They have a collections of rooms and suites, each is unique with highly imaginative combinations of colour, gorgeous fabrics and culture themed on Dutch history with touches of the orient. From raspberry and grey wall coverings with linen curtains and Asian influences to oriental-styled navy and black rooms with hand-painted kimonos.

Modern French cuisine is served up by a great chef in the Vinkeles restaurant. The cuisine is characterised by French dishes using seasonal ingredients both traditional and modern. The chefs’ signature dishes are “Ceviche of sea bass with croquettes of pumpkin and king crab” and “Roast Anjou pigeon with five spices and preserved young carrots and jus”. Long Gallery, Bar Barbou and the secluded garden are a collection of great places to eat.

Ride a bicycle around the most famous cycling city in Europe or hire a boat with your own captain for a private water tour. The hotel is in the heart of the city, close to the Nine Streets where a fascinating collection of shops sell everything from specialist cheeses to lingerie.

We enjoyed a few tourist activities including canal cruises, the Van Gogh Museum and the Nine Streets shopping spot. We didn’t make it to Anne Frank’s House or Vondelpark but plan to when we come back to Amsterdam.

Gaby was telling me we should also visit Dam Square and the Rijksmuseum … “two places worth a visit whilst in Amsterdam“. I have read someone else describe this hotel as “Perfect balance between historical pedigree and thoroughly modern attitude” and this is so true.

Located in the heart of Amsterdam Keizersgracht 384. 1016 GB Amsterdam. The Netherlands
The Dylan Hotel web site is http://www.slh.com/netherlands/amsterdam.

Love LXS Jenny

We have all heard the benefits and detriments of both coffee and chocolate … (tuning out while another report appears) … they go on.

According to new research (we knew more was on its way), the tasty beverage provides a double benefit: chocolate may slow cancer growth, and java could help you live longer. Georgetown University Medical Center, released good news about chocolate, finding that a synthetic chemical that is similar to a compound present in cocoa beans slows the growth of colon cancer by 50 percent. Not only was any growth inhibited, it damaged most of the cancer cells. The compound, known as GECGC, is very effective at impeding cancer cells; particularly those that grow at frighteningly rapid rates.

I read a nice post on a UK based chocolate website – Chocolate n Coffee … “The obvious synergy of Coffee and Chocolate with human social gatherings is more complex than you might think, smell and taste obviously play a part but it goes deeper than that. Take the dinner party scenario, it’s late, we are feeling the effects of the food and wine, the natural tendency of our bodies is to wind down while we digest our food, we feel relaxed, lethargic and drowsy. But, along come the coffee and chocolates and in a very short time people become more alert and animated, but still relaxed, almost euphoric in fact. The reasons for this seemingly contradictory change in behaviour lie in the natural chemical compositions of both coffee and chocolate.”

More important than the health benefits is the dance … the dance of flavours to cocoa beans have in completely different forms when they are partnered together. Chocolate and Coffee what a beautiful dance they make.

Coffee Posts – Luxury Shopper web site is http://www.luxuryshopper.com.au

Love LXS Fiona.

The Grande Laguna is on a 70-acre site in an integrated resort complex, and the Sheraton is 20 minutes south of Phuket international airport and downtown Phuket. Its just a two minutes drive or 5 minute bike ride from a Laguna golf club. The three bronze heads of buddha, known as wat phra nag sang, are five miles away. Mai khao bay and khoa phra thaeo wildlife park are 10 minutes away and ton sai waterfalls are 20 minutes away.

The Sheraton grand Laguna facilities and activities are for the special couple or the complete family. A few of these ammenities include:

• a beautiful 323 metre outdoor pool;
• a game area with life size chess pieces,
• restaurants – Birds of Paradise, Gekko, Lagoon Dining …;
• table tennis and pool tables;
• health spa;
• water sports on the lagoon and by the beach;
• shopping arcade;
• fitness / sports club;
• business centre and meeting facilities;
• hair-dressing salon;
• cyber zone;
• kids club;
• and floodlit tennis courts.

The dining opportunities and atmospehere are amazing. the Phuket resort brings its guests a world of exciting gastronomic delights, from spicy thai curries to tempting italian dishes and freshly harvested seafood, served in nine restaurants and bars situated throughout the resort’s island. We also travelled to Phatong Beach which is 21 kilometres drive and two nights running ate at the Patong Seafood Restaurant. Take an evening stroll along the lively strip opposite the beach and you’ll find dozens of open-air seafood restaurants displaying their catch of the day on ice out front.

Sheraton describes … “Retreat to a space that is spacious, elegant, and filled with opulence. Individual design traits pay homage to the surroundings – a unique opportunity for those wishing to truly experience our culture“. Comprising 297 spacious rooms offering garden, lagoon, pool, or ocean views and, a further 126 Grande Villas. In addition to standard amenities, the luxury guestrooms are 45 square metres, and feature private balconies, raised or sunken bathtubs and spacious sitting areas, scenic views of the lagoon, pool and tropical gardens.

