Rich Journey is the internet portal for distinguished
gentlemen and elegant ladies living in sophisticated society. We strive to provide our readers with chic trends
which characterize their dynamic lives. We review
health spas, restaurants, travel destinations, food delicacies, and luxury hotels.
We strive through an arduous journey of health and beauty products to afford our overburdened friends with the knowledge of
efficiency in relaxation and beautification. While relaxing and
consuming gastronomic desires, we chase it with our suggested liquors and
wines. Read on as you begin your Journey into the world of luxury.
New Articles Posted Recently:
PURSUE
SKIN LAUNCHES IN
BEVERLY HILLS
There is a new player in town
in the crowded skin care/anti aging world, and PURSUE from
Beverly Hills
might just have the legs and stamina to succeed in this constantly
evolving market. Nice packaging always helps, and in this case the company
comes up a winner. An attractive powder blue look will go well on the
shelves of the high end Spa’s the company is selling to, before national
and eventually global markets are conquered. Products work both for men
and women as well and there is a real buzz about Pursue in the industry.
A lot of time, money and planning have gone into this venture by a
gentleman who is not a beauty industry veteran, but who seems to have
surrounded himself with a good team.
BROKERS
LONDON
DRY GIN-IS IT THE WORLDS BEST?
Here is a gin that comes
highly touted as the “World’s Best Gin” from the makers of course.
The people at Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire,
Plymouth
, Tanqueray and Oxley might have something to say about that, but in all
honesty Whitley Neill remains my favorite.
However the list of awards for Broker’s is impressive, such as
Gold Medal at International Spirits Competition (Germany 2009) and the
Masters Award at Gin Masters (London 2008).
More recently, Broker’s was the Chairman’s Trophy Winner at the
Ultimate Spirits Challenge (New York 2010) racking up a whopping 97 points
beating out such luminaries as Beefeater (96), Citadelle Reserve,
Tanqueray and the excellent Plymouth who all had 93 points.
A
CLOSER LOOK AT SOME INTERESTING AND AFFORDABLE NEW WINES
It sounds like an Italian
designer clothing line, but is in fact a wine company from Vallagarina in
Italy
’s
Adige
Valley
. I recently tried their 2006 Cassetta and the 2009 Pinot Grigio from Val
d’Adige at Terra del Forte. These “green style” wines only surfaced
in April 2009, and Silvertap is the first brand in the country to create a
winery for the purpose of producing high quality wine for keg
distribution. New releases from a vineyard we like a lot and priced around
$14 deserve special mention partly due to the passion of winemaker Adam
Richardson. The Cupcake 2009 Riesling (20,000 cases) comes from the
Mosel
river valley where the vineyards are as steep as they come and the grapes
are hand harvested. Check out the Sauvignon Blanc from the 240 acres
Franciscan Estates (established 1972), great value at $16, from a winery
located in the Oakville District of Napa, an area with a total of 5,000
vineyard acres. A combination of soil (gravelly and well drained),
topography and climate make this area a bit of a treasure for winemakers.
The winemaking process under Janet Myers takes place in St.Helena, a few
miles north of the vineyards, which also hosts a relatively brand new
visitor’s center.
ST.
GERMAIN-FRENCH ELDERFLOWER LIQUEUR
II came across this extremely
versatile liqueur by chance at a French Film Festival, and it is now fast
becoming a staple in my martinit drinks, expecially Gin. St. Germain
is 100% made from fresh, wild and hand selected elderflower blossoms
picked in late Spring by local foragers in the glorious foothills of the
Alps and has been on the market since late 2007.
BACARDI
TORCHED BERRY RUM HITS THE MARKET
The Rum market continues to
catch up with the Vodka industry with the introduction of flavored rums to
the market, and I just tried the brand new Bacardi Torched Cherry Rum
priced at only $13.99 from the Puerto Rican rum dynasty. Following hot on
the heels of the other Bacardi flavored rums such as Dragon Berry and
Bacardi Limon, it is a trend that refuses to slow down.
