are welcomed in the Putting Lounge with exquisite champagne and
freshly prepared hors d'euvres. Worldwide golfers usually pay high premiums for
green fees; here all included. Our accommodations offered well-appointed,
comfortable luxury. The elegant furnishings are imported from all over the
world. |
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Proprietor Bernard Devos and GM Martin Schneck accepted their well-deserved
Seven Stars and Stripes 2007 award with dignity and respect in the presence of
their most excellent staff. Members of the Spanish and German press were
present at the presentation of the Seven Stars and Stars Award to
Fairplay
Golf Resort & Spa, and it is featured in the March edition of the
highly respected, affluent Finest Finance magazine. |
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Seven Stars and Stripes: ITB 2007 |
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La
Table de Philippe
Fairplay Golf Hotel & Spa, Spain
Chef de
Cuisine:
Jego
Philippe |
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| 6 Stars and 5
Stripes |
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| The
cuisine at the La Table De Philippe clearly stands alone. Master Chef &
'Meilleur Ouvrier' de France Philippe Jégo, who, in his own words
describes his cuisine as 'timeless classic and modern French', was directing.
We knew that we were in for a treat. A country basket of freshly baked crusty
stone oven bread appeared magically on the table while we were studying the
simple wine menu. We reflected on the day; we had played golf, did some horse
back riding and had indulged in a Chocolate 'wrap' at the marvelous
spa… |
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| Our
unforgettable main course: the 'Roasted Quail with Orange Supremes, Potatoe and
Olive Pie & grilled spicy Vegetables' - heavenly with a Volnay, Jadot
Bourgogne, 1996! I highly recommend this dish; The Quail was slightly pink but
by no means undercooked. This one will stay with me forever. Each bite created
harmony and pleasure; always enticing me to continue. This was followed by a
display of a selection of international cheeses served with a preserve of
fennel bulb and celery. Amazing! A Slice of Perfection is a piece of a Hazelnut
Nougat Torte with golden leaves for dessert. |
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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 Martius’ - considering that in ancient Rome March
was called Martius, their name for Mars, the Roman god of war. Wherever you are
traveling this month, remember March is in the Northern Hemisphere the seasonal
equivalent to September in the Southern Hemisphere (and vice versa). There are
so many holidays celebrated now all over the world that I cannot mention all
but just a few: International Women’s Day, Mardi Gras, Martenitsa, Norouz,
St. Patrick’s - and then some. March's birth flower is the Jonquil or
Daffodil in common English; anyone will enjoy a nice bouquet of these freshly
cut, yellow beauties. How about a fascinating trip to Vietnam? We recently
visited the Furama Resort & Spa in Danang, one of the finest ocean front
resorts on China Beach. Then we discovered a rather new resort in Spain the
Fairplay Golf Resort & Spa and have also visited the world renowned
historic Osborne Winery. Of course we didn’t neglect to review the work of
the exquisite chefs of these world resort hotels. Anyone visiting Prague this
month? Please make reservations at the Hradcany at the Savoy Hotel and
experience the earthy finesse that Chef Stangl applies to his creations. As you
are reading this, one of our teams has returned from the ITB in Germany, others
visited Sicily and Argentina and I am on the way to the USA - until
then. |
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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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| If you
are an aficionado of fine wines and spirits, Andalusia might be the place for
you, and a visit at the Osborne’s is essential. Here the wines are still
created in the old-fashioned, traditional way in US oak barrels, followed by a
second period of bottle aging. Spain’s winemaking tradition reaches back
over two thousand years. Predominating in Spain is the Tempranillo, a red grape
introduced by French monks in the Middle Ages. Southern Spain produces also one
of the most famous sherries in the world. |
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| Jose
Gomez Ariza invited us to a personal tour in the wine cellar and we tasted the
master’s superb work right from the barrel. The wines were in perfect
order and identified by appearance and nose, some leaving most aromatic legs
down the inside of the glass, when swirled. It was a delightful and most
educational afternoon. Then I was given the great honor to sign one of the
historic wine barrels as heads of state and royals are allowed to
do. |
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| Seven
Stars and Stripes Awards for: |
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Restaurant
Hradcany
at the Savoy Hotel in Prague, CZ
Chef de Cuisine:
Josef
Stangl |
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| 5 Stars and 5 Stripes |
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| This
charming and
sophisticated
restaurant sits just off the welcome center of the Hotel Savoy located in
the historical Mala Strana district of Prague, and is one of the premier full
service hotels in the city. Sommelier Vladimir now cautiously approached with a
bottle of Chateau Radyne Brut sparkling wine from Bohemia in the Czech
Republic. This wine is elegant and distinguished with a mature bouquet and
long-lasting sparkle. |
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| The
highlight of the event was the surprising finesse with which
Chef
Stangl applied to the visual impact of his creations and the subtle but
satisfying flavors he managed to convey to the diner. One of his outstanding
dishes had to be the Marinated Salmon with Sweet-Sour Chilli sauce, Salad of
White Radish, Wasabi and Caviar. The masterful assemblage of contrasting
flavors offered a tantalizing balance of zest and subtle tang although we have
to caution you to go easy on the sharp sting of fresh wasabi as it could
overwhelm the caviar. |
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Furama Resort & Spa, Danang Vietnam
Chef de Cuisine:
Nick
Storie |
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| 4 Stars and 4 Stripes |
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| The
ambiance has been successfully supported by a few carefully placed period
furnishings, as we found, a great place for an intimate dinner rendezvous. The
very first gesture of the host was reaching us a basket with scented ice-cold
towels; than an assortment of freshly baked, crisp breads and butter followed
instantly. Old photographs and memorabilia on the walls enhanced the charm of
this inviting place, while the French windows released the views of the palm
trees which were dressed with thousands of sparkling little white lights.
... |
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| No
romantic dinner would be perfect without a special dessert and what came next
deserves a standing ovation. The Chocolate Roulade was uncompromising in
flavor, texture and its ingredients and plain irresistible. But the grand
finale ‘The Little Chocolate Rickshaw’ (though not edible), carrying
little chilled Belgian Chocolate Pralines, were so playful, so infinite in its
detail, that we must mention this. Bravo! |
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| In Next Gazette: |
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| * Hotel Giardino di Costanza, Sicily -
Italy |
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| * Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia - USA |
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