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canada’s 100 best restaurants…and the winner is…

Well, actually we won’t know which establishment the #1 restaurant in Canada is for 2019 until tomorrow (April 15). This will be the fifth year of competition. It has garnered increasing notoriety and importance to both the foodie consumer community and professional restaurant crowd. I am firmly ensconced amongst the former, though I eagerly awaited the results each year. I love finding out how some of my personal favorites fared. It is always a thrill that one or two of my new personal favorites have been recognized by the august panel of judges.

best bed: The Park Hyatt, Chicago, USA

Jay Pritzker was one smart hotelier. In the late 50’s he figured out that people needed nice hotels near airports. He bought a small motel near LAX and started the Hyatt chain. 20 years later he saw a market for luxury, high end hotels in top city locations. These deluxe hotels would incorporate fine dining, art, culture and great service. He opened this, the first in what was to become the Park Hyatt brand in his hometown of Chicago on the Magnificent Mile in 1979. It was completely rebuilt in 2000, thoroughly modern, taking full advantage of its unique location for fabulous views. The artwork dotted throughout the Chicago Park Hyatt is from the Pritzker Family’s private collection. It includes Chihuly sculptures, a Matisse and striking black & white photos of Chicago specially commissioned for the hotel. The Park Hyatt is more than just a place to sleep. They hold unique events throughout the year including several Masters of Wines evenings. The outside garden offers special chef stations, live music and unique cocktail hours all summer long. A must do if you happen to be in the windy city during warm weather. For kids they offer the Bark Hyatt Passport… a scavenger hunt for younger guests to complete. Finishers win a stuffed model of the resident mascot, the rescued, one-eyed pug Parker.

best bed: Hilton Dead Sea Resort, Sweimeh, Jordan

The new kid on the block, the Hilton Dead Sea Resort only joined the string of resorts which line the beach in March 2017. I am not a resort person, but the Hilton does a good job of taking the cookie cutter out of the experience. Rooms are spread over four buildings. The large central structure houses the reception, gym, restaurants and breathtaking views over the pools and the sea. Middle East Top Chef host, Joe Barza is also the head chef for 1312 Restaurant serving Lebanese food with a modern twist. It is so named because the Dead Sea is 1312 feet below sea level. Nice as all these things are, you come here to get covered with mud and try to float in the incredibly salty water. The typically uncomfortable rocky beach is covered with white sand imported from the Jordanian desert making for a much more pleasurable experience. Large urns of smooth mud are located beside the showers. You can dig it up yourself from the bottom of the sea but this can be a bit pebbly and a little too exfoliating. Ask one of the gentlemen who man the beach for a salt scrub after the mud. Your skin will never be softer!

best bed: Le Gray Hotel, Beirut, Lebanon

fullsizeoutput_86ca Sleek, chic and contemporary, Le Gray is Gordon Campbell Gray’s first hotel creation in the Middle East. Gems from the art collection that he has curated are everywhere, he personally decided where each of the more that 500 pieces scattered throughout the hotel should be hung. The rooms are large with huge bathrooms. You can even watch TV in the tub. Indigo on the Roof is the place for gourmet food, breathtaking views over Mohamed el Amine Mosque and a chance to sample wines from the hotel’s award-winning cellar. They have been three-time Wine Spectator Outstanding List in the World recipient. Try to be there during the call to prayer…magical! The spa is a destination in its own right. The deep tissue massage left me both relaxed and energized. Who knew a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice and chocolate fondue would be the perfect after treatment treat. Le Gray of course!

marie khouri in obelisque magazine…my article

Marie Khouri, from Cairo to Canada. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to write about Marie for the leading Egyptian lifestyle magazine Obelisque. Here is my article. I hope you enjoy it.

A tiny woman making huge art, Marie Khouri is a study in contrasts. Her most recent installation is a large pair of stainless-steel abstract sculptures called “Eyes on the Street”. One is 18 feet tall, the other is 12 feet. They keep watch over a public square in her adopted city of Vancouver, a long way from her birth place in Cairo.

how to nail a great airbnb

Airbnb… the best or the worst? Personally, I love them! A great way to have a different experience, save some money and feel like a local. But there are horror stories. Filthy bathrooms, bad location, or places that don’t even exist.

Knock wood, I haven’t had a disaster….yet. Hopefully if you follow these tips you won’t either. But be warned, it’s a lot more work and takes a lot more time than booking a hotel!

my favourite things: HAVANA

Hop in a ragtop, turn up the music and party like its 1959. Havana is the place to be. Classic candy-coloured cars still ply the streets but the awful restaurants and dodgy hotels of old are rapidly being replaced. The city’s slow decay since the Cuban Revolution is finally changing. Buildings are being renovated, chefs are creating and salsa plays all night.

great to be peter

When Peter the Great visited Versailles he thought, “I want one”. I’ve always thought the same thing. An upside of being Tsar is that you actually can have one. When Peter returned from his 1717 stay in France, he began expanding on the small, for a tsar, island complex he called Peterhof, determined to have his own magnificent showpiece.

best beds…find your perfect place to sleep

Figuring out where to go is easy, figuring out where to stay is not. I have carefully curated this list of places to sleep. I have stayed in each and every one. I have slept in the bed, eaten the breakfast and visited the pool, spa or ice machine. I have chatted with the who’s who in charge. These are the places I recommend… you don’t need to know about the others! Trust me!

I’d be delighted to connect you… my friends, my clients, my readers… with these hosts. Some offer special amenities due to my affiliation with the Virtuoso network and some offer perks because I am providing your introduction. Either way let my goodwill be your goodwill. Alternatively, you can click on the link and book or explore further on your own.

Some pay a commission to travel advisors, many do not. I’m transparent. I’ll tell you if you ask me.

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best bed: StayPineapple Chicago, Chicago, USA

by julieannavogelJuly 14, 2019

Housed in the wonderful historic Reliance Building, StayPineapple Chicago is a terrific new discovery in the windy city. Not too expensive; loaded with style and humor. They have successfully built a hotel within a National Historic Landmark. The Reliance Building…

best bed: Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, Paris , France

by julieannavogelJuly 3, 2019

Behind the classic Haussmann-era façade is an art packed oasis of urban chic. Rather than trying to mimic a historical era, the Park Hyatt decided to focus on the contemporary. The hotel is hidden behind the meticulously restored listed facades…

Ah! Athens!

by julieannavogelJune 28, 2019June 28, 2019

Notes for a client on Athens… Great for anyone who is heading to Greece this summer or just wants to dream about it! Ahh, Athens…It is the oldest capital city in Europe, has more theatres than Broadway and the West…

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