After purportedly turning down the job last time around, New York Times culture editor Sam Sifton has agreed to become the newspaper’s next restaurant critic, succeeding Frank Bruni. Sifton, who cut his teeth during the 1990s at the New York Press —where, we’ll admit, his restaurant and bar critiques were among our favorite reads back in the heyday of MUGGER, Amy Sohn, et al—has since served as the editor of the dining section at the NYT and, currently, as the culture editor, overseeing the Arts sections.
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BREAKING: NYT’s Sam Sifton IN as Next Restaurant Critic
Milan’s swanky Carlton Baglioni has partnered with Red Travel to bring guests an exclusive new travel experience: a self-drive tour in a Ferrari or Lamborghini, accelerating through the winding roads of the Piedmont and Lombardy, putting your driving skills to the test. You’ll get to see some gorgeous scenery while you’re at it, skirting around Lake Como (George Clooney’s stomping grounds). You’ll have a full Ferrari briefing, a team in attendance, and the opportunity to drive the latest models, up to 200 kilometers of Ferrari driving included
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Ferrari Tour of Lake Como with the Carlton Hotel Baglioni, Milan
This week SIV heads downtown to samples Wolfgang’s wares at his newest eatery Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill located in the island of lights, LA Live. She’s wasn’t terribly smitten with the “Las Vegas crossed with Universal CityWalk” situation that is LA Live and, if you sit by the windows, some of that exterior commotion and flashing lights leek into the dining room causing you “to feel like you’re in a pinball machine.” But putting that aside: Puck has always had a good instinct for what people in general hanker to eat…And his menu at this lively spot is no exception. User-friendly, it offers straight-ahead salads, pizzas and other starters along with a prime sirloin burger, steaks and chops — and some excellent pasta dishes.
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Week In Reviews: Wolfgang Nets the Deuce
Music video for “Tone of Everyday” (日々の音色; Hibi no Neiro) by Japanese band Sour from their first mini album “Water Flavor EP”. The song is just ok, but the MV super cool. The cast were selected from actual Sour fan base around the world; and each person and scene was filmed purely via webcam and stitched together to make the awesome video… Music video directed by Masashi Kawamura, Hal Kirkland, Magico Nakamura and Masayoshi Nakamura [via Yellow-menace ] Sour – Tone of Everyday (really cool) music video from YeinJee’s Asian Blog
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Sour – Tone of Everyday (really cool) music video
Rome is often referred to as the Eternal City, the Italian capital known for its music, art, and architecture. Hotel Hassler knows that there is no better time to stroll the picturesque cobblestone streets than right now, and so they are offering a special package for guests until September 10th, subject to availability. Their Summer in the City Offer consists of 3 nights in a Deluxe Double or Grand Deluxe Double room, daily buffet breakfast at the Palm Court Garden, 2 massages at the renowned Amorvero Spa with after-treatment drinks at Amorvero Terrace, and light lunch at the Palm Court for two
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Summer in the City at Hotel Hassler, Rome
Just a little update about whats going on in japan and going to a restaurant to make Okonomiyaki with the gang before they all head home to america …
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Life in Japan #9 Update Cooking Okonomiyaki and see you soon Nagoya!
We’ve already raved about this great place ( here ), winner of the distinguished Gault & Millau prize for the best boulangerie in Paris, no less. The bread is always excellent and even the ideas are fresh – like their latest one for the month of August: the trainees will be running the place and serving up some new specialities! photos : JasonW This boulangerie is definitely worth crossing town for.
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Du pain et des idées (Bread and Ideas) : an amazing boulangerie that lives up to its name
For hotels these days, the one thing harder than filling guestrooms may very well be finding guests willing to indulge in expensive spa treatments and beauty services at hotel spas. After all, if there’s one thing you can easily justify cutting out of your next vacation, it’s a hotel spa treatment that more often than not costs significantly more than it would at an independently-operated day spa in your home town
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Cheaper, Faster Spa Services Debut at Marriott, JW Marriott and Renaissance Hotels
It’s been a slow melt for the Cobras & Matadors chain and as of Sunday the Los Feliz outpost has wrapped it up, leaving the original Beverly restaurant the sole survivor. However, there is a very silver lining in this shutter because Adam Fleischman (BottleRock) is moving in to open up Umami #2 come September . Only six months after the original La Brea burger den debuted, here comes round two of Umami mania.
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The Shutter: Cobras & Matadors, Again, Plus Added Surprise Bonus
Hang out in Oscar de la Renta-designed digs in the DR. Within the Punta Canta Resort and Club, world-famous as a celebrity hang-out, Tortuga Bay is an exclusive haven with villas designed by the Dominican-born, internationally acclaimed designer. A stay here in paradise means plenty of frolicking on the white sandy beaches, dining on palate-pleasing delights, and golfing on two championship courses.
