The Kitchen review : soft light and wrought iron chandeliers

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Atmosphere adds spice to The Kitchen
One of the wood-grilled specials at The Kitchen includes golden tilefish from Charleston, S.C., served with local greens.

By Liz Biro

That The Kitchen feels like a lodge while billing itself “farm-raised, fire-roasted fare” doesn’t necessarily seem inapt.

Candles and wrought iron chandeliers sprinkle soft light. A smoky roast aroma perfumes the dark-wood dining room.

Heavy chairs scratch rustic tunes against wood and vintagey, black-and-white tile floors. Conversations harmonize into a low, happy hum.

On chilly nights, the scene begs turtlenecks and heavy sweaters, with cozy garb fitting abundant plates and dark stout or spicy red wine while being as suited to a lodge as they are to a farmhouse.

A full bar, furnished with hulking stools and extra padding, supplies spirits. Another granite, earth-tone bar provides the show. It overlooks a wide-open kitchen where cooks soft-shoe their stations.

The grill guy flames Flintstonian, three-bone pork ribs, tender and brushed with cumin-edged barbecue sauce. Salad bunches baby arugula, mild watercress, blue cheese and black-eyed peas under thick-cut, fried green tomatoes in underwhelming vinaigrette.

Rotisserie chicken is among house specialties, but brisket outshines the bird. A quarter-chicken’s white and dark meat are both dry chews one evening. A different night, pulled chicken is overcooked atop flatbread pizza with fresh mozzarella and tangy barbecue sauce.

Brisket, however, yields to light pressure from a fork. Sharp blue cheese slaw tames its smoky flavor and shouldn’t-eat-this-but-can’t-stop fattiness.

Just-right sharpness spices fluffy spoonfuls of root vegetable soup. Perfectly seared scallops rest in a shallow, silky, sweet corn chowder pool marred by doughy little browned dumplings.

from starnewsonline.com


The perfect wrought iron bed

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What to Look for in Your Perfect Bed: Top Interior Designers Offer Advice

Individuals shopping for a bed and mattress know it can be a daunting task, as they must consider comfort, style and budget. Top interior designers understand that it is one of the most personal selections they help their clients make and offer some advice in finding that perfect match.

When it comes to mattress selection, designers certainly agree that personal comfort is key. However, an important consideration that many neglect is the depth of a mattress. “Some mattresses are enormously deep. They can be very heavy and therefore make setting a bed cumbersome. Keep in mind that mattress thicknesses affect the bed height. I like to keep mattress heights around 24-27″ above the floor.”

“The bigger and higher the bed the smaller the room feels
It’s recommended a “low profile” bed so clients “don’t need a ladder to crawl into bed.”

For those considering a lower profile mattress solution, offers their range of platform mattresses. The four styles range in firmness but each features quality craftsmanship and is covered by the comfort exchange policy with a 20 year limited warranty so customers can relax and take comfort in their investment.

Choosing the right style bed can be exhausting as there are so many choices. Designer suggests that shoppers think about classic design. “Design trends come and go, but when purchasing a bed, you’ll want something that you can live with for years. Select a style that makes a statement without overpowering the room made with quality materials.

For example, a four poster bed or an upholstered headboard with simple detailing creates a timeless focal point while the accessories can be changed to refresh the space for years.” The simple lines and classic wrought iron speak to this advice and provide a dynamic frame for any room.

“Give me drama when selecting a bed, something that anchors the room and gives it a sense of style”. I love upholstered headboards especially with nailhead trim or four poster beds; they really make a statement.” The ultra-luxe Wing bed from Charles P. Rogers features this powerful aesthetic with its sumptuous leather headboard and hand applied nail head detailing.