The Sheraton grand Laguna Phuket offers a luxury experience where activity and fun can complement peace and tranquility.

Sheraton Phuket Grand Laguna Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket is located 21 kilometres south of Phuket International Airport and 20 kilometres north of Phuket Town. Address: 10 Moo 4, Cherng Talay, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand

Love LXS Gaby

Our Christmas collection included chocolates and ornaments decorating the table and tree. Haighs flagship store in Melbourne is located at the fashion end of Collins Street, in The Block Arcade. The historic Victorian building is undoubtedly the most beautiful shopping arcade in Australia, with its magnificent architecture, majestic decorative arches and grand display window. This year the artistic chocolate displays were amazing.

In Sydney the Haighs store, also located in a majestic building – The Strand, dates back to 1891. It is a historic site that suits the Haigh’s image perfectly.

My favourite piece is the red & brown holly bauble Tins. They contain 8 gold milk chocolate hearts. We also had some individual Christmas pudding brandy truffles sitting on our table. It was so hard to not eat them before today. But we managed!

To top off a perfect Christmas dinner we had Christmas Cake with Chocolate, beautifully presented in a red organza bag. This years Haighs Christmas collection of Holly & Berry Christmas Fabric Gift bags have exceeded their collection from previous years. We purchased a collection of milk chocolate red bells and dark chocolate bronze bells.

Haighs Chocolates is located Shop 7, The Block Arcade, 282 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Love LXS Jenny.

This morning our coffee was great, creamy and the temperature was just right and the aroma … beautiful.

I have also been getting my morning coffee from Nashi in Bourke Street in the Melbourne CBD. The queue has been gradually getting longer and longer, a sign that the barrista at Nashi knows how to make a great coffee.

If I am really early to work I will stop by Brother Baba Budan on Little Bourke Street, but this place has become really busy. This is a Coffee Snobs photo of Talor from Brother Buba Budan (a finalist this year).

I just confirmed on CoffeeSnobs that Kirby @ the Mailing Room did win 3rd Place Latte Art. This is a complete set of photos of the 2009 Victorian Barrista Championships.

Enjoy LXS Joshua

This is Melbourne!

Davids is in South Yarra and GingerBoy is in Melbourne CBD.

We recently took some close friends to Davids. You immediately appreciate the simple, fresh produce traditionally cooked. We have been before so I knew some of the dishes we had to share. Peking Duck pancakes and Shanghai Dumplings – these vinaigrette infused dumplings are really yummy.

The staff have been great every time we visit – our tip is chat with them – talk to them about the food, the wine list or the amazing tea they offer. David’s has a very strong wine list, even by glass, still offers lots of choices. The most food in David’s are cooked with chinese health herb, based on traditional chinese medicine. I had a beautifuly infused tea with ginger.

The ambience and decor of Davids is best described by Maryke Foeden, Red Food

“The refurbishment reminds me of an interior you would see in a Wong Kar-Wai film, such as “In the mood for love”. It features vibrant colours, beautiful glowing reds, traditional fabrics, ornate glass and mood lighting, it is a little injection of shanghais culture of fashion and architect, reminiscent of the 1930 whilst still maintaining the intimacy and privacy the David’s customers expect.”

Gingerboy is an shows a passion for the Orient in an ultra modern east-meets-west space. The transparent chairs are set in a funky bamboo-lined space, lent a vaguely disco feel with fairy lights, bronze mirrors and red fringed lampshades. The cuisine is akin to South-East Asian street hawker food. 

You walk down a lane in Melbourne CBD and you find Gingerboy. When you walk in you appreciate this place for its funky decor. The food comes out and it lives up to the expectation set by the disco style ambience. With each dish we received a friendly description. The dishes are divided into smaller and larger sizes, which are meant to be shared. The fried snapper was great, crunchy outside and tender inside. Its dressing with lychee salad had a nice balance between sweet and sour. Other dishes include son-in-law eggs with chilli jam and stir-fried stingray in a dry green curry.

This place brings back fond memories of a recent trip to Malaysia and Singapore.

Love LXS Jenny.

Following on from Jenny’s post Best Coffee Experiences … VIC vs NSW. I am happy to chronicle some of the best café experiences we have in Sydney. My fondest memories of a great café start when you walk in the door and that aroma greets you.

So my top 5 cafés include:

Single Origin Roaster (60 Resevoir Street, Surry Hills)

What a heavenly aroma. Not sure who said it first but this place is the “Tetsuya’s of Sydney cafes”.  The owner, Gav came over to our table and chatted for a bit – and what a funny guy. This place is nice and cosy which is the perfect setting for a catch up with friends. Single Origin Roaster roast their coffee beans fresh on the premises by people who know what they are doing. You can tell each cup of coffee comes with an intense enthusiam.

