On our way driving up to the Le Tre Vaselle restaurant-hotel in Torgiano we stopped for lunch at a restaurant by a lake presumably Lake Trasimeno. I have forgotten the name of the restaurant. In fact, I can’t remember what I had for lunch, although I will always remember drinking the best bottle of rose-tinted Pinot Grigio I have ever had the pleasure to drink, made increasingly better by the intense heat, while dining on the shaded terrace on that very hot day. So good, that I had to order another bottle when one would have sufficed; it was plunged into the ice bucket straight-away.
The village of Torgiano has been made famous due to the wines produced by Dr. Lungarotti. The village is surrounded with vineyards set in the hills.
The 17th century building of Le Tre Vaselle is within the medieval walls of Torgiano, a peaceful village set in the heart of the Umbrian countryside. Its warm hospitality, elegant decor and exquisite cuisine are reminiscent of the aristocratic country houses of times past, and offer an ideal environment for those wishing to have excellent accommodations, an outstanding restaurant and beautiful wines grown and produced in the area surrounding the hotel and restaurant. Maria Grazia and Giorgio Lungarotti established the Museo del Vino, which is dedicated to wine; the Lungarotti winery is one of the most important in Italy. The restaurant offers game and black truffles in season, the superb Chianina beef and pike and perch from Lake Trasimeno, in addition all produce is supplied from the Lungarotti estate and of course, we cannot forget the Wines—and the cellar contains an abundance of Lungarotti’s rare, older vintages.

Restaurants around the vicinity of Torgiano:

Città della Pieve (21 km)

Il Pinzimonio, In San Litardo (3.5 km north towards Po Bandino): (0578 298105) It is a good value restaurant with a pizzeria, popular with locals. Closed Tuesday.
Restaurant, Trattoria Tawny, V. Vannucci, 135  Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578298108 Fax +39  Closed Monday
Restaurant the Flour Mill Of Drago, Str. St. 71, 54  Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578222170  Closed Monday
Restaurant 27 Pinzimonio, S.S.71 - Loc. S. Litardo  Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578298105  Closed Tuesday
Restaurant Arches, It V. Stradone, 105  Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578294303  Closed Wednesday
Restaurant The Source Of The Folletto, Str. Stat. 71 North, 15 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578298752  Closed Tuesday
Nardelli Restaurant, via G. Di Vittorio, 62 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578248081 Fax +39 057824807  Closed Tuesday
Small restaurant Eden via S.Lucia, 53 Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578297065 Fax +39 0578297066  Closed Tuesday
Restaurant, Trattoria Serenella, V. Fiorenzuola, 28  Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578299683  Closed Wednesday
Taverna Restaurant of the Perugino, V. Vannucci, 37  Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578298848  Closed Monday
Vannucci Restaurant, via Icilio Vanni, 1  Citta’ della Pieve (Perugia) Tel. +39 0578299572 Fax +39 0578298063  A typical Umbrian kitchen; Closed Friday

Other villages in close proximity:

Panicale (13 km)

Lillotatini, Piazza Umberto I 13–14  Top end of the main square. Good restaurant presented properly. Booking usually necessary.
Masolino, Via del Filaoio 4 (075 837 151)
Le Grotte di Boldrini (075 837 161)  Outside the West gate.

Piegaro (16.5 km)

Il Mondo Antico, Via G Garibaldi 1/a (075 835 8351) – in old town, 100 m from top gate. Friendly service and the restaurant is surrounded by antiquity.
Da Elio, on SS220, 0.5 km from Piegaro junction towards Tavernelle (075 835 8017) Typical Italian restaurant, friendly staff and good food. Excellent value.

Paciano (18 km)

Il Casale, In Cereto (2 km off road westwards, follow signs from the main road) (075 830 465) worth finding it; the terrace looks over the hills towards Lake Trasimeno. Very good food, booking is essential. Closed Wednesdays.

