GOURMET LIFESTYLE TRAVEL NEWS
Two to try in T
Morocco
Morocco can provide the ultimate Eid getaway this month, with leading hotels offering exceptional gastronomy rivalling Dubai’s, combined with super deals on rooms: 7 At the über-luxe Royal Mansour Marrakech, you can pay for two nights, and stay three, with Yannick Alléno’s Stay restaurant providing a gourmet offset to the city’s colourful markets. Prices start from MAD 11,500 (around Dhs4,600), visit royalmansour.ma. 7 For a more family-friendly option, the Mazagan Beach & Golf resort (near Casablanca) is offering a summer package with ‘pay for three nights, stay for four’ deals, along with an array of leisure activities and restaurants. Package prices start from US$305 (Dhs1,120), www. mazaganbeachresort.com.
Stylish
Text SUDESHNA GHOSH | Photograps SUPPLIED
stay-cation Sir Baniyas Island, one of the UAE’s most unique weekend break destinations is now home to the newly opened Anantara Al Yamm Villa Resort, a sister property of the popular Desert Islands resort. The exclusive all-villa resort, built according to sustainable principles, offers the ultimate in private luxury, alongside culinary offerings including an Italian restaurant, seafood, tapas, or their signature Destination Dining experience. Room rates start from Dhs1,850 per night, visit al-yamm. anantara.com.
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All the foodie news from around the globe.
A culinary adventure There’s no better time to go to Kenya than n now, with just a four-hour flight taking you to cooler climes and some of the finest game viewing in the world. At the luxurious Solio Lodge on the foothills of Mt Kenya, home to the rare black and white rhinos, you can experience thrilling i th illi safaris f i by b jeep, j horseback or mountain bike, as well as indulge in gourmet safaris. Resident chef Ava has lovingly grown a ‘Shamba’ (vegetable garden) on the property, to grow her own fresh herbs and vegetables, which are used in her culinary creations, ranging from traditional Swahili Curry to delicious spicy spinach soup. Room rates start from US$710 (Dhs2,600) per person per night, and anyone staying at any of the Safari Collection lodges across east Africa for over seven nights can avail of free internal flights. www.thesafaricollection.com.
LONDON LUXE If you’re heading to London this month, check into the landmark Corinthia Hotel, where The Northall restaurant is celebrating seasonal British ingredients with special tastings and menus. This month, it’s all about tomatoes, with the huge variety grown in Britain being showcased in dishes like slow roast tomato and shallot soup, and roast fillet of Cornish mackerel with warm tomato and soft herb dressing. If the menu isn’t reason enough to head there, the Suite Life package, which gives you an extra nights’ stay free if you book into a suite for three days, plus other add-ons like complimentary afternoon tea, certainly should be. Package prices start at £1,800 (around Dhs9,800) for three nights, visit corinthia.com/London.
Cooking in Thailand Looking for an unspoilt side to oft-overdone Thailand? Head to Baan Ma-Yhing restaurant in Koh Klang, situated on the Krabi river, where the locals epitomise eco-living. Not only can you indulge in fish caught freshly from the restaurant’s own floating fish tanks, but you can also partake of cooking classes with chef and owner Bao. There’s no better way to discover the essence of Thail! Find them on facebook.com/BaanMaYhing. August 2013 BBC Good Food Middle East 73