Bambini Trust (185 Elizabeth Street, Sydney)

The setting … a beautiful sandstone building, the café is very stylish. Bambini Trust offers modern Italian food, served by professional staff who are more than happy to assist with wine selections. This is a place that you should really try if not for the great coffee then the atmosphere and food. The Sydney Eats describes this place as “a broodingly dark and handsome set of rooms in the heart of the CBD … this place is superb for a sophisticated breakfast or to grab a coffee.”

Campos Bar (193 Missenden Road, Newtown)

This place is great for lovers of coffee. Think of this place as an espresso bar, soft sound of jazz music and the amazing aroma of beans roasting. Campos have on offer a small range of sweets, while the barristas perfect their trade. This is the place where I have my magazine, relax and settle in with a cappuccino or latté.

Toby’s Estate (129 Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo)

Toby’s Estate is an established name in the coffee trade but Toby’s Estate Coffee & Tea also serves perfectly brewed full leaf tea and freshly baked pastries, muffins, frittatas and quiches. Toby’s Estate also has a huge range of teapots, coffee pots and coffee machines, which can be purchased. Toby’s Estate has an amazing story master roaster Toby Smith established Toby’s Estate Coffee in 1998 and is placed firmly amongst Sydney’s ’short black set’.

Coffee Philosophy (Shop 27, Strand Arcade, Sydney CBD)

I am not sure what it is about amazing settings … but the Strand Arcarde is an beautiful backdrop for a great latté or long black. Coffee Philosophy by Mocopan is the oldest continuously running coffee shop in Sydney. It has been around since 1891, when the Strand Arcade was built. The service was very friendly and prompt. A lazy Saturday and a great coffee … what more can anyone ask for?

While I was in Melbourne I did visit Brother Baba Budan and it is a great place for a great coffee. But Jenny, Sydney serves up a range of beautiful cafés and set of exceptionally devoted baristas.

Love LXS Gaby.

Being a Victorian I know good coffee – it’s in our blood (not literally of course). Last week I was travelling back to Melbourne from Sydney & I read the article “Coffee Couture” in the Inflight magazine … “With an abundance of great cafés, its easy to see why Melburnians are so coffee literate!”
So my top 5 cafés include:

St. Ali (12 Yarra Place, South Melbourne)
This place is very popular and the old mechanics workshop adds character. Great coffee blends roasted on site and yummy mediteranean inspired breakfasts. Oh and by the way when you name your café after the guardian of coffee houses, you know St. Ali is serious about their coffee.

7 Grams (505 Church Street, Richmond)
Something I didn’t know until recently … 7 Grams is home to the 2006 & 2007 Latté Art champion & National Champion Barista. And the coffee tastes amazing … these guys are very passionate about making coffee. You really have to go and watch them make you a coffee. Their art work is outstanding.

Pellegrinis Bar (66 Bourke Street, Melbourne)
Nostalga … I am in heaven. So many people refer to Pellegrini’s as a Melbourne institution. They have been serving their loyal customers great coffee and authentic Italian food for generations. These guys are charming and you know they love their coffee.

Brother Baba Budan (359 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD)
Brother Baba Budan is a small cafe located in the central business district of Melbourne. Baba Budan was a 17th Century Sufi who smuggled seven beans from Mocha in Yemen to India and is credited with introducing coffee to the populous. Named after a coffee visionary, the fifteen seat café serves up some of the finest single origin coffees in Melbourne’s CBD.  This place really serves up the smoothest lattés in the Melbourne.

Switch Board Café (Off Collins Street in the Mechantile Building Foyer, Melbourne)
OK … I admit up front I found the Switch Board my ”whole in the wall” on the Melbourne Coffee Review. This place is literally a shop window and a store room. But their coffee … wow. I’ve said it before but you have to try the coffee at Switch Board. This café was awarded 3 beans and it definitely deserves it.

Over to you Gaby, but Melbourne really is the Café Culture Capital of Australia.

Love LXS Jenny

We treated each other to an early Christmas present (booking well in advance) to a treatment in the luxurious Salus per Aquum Spa. There is a truly wide range of treatments offered here, including massages, hydrotherapy, body wraps, waxing, facials and much more. I was pampered with an hour long facial while my wife Erica had a fully body wrap.

We had Christmas dinner at Vanitas, overlooking a shimmering lagoon, This is where we had an fabulous dinner and entertained by a very knowledgable sommelier complementing an exceptional wine selection in a chic atmosphere. Vanitas brings you the ultimate in dining, offering innovative cuisine specialising in only the best. Our entrees Seared Queensland Scallops on a salad of feta, snow peas, cucumber and cabbage with a citrus vinaigrette and crisp pork crackling and a Lobster ragout with smoked duck breast, baby carrots, asparagus and rockmelon in a crustacean broth. My mouthing is watering.

After dinner we return to our room to find a tiny Versace gift, our bed turned down and chocolates on the pillow.
On Boxing Day we relaxed by the lagoon, lucky for us there is the Pool bar. This was definitely a memorable Christmas holiday. As we check out we agreed we would definitely be back.

Enjoy LXS Jeremiah

Palazzo Versace is located Sea World Drive, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Queensland.