Italian food like mama used to do November 30, 2009 Babbo39 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JQCost per person without wine: £50 THERE’S something pleasingly old-fashioned about the latest addition to Mayfair’s culinary family. With its sparkling chandeliers, framed black and white photos of rustic Italian scenes, smartly-attired waiters and cosy ambience, Babbo is clearly not a restaurant where rulebooks are being rewritten. In fact, it feels [...]
THREE OTHER ITALIAN FAVOURITES November 30, 2009 RISTORANTE SEMPLICEJust round the corner from Bond Street, Semplice has quickly established itself as a real Italian stunner, gaining a Michelin star this year. It’s a sleek and luxurious place to dine, with a menu that mixes traditional Italian with modern sophistication, and offers excellent value with its set lunches too. 9-10 Blenheim St, S1S [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS November 30, 2009 FOOD AND MUSIC IN CAMDENA taste of Sicily is coming to Camden Town, in the shape of new restaurant Caponata, which opens tomorrow night. And Camden being the centre of London’s live music scene, it’s got its own music and arts space, called The Forge. Signature dishes in the main restaurant will include the, um, [...]
Hit a different piste this winter November 29, 2009 FOR many of us there’s nothing to beat the feeling of whizzing down a slope at full pelt – skiing can provide a rush unlike any other. Having said that, queuing for ages to get near a lift, having to improvise slalom skills to avoid other skiers on overcrowded slopes and paying small fortunes for [...]
LEBANON November 29, 2009 Lebanon’s beautiful snowy valleys were first tapped for their skiing potential in 1913, when intrepid sportspeople headed to the hills near the Aley region of Mount Lebanon. In 1923, occupying French officers couldn’t resist the pristine slopes of the Baidar, Knaisseh and Mzaar mountains. Twelve years later, French entrepreneurs set up Lebanon’s ski school at [...]
ANDORRA November 29, 2009 IT may be Europe’s sixth smallest nation with a population you could fit inside Wembley Stadium, but Andorra, thanks to a vast investment programme in recent years, is fast becoming one of the UK’s most popular winter sports destinations, with Brits making up a high proportion of the country’s 10.2m annual visitors. High in the [...]
SLOVAKIA November 29, 2009 SLOVAKIA is perhaps the most up-and-coming location for European skiing. The past decade has seen considerable investment in the area’s tourism, which means an increasing number of top-quality lifts and facilities, and some plush new hotels. The especially good news is that it’s cheaper than skiing in the Alps – a six day lift pass [...]
SPAIN November 29, 2009 THOUGHT southern Spain was all about sun, sea and sand? Think again. The Sierra Nevada mountains – which you can see from the beaches of the Costa del Sol – provide Europe’s most southernly ski resort. Overlooking the city of Granada, the location means you’re practically guaranteed sunshine, and in late season you can split your [...]
FINLAND November 29, 2009 FINLAND, being a mostly flat country, isn’t known particularly for its skiing – unless, cross-country skiing is your thing. But it does have its moments, and the thick pine forests and rolling hills in the north provide an enchanting backdrop for those after something a little different. The biggest resort is Levi, which offers some [...]
TRAVEL NOTES November 29, 2009 Have an American adventureEmbark on a journey through the great outdoors with one of TrekAmerica’s Great American Adventures. Trip offerings include a 10-day Appalachian Trail walk, a week-long adventure through the southwest US and rafting down the Grand Canyon. Whether you prefer lounging in a three-star hotel or pitching a tent in the wilderness, Trek [...]