Friday 28 August 2015

Les Exclusifs de Chanel Misia



On the hunt for a scent that I could wear for glamorous occasions, I hit upon  Les Exclusifs de Chanel Misia (£115) created by Olivier Polge, son of the legendary perfumer Jacques Polge.

This is an exquisite, feminine fragrance from Chanel. When you are following in the footsteps of the man who has been the “composer of fragrances” since 1978 your debut has to be something extraordinary.  

With successes under his belt such as Viktor & Rolf ‘s Flowerbomb you know that Misia is going to be special. My expectations were fulfilled..




Misia, a powerful figure in the world of arts, was the close friend and confidante of Gabrielle Chanel. It was Misia who introduced her to Serge Diaghilev, the founder of the Ballets Russes. Gabrielle Chanel was so impassioned with them that she became the discreet patron.

Sweet and soft with hints of lipstick and a smattering of rose, violet and powder, the scent is meant to bring to life the atmosphere of the Ballets Ruses and the make-up of the era. On the skin, this morphs into a gorgeous, sophisticated feminine fragrance.

By Daralyn Danns

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Enjoy rosé



Summer would not be summer without drinking a glass of chilled rosé, though there is no reason not to drink it anytime of year. Here are three good ones to tantalise the taste buds.







Zambartas, Rosé, 2013, Akamas Laona, Cyprus, Berry Bros. & Rudd (www.bbr.com)  £14.35
Made from 85 per cent lefkada, a local grape variety that is dark in colour with a potent berry flavour and 15 per cent cabernet franc to take off any hard edges. 

This is a crisp cherry-soaked wine with zippy hints of pomegranate that is a delight to drink.









Domaine du Gros'Noré, 2014, Bandol Rosé, Berry Bros. & Rudd (www.bbr.com)  £18.95
A classic salmon-hued Bandol Rosé with a strawberry-tinged palate and a smattering of herbs and spice. With a crunch of refreshing acidity, this is a captivating wine.









Rosato, Colli della Toscana Centrale, 2013, Villa Calcinaia, Greve,  Berry Bros. & Rudd (www.bbr.com) £12.95
A heady mix of red fruits and Tuscan sun that fuels memories of summer holidays in Italy. A well-balanced wine that slips down a treat. It is not too high in alcohol (13 per cent ) so perfect for Sunday lunch.

By Daralyn Danns







Wednesday 12 August 2015

Dinner at Yu Nijyo, Kameha Grand Zűrich




The Kameha Grand Zűrich hotel is not only being talked about for its outstanding design, it is also creating quite a stir for its cuisine. If your discerning palate wants to be indulged and spoilt, Yu Nijyo is the place to go. 

If I could have given a Michelin Star to head chef Norman Fischer at Yu Nijyo after the gastronomic experience I had at his restaurant I would have done.

Yu Nijyo translates, I am told by the staff, as “hot water to the power of two” which alludes to the significance of water to the people of Japan.




Dramatic yet intimate




Continuing the hotel’s theme of paying homage to typical Swiss affiliations, the restaurant decked out dramatically in black and red, marries Swiss patterns from Appenzell, a place renowned for its embroidery, with traditional Japanese themes. The décor is dramatic yet the ambience manages to be intimate and relaxed. The service is exemplary.

Norman Fischer is a gifted chef who comes with a great pedigree having worked at several award-winning gourmet restaurants including La Terrasse, Park Hotel Bremen, where in his first position as chef de cuisine, he secured a star in the Guide Michelin. It should not be long before his culinary skills are bagging awards at at Yu Nijyo.

He takes inspiration from Japan and the Far East. Using the finest ingredients painstakingly prepared, he adds his own innovative twist. To kick off there was the chef’s salmon  appetizer, beautifully displayed and  the perfect accompaniment to the champagne I was drinking.



Beautifully presented

 
For the starter I plumped for the Yellow Fin Tuna which I instantly devoured. My taste buds were then put into overdrive with the chef’s amuse-bouche of spicy tuna and tandori chicken in a creamy mouse. This was already beginning to be a most memorable meal. 

The waiter suggested I had different wines to complement the flavours of each course. (Swiss measures are a lot smaller than ours – usually about one 1decilitre.) As I was in Switzerland I wanted to drink Swiss wines as they tend to be rather good. 

A surprising number was a mix of sauvignon blanc and chardonnay which was magical on the palate and went exceptionally well with the platter of sushi. This magnificent melange of tuna, eel, salmon and scallops was not only visually enticing it also tasted divine. 



Looks to good to eat




After the amount of food that I had consumed I was rather pleased that the main course was in true Japanese style, simple. The lamb from Hof Schrofen was so tender and cooked to perfection. Served with a beans and celeriac, the combination of all the flavours was outstanding. 

I washed it down with a glass of pinot noir from Zurich wine producer Erich Meier. Bursting with velvety chocolate aromas, this wine oozed class and elegance. Pinot noirs can be difficult to get right. This man has nailed it.

For dessert. I plumped for the white chocolate Ivorie with granny smith sorbet which was tart and exhilarating. What a sensational finale!

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

British Airways currently flies from London City to Zurich up to four times a day. Each-way hand baggage only fares are available from £69 (based on a return hand baggage only fare) and are available to book on www.ba.com/londoncity

(In addition BA has services from Heathrow with connections also available from across the UK and Ireland.)

All British Airways fares include online check-in 24 hours before departure, complimentary refreshments and drinks on board and no debit card charges 

Customers have a quick and easy journey through the Docklands airport, with hand baggage it takes just 15 minutes to get from kerbside to airside

So good to fly in comfort and style

Kameha Grand Zurich (Tel: +41 44 525 5000 Email: zuerich@kameha.com
Website: www.kamehagrandzuerich.com) offers accommodation in the heart of Zurich. Rates start from £225 per room (per night)


 



Monday 10 August 2015

Spotlight on Liquides Imaginaires Succus



Yet another fragrance house I hear you ask? Well, David Frossard and Philippe Di Méo, the founders of Liquides Imaginaires, have created a luxurious unisex range which they believe stands out from the crowd. 

The perfumes have been created to translate the magic and mystery of scent so they play on your senses  transporting you, the boys say, from “the material world into the immaterial.” Over the few years that the house has been going, it has built up a cult following. 








Renowned for releasing trilogies of fragrances, the house has recently released a new one, Les Eaux Arborantes, which pays homage to the wild, trees, plant and animal life. My favourite one is Succus. Think mandarins and  rhubarb spiced up with black pepper and ginger underpinned with a woody base.

Fragrance is personal and whatever a company says is the motivation and story behind the scent, it ultimately boils down to whether you like it or not.

These fragrances are different and edgy so it is worth taking a look at  this brand (available at Selfridges and Harrods Salon de Parfums from £150). You should find one that appeals.

By Daralyn Danns