Salvatore Ferragamo Relais & Chateaux Ambassador 2013, Mont D’Arbois’ Suite Unique, Guy Martin’s Favorite Yogurt & Lenôtre & Aston Martin Galette

16 December 2012 by Margaret Kemp    3225  
Salvatore Ferragamo Relais & Chateaux Ambassador 2013, Mont D’Arbois’ Suite Unique, Guy Martin’s Favorite Yogurt & Lenôtre & Aston Martin Galette
Margaret Kemp
By Margaret Kemp
So, Salvatore Ferragamo must be grandson of, must be in the fashion biz, right? Wrong! The grandson of Ferragamo’s creator has taken another direction: in winemaking and l’hôtellerie. To put you in the frame, Ferragamo is the Relais&Chateaux Ambassador 2013. BUZZ met him in Paris recently during presentation of the new guide. Previous Ambassadors are Richard Gere and Carole Bouquet who’s Passito de Pantelleria Vineyard is in Sicily. Gere and Bouquet may be tough acts to follow, but Florence based Ferragamo, speaking perfect public-school English (Millfield, darling) says he finds the R&C project exciting and stimulating. “I love a challenge, just like my grandfather, who started the company with nothing”, he admits. No kidding, Ferragamo’s spent the last seven years transforming the spectacular Il Borro, located in a Tuscan village, dating back to 1039! He’s obviously done well, this year Il Borro is listed in R&C who love the lifestyle this destination offers.  Its’ 10 acres of working vineyards are headed by winemaker Ferragamo, who wears many hats in the “oasis of charm” he’s created. Add olive oil, Kanebo spa, infinity pool overlooking the village, 2 restaurants, Tuscan cuisine cookery classes, hunting, fishing etc. With 18 apartments in the main building and 3 luxury villas in the medieval village there’s plenty of work for local artisans and craftsmen. Ferragamo’s concept is a luxury farm where you land the executive jet or helicopter, drive up in the Ferrari. As yet no polo field which, Ferragamo says. can be arranged, “my neighbour has a field”. Founder of the Florence Polo Team, Ferragamo’s a pro-polo player who smiles when he tells of his teams’ defeat on the field at Tidworth UK by Prince Charles and Prince Harry. “It’s not if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game”, he grins. So what about the guide then? On 21st November, 2012 the 2013 guide, launched at Delaire Graff Lodges and Spa and, simultaneously, for the first time, in Paris, at L’Atelier de Guy Martin, Paris. 734 pages, 550 000 copies in 6 languages – French, English, German, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin, 60 countries of distribution and from January 2013 available free. The QR Codes printed on each country map, and each page of the guide, lead directly to Google maps on the website and subsequently to the websites of relevant hotels. 2013 sees 5 new “dream destinations” added in: Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Guatemala, Fiji Islands, Count 36 new Relais & Châteaux, 4 spas, 12 new “Grands Chefs” including 3 promoted from 2012. Each year, Relais & Châteaux joins with 11 prestigious brands from the world of spirits, fine dining and beauty, awarding trophies for the diversity of the addresses in their respective areas. From the Welcome Trophy, read, sense of hospitality, to the Innovation Trophy which highlights creativity, they cover the entire range of Relais & Châteaux values. Get a glimpse of the talent of “Rising Chefs”, Best Gardens, Champagne, Whisky etc. New destinations added to the Africa Delegation include Delaire Graff Lodges and Spa, Stellenbosch, Morukuru Family in the Madikwe Game Reserve, Ol Donyo Lodge, Kenya, Royal Chundu, Zambia and Zarafa Camp, Botswana. “Today more than ever, you can you can map your own “Routes du Bonheur” with eyes closed”, says International President Jaume Tàpies: that’s 520 charming hotels and gourmet restaurants in 60 countries. They’ve done the math. Relais & chateaux is a jolly good read. Don’t leave home without it! Get a Relais & Chateaux Room/Suite For nearly 50 years Domaine du Mont d’Arbois has cast its fairy dust over Megève, nurturing the traditions of Baron Benjamin de Rothschild, and his family, for three generations. The 5-star Relais & Châteaux Chalet du Mont d’Arbois and gastro-resto, Le 1920, are the jewel in the resort’s crown. Constantly innovating while preserving the de Rothschild concepts are the reason for its’ excellent reputation. Following the launch of the cute Chalet des Enfants last year and the arrival of young and talented chef Julien Gatillon at Le 1920, Chalet du Mont d’Arbois now offers something completely different and daring. Check out “The Ideal Suite” located at 1850m, nestled in a natural setting with eye-watering views of Mont-Blanc massif. Guests spend the night as close as possible to the stars. The stunning 100 square meter apartment has living room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms, one of which has a chromotherapy hammam shower. I’ll take that one, Ashton will have the other, after all I’m paying! That’s high mountain luxury! La Ferme des Peupliers Guy Martin’s Le Grand Vefour Paris’s oldest restaurant continues to showcase his contemporary cuisine, table-art, wine and creativity in a magical, romantic and achingly luxurious setting overlooking Palais Royale. Not just content to cook for his Grand Vefour’s clients, chef has diversified with his hommage to Italian food at Italia, rue Brea and with Atelier Guy Martin. “These new addresses are where I can experiment, teach and widen my culinary experiences”, he admits. “I need to get to the heart of my products”, says GM. His latest chou-chou is La Ferme des Peupliers, “where Franҫois Chedru makes historic yogurt just as I remember my grandmother’s when I was a child growing up in the Savoie region. It has the authentic lactic taste I have been searching for, each flavour takes me on a different and delicious journey”. And check out the festive menu “Cocktail Dînatoire” at L’Atelier de Guy Martin in handsome hôtel particulier setting. 100€ including champagne and wine.Burn off the calories on the Champs Elysées afterwards. “It will be the “Atelier des Merveilles”, promises chef Martin.By e:mail35 rue de Miromesnil, 8thMetro: MiromesnilT: 01 42 66 33 33 Lenôtre & Aston Martin
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By Margaret Kemp

Born in Hampton, Middlesex, UK, Margaret Kemp is a lifestyle journalist, based between London, Paris and the world. Intensive cookery courses at The Cordon Bleu, London, a wedding gift from a very astute ex-husband, gave her the base that would take her travelling (leaving the astute one behind) in search of rare food and wine experiences, such as the vineyards of Thailand, 'gator hunting in South Florida, learning to make eye-watering spicy food in Kerala;pasta making in a tiny Tuscany trattoria. She has contributed to The Guardian, The Financial Times Weekend and FT. How To Spend It.com, The Spectator, Condé Nast Traveller, Food & Travel, and Luxos Magazine. She also advises as consultant to luxury hotels and restaurants. Over the years, Kemp has amassed a faithful following on BonjourParis. If she were a dish she'd be Alain Passard's Millefeuille “Caprice d'Enfant”, as a painting: Manet’s Dejeuner sur l’herbe !