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Town House Galleria, Milan -
Italy |
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Air France Business Class |
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Restaurant La Sinfonia, Milan -
Itlay |
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Restaurant Della Femina, East Hampton -
USA |
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Next: Heinz Winkler & The Oberoi
Mauritius |
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Milan - Italy |
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7 Stars and 7 Stripes |
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From
the moment we left the airport with our chauffer and butler guiding us to a
quarter-million dollar Bentley, we experienced world-class service on the
ultimate level. The modern
Town
House Galleria is located in the priceless 1860s palazzo right above the
flagship Prada store inside Milans famed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. We
emerged from the limo to the marble entrance through an elevator with the
actual hotel and were quickly welcomed by classy team members with open,
straightforward, warm smiles. Fabulous original oak parquet floors completed
the modern decorations that were festooned with subdued colors and fine art. I
was delighted. Instantaneously my private butler welcomed me and guided me
caringly to my accommodations. |
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Mr.
Vito Lazzazzara's service was unobtrusive, dedicated and highly addictive. He
opened the windows of my fabulous suite and then I became fully aware of the
one-of-a-king location of The Town House Galleria.It is strategically situated
in one of the most fascinating and historic cities of the world overlooking the
place where the aristocracy, and the rich and famous meet, shop and dine. All
two dozen luxuriously appointed suites, including mine, were decorated with
tasteful, modern classy furnishings and art and most certainly all the modern
gadgets we all have become so fond of. Let me mention that before my arrival, I
had been contacted by my dedicated butler to ensure that every one of my needs
would be met - from the most demanding to the smallest detail.
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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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Restaurant La
Sinfonia |
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Milan, Italy Chef de
Cuisine:
Giacomo
Gaspari |
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5 Stars and 6
Stripes |
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Chef
Giacomo has as the basis of his philosophy the delicate balance between body
and mind that is specially tied to well being and living a good life. He is
truly an innovator in search of fertile minds and seems to be in tune with the
nutritional harmony that is the byproduct of this cutting edge cuisine. Outside
the tall etched-glass window adjacent to my table emerged the historical 19th
century Galleria; a glass roofed cruciform arcade shopping center covered with
a domed octagon at center. I soaked up the view realizing all the while that
from the Sinfonia, only guests of the Town House Galleria can participate and
enjoy. From the floor of the Galleria came concerto music from a piano set atop
rare marble mosaics depicting the emblems of Italian cities. In the restaurant,
tables are elegantly set with Rosenthal Studio china and Sambonet flatware and
tableside service is professional, led by Maitre D' Alessandro
Troccoli. |
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Our
host Chef Giacomo started us with Pumpkin Flower filled with Ricotta and Salmon
forcing me to justify not leaving any specks of food on the plate while sitting
back with a slight grin to sip Sauvignon Blanc "Südtiroler" 2005 Karnell
with its well-balanced fresh citrus flavors and elegant finish. I tried to
contemplate the importance of nutritional harmony and balance and in my humble
opinion, this food and wine paring certainly achieved virtual nirvana. Next up,
Drops of Lemon Infused Ricotta Cheese in a Fresh Tomato Coulis and black pepper
coulis. This time the citrus infusion and savory tomato and black pepper coulis
called out for more in the manifestation of Christoffel Blonde Beer from
Holland. Who said food pairings had to be with wine?
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Our
Seven Stars and Stripes book - 2003 to 2006 world-edition, is
still 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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* Residenz Heinz Winkler, Aschau -
Germany |
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* The Oberoi Mauritius - Mauritius |
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* David Burke & Donatella, NYC - USA |
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In The Press: |
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* Len Berman & Seven Stars and Stripes VP
Barry Kay at NBC |
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Dear Friends
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October hello again my traveling friends. Since October in the
Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to April in the Southern
Hemisphere (and vice versa) we all are in for fun this month. We are so excited
to introduce you to Europes first Seven Stars and Stripes Award
recipient, the Town House Galleria in Milan, Italy and owner Mr. Rosso. But
before you make your reservations at this distinctive hotel, lets send
some pretty pumpkins and calendulas (Octobers flower) to someone we care
about. Later at the Town House Galleria, your personal butler will be delighted
to help you find a nice gift to take home, how about an Opal, October's
birthstone? Though the calendula bloom is orange, the present month is called
Red October due to the Russian October revolution of 1917. Recently
we experienced Air France Business from Europe to JFK, and on the way to Mexico
we stopped and dined at Della Femina, the chic restaurant for the
whos who of the Hamptons. The Seven Stars and |
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Stripes Team and our Distinguished Advisory Board are delighted to
welcome Miss Angela Susan Anton of Nassau County, New York, publisher of
Boulevard Magazine and the Anton Empire, as new member on the Advisory Board.
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We value her expertise and eloquence and are delighted. |
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I am yours truly |
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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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Business Class - L'espace Affaires |
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5 Stars and 5 Stripes |
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L'espace
Affaires' new
Business
Class lounge in Paris provided well kept, private shower facilities,
comfortable newly designed leisure space, and a selection of French pastries,
French Champagne and plenty of other typical French delicacies that are
surprisingly more on the healthy side. The lounge style is definitely a new
designer concept - a slow dance of relaxing colors and carefully accentuating
light. Fifty private lounges around the world will soon get the spirited look;
Tokyo Narita has already received its flattering facelift. The designer firms
Noe Duchaufour-Lawrance and Desgrippes Gobe have stretched Air France's former
more conventional design to a new more relaxed, more modern style, though WiFi
was still a challenge. |
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On
board we were welcomed by the well-dressed crew, Captain Capocci, Chef Purser
Guery Philippe and our steward Viallefont Steve. We explored the large
comfortable dark blue sleeper chairs, which were truly relaxing, but are not
recommended for belly sleeping ;) I found the 'vogue' on-board magazine well
designed and captivating. During the entire flight we were most pleasantly and
attentively cared for. It's the little things that make the difference, like
the design of the classy little dinner menus and three different kinds of
gourmet mustards, and then some. Dinner was served on stylish, white china,
which featured just a couple of fine pink and grey wavy lines on one site to
break up the white.... |
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Seven
Stars and Stripes Awards for: |
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East Hampton, NY - USA Chef
de Cuisine:
Michael
Rozzi |
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4 Stars and 5
Stripes |
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In
keeping with his personal philosophy of 'fresh local ingredients blended with
exceptional flavors and flawless presentation',
Chef
Rozzi began his culinary courtship with a fine display of Spicy Fluke
Tartare with Hijiki Seaweed Salad, wasabi tobiko, marinated cucumbers and
radish salad. I remember being impressed with subtle flavor of delicate fluke
topped with a healthy measure of tobiko spiked with wasabi. A straw yellow
glass of Bisol Jeio Prosecco with persistent perlage proved to be an honest
wine with rich scents of wildflowers and incomparable finesse. |
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After
a satisfying Greek Salad featuring local heirloom tomatoes and feta cheese,
Chef Rozzi again reached for the hook and served up a Montauk Striped Bass with
Crispy Long Island Potatoes, Lobster, Fava Bean & Baby Carrot Ragu. As
before, Chef Rozzi utilized local ingredients while deftly pan searing the
Striped Bass thereby providing for that delicious crispy skin effect which is
one of my favorite things to eat. A glass of Palmer Cabernet Franc, North Fork
was served with the entrée despite the cautions against having red wine
with seafood. Although it was a good match for the Bass, I lingered a while
longer with my glass of Lieb Cellars Pinot Blanc 2006 left over from the
previous salad course. I felt that it brought out the best fresh ocean flavors
of the fish and lobster while cosying up nicely with the local produce.
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