W
HOTEL IN WASHINGTON DC- RENOVATION NOW COMPLETE
According to those who know
these things, when George W. Bush was President the town used to close
down at
9 pm
, apparently the time the former President used to go to bed. I don’t
really know if that was a broad generalization, but with a new crowd in
town the place is now really jumping, and at the forefront of that change
from traditional to hip is the W-Hotel on the site of the historic Hotel
Washington. Now called the
W Washington
D.C.
it is the closest hotel to the White House, and a first time walk into the
lobby makes you realize the true meaning of a power vibe. It was the only
hotel in
Washington
DC
that Elvis ever stayed at, and it was room 518 where he composed the
famous letter to Richard Nixon successfully requesting a special meeting
to become a Bureau of Narcotics special agent.
PROTOCELL
ANTI-AGING CREAM FROM EMERGINC
EmerginC is yet another Uni-sex
beauty product company offering anti-aging products for the discerning
consumer, who these days is now bombarded with choices and options. All I
can say is that the first item that I tried from this
New York
based enterprise, the EmerginC Protocell did produce some positive
results, leaving my skin smooth and supple. It is an ultra-rich protein
cream with plant stem cell technology, argan oil and cactus extract.
Lesser ingredients include jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid, olive oil,
panthenol and green tea. This can be used over a serum either in the
morning or at night, and it gets a very high rating from this reviewer.
EmerginC have been around since 1996 when they started with a
simple Vitamin C serum, and fourteen years later their product line is
impressive and well defined. Boasting one of the best catalogues I have
seen, all their products became paraben free in 2008, as well as free of
artificial colors and fragrances. It is important not to confuse this
company with Emergen C, a vitamin drink purveyor.
IN
SEARCH FOR THE MOST EXPENSIVE ROSE IN THE WORLD
I was not aware that almost 85% of the wines from the
idyllic region of
Provence
were in fact Rose. These wines are used as a welcoming tool for friends
and visitors alike, and are made for sharing. The grape growing tradition
in the region dates back thousands of years, and although certain
Provencal wines have a solid worldwide reputation, others remain an
undiscovered secret. If you
think that Rose is an uninspiring wine for food pairings then think again.
The versatile wine goes perfect with seafood, lamb, pasta and Asian food,
and in the right circumstances can blend with such items as pork with
orange sauce and goat’s cheese. I checked out just two different
wineries over an intense 2 week period, and came up with the following
observations.
BIRTHPLACE
OF WINE AND THE CONSTITUTION
Known as the Father of the
American Constitution and the birthplace of his democratic progressive
thoughts and rights of people, Thomas Jefferson’s home in
Monticello
,
Virginia
outside
Washington
DC
was also the birthplace of wine industry in
America
.
Monticello
itself is the major tourist attraction in the area, and even on a rainy
midweek day it was pretty crowded with a 2 hour wait to get onto the tour
of the house and grounds. There is enough to see in the main museum area
however, starting out with a 20 minute film describing
Jefferson
’s luxurious but extremely productive lifestyle at his house.
Jefferson was an architect amongst his many other accomplishments,
and designed and built the house over a 40 year period based on the
drawings of famed Italian architect Andrea Palladio.the house remains one
of the top 25 tourist attractions in America, and for a more comprehensive
view of the nations third president this is the place to go.
EATING
WITH THOMAS JEFFERSON AT KESWICK HALL
Keswick Hall in
Charlottesville
is a country club/resort/golf club that just happens to have a restaurant
called Fossett’s that is dedicated to Thomas Jefferson’s (1734-1826)
personal chef Edith Fossett (1787-1845) during his retirement years at
Monticello
. This African American woman must have been really good, because her
creations are still available at the classy restaurant, and her portrait
adorns the dining room looming over the proceedings. She learned the art
of French cooking from Honore Julien, the Head Chef in the White House
during
Jefferson
’s presidential years.
TAVOLA
RESTAURANT IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
Charlottesville
in
Virginia
has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the
United States
according to a number of reliable sources. Maybe it is because of the
student population of the
University
of
Virginia
and their propensity for fast food, but one success story is that of
Tavola, a modern Italian bistro that opened in July 2009 in the
Belmont
District of the city. By all
accounts, there seems to be a shortage of quality Italian restaurants
here, but Tavola has really raised the bar quite a bit. A small and
intimate 37 seat restaurant, they do not take reservations, so be prepared
to wait a bit especially on the weekend.
