Filed under: Journeys

Luxury Resorts are still Struggling from AIG Effect originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Jewelry, Charity

McTeigue & McClelland Designs Necklace to Help Afghan Children originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nominations have been received and vetted for the best-of-breed in gourmet grocers, online gourmet food, caviar, cheese and bread. The Luxist Readers' Choice Food Awards will be awarded based on your voting.

Each of finalists for the Readers' Choice for the Best Gourmet Grocer/Food Hall is a leader in the industry. One started out with a small store in Texas and today, it has more than 270 stores in North America and the United Kingdom. An Ohio-based nominee is family-owned and operated that is recognized for its great food and service. Two nominees are New York institutions offering gourmet foods from around the world. Last, but not least, there's an opulent Food Hall in London that is known worldwide for the sheer volume and selection of its international goods all presented in breathtaking displays.

The Readers' Choice for the Best Online Gourmet Food nominees include a New York institution with a staff that travel the world in search of great artisan-produced foods. A Seattle-based nominee was launched by a group of passionate food-lovers committed to the best artisan-produced, sustainable foods while another nominee is a family-owned operation that originated from three generations of cheese importers. A Michigan-based nominee is a collection of local businesses, each with its own food specialty. Finally, the Philadelphia-based nominee celebrates the European roots of its two founders with a wide array of gourmet meats, cheeses, oils, and other goods from around the world.

The Readers' Choice for the Best Caviar Retailer for a Luxist Award include award-winning brands from Europe and the United States with each offering the highest of quality. Several offer some of the finest Russian caviar to be found, while one is a proponent of sustainably harvested roe with its own tank-farming system.

Nominees for Readers' Choice for Best Bread Bakery include companies that have been producing bread for decades. One opened more than 70 years ago and is now an institution in Paris, while another was launched in Belgium before expanding around the world. A Los Angeles-based nominee has developed more than 100 varieties of award-winning breads. The Philadelphia-based nominee features artisanal breads and the baked goods of the Ann Arbor-based nominee are known throughout the Midwest.

Readers' Choice nominees for Best Cheese Shop include some of the most respected shops in the world. These cheese shops, offer a full range of both international and domestic artisanal cheeses. They are the destinations for serious cheese lovers and chefs who are in search of the best.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of these categories. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Filed under: Dining, Services

Vote Now For the Readers' Choice Best in Food Awards originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Neal's Yard Dairy was founded in 1979, offering Greek-style yogurts, crème fraiche and, of course, cheese. Initially a distributor of lackluster wholesale cheeses, the Dairy began to evolve into a world-renowned specialist when owner Randolph Hodgson drove his rickety Citroen to a countryside farm and returned to London with a load of delectable Devonshire Garland cheese.

By sampling more cheeses and talking to customers, Hodgson grew his palate and his business--and outgrew the physical location of Neal's Yard. In 1992 the company moved to 17 Shorts Garden, where it still has a shop. The Dairy also expanded to include maturing rooms under the brick railway arches that support the main line from London Bridge to Dover, as well as a Neal's Yard Creamery located on Dorstone Hill, overlooking the Wye Valley in Herefordshire.

Hodgson still keeps close ties with cheesemakers and customers--he hand-picks cheddars by visiting England's West Country every eight weeks, sampling young cheese to select which batches will be matured for Neal's Yard Dairy. His Citroen has been replaced with a fleet of climate-controlled vans that shuttle cheeses around London, where mature cheese is sold through his two shops.

For those located outside the British Isles, goods from Neal's Yard Dairy are available in restaurants around the world, and by direct order from the company's website. Though the original batch of Devonshire Garland is long gone, there are still plenty of similar West Country cheeses available.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Filed under: Dining

Neal's Yard Dairy: Farm Cheeses from the British Isles originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Dining

Caviar House & Prunier: Creators of Fine Gastronomy originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

When Alain Coumont opened Le Pain Quotidien in his native Belgium in 1990, little did he know then what his artisanal bakery would eventually spawn. Coumont, a highly regarded chef at one of Brussels' most prestigious restaurants, just wasn't able to source bread worthy of his clientele and so started making it himself.

The concept was a huge success from day one. By 1993, there were 16 different locations in Europe. And by 1997, Coumont had opened his first store in New York City. Fast forward to 2009, and you'll find a company, still privately owned, with more than 114 locations around the world. This year, new locations have opened or will open in the Middle East, the United States, Europe and Russia.

