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Rittenhouse Hotel, Philadelphia -
USA |
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Lacroix Restaurant, Philadelpha -
USA |
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Luxury Marketing Council, New York -
USA |
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Hotel Giardino di Costanza, Sicily -
Italy |
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Dubbesi Restaurant, Sicily -
Italy |
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Next Gazette: St. Petersburg &
Berlin |
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The Rittenhouse Hotel
Philadelphia, USA |
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| 6 Stars and 6 Stripes |
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| David Benton has made his work at The Rittenhouse his true
passion and he lives and works sincerely by those well-spoken words. He is
often seen adjacent to the front desk during particularly heavy check-in days,
staffing his champagne station and greeting the incoming guests with a fluted
glass of bubbly and a cheerful Welcome to our home. It doesnt surprise the
staff to see the great lengths he would go to in order to satisfy any special
requests and Mr. Benton empowers his team members to do the same while leading
by example. |
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| An
illustration of Pastry Chef Fred Ortega exceptional abilities came to us in the
form of a welcoming display in our rooms of
white and dark chocolate covered tuxedo-clad strawberries
on a tray made to resemble our coveted Seven Stars and Stripes Award plaque
that had been presented to The Rittenhouse the previous year. We entered Chef
Freds chocolate making domain and couldnt help but notice his high-tech
chocolate conveyor belt, the mechanical centerpiece unit that makes all his
fanciful ideas a reality. |
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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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Lacroix
at The Rittenhouse
Philadelphia - USA
Chef de Cuisine:
Matthew
Levin |
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| 6 Stars and 6
Stripes |
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| There
are possibilities of choosing three to six courses when dining on the
Lacroix
tasting menu with the appropriate wines that the Sommelier selects to
accompany each course. There is also the possibility to dine at the Chefs Table
directly under the lights in the magnificent show-kitchen. Be sure to reserve
in advance as this feature puts you right in the midst of things and has all
the spin of a reality show in the making. |
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| Our
comfort level now was impeccable after the swift delivery of an apéritif
of sparkling Cuvee Lacroix Blanc de Blancs, Premier Cru by Paul Goerg for
Thorsten and a Campari and orange juice for me. Apéritifs are the
traditional alcoholic drinks taken before a meal to stimulate a persons
appetite and the Blanc de Blancs displayed a lemony, slightly developed,
well-structured character that accomplishes that goal. ... |
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Dubbesi
Restaurant
Hotel Giardino di Costanza, Sicily - Italy
Chef de
Cuisine:
Salvatore
Barbara |
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| 5 Stars and 5
Stripes |
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| I
started my meal off with Sardine fish balls on a bed of mixed greens with
cherry tomatoes and a fine, aromatic balsamic vinaigrette. I'm a lover of
fishcakes, and this was the first time a had one made entirely of Sardines,
with very little bread and egg to hold, it was delicious. I focused my
attention now on a pretty plate of homemade Ricotta Ravioli with a most
aromatic Trapanese Pesto sauce. This dish, a little on the heavier side, was
selected as a second appetizer and each bite was melting with a creamy,
delicate flavor as I added little pieces of the fresh Basil. |
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| Fabulous from the first to the last bite, this was a home-run!
Executive
Chef Salvatore Barbara, who after traveling the world for over a decade,
returned to his native Sicily, works with fresh, local, organic produce.
Barbera studied with Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France, and has worked in Abu Dhabi
and Asia, an influence that is felt in his style. By now, dessert was an almost
daunting task, with a little too much of the butter biscuits; the Pistachio ice
cream was everything what you should expect and more in flavor. |
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| Dear Friends
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| Dear
traveling friends all over the world, with spring already here we are now
taking recommendations for your favorite luxury resorts, hotels, spas and
restaurants to be considered for the distinguished Seven Stars and Stripes®
Award 2008. In this issue we are introducing a relatively new edition to the
famous global Kemipinski brand in Sicily, Italy; the Hotel & Spa Giardino
di Costanza. We have also reviewed the ever-young and ever-exciting Rittenhouse
in Philadelphia, USA recently for 2007. We attended a meeting of the Luxury
Marketing Council in NYC last month and met with Greg Furman Founder &
Chairman of the successful global organization. Congratulations to the newly
launched chapter in Dubai, UAE! On May 1st Seven Stars and Stripes is
presenting an all-inclusive golf vacation for two at one of the most celebrated
fundraisers of NYC at Cipriani Wall Street, supporting Schneider Children's
Hospital, one of the top pediatric facilities in the US. One of the US TV's
brightest stars, Ray Romano, of the show Everybody Loves Raymond, will be
MC-ing the elegant affair. The lucky winners will travel to a Seven Stars and
Stripes 2007 award recipient all-inclusive
Fairplay
Golf Hotel & Spa in Andalusia, Spain. The amazing Presidential Suite
for five nights is awaiting the fortunate couple. A complete line of luxury
sun-tanning products by Hamptons Sun, inspired by the beautiful beaches of
eastern Long Island, New York will travel with the winners to Andalusia and so
will their amazing new fragrance Privet Bloom - that will soon conquer the
world. |
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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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| Left to right: Greg Furman, Founder & Chairman of the
Luxury Marketing Council
Inc. - Ingrid Lemme, Chairperson of Seven Stars and Stripes® and Host
of the American Dream® TV Show - Nathan Devore, Co-President of Rich
Worldwide Travel. |
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| Seven
Stars and Stripes Awards for: |
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Kempinski
Hotel Giardino di Costanza
Sicily, Italy |
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| 5 Stars and 6 Stripes |
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| Check-in was quick, pleasant and professional; then Miss Roberta
Sergio welcomed us personally with a most charming smile. With just under a
hundred-rooms, this luxury hotel opened in early 2005 and is in two words
'simply striking' with its harmonious play of décor, colors and precious
period marble columns. My five hundred square foot accommodation was exquisite
by any means with a fabulously dressed royal bed, an elegant sitting area with
precious rugs and a nicely shaded terrace with granted a magnificent view over
the fountain garden. This 25-acre resort, located in the countryside, features
swimming pools, precious gardens with gazebos, pretty fountains and a
full-service 'Daniela Steiner Beauty Spa'. |
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| The
service was clearly Kempinski inspired; freshly picked exotic fruits, sparkling
wines and delicious petite fours. General Manager Paolo Sanavia has
accomplished the training of his staff to the extraordinary global service
level. Mr. Savania has worked in hospitality management all over the world and
as a true visionary he is now in the process of fine-tuning a 27-hole golf
course and he is adding medical facilities to the already existing
distinguished spa facilities. |
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| “Savania’s management style is a clearly Kempinski
inspired, we are looking forward to the new additions.” ~ TB |
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| Our
long-awaited book Seven Stars and Stripes™ - 2003 to 2006 world-edition,
is
now available. Over 300 pages - featuring only the finest
establishments and fascinating cuisine art images from around the world. All
beautifully compiled in this full-color collector's edition.
ISBN# 1-4259-4267-9 |
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| In Next Gazette: |
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| * Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg -
Russia |
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| * The Regent Berlin, Berlin - Germany |
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 |
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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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