JURLIQUE
NATURAL PRODUCTS
Welcome to the world of
JURLIQUE natural beauty products from the
Mount
Barker
region of the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. The products are all organic and biodynamic, and are created from the
natural herbs at the Jurlique Farm, with many of the herbs indigenous to
Australia. The line has plenty of celebrity support, and with Jurlique
spas in
New York
,
Santa Monica
and
San Francisco, and this appears to be a rapidly growing cosmetics company. Lets start
with the Citrus Hand Cream ($25), a rich cream that leaves the hands soft
and supple. Be careful not to use too much as this stuff is quite
effective, especially if you massage into the backs of the hand and then
finish with the palms. Main ingredients in this product are Marshmallow,
Chamomile, Calendula Rose, Daisy Sweet Violet, Pansy and Echinacea.
BOMBAY
RESTAURANT CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
The Bombay
Palace
restaurant in
Beverly Hills
has just celebrated 25 years of business in January of this year and is
offering special discounts that will be lasting until the end of the year.
One of the most elegant Indian restaurants in the city, the
Bombay
Palace
has had the same chef for its entire existence, and a personable owner
Deep Sethi for 19 year. Deep started out as an employee doing all
kinds of jobs at the restaurant for 6 years before becoming the owner, and
he should certainly be congratulated for keeping Bombay Palace relevant
for so long. He knows his
clientele, and makes no bones that he is not interested in trying to be
over adventurous or cutting edge with his food, so expect traditional
Indian food that in general is served mild catering to the American
palate. Of course if you insist on a hot and spicy vindaloo style curry
the chef will probably oblige, but you should really go to
Bombay
Palace
to enjoy the overall experience.
RELAXING
AT SUNSET RESTAURANT IN MALIBU
A night out in Malibu is
always fun, and one restaurant I seem to have an affinity with is Sunset
Restaurant in Zuma Beach, despite having missed regulars Pamela Anderson
and Pierce Brosnan on each of my visits there. The restaurant admittedly
has gone few a number of changes in the kitchen and with management, but
the atmosphere and ambience has remained one of extreme friendliness. The
locals continue to come to try items on the extensive but not overwhelming
menu. The Sunset is rather a secluded spot nestled between Zuma Cliffs and
Zuma beach, creating a real relaxing vibe, and also rather a romantic
spot. The two story building has a busy bar on the ground floor, and the
restaurant is located upstairs. On weekends they have live music in the
bar, but the sounds do float up rather easily. The band however sounded
pretty good, playing rock hits from a lot of well known British bands in
particular, so if you prefer to dine in quiet, make sure you get there
early.
RAMY
SKIN STICKS HIT THE MARKET
Ramy Beauty Therapy products
have a few new interesting items on their roster, including SLEEP IN
BEAUTY created by celebrity make up artist Ramy Gafni. Priced at $48 this
moisturizer is specially formulated to keep skin moisturized all through
the night and is strictly for women only.
Although you might scare your boyfriend a bit by putting on the
thick brown crème, it is also available in light and medium. The bottle
is also small enough that you have to use it sparingly. The key
ingredients are active peptides that smooth rough skin and eliminate
redness, Matrixyl that serves as a skin relaxer, and Salicyic Acid that
prevents break outs.
BALVENIE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKEY
Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whiskey was virtually
unknown in the
USA
fifteen years ago, but now it is ranked as high as number four in the
sales in the
USA
. Distilled at the William Grant Distillery in Scotland
, one of the few Scottish owned in the country left standing, and home of
the signature Glenfiddich Line. It is a distillery that I have had the
good fortune to visit on my last visit to
Scotland
, and the facility employs 175 people out of a small village
of
Dufftown
in the
Highlands
that is home to about 2,000 inhabitants.
CITADELLE
AND G-VINE GIN FROM
FRANCE
France
is not really known at all as a producer of Gin, but two additions to the
gin market both from
France
that I recently became aware of should make consumers take note pretty
quickly. Both gins are well worth checking out, and which of the two you
prefer will depend on personal tastes.
Citadelle comes from the sea
port
of
Dunkirk
from a recipe originating in the 18th century.
Dunkirk
is famous of course for the 2nd World War evacuation of the
British Army in thousands of vessels of all sizes. The French distillers
Carpeau and Stival took spices from the Orient and
Africa
and distilled them in 12 copper mills at the Citadelle Distillery.