Lake Trasimeno

Advance bookings suggested
L’Acquario, Via Vittorio Emanuele 69 (075 965 2432)
La Cantina (075 965 2463)
La Fontana It is attached to the Miralago Hotel. The terrace looks over the lake. Good food.
A.Z. Bar Ristorante Pizzeria Excellent home made pasta dishes. Via Roma 25 Tel/Fax +39-075-953326
San Feliciano (28 km) East side of the lake
Da Settimio (075 847 6000) Good restaurant specializing in fish dishes. Excellent view of the lake. Closed Thursdays.
Below: La Tre Vaselle

On the second floor of the Eight Thonglor Building on the corner of Thong Lor and Soi 8 the sushi bar is on the left along with some well appointed private rooms and the Korean Barbeque Japanese-style is at the back and on the left.
Sushi-chu imports fresh seafood that is transported from Tsukiji, the best fish market in Tokyo, three times a week by air. They are able to do this since their head office is located in Chichibu, Japan and overseen by General Manager, Fukushima.
The sushi is absolutely fresh; they do not depend on anything else to embellish the taste.
The Japanese BBQ restaurant follows the original recipes from Tokyo Calbi House using special Calbi sauce. The Japanese BBQ chef is, 26 years old, Sutsakrn Wongtakee he has had 13 years experience in preparing meat.
It is also very pleasant that in this combo of restaurants you have the opportunity to start with sushi or sashimi as an appetizer and then follow with Japanese BBQ.
Carnival has a broad selection of Japanese Sake and Shochu.
The Japanese barbecue is certainly the best quality you can find in Bangkok and the sushi that is imported from Japan is fresh and excellent as well.
Now that there are two in different parts of the city it makes it more convenient to indulge in these great tastes of Japan.

Crêpes & Co. has two locations in Bangkok and serves Breakfast and Brunch everyday, anytime!

18/1, Sukhumvit Soi 12
Klongtoey 10110
Bangkok
Tel. (662) 653-3990 or 653 3991
Fax. (662) 653-3992

88 Soi Sukhumvit 55, Soi 8 (Thong Lor)
Klongton-Nua, Watana, Bangkok 10110
Tel. 02-726 9398-9
Website: www.crepes.co.th/
Opening Hours: daily from 10:00am until 11pm
8Thonglor building, ground floor
www.8thonglor.com
88 Thonglor Soi 8
Bangkok
Tel. 02-726 9398-9
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Inexpensive

The location on Sukhumvit Soi 12 is situated in an old Thai house and the space in the building on eight on Thong Lor Building is on the ground floor on the corner of Soi 8 and has a clean design with a “homey” atmosphere.
Crêpes served in twenty different ways both either:

Savory:
Cheese:
Feta. Gruyère, Cheddar, Blue
Meat & Fish:
Bacon, Egg, Ham, Prawns, Squid, Tuna, Chicken, Smoked Salmon
Sauces:
Béchemel, Blue Cheese Béchemel, Mushroom Cream, Onion Fondue, Tomato Sauce, White Wine Sauce, Bolognaise Sauce
Spices:
Chili Powder, Lime, Mixed Nuts, Olive Oil, Oregano

Sweet:
Fruit:
Banana, Pineapple, Apple, Fruit Salad, Melon, Papaya
Ice Cream:
Choc Chip, Chocolate, Coconut, Coffee, Orange, Rum Raisin, Strawberry, Vanilla
Sauces:
Caramel, Chantilly, Chocolate, Honey, Mango, Peach, Pear, Raspberry

Fresh Salads

Photo Credit: Vicbria Pearson

9635 S Santa Monica Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90291
Phone: (310) 274-8765
www.sprinklescupcakes.com
Prices: Expensive
$3.50 each $46 per dozen

