Your journey from the toilets of Cheltenham to the sands of Necker can be bumpy and, ultimately, lacking in cheer. Alain de Botton wrote of how we only need to be slightly richer than our immediate peer group to feel contentedly on top. Slightly richer is the key. Any less and we suffer status anxiety.…
The Cinnamon Club First up, the House of Commons’ best kept secret. You suspect when all those right honorables were trying to cover up their expenses claims, the most blacked out phrase was, The Cinnamon Club. Tucked away around the back of Westminster Cathedral, 30 Great Smith Street, the presence of The Cinnamon Club is…
Villandry, the culinary experts of London, are offering a selection of Christmas Hampers this year. They bring together some of the finest wines, artisan cheeses and tracklements from Europe. Sounds perfect for a LUSSO Christmas. A remarkable and unforgettable gift, the Villandry Deluxe Hamper (165) includes every gastronomic delight required to make Christmas ultra-luxurious. From…
LUSSO was invited to dine courtesy of Joel Robuchon at his newly-starred Michelin restaurant in Monaco. With the invite comes a little biography – surely superfluous for such a famous man? In fact, the full list of M. Robuchon’s achievements is so long that you have to sit down half way through and wonder whether…
After a flying lunchtime visit to Launceston Place a few weeks ago I was left flabbergasted by the food incredible would not come close to doing it justice. Amuse-bouches and pre-desserts, spectacular presentation (a crab risotto came adorned with an entire spider crab shell), perfectly balanced mains and beautifully balanced desserts. And all this for…
For lovers of fine wines and other beverages, a tour around the producers’ villas for a tasting session is a much enjoyed pastime But after a while, one craves something a bit different. Rémy Martin is offering a range of unique ”Les Rendez-Vous” visitor packages in Cognac. The tours are made for small groups who are looking…
The Granada I knew was as pretty as a postcard – the only problem was that was the only experience I’d had of it. Postcards. And after 5 hours in cattle class with Iberia, who offer complimentary turbulence and little else, and a sweaty transfer at Madrid’s ridiculous excuse for an airport, I needed a…
Gawd bless you, ma’am. Sixty years of anything is worth celebrating, let alone sixty years in the same job. It’s no wonder then that so many companies are marking the Diamond Jubilee with special editions or limited edition releases. Most we can take or leave. When luxury loose tea experts Tea Horse got in on…
Whilst the mere name will send shivers down the spine of those with less-than-fond memories of slamming shots of poorly produced mixto tequilas in a nightclub, more and more spirits aficionados are becoming aware of the fascinating history, versatility and stylistic range of 100% agave tequilas. It is, in fact, the fastest growing spirit in…
Sloe gin doesn’t spring to mind as the Next Big Thing, unless you’ve been listening to sloe enthusiasts over the past well, for the last century or so. So when those connoisseurs of taste, the LUSSO editorial department, strolled into my bar a few months ago demanding a round of blackthorn fruit infused Vera Lynn,…