“I prefer headboards and bed frames that are clean-lined and not fussy,” continues Robinson. “I prefer beds that show off their legs rather than beds with skirts. A wood frame around a fabric headboard tends to dress it up a bit.” The Newhouse platform bed features a contemporary look with its supple yet refined leather headboard and Mahogany rails.

from marketwatch.com

Le Méridien Budapest’s

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Le Méridien Budapest

Located smack-bang in the centre of the stylish streets of Pest, the sights and delights of Hungary’s capital are on Le Méridien Budapest’s doorstep.

As a Budapest first-timer, the proximity to the attractions of the city that Le Méridien Budapest offered was invaluable. Armed with my Budapest transport card and map (which takes a while to master – in Budapest a lot of the streets sound the same!), exploring the city was easy. Within minutes I was amid the bustling Vörösmarty Square, perusing the shops on Váci Utca (the city’s equivalent of London’s Oxford Street) and strolling alongside the mighty River Danube, which separates Buda and Pest.

With so much history and culture surrounding the hotel, it was fitting that the hotel itself had its own story to tell. Formerly known as Adria Palace, an apartment and office building designed in 1913, the building has been declared a historic monument. As a building designed in the Secession era (a branch of Art Nouveau, inspired by natural forms) wrought iron balconies, ornate chandeliers and arched windows gives the hotel an aura of elegance. The most eye-catching feature is the giant, stained-glass dome that overlooks the atrium, with its grand chandelier hanging from its centre.

I stayed in an executive suite, which included a lounge area with sofas, big double bed and a generously-sized bathroom with a large bath and walk-in power shower. The room boasted all the mod-cons: TV (this room had two!), HiFi and a range of teas and coffees. With neutral décor, the overall look was clean, corporate and comfortable.

As we were in Hungary we were naturally curious about the traditional cuisine. We had tried a hearty paprika chicken and vegetable concoction at the Christmas market but sampling Hungary’s gastronomic delights in the high-end restaurant – Le Bourbon – was another matter. The restaurant serves French cuisine but does have a section on the menu of Hungarian classics, which is what we opted for.

We began with a starter of home-made foie gras terrine and cold smoked goose breast, freshly fried Makó onion and grilled seed toast whilst we sipped the Hungarian classic wine Tokaj (almost port-like in taste). On the whole the dish was a touch too sweet for my tastes, but nonetheless tasty.

The main course, however, really hit the mark. I devoured the grilled beef tenderloin topped with grilled goose liver and served with fresh Hungarian lecsó (a ratatouille-like mixture of peppers, paprika and tomatoes) and roasted sliced potato. A positively giant dessert followed – somlói galuska – a decadent, trifle-like dessert of sponge cakes, cream and chocolate sauce. As much as I wanted to gobble every last spoonful, by this stage I was ready to go lie down! The whole meal was a brilliant insight into Hungarian cuisine.

One of the other plus points of my stay at Le Méridien Budapest was the hotel’s spa and health centre, complete with a small gym, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms. As I visited in December, I especially enjoyed warming up in the sauna and steam room and it was a great way to relax after sightseeing in the crisp, winter weather.

Le Méridien Budapest proved to be ideal for a city break – its enviable location and amenities made for a great stay but the one thing that really made it memorable was the delightful staff. From the moment I arrived to the moment I left, I was treated to five-star service, complete with a smile.

By Sarah Gibbons

from travelbite.co.uk

Shangri-La Hotel in Paris

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24-hour room service: Shangri-La Hotel, Paris
Paris has another star from the East

AOIFE O’RIORDAIN

You can’t help but feel a little frisson of excitement as you pass through the tall iron gates and pull up under the beautiful wrought-iron and glass porte-cochère of the Shangri-La in Paris.

So far, so French. But as you step inside the hotel you’re greeted by two giant Ming dynasty-style vases standing sentry at the door, hinting at the provenance of this new address on the Parisian hotel scene.