Candace Nelson and her husband opened cupcake only shops about three years ago with a distinguishing trademarked dot within a dot as a design on most cupcakes, that same mark also distinguishes what flavors are being used. Other cupcakes in their lineup use smaller imported French sprinkles or grated coconut as a topping, and it should be mentioned that it is commendable that they do not bake with hydrogenated oils and use only natural ingredients for their icings and baking. What is more interesting, is the legal frenzy and law suits that have developed out of this, and after all, they are only cupcakes and nothing to get so worked up over. Or are they? Because as every entrepreneur knows; if it is innovative enough other persons will surely copy it and you must defend your brand. Sprinkles is the pioneer of the cupcake-only shop fancied by various American celebrities and it is really turning up the heat on competitors. The question is: can they really defend their trademarked “dot” and the name Sprinkles that is commonly used when referring to frosting and ice creams. Are they good or worth $3.50 when most cupcakes are going for $2.00 or less? That is a matter of conjecture and you will have to be the judge.
They have opened a few other branches already in Newport Beach in Corona del Mar Plaza, 944 Avocado Ave.; Dallas at Plaza at Preston Center, 3020 Villanova Dr.; Phoenix-Scottsdale at 4501 N. Scottsdale Rd.; S.F.- Palo Alto on 393 Stanford Shopping Center; Houston at Highland Village, 4010 Westheimer Rd. (Apr. 2009). Coming Soon: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, London, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, SAn Diego, Seattle, Tokyo, Washington D. C. and other future locations worldwide.

Below: Candace Nelson of Sprinkles Cupcakes

Akaligo (means timeless in the sanskrit language)
51/4 Chiang Mai - Sankampaeng Road Moo 1 T. Tasala A. Muang
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi
Chiang Mai, Thailand 50000
phone: +66 53 88 8888
fax: +66 53 88 8928
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderate-Expensive

Situated in the elegant Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel, which is set in a lush valley, which is also know for its abundance of snakes is one of the most impressive hotel properties I have ever seen and stretches over 50 acres or more. Akaligo Restaurant happened to be closed for redecoration and we were seated in the French Restaurant Farang Ses although we were handed menus from Akaligo that serves its customers with the taste of Mediterranean Italian cuisine. Throughout the property you are surrounded by both ancient Thai and contemporary architecture and provided with panoramic views of manicured gardens as well as rice paddies and forests of tropical hardwoods. The pity is that the chef is from Burgundy in France and in the past was the chef at the prestigious Normandie Grill at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, and you can see that he is not too enthused to prepare 80% Italian dishes. As the saying goes, Do not let a French chef make pasta nor an Italian chef cook potatoes”.

The Four Seasons Hotel transformed their grand and elegant lobby into a New York Disco scene to celebrate New Year’s Eve. For a 2000 baht per person charge you could consume as much Champagne, red or white wine and cocktails as you fancied between 10:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. with the added attraction of two attractive female bartenders to do the stirring and shaking.

Afternoon Tea at the Four Seasons Hotel

My favorite place to visit in Bangkok when I require serenity, peace and tranquility is the magnificent lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel with its beautiful ceiling mural and soft music.
From 2pm - 6pm you may indulge in a full afternoon tea. Price: 880 Baht
It may include:
Savories
Chicken Salad on Brioche
Baby Potatoes Farci and Crispy Pancetta
Cheese Sandwich Wrapped with Forest Ham
Cured Salmon with Sour Cream and Roes
Marinated Tuna with Dill Tapenade
Sweet Bread Ragout with Truffle Oil on Parmesan Tart

Sweets
Mint-Infused Chocolate Square
Tangerine Fondant and Sesame Nougatine
Cointreau Glazed Fruit Cake Lolly Pop
Blueberry Financier
Strawberries on Breton Sable
Hazelnut Crème Brûlée
Granny Smith Macaroon
Grand Marnier and Chestnut Profiterole
Manuka Honey Castellan Cake with Coriander-Scented Jivara Mousse
Mango Cheesecake
Raisin and Plain Scones served with Clotted Cream, Strawberry and Rhubarb Jam

Teas
Black Tea – English Breakfast, Moroccan Mint, Supreme Ceylon Single Origin Leaf Tea, Earl Grey, Nuware Eliya Pekoe, Single Estate Darjeeling, Ceylon Silver Tips
Green Tea – Single Estate Oolong Leaf Tea, Sencha Green Extra Special, Jasmine Extra Special No. 1, Lapsang Souchong, Japanese Uji Natural Leaf
Fruit Tisane – Italian Almond Tea, Mediterranean Mandarin, Mediterranean Mandarin, Rose with French Vanilla
Herbal Infusion – Natural Rose Hip with Hibiscus, Organic Peppermint, Organic Camomile, Lemongrass Tea

Christmas at the Four Seasons Hotel

The interior decoration team accomplishes another brilliant design with ornaments of white and brown chocolate.

