Embark On A Culinary Journey Of Unique Gastronomic Experiences With
Small Luxury Hotels Of The World™
March 2009: Whether you are a passionate gourmet, an avid wine connoisseur,
a novice in the kitchen, a culinary whiz, or you simply relish delicious meals and
exquisite wine in the company of friends, Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s (SLH)
new range of unforgettable experiences, ‘Gourmet by Small Luxury Hotels of the World’,
presents you with a wealth of tantalizing delights.
Perhaps you would like your own personal butler to serve you lunch on a fully crewed
yacht or relax in a luxury gondola with a picnic of Venetian finger-food? Maybe
total privacy is a priority; in which case, enjoy a helicopter ride over the Whitsundays
in Australia before being dropped off on a secluded island for an intimate gourmet
picnic for two. These are just some of the options on offer with ‘Gourmet by Small
Luxury Hotels of the World’.
As part of the luxury hotel brand’s gourmet programme, it has produced a 64-page
brochure, which features an enticing selection of gourmet packages, mouth-watering
recipes, fascinating interviews and useful tips from some of the world’s leading
experts in food and wine. Visit www.slh.com/brochures
to order your copy. Reservations for any of the gourmet packages can be made via
the UK toll-free number 00-800-525-48000 or www.slh.com.
From unusual gourmet experiences, fascinating culinary schools to dining at some
of the world’s best restaurants and appreciating the finest of wines, ‘Gourmet by
Small Luxury Hotels of the World’ has it all.
Be Tempted By Unique Gastronomic Experiences….
With over 480 of some of the world’s finest small independent hotels in 70 countries,
the world is literally your dining room with Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Take
a leisurely sunset dhow cruise at Hemingways Resort (www.slh.com/hemingways)
in Kenya before enjoying a gourmet dinner with cocktails and wine surrounded by
flaming torches set in the sand under the starry skies of the African night.
For true truffle aficionados, Park Hotel ai Cappuccini (www.slh.com/parkcappuccini),
a beautifully restored 17th century monastery in Umbria, Italy, is offering
a hands-on ‘truffle hunting’ package between March and August 2009. If the idea
of foraging for your dinner appeals, head to Treetops Lodge & Wilderness Experience
(www.slh.com/treetops) in Rotorua,
New Zealand, where you can join a world-renowned expert on a Maori food trail to
gather organic herbs and wild vegetables for the evening’s meal!
We have also searched high and low to find the world’s best ‘cuppa’ for our guests.
Take tea at Cameron Highlands Resort (www.slh.com/cameronhighlands)
in Malaysia in a beautiful old plantation house at a height of 1,500 metres, surrounded
by strawberry fields and tea plantations. Equally exotic is Desert Palm (www.slh.com/desertpalm) in Dubai where
you can enjoy tea whilst watching the polo. Or, for something quintessentially British,
there is always afternoon tea at Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club (www.slh.com/ashdown)
set in the heart of the forest in Sussex, England.
Small Luxury Hotels of thee World properties do not restrict themselves to the dining
room or kitchen when it comes to gastronomic delights. For example, at Hôtel Les
Ottomans (www.slh.com/lesottomans)
in Istanbul, Turkey, you can indulge in a wine-based spa treatment in the Caudalie
Vinothérapie Spa and then enjoy a dinner cruise down the Bosphorus.
Test Your Culinary Skills….
If do-it-yourself is more your style, then SLH offers you the opportunity to learn
from the very best as you embark on personal tutorials with leading chefs. At Wharekauhau
Country Estate (www.slh.com/wharekauhau)
on North Island in New Zealand, guests stay on a 5,000 acre working farm where they
can cook succulent Texel lamb reared on the lush grasses of the estate, supplemented
with ingredients from local artisan producers. An equally hands-on experience can
be enjoyed at Kasbah Agafay Hotel and Spa’s (www.slh.com/kasbahagafay)
cookery school where you choose the dish you want to cook and then wander through
the hotel’s organic vegetable and herb garden and fruit orchards. Then, having selected
ingredients with the chef, you return to the outdoor kitchen to learn how to prepare
them in the local style.