Le Pain Quotidien is a French phrase that means "the daily bread." Indeed, Le Pain Quotidien bread is made fresh daily, just as it was in the very beginning. Its whole wheat sourdough breads, called pain au levain, are naturally fermented. Organic stone-ground flour, salt, and water is kneaded and shaped by hand and then baked in a hearth under the watchful eye of artisan bakers.

Le Pain Quotidien restaurants are known for their communal tables, made from reclaimed wood, in which customers sit side-by-side. There, they dine on simple fare from soups and salads to tartines and homemade pastries and breads. The company uses organic ingredients whenever possible.

Each location offers a range of homemade baked goods, from buttery croissants, organic brioche and challah to baguettes, all of which are baked fresh at each location daily. Baked goods are also available for purchase at the counter, including whole and half loaves of wheat, rye, spelt, five-grain and walnut bread.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Filed under: Dining

Le Pain Quotidien: The Daily Bread originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Perhaps the most storied of caviar's purveyors, Petrossian traces its roots to a pair of Armenian brothers who brought their love of roe from the shores of the Caspian Sea to the edge of the Atlantic in the 1920s. Melkoum and Mouchegh Petrossian migrated from Eastern Europe to Paris to continue their studies in law and medicine, but found the City of Light woefully devoid of their favorite Russian delicacy.

Since then, Petrossian has grown to become the premier buyer and importer of Russian caviar worldwide. Its Tsar Imperial label graces some of the finest Beluga, Ossetra and Sevruga on the market. To this day, the company insists that members of the Petrossian family personally select the best of every Russian caviar catch.

Fortunately for those whose appetite for adventure doesn't outweigh the appetite for quality caviar, accompanying modern-day Petrossians on a Russian fishing scow isn't the only way to enjoy their caviar. The company offers delivery, as well as restaurant locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York.

Founded in 1984, New York's Petrossian restaurant is a special treat. Ideally located for opera goers of discerning taste, it's housed in the historic Alwyn Court Building on Manhattan's West Side, one block from Carnegie Hall and four blocks from Lincoln Center. Melkoum and Mouchegh would most certainly be proud.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Gallery: More from Petrossian

Filed under: Dining

Petrossian: Exquisite Caviar Since the 1920's originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Farmstead

The company was founded in 2003 by the husband-and-wife team of Matt and Kate Jennings. They're a well-qualified duo: Matt graduated from culinary school in Vermont in 1995, worked for artisan cheese stores and producers across the country, and studied with master cheesemongers in the U.K, France and Italy. Kate is a classically trained pastry chef.

As co-owners of Providence, R.I.-based Farmstead, Matt and Kate develop close relationships with producers and hand-select fine foodstuffs, specializing in small production, limited release cheeses. As an extension of this hands-on approach, Farmstead aims to educate its customers on the subtleties and history of cheese, offering product tastings, cooking demonstrations, and cheese and beverage pairing classes.

Farmstead's signature cheeses include "Sarabande," co-designed with Dancing Cow Farm of Vermont and boasting hints of hazelnut, sherry, and fresh farm cream at its peak ripeness. Another, called "Drunkin' Providence," is flavorful cheddar washed with Thomas Tew Rum from Rhode Island's Newport Distilling Company.

The Jennings founded Farmstead's sister restaurant, La Laiterie, in 2006 to augment their offerings. Located next to the cheese shop, the bistro serves seasonally influenced meals with fresh ingredients from local sustainable farms; the menu sometimes changes daily. Matt and Kate designed the restaurant themselves, accenting their rustic cuisine with hand-made rust colored paper lights and an interior made from reclaimed barn wood, forged iron and Vermont soapstone.

For those who can't make the trip to Wayland Square, the historical shopping district Providence, to inspect Farmstead's cheeses in person, the company offers a comprehensive website along with speedy delivery options. Rest assured, the cheese will still be just as stinky when it arrives.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Filed under: Dining

Farmstead: Celebrating the Art of Cheese originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Metropolitan Bakery is a Luxist Award nominee in the Best Bread Bakery category.

The bakery opened its doors with the goal of bringing to Philadelphia the amazing breads, its owners, Wendy Smith Born and James Barrett, had tasted in Europe. With a single rack of fresh bread and a shoebox for a cash register, Born and Barrett launched Metropolitan Bakery in 1993. Fifteen years later, what began as an "experiment" between two friends-one a restaurant manager, the other a pastry chef-has grown into a Philadelphia institution.