Bar - Brasserie
4/1 Ratwithi Road, Chiang Mai
Tel. 053 289 557
Opening Hours:  Lunch: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, Dinner: 6:00 pm - 12:00 pm
Credit Cards: Visa, MC
Prices: Inexpensive

I was surprised to find a French restaurant with such “good quality for the price” on most items on the menu. They have an interesting way of structuring the menu and pricing: 1st courses or soup are all: 195 baht, 2nd courses are all: 295 baht (there is a surcharge for a couple of items) Dessert: 120. Or for a three course set: 575 baht.
The chicken supreme with mushrooms was excellent with most of the mushrooms in the mix being Cepes; an outstanding value. Scallops with cream sauce and Calvados in an attractively presented crispy pastry pouch contained small local Thai scallops with the roe attached, and were very good, although it was hard to detect any Calvados in the sauce. However, for the price I could not complain. I will certainly return to try other dishes on my next return to Chiang Mai.
On the roof above, accessed by a stairway leading up from the front terrace, is a large bar that begins to become lively after 10pm.

Above: Hambleton Hall, Oakham, Leicestershire

I thought it only fitting, as this is the first Christmas for this weblog, to post this article by the late David Langlands, a good friend and brilliant writer. It originally appeared in the December issue of our publication, “The Good Life” a Dining & Travel Newsletter in 1981. It has been left intact, wherever possible, and only amended and edited to bring it up-to-date and enhanced with a few photos:

At Christmas play and make good cheer
For Christmas comes but once a year.
So run the 16th century lines, and nowadays one can feel only profound relief that this should be so, such is the squalid commercialism that has overtaken the traditional festival. The images one cherishes of the old-fashioned Christmas tend to be illusory: only seldom does it snow, a fat goose is hard to find, even the carol singers rattle collecting tins. But there are compensations.
Perhaps on Christmas Eve a dinner of celebration in the handsome Dorchester Grill, where the best of British cooking was originally resurrected under the guiding hand and spectacular talents of Anton Mosimann and revitalized with style by Udo Schlentrich, formerly of the Regency on Park Avenue is now provided by 34 year old Head Chef Aiden Byrne, that have previously won him Michelin stars, followed by the midnight service at St. Margaret’s Westminster. An evening of sensual and spiritual delight. Indeed, the Dorchester with the opening of Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester is once again one of the best addresses in London due to the Grill and is further displayed in the lavishly decorated, Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, which opened last year and where the menu suprises are justly famous.

An alternative could be an expedition to the country, in itself a pleasure despite the probability of foul weather; for in Lord Tweedsmuir’s words, “It is the English winter that intoxicates more even than the English May, for the noble bones of the land are bare, and you get the essential savour of earth and wood and water.” We are richly blessed with country hotels of charm and quality.
Of them all none is dearer to my heart than Gidleigh Park, set on the edge of Dartmoor above the infant Teign. Paul and Kay Henderson’s Edwardian house allies immense comfort, cuisine of rare finesse, a very remarkable cellar with certainly the strongest California list in England, to a happy atmosphere of genuine kindliness. One feels a great sense of peace and well-being here. Native British hoteliers might ponder the fact that this retreat is the achievement of Americans with no formal training in the field.
Editors Note: The property has been sold to the new proprietors: Andrew and Christina Brownsword, and ably guided by General Manager: Sue Williams and Executive Chef: Michael Caines MBE. It will be operated, as in the past, adhering to the highest standards.