SAAF
BEAUTY PRODUCT LINE from THE
UK
Here is yet another great
find to tell the readers about, SAAF Beauty products from the
UK
. Their line of products is limited at this moment in time, but they are
being carried by the online retail outlet Beautorium, and I did get the
chance to try the Organic Ultimate Moisture Face Serum ($64.95) and loved
the results. This serum is 97.5% Organic and 100% Alcohol free, and the
oils are steam distilled. The list of oils is quite extensive but includes
Rosehip Fruit Oil, Safflower Seed Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Flower Oil,
Geranium Oil and Benzyl. It is also halal and kosher certified, and that
is the first time I have ever heard that about any beauty/cosmetic
product.
HILTON
WATERFRONT BEACH RESORT IN
HUNTINGTON BEACH
Huntington Beach
in
California
is known as the Surf Capital of the world, and it is also home to the
Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort. The hotel is very popular with locals and
wedding planners in particular, but the recession has taken its toll, so
the 290 guest rooms have recently been remodeled at a cost of $10 million,
with all of them having an ocean view in order to attract more business.
That number includes 24 oceanfront suites that overlook the longest
stretch of pristine beach in
Southern California
. Huntington Beach Pier is also within walking distance of the hotel, and
there are on site volleyball and tennis courts, a fitness center and a
heavily used heated lagoon-type pool and a whirlpool.
RESTAURANT
162 @ THE RITZ CARLTON, FRIDAY NIGHT SEAFOOD EXTRAVAGANZA
The Ritz Carlton in
Dana
Point
has always been a prime destination to visit, and Restaurant 162 is the
main dining room at this sprawling hotel. Chef de Cuisine John Garcia has
been running a Friday night Seafood Inspiration Tasting Menu for $65 for
four courses, and a recent visit here confirmed the quality of the food
and the preparation that went with it.
The dining room itself has sweeping panoramic views of the
Pacific Ocean
, excellent lighting and acoustics, and with a nice spacing of the tables
conversations remain private. The menu changes every week, and a mixture
of hotel residents and locals enjoy excellent service in a relaxed and
comfortable ambience that can’t fail to live up to the environment.
JOHN MASTERS ORGANICS-AHEAD OF ITS TIME
A new New York
based hairstylist has a line of organic products, and firmly
believes that organic products do a much better job than the standard
harsh chemicals widely used in the industry. After settling permanently in
New York
after stints in
Miami
John Masters started seeing clients in his
New York
apartment, using ammonia-free herbal and clay based dyes from
Europe
while experimenting with non-toxic forms of hair care.
He opened his first salon in 1994 in the Soho district, and it
gained a reputation as the only salon in Manhattan
performing services without using toxic chemicals. Obviously ahead of
time, Masters had to move to bigger premises in 2001, in fact ten times
the size of the original. Shortly after he introduced his line of paraben
free organic facial skin care products, and it is now sold in over 20
countries. In 2004 he won the Soil Association Award for the best new
Organic Product Line in
Europe
.
KERASTESE
PRODUCTS FROM
PARIS
Kerastese hair products from
Paris
have recently launched a product line called SPECIFIQUE, specialist
treatments for people with scalp concerns. It is the first range from
Kerastese comprised of three subdivisions, designed to provide solutions
for those with dandruff, oily scalp or thinning hair, without compromising
the overall condition of the hair. Kerastese
has been around since 1964 and have the advantage of over 2000 researchers
available through La Recherche Avancee L’Oreal group of companies. The
USA
arm is based in
Bolingbrook
,
Illinois
, and you can buy any of the Kerastese products online, or directly at one
of their participating salons, who are carefully selected. At these
salons, a consultant will be able to tell you what Kerastese product is
right for your hair type or condition.
DAVE
KOZ WINES DEBUT AT
HOLLYWOOD
BOWL CONCERT
Dave Koz, the diminutive but
popular jazz saxophonist and radio DJ has launched three wines with the
profits earmarked for his favorite charity, the Starlight Children’s
Foundation. He chose his concert at the Hollywood Bowl in August with
Brian Culbertson, Peabo Bryson and others to launch the range of two reds
and a very good Sauvignon Blanc that could easily become prized collectors
items due to their very limited production.
Koz first signed with Capitol Records in 1990 with the release of Koz, and
since then he has had at least half a dozen gold records and garnered a
loyal following. As a philanthropist, he serves as Global Ambassador for
the Starlight Children’s Foundation, recently completed a four year term
on the Grammy Foundation Artists Committee, and has served as National
Trustee for the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.