If the delicate infusion of herbs and spices in Thai cuisine appeals to you, then
travel to Aleenta Resort and Spa Phuket (www.slh.com/aleenta)
and experience the hustle and bustle of the morning market as you shop for the freshest
of ingredients with the Head Chef. Upon your return to the hotel you will learn
the intricacies of Thai cooking in the comfortable surroundings of your villa. Exploring
local markets is also the theme at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain (www.slh.com/sanctuary)
in Arizona, USA, but this time with celebrity chef, Beau MacMillan. You know
you are at the top table when the chef has cooked for presidents, Michel Roux senior
and the likes of the legendary pop group, U2!
Dine With The Stars….
Wherever your gourmet-inspired travels may take you, Small Luxury Hotels of the
World properties encompass almost every conceivable cuisine of the highest standard
– often illuminated by the elusive ‘Guide Michelin’ star. From The Chester Grosvenor
& Spa (www.slh.com/chestergrosvenor)
in the UK, which has retained its Michelin star for an impressive 19 years, to The
Luxe Manor (www.slh.com/theluxemanor)
in Hong Kong where the Aspasia restaurant has just been awarded its first Michelin
star; SLH provides you with the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal
with these kitchen legends. Join Michelin-starred chef Antonino Cannavacciulo for
a tour of his kitchen at Hotel Ristorante Villa Crespi (www.slh.com/crespi)
in Piedmont, Italy and visit the cellars where, legend has it, the ancient tunnels
connect Villa Crespi to the Island of San Giulio. At the Michelin star Mirabelle
Restaurant at Hotel Splendide Royal (www.slh.com/splendideroyal)
in Rome you can enjoy fantastic views across the city as you dine on the culinary
delights of Executive Chef, Giuseppe Sestito. South of Munich at Alpenhof Murnau
(www.slh.com/alpenhofmurnau),
guests are given a ‘back stage pass’ to watch Executive Chef Thilo Bischoff and
his team create exquisite classical French cuisine.
Discover A World of Wine….
Wine connoisseurs will delight at the number of Small Luxury Hotels of the World
properties located in some of the best wine-producing regions of the world. Explore
private vineyards and learn the intricacies of winemaking or simply leave the hard
work to the experts while you sample the fruits of their labour from an impressive
choice of wine cellars.
Ideally situated in the heart of France’s Provence, you will find the quiet and
secluded Hotel les Frênes (www.slh.com/lesfrenes),
which provides the perfect base to discover the world-famous wine areas of Chateauneuf
du Pape and Gigondason. As you wander through the wineries, your English-speaking
guide will teach you about the entire wine process and also take you on a tour of
caves where you can sample the wine.
Equally educational is Valle Perdido Wine Resort (www.slh.com/valleperdido),
nestled in the midst of Argentine Patagonia. This delightful 18-room hotel, which
opened last year, is a haven for wine lovers. Enjoy a leisurely tour of the winery
and vineyards and then taste the different wines at the Tasting Table. After a lesson
in regional cooking, the hotel’s sommelier will help you pair your meal with exquisite
wines as you sit down to enjoy a private dinner in the ‘Cava Familiar’.
The Barossa Valley in South Australia is arguably the centre of the Australian wine
industry. Here, in the heart of Shiraz country, you will find the idyllic vineyard
retreat, The Louise (www.slh.com/thelouise),
where each of the 15 suites has a private terrace with views stretching out across
the extensive vineyards. No visit would be complete without a visit to the Penfolds
winery where you can make your own wine blend under expert instruction.
*** Ends ***
About Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Small Luxury Hotels of the World is an exclusive brand of
more than 480 independent, luxury hotels offering an infinite variety of memorable
experiences in 70 countries. Whether guests are seeking a blissful spa retreat,
the rustic charm of a country villa, a secluded beachside resort, the refined splendour
of an old English country house or a sanctuary hidden amid the vibrant atmosphere
of a bustling city centre, Small Luxury Hotels of the World offers only the very
best. Reservations can be made at any Small Luxury Hotel of the World by calling the
UK toll-free number 00-800-525-48000 or via www.slh.com
. Travel agents need only remember
the GDS code LX for LuXury.
Media Contact
Anna Rajah
Director of Corporate Communications
Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Email: anna.rajah@slh.com
Tel:+44 (0) 1372 224 618