Europe and Middle East

Exclusive guide to the best holiday destinations in Europe and Middle East. independent reviews from award-winning travel writers

The Cherry Tree Inn at Stoke Row

17/12/2014 by .
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Re-discovering the area around Henley made for a great weekend break.   We stayed at the Cherry Tree Inn at Stoke Row in the Chilterns, which just oozes with English character.  It was no surprise to hear that the building was originally three flint cottages dating back to the 1700’s although it has been a pub for over 200 years.

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Newby Tea: Pyramid Power hits Waitrose

04/12/2014 by .
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Indulge in an elegant afternoon tea dunking silken leaf laden pyramids in a posh hotel and it’s very likely you’ll be tasting Newby tea, a company well versed in supplying luxury hotels. Well now you can have that same experience at home with the news that eight of the award winning Newby tea range can be found on the shelves at a Waitrose near you.

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Adam Handling at Caxton

04/12/2014 by .
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Sitting at my table in the recently renamed Adam Handling at Caxton, I was thinking It just goes to show you how persistence pays off. Adam Handling is fast becoming one of Britain’s hottest young chefs following his appearance in the Professional Masterchef Final back in 2013 and a succession of accolades ever since.

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Chef Rui Paula at The Vidago Palace

01/12/2014 by .
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Chef Rui Paula is something of a legend in Portugal and the Douro River region in particular. A self taught culinary master, his passion for inventive recipes using locally sourced ingredients has brought him fame and fortune, not least because of a clutch of successful restaurants in Porto.

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Restaurant at the Randolph

24/11/2014 by .
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The restaurant team were all looking a little smug as we were shown to our table at Restaurant at the Randolph, and rightly so considering the restaurant had just been awarded its third AA rosette. Some accomplishment from a kitchen brigade committed to serving only British sourced fresh ingredients. It helps of course if your owners hail from Scotland (especially when salmon is on the menu) and Macdonald Hotels and Resorts has collected over 40 AA rosettes across all its properties.

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Blue Door Bistro

26/08/2014 by .
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The Montague on the Gardens tucked away a stone’s throw from the leafy environs of Russell Square, may be not enjoy the celebrity status of some of Red Carnation’s top tier of properties, such as The Milestone for example, but has enough of owner Beatrice Tollman’s trademark artworks and fancy knick knacks about it to leave no doubt of its provenance. It is a stylish boutique hotel with all the hallmarks of Red Carnation’s service and its snug AA Rosette winning Blue Door Bistro is certainly an eatery worthy of a mention.

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Le Grill Rotisserie

21/08/2014 by .
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Walking into Le Grill Rotisserie, the Gstaad Palace’s 16 point-rated Gault Millau fine dining restaurant, you instantly realise you’re not walking into a restaurant, you’re entering a destination. Restaurant royalty some might say. After all, this is an establishment with history. A mighty long line of previous suitors who have come here not just to eat and see, but to be seen eating. This is Gstaad after all.

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Hutong at The Shard. Stellar food and spectacular views

13/08/2014 by .

The Boathouse Cafe. Plymouth

07/08/2014 by .
Mixed Seafood at the Cafe

Eating a deliciously  fresh lemon sole by Sutton harbour and the mouth of the River Plym with the sun shining on the water,  was a great way to first experience the much underrated city of Plymouth.   It was there that I met Ben Squire, owner of The Boathouse Cafe who told me his own story.

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Tavern Maslina. Hotel Dubrovnik Palace

23/07/2014 by .
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Mirko knows a thing or two about Hotel Dubrovnik Palace and Tavern Maslina, after all he has been a part of the team for over 27 years as both man and boy. Today, following an expensive refurbishment, Mirko gives us a mini tour of his second home’s new look before depositing us at our table at the Palace’s Tavern Maslina restaurant, right at the water’s edge on the spectacular Lapad Peninsular.

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