JACK
BLACK PRODUCTS EXCLUSIVELY FOR MEN
Contrary to popular myth,
this is not a line of men’s cosmetics owned, manufactured or even
endorsed by the popular heavy set actor. In fact Jack Black products stand
on their own plaudits, and can be seen in many men’s spas across the
country, and top stores including Sephora of course. The product line can
also be seen at Nordstrom’s, and if you like to buy over the internet
then shipping is free for orders of $49 or more.
In fact the company is based in
Carrollton
,
Texas
, a suburb of
Dallas
, and part of their appeal is the distinctive blue and black packaging
that makes the products stand out on a shelf. They claim that all their
products are fragrance free, colorant free, cruelty free and dermatologist
tested. Many of the products are also Pure Science formulas, paraben free
and packed with certified organic ingredients.
HELFRICH
WINES FROM
ALSACE
-A WORTHY FIND
Helfrich wines come from
Alsace
in
Northern France
and it is one of only fifty one vineyards that have the Grand Cru
designation. The vineyard dates back to the reign of King Childebert 11
(589AD), and the Helfrich family has now been involved for six
generations. Despite that history, the brand is hardly known in the
USA
and the vineyard does not even have its own website. However these wines
are well worth tracking down, and are perfect for the upcoming holiday
season.
Alsace
is cut off from the rest of the country by the
Vosges
Mountains
, and separated from
Germany
by the
Rhine
. The area is dotted is with medieval villages and cobbled streets. Very
little red wine is produced here, and the wines are an exciting
combination of French and German styles.
NIRVANA
SERVES THE SENSES IN
BEVERLY HILLS
Nirvana Indian restaurant in
Beverly Hills is slightly hard to locate with only a small sign out front,
but since it is directly opposite the Bombay Palace this could make this
area of Wilshire decidedly Indian in flavor. The surprising thing is that
they are sister restaurants, but very different in style and quality.
The chef here has been around since the restaurant opened over five
years ago, and it shows in the quality of the curries. I went with a
British friend who had experienced some rough times with curries in the
past, but he snapped up this stuff and vowed to end his boycott of the
genre, and was hungry for more.
STEFAN'S
AT THE FARM APPETIZER GRAZING
When I first saw the marquis address of the Stefan
Richter’s new restaurant Stefan’s
@ LA Farm located at 3000 Olympic Blvd., the number “3000” and
word “Olympic” made me think of the movie “300” where the Spartans
and Greeks fought for their country. On
this night, the warriors would not be fighting for Sparta
but for the cornucopia of Stephan’s new hors d’oeuvres in the newly
renovated space.
LOLA'S
IN WEST HOLLYWOOD, HOME OF THE APPLE MARTINI
Lola’s in West Hollywood is close to becoming an
institution in
West Hollywood
if it is not one already, their big claim being that they introduced the
Apple Martini to the world. After being a local favorite hang out
for 13 plus years, the friendly restaurant/bar attracts a strong regular
base, and with a new hard working chef in charge the food is stepping up a
notch and the bar is being raised quite significantly.
PLANET
SKINCARE ABOUT TO LAUNCH IN THE
USA
Unleash the power of snake venom!.
Planet Skincare is a product line based in the unlikely venue of
Sidcup, England, that has experienced rapid growth at home, and who are
about to launch in the USA with their limited line of anti-aging
products. The good news is that the two products can be used by both men
and women of any age and of any skin type. The catchphrase could easily be
“Botox without needles.”
CHECKING
OUT SOME
HOT
FOODIE SPOTS IN
PITTSBURGH
I have come away from a
recent trip to
Pittsburgh
with the overall impression that portions here are well above average, and
despite the lack of any superstar chefs, the local ones have a lot to
offer. I checked out a few interesting places last month that warrant
mention, a couple of breakfast places, an over the top lunch
establishment, and a fine dining restaurant. All this helps makes
Pittsburgh
possibly the most livable city in the
USA
, and the 29th most livable city in the world to live.
CORZO TEQUILA-CLASSY NEWCOMER
When the bottle arrived
eagerly I opened up the package and loved the sleek look of the bottle
which has been designed by Fabien Baron. Would the tequila inside be as
classy I thought, and I was not disappointed. After a bit of research I
discovered that each bottle of Corzo takes 7 ½ years to make, and they
also use twice the agave that most tequila brands utilize from the
Los Altos
region of Jalisco. This comes from the Tequilana Weber plants in the area,
and being one mile above sea level, they are sweeter and more succulent
than other plants in the immediate area.
