Dining at the Lalezar Grill House, Hotel Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik

When executive chef  Özgűr Dönertaş offered to cook me a special Dalmatian seafood dinner at the Lalezar Grill House, the haute-cuisine restaurant at the Hotel Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik, I was beyond delighted.

Hotel Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik

This man has toiled in the kitchens of many top restaurants including Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, so I knew I was in for a real treat.

The elegant restaurant specialises in using local food served up with a touch of Turkish spice. As well as offering great seafood the steaks here are first class.

My first course was a scrumptious octopus salad with anchovies. The fish had all been caught that day so this truly was from sea to plate. This was followed by a delicious prawn and squid dish with a light lemon sauce which had just the right amount of tang.

 Lalezar Grill House

Sea bass which melted in my mouth was the main event. Each course was a good-sized portion (I am fed up of going to restaurants where you have to look for the food on the plate) and beautifully presented.

Wine has been made in the Dubrovnik area for centuries and while the industry has had its trials and tribulations, Croatia is fast gaining a reputation for its high quality wines. There are, apparently, over 60 indigenous grape varieties, with white wine accounting for the majority produced. Many people produce their own at home which they use for personal consumption.

Guided by Özgűr I tried a local Malvazija, a full-bodied white that oozes flavours of apples and peach. It lingers long on the palate and works especially well with fish.

Octopus salad with anchovies 

I also tried a glass of Pošip from the Krajančić winery. Gooseberry-drenched, this zesty wine is really pleasant to drink.

From sea to plate

For sparkling wines, it would be hard to beat one from wine producer Tomac in Plešivica. The wines are not too sweet, have just the right amount of acidity and are extremely drinkable. This family has been in the business for over 200 years so it should know a thing or two about wine.

Lovers of red wine won’t want to miss sampling Dingač. This is a hearty number with nuances of plums and spice. It is the perfect accompaniment to a fillet steak.

Even though I was full, it is hard to turn down chocolate, especially Özgűr’s delicious small cake oozing a velvety-rich chocolate sauce served with homemade vanilla ice cream.

This was a real foodie experience. Thanks, Özgűr for the most unforgettable meal.

By Daralyn Danns

 

Getting there

British Airways flies from London Gatwick to Dubrovnik from £62 each way. For connections from regional airports and to book visit  www.britishairways.com
 

Rixos Libertas Dubrovnik is a member of Great Hotels of the World Premium Collection. Double room rates start from EUR 84.80. For more information or to book, please visit  http://www.ghotw.com/hotel/home/rixos-libertas.htm or call 020 7380 3658.

 

 

Spotlight on Clinique Moisture Surge Melting Mask Balm

Perfect for when your skin feels exceptionally dry, Clinique Moisture Surge Melting Mask Balm (£26) liquefies upon touching with warm fingers, and literally melts into your skin. 

Although it contains a cocktail of apricot oil, sunflower seed oil and macadamia oil, it does not feel greasy. In fact, it feels velvety smooth.

You can use it as a 10-minute mask or alternatively, apply it to areas that feel exceptionally dry in the morning or leave on overnight. I love it as a highlighter on the tops of my cheekbones. It catches the light beautifully. 

By Daralyn Danns

Spotlight on Clinique Smart SPF 15 Custom-Repair Moisturizer

Clinique’s recently-launched Smart SPF 15 Custom-Repair Moisturize (£45) is a cocktail of goodies that gives the skin a moisture injection as well as protecting it from winter sun.(If you are going on holiday or spending long periods outside you should want to use a higher factor.) Another plus is that it also improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

It also contains ingredients which the company says help to strengthen and repair the skin’s barrier. 

This oil-free textured cream is available in three different formulas for skin types: very dry to dry, dry combination, and combination oily to oily.

By Daralyn Danns

Happy Holidays

Fizzes that sparkle

Whether you like champagne or prosecco or any other sparkler for that matter, there is nothing like a glass of fizz to help lift the spirits and get you into that festive mood.

These bottles of bubbly will rise to any event.

Champagne Bollinger, Special Cuvée, £39.95 or if buying a case of 6 bottles £29.95 per bottle, £179.70 per case, Berry Bros & Rudd (www.bbr.com)  
A full-bodied well-balanced champagne with a super creamy, rich texture. Crammed with toasty, nutty flavours and a twist of citrus, this fizz oozes elegance and class.

Champagne Billecart-Salmon Vintage 2006, £65, The Good Wine Shop
From Billecart-Salmon, a house which is dedicated to producing quality rather than quantity, this powerful golden liquid tantalises the palette with mesmerising rich, fruity tangs. Predominantly pinot noir, tempered by chardonnay, this bubbly will seduce you.

Waitrose Blanc de Blancs Brut NV, £24.99, Waitrose
Made entirely from the chardonnay grape, this invigorating, well-structured champagne charms with apples and citrusy tangs. An impressive wine that slips down a treat. 

Prosecco Asolo Extra Dry, Bele Casel, Veneto, £14.95, Berry Bros & Rudd, (www.bbr.com) 

Drenched in white peaches and pears laced with 16g residual sugar, this is a delightful wine with a crisp, refreshing finish.  

La Gioiosa Prosecco DOCG Superiore, £13.49 Waitrose
A dry and flavoursome prosecco that enlivens the palate with floral and fruity aromas. This is an extremely pleasant drink.

Berry Bros. & Rudd English Sparkling Wine, 2011, Gusbourne Estate £24.95, Berry Bros & Rudd,  (www.bbr.com) 
The first English sparkler to carry the Berry Bros. & Rudd label so you would expect it to be top notch and it is, Citrus-soaked with nuances of nuts, this makes a perfect apéritif.

By Daralyn Danns