The partners met while working at Philadelphia's legendary The White Dog Café, which was one of the pioneering institutions of the "buy local" movement. During their time at White Dog, the two friends often lamented how difficult it was to find breads of the quality they'd tasted in Europe. Indeed, the artisan baking process is a slow one. It takes up to two weeks for the natural yeast (made from fermented grapes and figs) to mature, and then another 48 hours for the dough to be mixed, shaped, pounded, left to rise in rye-dusted willow baskets, and then baked in steam-injected, stone-deck ovens. It's this painstaking process that produces the intense, earthy flavors, crackling crusts, and complex textures of artisanal breads.

Barrett's culinary training at the Culinary Institute of America and the Ecole Francaise de Boulangerie d'Aurillac in France, helped him refine the techniques of old-world baking. These experiences and years of trial and error impressed upon him the importance of natural ingredients, traditional methods, and above all, patience, in producing great breads.

In Philadelphia, Metropolitan Bakery has become more than just a great bakery. It is also part of the community. Its owners believe that jobs are the best way out of poverty. As a result, the bakery employs and trains recent parolees, mentors at-risk high school students, and is a co-sponsor of the new H.O.M.E. Page Café in the Free Library, which employs formerly homeless Philadelphians and raises money for Project H.O.M.E. The bakery also donates bread to shelters every week. And because supporting local farmers and purveyors is so important, Metropolitan's five Philadelphia shops offer locally made jams, cheeses, spreads and other specialties. Indeed, most of the products in its stores are made by local farmers, cheesemakers and chefs also trying to preserve artisan traditions. The 19th street store is a pick-up location for community-supported agriculture.

The company has locations in Chestnut Hill, University City, Old City, Rittenhouse Square, and the Reading Terminal Market. It also offers its homemade whole grain granola, coffee chocolate chip granola, pomegranate cinnamon granola, French berry rolls and more for purchase on its website.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Gallery: More from Metropolitan Bakery

Filed under: Dining

Metropolitan Bakery: Artisanal Bread that Helps Others originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Formaggio Kitchen is a nominee for a Luxist Award in the Best Cheese Shop category.

Formaggio Kitchen has been an institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts for over 30 years. It is a gourmand's paradise doubling as a neighborhood grocer. Visitors go to Formaggio Kitchen to stock up on cheeses, cured meats and baked goods, always leaving with something they've never seen before that is sure to become a new house staple. Chefs, both professional and amateur, rely on Formaggio Kitchen for that special ingredient they can't find anywhere else.

Each year, Formaggio Kitchen staff travel to the far reaches of the planet in search of the world's finest artisan products. Their shelves are brimming with products made by individual artisans, each as wonderful as the next: honeys from Sardinia & Piedmont sit aside farmhouse jams from Pays Basque & l'Ardeche, while spicy organic tomato sauce from Liguria neighbors briny Brittany fleur de sel.

Marble slabs support cuts of cheese artistically arranged each morning. Its cheese selection is from cheesemakers around the world, from North America to Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland, Greece and Italy. At any given time, there are more than three hundred cheeses available to Formaggio Kitchen customers.

But it is Formaggio Kitchen's cheese caves, built out of an old office deep in the nether-reaches of the basement beneath Huron Avenue, that makes it most proud. Constructed in 1996 (as the first of its kind in this country) with all the damp, musty, chilly characteristics of an Alpine hillside, the caves now hold its precious stock at their ideal temperature and humidity, creating both a place to age young wheels and maintain moisture in older ones.

Formaggio Kitchen has locations in Cambridge, Ma., in Boston and New York City. Each store carries a similar selection of imported and domestic delicacies, but each has its own flair. The Formaggio Kitchen website offers an overwhelming selection of cheeses from around the world, in addition to an abundance of oils, vinegars, spreads, chocolate, spices, breads, olives, meats, seafood and antipasti.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Gallery: More from Formaggio Kitchen

Filed under: Dining

Formaggio Kitchen: Cheese is its Passion originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gallery: More from Whole Foods

Filed under: Dining

Whole Foods: The World's Leader in Natural and Organic Foods originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

La Brea Bakery

It was then that Silverton embarked upon the journey of learning the ancient art of bread baking. Having mastered her craft, she opened a tiny storefront bakery to sell her renowned breads. While the original bakeshop still exists today, La Brea Bakery now operates three state of the art artisan bakeries in the U.S. and delivers over 150 par-baked bread varieties to grocery retail and restaurants across the entire U.S. and throughout Europe and Asia. La Brea Bakery has never compromised our founder's original craftsmanship or dedication to quality. From holiday-time crouton stuffing mix to special occasion breads and bake-at-home frozen breads, La Brea Bakery is continuously rated as the most preferred brand of artisan bread in the U.S.

