Five Star Service: Singapore Airlines & Enterprise Car Rental

Fantastic service from Singapore Airlines at Heathrow last week. Thanks to the team on the desk (especially Miriam), a problem was solved without any fuss and Enterprise Car Rental made it a pleasant experience to hire a car at short notice.  I'll be using your services again.

My flight back to Sydney with Singapore Airlines was great – Changi is an easy airport.


Fantastic, thank you all.
www.singaporeair.com
www.enterprise.com

Meet you for lunch: The Dining Room, Park Hyatt Sydney

The Dining Room, Park Hyatt Sydney.

Having lunch at the new look Park Hyatt Sydney reminded me  how much I love this location! The waterfront restaurant has become The Dining Room and you can enjoy Chef Andrew McKee's seasonal Australian lunch menu with a choice of one ($39), two ($59) or three ($69) courses with a glass of selected wine Monday to Friday.

A dish of cow's milk burrata with heirloom tomato and apple balsamic hits the spot as do crispy balls of potted Alaskan King Crab. Goat cheese gnocchi and a delicious truffle mushroom risotto leave little room for dessert which in my case would have been the hazelnut dacquoise, milk chocolate ganache and milk ice cream. (A dacquoise is a layered dessert cake of almond and hazelnut meringue with whipped cream ... so I'm just hoping it's on the menu next time.)

The Living Room and The Bar also echo the lifestyle feel of the new-look Park Hyatt and an inspection of the stunning premium Sydney Suite leaves us longing for an opportunity to be able to experience the incredible views for longer than just a ten minute look-see.
http://www.diningroom.com.au/diningroom/menus-en.html
http://sydney.park.hyatt.com

The Dining Room at dusk, Park Hyatt Sydney.

Hunter Valley Uncorked at Balmoral

The laid-back Sunday crowds were out in force as the Hunter Valley brought its wines to Sydney against the stunning backdrop of Balmoral Beach last Sunday. The day was perfect for a picnic and the chance to meet the winemakers and their teams and sample trophy and gold medal wines, iconic Hunter Semillons, new release whites, Hunter Valley Shiraz as well as chilled bubbles and rose. The Hunter Valley's Andy Allen, aka Masterchef 2012, was a special guest preparing seafood to complement Hunter Valley Semillon and beef to pair with Hunter Valley Shiraz.

Three-piece band Mimesis took centre stage on the iconic bandstand, delivering sounds that really suited the day and the tastes of the Hunter were a reminder of how good it is to spend a weekend away just a two-hour drive from Sydney!

WINERIES INCLUDED:

• Adina Vineyard
• Allandale Winery
• Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard
• Bimbadgen
• Brokenwood Wines
• Colvin Wines
• De Iuliis Wines
• First Creek Wines
• Glandore Estate Wines
• Margan Winery
• McGuigan Wines
• McWilliams Mount Pleasant
• Oakvale Wines
• Peterson House
• RidgeView Wines
• Saddler's Creek Wines 
• Tempus Two
• Thomas Wines
• Tulloch Wines
• Two Rivers
• Tyrrell's Wines

RESTAURANTS:

• Restaurant Cuvee
• RidgeView Restaurant
• The Verandah Restaurant
• Twine Restaurant

Fresh Produce by:

• Pukara Estate - olives, olive products and vinegars
• Hunter Valley Cheese Company - cheese & antipasto platters
• Nelson Bay Seafoods - fresh seafood
• Australian Regional Food Store - gourmet products
• Lushberries - chocolate dipped berries
• Lil' Groovers - fresh lemonade
• Bar Coco - Coffee, drinks and gelato

Novotel Lombok

My Stratford-upon-Avon app is now on Google Play

Mercure Shakespeare Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon ©AP

Drive a Morgan Roadster ©AP

http://sutromedia.com/android/Stratford_West_Midlands_As_You_Like_It

http://sutromedia.com/apps/Stratford_West_Midlands_As_You_Like_It

Stratford-upon-Avon App

Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon. ©AP

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stratford-west-midlands-as/id537475306?mt=8

Luxury 'Town & Country Package', Blanket Bay & Eichardt's Private Hotel, New Zealand

Blanket Bay, New Zealand.  ©AP

Road to Blanket Bay, New Zealand. ©AP

On the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Blanket Bay is a dream come true, a place for relaxation and reflection and a base for exciting activities against the breathtaking scenery of the Glenorchy district.

The food is excellent, each dish prepared with fresh ingredients every day. You'll never want to leave.

On the waterfront in Queenstown, Eichardt's Private Hotel is a stylish hideaway with its own Tapas Bar and close to restaurants such as Wai and The Bunker. Amisfield Winery is nearby, a perfect place for lunch.

Currently there's a package combining a stay at both for a taste of town and country:

http://blanketbay.com/packages/queenstown-town-and-country

Stay for six nights and pay for only five:

3 nights in a Lodge Room at Blanket Bay and 3 nights in a Lakefront Apartment at Eichardt's Private Hotel – NZ$2705.00 per person

3 nights in a Lodge Suite at Blanket Bay and 3 nights in a Mountain View Suite at Eichardt's Private Hotel – NZ$3795.00 per person

Rates are per person based on twin or double occupancy, include taxes and can be booked directly with the hotels or by your travel advisor. Click here for information and reservations.

Suite, Eichardt's Private Hotel, Queenstown,  New Zealand. ©AP

Eichardt's Private Hotel, Queenstown, New Zealand. ©AP