John Lennon...what he said

The St Regis Hotel, is one of those hotels where any excuse to visit is a good one - A Forbes five star, AAA five Diamond luxury hotel who's first address was on Fifth Avenue, four blocks from Central Park in Manhattan. Built by one of the wealthiest men in America, John Jacob Astor (yes, you're thinking correctly-He was on the Titanic) also half owner of its sister hotel, The Waldorf Astoria - this place is synonymous with elegance, glamour, and luxury.  But what peaked my interest in this hedonistic megastructure was when I read in mid November  2011 that it was Forbes's most anticipated opening of 2012 (in all of the United States), for all its seductive amenities. After all, where else in South Florida can you have a five-star in-room dinner party excuted by your St. Regis butler?

My visit began with a change of plans really. I was headed to the Delano to try out their new Italian venture. I'd heard from a colleague that after dining there, you felt like a unicorn shitting truffles. But as fate would have it, on the way to South Beach, I brought up the St. Regis in conversation...SWITCH! In a few seconds we were headed 90 blocks north on Collins Avenue. As the great John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."

We arrived to the hotel that's located excatly across the Bal Harbour Shops - how appropriate. After a welcoming greeting by the valet gentlemen, we slowly walked into the lobby where a giant crystal chandelier lit up interchanging walls of marble, mirrors, and crystal. The chandelier made by a reknown artist is actually called a suspended "Silver Cloud" - a lit up masterpiece of real rock crystals. You can't help but look like a little lost puppy gazing in every direction as you make your way down the long hallway toward JG Grill. 

And this brings us to the next utopia..yes JG grill at the St. Regis. Also known as "The land of milk and honey" , the "Elysian Fields", "Arcadia" , "Shangri-La" , the "Garden of Eden"  .. I don't know even know what to call this foodie-wonderland except maybe paradise- perfected. We walked into a chic, grand, dining room with floor to ceiling panoramic windows that over-look the prestine waters of the Atlantic ocean decorated with lush tropical palm trees we are blessed with in South Florida. Talk about a view! And in my opinion sceneries like that always deserve a  nice bottle of Champagne - Ruinart Blanc de Blancs happens to be my favorite. We recieved our Champagne and quickly asked the following appropriate question, "Would you by any chance, serve caviar, maybe from your dinner menu?" After a long explaination and searching for the caviar, as it turned out they only had one in stock: Osetra. Osetra caviar (Russian elite) is one of the most prized and expensive caviars in the world today. But with a view like that, Champagne that good, and company like no other, who in the right mind could deny the bon vivant moment? The caviar arrived at the table on ice with the mother-of-pearl spoon and a dish that was spectacular all its own: Poached/crispy eggs (sous vide) with buttery brioche battonettes.  This was truly an epicurean debauchery. Champagne, caviar, and.....truffles. Yes, the mindblowing trifecta...

We continued with a black truffle and fontina pizza and a burger with truffle and brie. I feel dirty even writing this. Remembering this lunch makes me feel like I'm watching porn. At one point, the truffle was dripping off the pizza and on to the truffled burger. Come on! We were actually giggling at the table saying when anyone asks us what we ate for lunch, we'd say "pizza and a burger" . Only this pizza and burger was stripped of its all American humbleness and dressed in French opulence. We finished our bottle of Champagne and ordered two more glasses to accompany dessert: Smores. Once again, not your run-of-the mill Smores and definetly not the ones we had in summer camp. This was decadent, silky, crunchy, salty, sweet....simply flawless. And so was this magnificent lunch.

To me, there is something enchanting about sharing a meal like this with someone special, it captivates us for the time being, and takes us to a place where there's a thrill in a bite, a giggle, a sip. We could have gone somewhere else for lunch and none of this would have ever happened... but hey, "Life is what happens when we're busy making other plans." 

5 O'clock

If last Monday was an episode from a slightly twisted travel reality show, it would have been in my opinion, one of the best shot - best edited episodes ever. It helped that we were in what cinematographers call a "shot rich environment" - where it seems that everywhere you point, there are bright colors, plush landscape, beaming sun, characters, beautiful things, and mainly- a beautiful person. Where the food is thought of by many to be among the best in Miami, and the Champagne thought of by me, to be top notch. I think you'll see why, the Fontainebleau and my time spent there, is the kind of place that ruined me for an ordinary life.

Nestled between South Beach and Miami Beach, big, bright and white, sits this monster hotel that seduces you and at the same time, overwhelms you of all good things and vices- an adult playground where the scenery, sounds, smells, and tastes simply invigorate you. A place where you shouldn't have to leave by a certain time, because there, time will have it's way with you.

 "Let me know when it's 4 o'clock," I said ...to be continued...................

"The happiest place on Earth isn't Disney"

It's easy to over-romaticize the unspoiled...moments taken or stolen, arrested in time, immaculate forever. Basically, unf***ed. On any given day, there's not much to say about a typical lunch ranging anywhere from fifteen minutes to two hours. Some grab a bag of chips and call it a day, while others pick and choose between salads, dressings on the side, and bottled highly marketable green teas. Thankfully, neither of those is me and thankfully ,there is way too much to say about a lunch that still has me daydreaming of that day, of that meal, in times where I shouldn't. Just yesterday, I was doing an interview for a highly acclaimed Spanish magazine, and honestly, while the lady interveiwing me was bouncing back and forth between questions I've answered a million times (how did you do all this? etc, etc,) I was completely taken by my thoughts of this lunch. All of a sudden she became mute, and I was reliving every bite- every minute. I felt like I was an awkward teenager thinking dirty thoughts, or like having a crush on my gym teacher at 14, or reading my older cousin's diary. Lingering mental pictures of this lunch pierced through any concentration I could gather up. So what is this place you might ask...

It all began in a perfect corner table with a view of the cityscape cut by the river letting out into the ocean, dotted by multi million-dollar yatchs, and two champagne glasses that meant we were toasting to everything, or without any ellaboration - just being there. After dining all around town unfettered and largely without constraint throughout the years, this place truly deserves a toast.

The servers greeted us in a friendly tone, and quickly explained new menu items, and touched on our favorites. However, as they spoke, it was as if a beautiful exotic country was speaking, as they described ingredients and how they were put together. When the dishes came out, you'd assume they came with their own theme song, atleast some fireworks. Because that is indeed what happened as we tasted dish after dish - fireworks...Another round of champagne had us gitty, but one could easily question if it was the bubbly or was it the symphony of flavors? Thrilled with the moment, we eagerly talked about each bite, making it difficult for any other kind of conversation. After the third dish came out, I was told "The happiest place on Earth isn't Disney..it's here." So what is this place you might ask...

I for one have to admit that towards the end of the meal, I was purposely eating slower because I didn't want it to end. I wanted that lunch to go on as far as I could stretch it.

It is my wish that everyone take the time to experience one of these incredible lunches once in a while. Take out somebody you love, submerge yourself in their company, enjoy some champagne, allow for some of life's fireworks to happen. Exchange the bag of chips for some magnificent pork belly, trade the stiff salads with the dressing on the side for some vibrant sashimi, and sip the good bubbly instead of the plastic bottled drinks. It is these unspoiled moments that stay arrested in our memory, immaculate forever. So what is this place you might ask...

"It's not Disney, but it is the happiest place on Earth" ....I guess it is easy to over-romanticize the unspoiled.