Similar in style is Hambleton Hall, on the edge of Rudland Water, some 100 miles north of London. This is the recent and personal creation of Tim and Stefa Hart, enlightened amateurs also, and their Victorian house provides the solid comfort of the period. In the kitchen, Michelin star Chef, Aaron Patterson whose experience, shows a youthful virtuosity. A link to the dinner menu follows:
http://www.hambletonhall.com/?dining/a-la-carte

Nearer to London, only 30 miles south but hard to discover, is Gravetye Manor. Peter Herbert’s splendid Elizabethan house stands in a veritable and historic garden. The walk down to the lake, or rather the stiff climb back from it, is calculated to repair any excesses prompted by subtle skills in the kitchen. The public rooms are infinitely relaxing with their paneling and paintings, fine furniture and great log fires. Bedrooms, ancient and modern alike, are comfortable—the former are more fun and reinforce the sense of pleasurable escapism.
Editors Note: Peter Herbert arrived at Gravetye in 1958 and captivated by this property and its setting, he had the revolutionary idea of injecting his own exceptional hotel keeping and restaurant standards into this rural spot. Over 40 years on, Gravetye has lost none of its edge. It has a timeless quality - not trendy, and yet not aged and stuffy. Although only 30 miles from Hyde Park Corner the thousand acre forest in which it is set has resisted development.
In April 2004, General Manager, Andrew Russell and Chef de Cuisine, Mark Raffan, both of whom had worked for the Herbert Family for over seventeen years, purchased the hotel. They both have a great affection and affiliation with this historic house and garden. They are both delighted to be able to continue the philosophy of great country house hospitality and also to maintaining and nurturing this historically important garden.

The Dorchester Park Lane
London W1K 1QA
England
Tel: +44 20 7629 8888
Fax: +44 20 7629 8080
E-mail: info@thedorchester.com
E-mail: reservations@thedorchester.com
($$$)
Gidleigh Park Hotel, Chatford, Devon. Tel: 01647 432367, Email: gidleighpark@gidleigh.co.uk
($$$)
Hambleton Hall, Oakham, Leicestershire. Tel: 0572 56991
Tel: +44 (0) 1572 756 991
Fax: +44 (0) 1572 724 721
Email: info@hambletonhall.com
($$)
Gravetye Manor, West Hoathly, West Sussex. Tel: 0342 810567
telephone: +44 1342 810567
facsimile: +44 1342 810080
email: info@gravetyemanor.co.uk
($$$)

Q Bar Bangkok
#34 Sukhumvit Soi 11
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110
Tel. +(662)252-3274
Fax. +(662)252-5366
www.qbarbangkok.com/

David Jacobson first opened Q Bar in Saigon many years ago and when the government’s interference became too intolerable, he moved the operation to Bangkok.
Q Bar has the most extensive stock of spirits and cocktails in Bangkok. They pour everything from Absinthe to Zubrowka!

They include a full page on their cocktail list of Long Island Iced Teas including variations such as the “Paris Iced Tea” (substituting Chambord for Cola) and the Q Bar original “Bangkok Iced Tea” (substituting Red Bull for Cola).
Q Bar features over 60 different vodkas from around the world, including the wonderfully intriguing Polish vodka Zubrowka (with the buffalo weed in the bottle), stored in their vodka freezer where the spirits are chilled to -19C, they also have 20 different tequilas, and over 30 special whiskeys.
The bar also features one of the largest selections of liquors in any freestanding bar in South East Asia. They pour a large drink, so it unnecessary to order a double, as you must do elsewhere in this part of the world where they pour you a thimble full, a standard 1.5 oz (45ml) in each standard drink is 50% larger than a normal drink found in Bangkok bars. They even have Absinthe that has just recently been legally approved as safe (see my post: http://www.restaurantdiningcritiques.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=81). And, if you really don’t give a damn, try an American nightclub favorite the Jello Shot or the newest shot the Ice Shot that will definitely freeze your brain; and if at this point you don’t have a brain anymore, it will freeze whatever else you still have left!
In addition to their stock of Blended Whiskies, Rye Whiskies, Irish and Bourbon Whiskies, Whiskey lovers will find over 20 fine Single Malt Whiskies on the shelves ranging from the popular Laphroaig 10-yr.-old to Lagavulin 16-yr.-old, a total of over thirty special whiskies.

If you are planning to have a fun night on the town in the City of Angels, and what would hold you back, this is the place to head immediately after dinner!