Here’s what a wine needs now – concrete

The forward-thinking winery’s vessel of choice is the concrete vat

These are the new restaurants in the Michelin Guide Belgium and Luxembourg 2019

  The restaurant Hof Van Cleve (Kruishoutem) remains at the forefront of Belgian gastronomy in this 2019 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Belgium and Luxembourg. The guide is one again reflecting the diversity and the gastronomic richness of Belgium and Luxembourg. The critics reviewed one three star restaurant, 26 two star restaurants (of which 3 are … Read more

Sicily is my Love: Dolce&Gabbana panettone and domestic appliances

Sicily is my Love: a unique collection of domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg

Nothing will brighten up your kitchen quite like this Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg blender, toaster, citrus juicer and kettle. Now the iconic Smeg toaster is ready to surprise once again with a version that appeals to its international spirit and delivers a very Sicilian look. The love for high quality food is expressed by Dolce&Gabbana with extraordinary panettoni made in partnership with Fiasconaro.

domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg kettle
domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg; photos: sicilyismylove.com; dolcegabbana.com

Sicilian aesthetics and state of the art technology meet in this collaboration between Dolce&Gabbana and Smeg. The fusion of style, art, fashion design and appliance manufacturing results in a collection of original and unique electrical appliances.

The Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg blender, toaster, citrus juicer and kettle are decorated with symbols that are inextricably associated to Sicily, and more generally with Italy and its cuisine, of which Smeg has always been an interpreter of excellence.

The two-slice toaster is an exclusive limited edition, decorated with traditional motifs of the famous Sicilian carts.The limited edition blender is characterized by a bright yellow base with traditional Sicilian decorations. The kettle is characterized by the unique Sicilian cart motifs and colourful patterns. The citrus juicer tells an all-Sicilian story, adorned with different bright and vivacious colours.

Smeg Union Jack Toaster
Smeg Union Jack Toaster; photo: smeg

Two months ago, Smeg announced a new Smeg Union Jack Toaster – a versatile icon with a British look. The new addition confirms the value of this product as an object to put on display, perfect in any environment.Uniqueness and versatility come together creating a narrative made of different spaces and moods, in which the two-slice model of the Union Jack toaster
perfectly interprets the style and dispositions of those who work or live in the different spaces.

Smeg also launched the 50’s retro style 4 slice toaster. After the 2×2 and 2×4 versions, the new Smeg toaster offers two pairs of spacious, independently-adjustable slots.

The sleek, rounded lines and the range of colour options available make the new 4 slice toaster an instant winner, perfectly placed within the Smeg 50’s Retro Style family of small appliances: choose from white, black, red or chrome for lovers of bold colours, or from cream, pastel blue, pastel green and pink, for a more vintage look – a host of options that enable you to select a toaster that you will want to show off, perfect for lending any environment a distinctive, unique edge, typical of Smeg appliances.

domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg -2018 collaboration
domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg; photos: sicilyismylove.com; dolcegabbana.com
Dolce&Gabbana pannetone
Dolce&Gabbana pannetone; photo: dolcegabbana.com

Dolce&Gabbana and Fiasconaro

Dolce&Gabbana and Fiasconaro revisited the typical Milanese panettone with the flavours of Sicily. The collaboration between the creativity of Dolce&Gabbana and the confectionery artistry of Fiasconaro results in a unique recipe. An artisanal product that combines a stylish design with that of pastry; the panettone is produced in two variations: one 1 kg Sicilian Pistachio panettone covered in white chocolate (with a velvety Pistachio cream in a special jar); and one with Sicilian Citrus fruits and Saffron, available in both 1 kg and 100 g sizes.

“The love for artisanal production, the respect for traditions, and the courage to experiment are all essential aspects needed to achieve the magical combination of style and taste in the creation of these panettoni,” wrote dolce & gabbana.

domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg toaster
domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg; photos: dolcegabbana.com

 

domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg
domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg; photos: sicilyismylove.com; dolcegabbana.com
domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg - blender
domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg; photos: sicilyismylove.com; dolcegabbana.com
domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg - 2018
domestic appliances by Dolce&Gabbana x Smeg; photos: sicilyismylove.com; dolcegabbana.com

 

Going Under: Norway is home to the world’s largest underwater restaurant

The guests of this immersed gourmet restaurant are invited to dine five and a half meters below the surface while the panoramic view of the ocean floor is providing the dramatic backdrop. When it opens next spring, Under Restaurant will be the largest underwater restaurant in the world and Europe’s first underwater restaurant. Snøhetta-designed Under … Read more

Asda beats Waitrose and Harrods in Which? mince pie taste test

Supermarket tops consumer group’s chart but general standards drop due to rising cost of ingredients

This smart decanter will connect cognac connoisseurs to the Louis XIII Society private club

 

From 2019, every Louis XIII crystal decanter will feature this smart solution worldwide.
Louis XIII Cognac presents Its “Smart Decanter”: The First Crystal Connected Decanter.

LOUIS XIII COGNAC Smart Decanter-
LOUIS XIII COGNAC Smart Decanter; louisxiii-society.com

Smart decanters with their access to an exclusive world of privileges are becoming a norm in the realm of premium spirits. Jim Beam is selling a smart decanter that pours whiskey on command. Voiced by 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe, the decanter-turned virtual voice assistant includes a sleek compartment for bourbon storage and voice command capabilities. The iSommelier’s Smart Decanter makes every wine taste perfect in seconds. An hour in a traditional decanter is reduced to a single minute with iSommelier.

In February 2019, Louis XIII cognac will step into the future by integrating NFC technology into its Smart Decanter. Each high-end decanter will directly connect cognac enthusiasts to the Louis XIII Society, a private club where members can enjoy exclusive content, unique experiences and personalized services through their smartphones.

A SMALL NFC CHIP INTEGRATED IN THE CORK STOPPER OF THE Louis XIII DECANTER.

After removing the seal, fans will simply have to tap & scan their NFC-enabled smartphones on the cork stopper to access the Louis XIII Society landing page to create or log into their account. The decanter number will then be automatically registered.

Thanks to this small NFC chip, Louis XIII clients will get facilitated access to all the advantages of the Louis XIII Society. This private club offers bespoke services such as customized decanter engraving, pre-releases of limited editions, contact with a Louis XIII Personal Advisor for private tastings and ultimate experiences, and an invitation to network with Louis XIII Cognac
connoisseurs registered all over the world. In addition, the Louis XIII Smart Decanter will bring added services to clients allowing them to customize gifting messages that will appear when recipients scan their decanter.

NFC enables simple, rapid, intuitive and secure communication between two electronic objects. A mature and robust technology which has been growing in the past 20 years being used mainly by bank cards, biometric passports and travel tickets – until now. Today, with the introduction of contactless payment, connected wearables and the Internet of Things, NFC
technology is reinventing the way we experience life.

This innovation will be launched globally starting February 2019 and will be deployed all over the world the following months.

LOUIS XIII COGNAC Smart Decanter
LOUIS XIII COGNAC Smart Decanter; louisxiii-society.com