MILLIONAIRES
ON A BUDGET, WELCOME TO FRESH & EASY
Luxury living has become a
necessity. A quality and
expectation of living that we as a society had become well accustom to.
But during tough economical times how does one or many of us get acclimate
to the new lifestyle and change? From the era of “high class society”
to “Wow, I really need to downgrade my living situation?” It’s
reality that most of us face today and it is becoming more of a humbling
experience. But does that mean we really need to sacrifice and give up our
palates from where we have finally achieved such stature on fine culinary
gourmet cuisine to where we need to revert back to the top ramen noodles,
TV dinners, and spam.
THE
WORLD OF SPECIALTY MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms are one of the most
versatile of foods that can used as an appetizer, main course or an
accompaniment to virtually any kind of meal. There is even a restaurant
somewhere in
Italy
that serves nothing else but mushrooms, and the more research you do on
the subject the choice of mushrooms available is staggering. One source
that I had the good fortune to try is Hokto Kinoko Mushroom Company, which
grows 100% wild cultivated mushrooms and ships to retail outlets all
across the
USA
including Whole Foods.
HANDBAGS STITCHED
WITH THE LA NAMES
Los Angeles, the City of the Angels, One of the most exciting cities in the world.
Bringing high hopes and dreams to those that dare to face through
all the glitz and glamour. To
the high-society of Bel-Air to hip urban styles of
Melrose, these are the most recognized cities and roads that many swarm to
travel, longing to experience the “L.A. Life”.
From the infamous streets of Robertson, where the paparazzi lingers
and prey with their cameras in hopes to capture that memorable signature
shot of Angelina Jolie wearing a Hammitt Los Angeles handbag.
SHANGRI-LA
OPENS UP IN
SANTA MONICA
AFTER MASSIVE FACELIFT
Author James Hilton of
Shangri-La and Goodbye Mr. Chips fame would have loved this place during
his time in
Hollywood
after he moved here from
England
in the forties. Since the hotel opened in 1939, maybe he did spend some
time here, but now in 2009 and $30 million later the hotel is ready for
some serious action.
SOUTH
OF FRANCE SALADS IN WEST HOLLYWOOD
Traveling south towards the
French Riviera and the Cannes Film Festival, one may find themselves in
the town of
Provence
. Blending the elegance and
class of the French and the health consciousness of
Southern California
, Salades de Provence brings delicious organic salads, quiches, crepes and
an array of desserts to the corner of
Holloway Drive
and La Cienega north of
Santa Monica Blvd.
Situated within walking
distance from a number of condominiums and small businesses, the word is
spreading throughout LA about Salades de Provence.
After parking around the corner and walking toward the small quaint
corner restaurant on a dark rainy evening, Salades interior lights stood
out like a “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” print.
HERMOSA
BEACH'S FIRST ECO-TANNING BOUTIQUE IS HERE!
So how does one avoid looking
like a disastrous 5th grade science experiment project and yet able to
achieve that try sexy California sun kiss glow? It's simple,
really. Why not use an all natural base product derived from walnut
extracts and sugar cane. Sugar Rays Natural Airbrush Tanning is an
all-natural airbrush tanning boutique located in Hermosa Beach,
California. It is Hermosa Beach's first eco-tanning boutique tanning
salon.
SEASONAL
KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK!
Located on
West 58th Street
adjacent to the world famous Plaza Hotel is Seäsonal restaurant, is the
result of a long standing partnership between award winning chefs Eduard
Frauneder and Wolfgang Ban. Frauneder and Ban first crossed paths
when they were students at the prestigious Gastronomie Fachschule.
The goal for this high-end restaurant was to bring a pointedly
modern, Viennese take on contemporary European cuisine to
New York
. The décor is elegant with an avant garde European touch. The clean,
brilliant white walls set the stage for a revolving collection of
contemporary Austrian and German art. Wall to wall natural dark wood
floors and geometric architectural lines create a sophisticated
environment that would be a solid fit with the
Museum
of
Modern Art
. From the beautiful white-backed bar stools to the ceiling which is
illuminated by a celestial display of pinpoint lights in the shape of
branches, there is a painstaking attention to detail.
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