The Shangri-La was the second of a trio of Asian-based luxury hotel groups to open properties in the French capital in the past 18 months (joining Raffles Le Royal Monceau and followed by Mandarin Oriental). It celebrated its first anniversary last month and is arguably the most romantic and intimate of the three, housed in the Belle Epoque Palais d’Iéna, the former home of Napoleon Bonaparte’s grand nephew, Prince Roland Bonaparte. The family coat of arms, lions’ heads and antlers can still be seen, carved into the pale stone façade.

Inside, a spectacular sweeping staircase leads to the principal salons on the first floor. The Grand Salon – all chandeliers, parquet, gilt and mirrors – recalls the grandeur of Versailles and is among several elements of the palace now protected on the list of “Monuments Historiques”.

The restoration of the building, which latterly belonged to the French Centre of Foreign Trade, took four years. It involved some additions, which are mercifully subtle.

Gentle hints of the Orient infuse the hotel. For example, delicate Jasmine Chung Hao tea from China’s northern province of Fujian is offered when you are taken to your room.

It’s no coincidence that the arrival of these Asian hoteliers coincides with an influx of well-heeled Chinese visitors eager to spend their yuan. During my stay, enthusiastic groups were jumping into the hotel’s fleet of slick limousines, presumably off to peruse the luxury brands of the nearby Avenue Montaigne.

The Shangri-La’s prices reflect this profligacy – you’ll need a stiff drink before reading the bar, restaurant and room-service menus.

There are three restaurants. La Bauhinia features a stunning glass cupola uncovered during the restoration, while L’Abeille, the gastronomic French restaurant, takes its name from the Napoleonic bee. The Shang Palace, which opened last September and was immediately booked solid, is easily the city’s most sophisticated Chinese restaurant, serving refined Cantonese cuisine.

Later this year, an indoor swimming pool and spa are due to open in the former stables. The currrent lack is of little consequence: there are still few more romantic places to stay during Paris’s loveliest season.

The hotel clings to the side of Chaillot Hill in Paris’s chic, buttoned-up 16th arrondissement. The Shangri-La is just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower and is only moments away from the Trocadéro with its views of everyone’s favourite landmark.

Several museums and galleries are also a short stroll away: the Guimet Museum, Musée du Quai Branly, Palais de Tokyo and the Marmottan Monet Museum. Perhaps more importantly, the Golden Triangle is a mere Louboutin’s totter down the hill.

There are 81 rooms and suites divided into five categories. The view that all visitors lust after is the symbol of the city and my room had just that. About half of all the rooms and suites have Eiffel Tower views and it’s hard to drag yourself away from the window.

Interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon was tasked with decorating the guest rooms, channelling a Gallic-Oriental fusion with Empire-style furnishings in hues of blue, ecru and white. Apart from some of the more lavish suites, it seems a bit sombre given the opulence of parts of the palace, but maybe that’s the point.

Bathrooms are decked in chocolate brown marble and buff limestone with separate baths and shower heads of dinner-plate proportions. There is also a Nespresso machine, kettle, DVD, TV and free Wi-Fi.

from independent.co.uk

New wrought iron fence for Tiger Stadium

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Tiger Stadium to get a ‘Champions Plaza’ and more

by David Blake

In the college football offseason, contractors are ready to do $8 million worth of work to improve the appearance of the Tiger Stadium.  The chain link fence that’s been something of an eyesore along the west side of the stadium is being replaced with wrought iron, along with stone gates and archways.

Fans maybe even more excited about “Champions Plaza,” similar to the popular Champions Square outside the Superdome.

LSU has something similar at Alex Box stadium.

”It shows our six national championships there, as well as other recognition of great players of LSU baseball history,” said Vincent.

This plaza would be loaded with LSU football memorabilia, so that fans could experience the history of the sport.  In addition, Vincent says they’re interested in expanding the stadium on the south end zone.

”We’re doing some ground testing now to see what that area of the stadium is like and what kind of problems we might have to tackle,” he explained.

They could add a mixture suites and both additional club and public seating.

from wwl.com