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Spontaneous Dominican Escape at Tortuga Bay, Oscar de la Renta’s Caribbean Gem
Just days out of being held in involuntary psychiatric hold, actress Mischa Barton was spotted back on the party scene at New York’s Cooper Square Hotel for a music and arts festival event, reports the New York Daily News . But celeb watchers waiting for a high-drama tale of a continued downward spiral will be disappointed: Barton apparently was quite tame at the event: Sources told RadarOnline that the 23-year-old actress drank only water and smoked cigarettes while she listened to an acoustic set by Peter Bjorn at the Cooper Square Hotel. During the party, Barton told OK! Magazine, “I’m feeling great
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Post-Hospital, Mischa Barton Parties at the Cooper Square Hotel
I was recently sharing my recipe for Lemon Rice with a friend. Talk then drifted to the subject of rice dishes in general and how important rice is in Indian cuisine! It is served with almost every meal and prepared in hundreds of different ways! It sometimes plays the lead in a meal and most often the supporting role to other dishes. Indians love their rice! Here are some recipes for you to try out: Yakhni Pulao (pictured above) Jhinga Biryani Curd Rice Bisi Bele Bhaath Nariyal Bhaath Image © 2009 Petrina Verma Sarkar, Licensed to About.com
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Start with Rice
HANOI, Aug 3, 2009 (Asia In Focus via COMTEX) — Vietnam would remain an attractive destination for retail investment until 2012, said a US market research company, citing the country’s strong GDP growth, regulatory structure changes favouring foreign investors and increasing consumer demand for modern retail concepts. According to US-based market research consulting services company RNCOS, rapid growth in Vietnam’s retail market in the recent past has made the country an attractive destination for multinational retailers. * Vietnam Retail Analysis (2008-2012), a research report from RNCOS, also said that the retail sector market in Vietnam was much smaller compared to other developing economies in Asia, but had shown strong fundamentals, with the value of retail sales having expanded rapidly to nearly US$39 billion in 2008, from around US$23.7 billion in 2005
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Vietnam to remain attractive to retail investment until 2012
Cliquez sur le titre ou sur ‘ lire la suite ‘ pour voir la galerie Flickr complète pour Paris Plage 2009 au Bassin de la Villette. L'attraction la plus populaire de Paris Plage au Bassin de la Villette ; rouler sur l'eau comme un hamster ! Photo : JasonW Intrigué par les machins gonflables
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Une photo par jour pendant les vacances du blog ! Dernier jour, galerie complète et un petit film rigolo !
Doctors at a Hanoi hospital have been accused of cashing in by forcing cancer patients to use expensive equipment rather than the facilities their insurance policies allow them to use for free. In 2000, K Hospital, or the National Cancer Institute, bought radiation equipment for US$1.4 million and has spent around $60,000 a year since then on its maintenance. The public hospital now offers treatment for an average of 150 cancer patients per day and state insurance holders don’t have to pay to use the equipment.
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Doctors accused of illegally profiting off cancer treatment
10:29′ 02/08/2009 (GMT+7) – The number of foreign visitors to Vietnam in the first seven months of this year reached 2.17 million, a fall of 18.7 percent year on year, according to data from the Vietnam Administration of Tourism (VNAT). The number of visitors to the country for business dropped by 22.3 percent, for vacation by 21.4 percent, and for other reasons by 20.5 percent, while the number of visitors to visit relatives rose by 0.6 percent, it said. There were only 149,000 foreign visitors to Vietnam in July, 12.9 percent lower than the same period last year
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2.17 million tourists visit Vietnam this year-a drop
Photos taken by ieat and Cactuskit Many thanks to all the ieaters who turned up for the Durian Degustation! Although it was the end of season, we still managed to put up a great party and judging from the feedback, it looks like everyone is game for another degustation when the next season starts in October! A big thank you to Mr Goh, the owner of 717 Trading who graciously hosted our event at the very special price of $20 per pax. The value of the durians that was provided that night was closer to $40 due to the current price of durians. 717 Trading has hosted durian parties of more than 1000 people, so the durian logistics part was a breeze.
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Ieat Durian Degustation IV: The Aftermath… Burrp!
Bonefish Grill started a community fundraising program, in conjunction with MDA, to help fight muscular dystrophy diseases. For a limited time, guests can support muscular dystrophy research with a private donation at the end of their meals. This year, the Bonefish Grill restaurants aim to raise $250,000 to benefit MDA. Now through August 6.
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Bonefish Grill Restaurants set $250,000 goal to benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association
1) Providence: ” Charlize Theron at Providence with a group of 6 on Monday night in their main dining room.” [StarWatch Inbox] 2) Provecho: ” Molly Ringwald dined at Provecho with her family and she looked bohemian-chic!” [StarWatch Inbox] 3) Yogen Fruz: Stephanie Pratt and Holly Montag were spotted at Yogen Fruz in Beverly Hills getting their fill of the cold stuff.
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Mini StarWatch: Charlize at Providence, Molly Ringwald at Provecho, The Hills Girls at Yogen Fruz
AirAsia X to launch hub in Middle East KUALA LUMPUR -Budget airline AirAsia X has raised the possibility of establishing a new hub in the Middle East, enabling its network to extend to north Africa and Europe. The Age reports that AirAsia X’s CEO Azran Osman-Rani said a location had already been chosen in a Gulf state but that it would not be disclosed for several weeks. “This will open up completely new markets, and we won’t always have to have the planes based in Kuala Lumpur, which limits us to an eight-hour radius,” Azran told reporters.
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AirAsia X to launch hub in Middle East-31 July, 2009