The company now has locations in Anaheim, Van Nuys and Los Angeles. Its artisan breads are also available for retail purchase across the country.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Gallery: More from La Brea Bakery

Filed under: Dining

La Brea Bakery: Bringing Bread to Life originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tsar Nicoulai Caviar is a nominee for a Luxist Award in the Best Caviar Retailer category.

Beluga may be the well-known star of caviar, but the White Sturgeon roe peddled by Tsar Nicoulai Caviar is the choice of the green generation. Founded in 1978 by husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Mats and Dafne Engstrom, Tsar Nicoulai Caviar raises its fish sustainably in Northern California instead of depleting the endangered ranks of wild sturgeon, as many purveyors in other countries do.

With the help of researchers at the University of California Davis, Tsar Nicoulai has developed a proprietary tank-farming system to raise its fish. Water is pumped from local aquifers into a four-acre hydroponics pond topped with a bloom of natural plankton algae and flanked by a year-round crop of vegetables, creating a mineral-rich environment free of mercury, pesticides, and other harmful chemicals often found in international waters.

March of 2004 marked the opening of the Tsar Nicoulai Caviar Café in San Francisco as a complement to the company's delivery business. Customers across the country can have fresh caviar shipped to their doorstep via Tsar Nicoulai's website; celebrity chefs from Wolfgang Puck in Los Angeles to Charlie Palmer in New York are frequent customers. Tsar Nicoulai Caviar's online operation offers caviar, roe, smoked delicacies and an array of caviar accessories.

In light of recent U.N. and U.S. bans on wild caviar from the Caspian and Black Seas, Tsar Nicoulai seems poised to profit from the switch to sustainably harvested roe. Though the West Coast may never produce roe with the glamour and glitz of Beluga, many restaurateurs are turning to Tsar Nicoulai's California State Ossetra as a cheaper, cleaner, greener alternative to its Caspian counterpart.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Filed under: Dining

Tsar Nicoulai Caviar: Sustainable for the Future originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Zabar's is nominated for a Luxist Award in the Best Gourmet Grocer/Food Hall category.

For more than 70 years, Zabar's has been a upper westside institution in Manhattan. The company started in 1934 when Louis and Lillian Zabar rented an Appetizing Counter in a Daitch Market. Their philosophy was to sell only the highest quality smoked fish at a fair price. Zabar wanted his customers to trust him and he wanted them to become "regulars".

Zabar became known for his high standards and developed a reputation of being hard to please. The couple took over the Daitch Market, and and Zabar's was born. The Zabars worked long hours. They roasted their own coffee and hand selected every item that the store would put on its shelves, always wanting to give their customers the best available at a "fair" price.

The Zabar sons, Saul and Stanley Zabar took over running the store, and Zabar's flourished under their management. Over the years the store expanded, taking over neighboring stores, as they became available. The company battled major department stores over caviar prices. New Yorkers came to trust and love Zabar's.

Saul and Stanley still run the business while their children have joined its ranks. Ann Zabar, Saul's oldest daughter, runs the Mail Order Division and helps her father roast coffee and buy smoked fish. David Zabar, Stanley's son, helps run the office and Aaron, Saul's son, manages Zabar's mail order warehouse.

Zabar's is open 365 days a year and there is always a Zabar in the store. Today the store on Broadway and West 80th Street is over 20,000 square feet (almost a city block long). It has more than 250 employees and sells over 8,000 lbs of coffee a week. On average, 35,000 customers a week visit its store. The company's website offers an array of coffee, cheeses and fish. It also has a large selection of cookware, kitchen gadgets and other must-have items, from rice cookers to coffee grinders and espresso makers.

Filed under: Dining, Gadgets

Zabar's: A New York Institution Since 1934 originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Dining

Caviarteria: The Finest Caviar from Around the World originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gallery: More from Caviar Russe

Filed under: Dining

Caviar Russe: The Destination for America's Top Chefs originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

In the 1970's, Joel Dean and Giorgio DeLuca traipsed around the world in search of artisan-produced foods that pleased their customers as well as themselves. They wanted products that fired their imaginations, challenged their tastes and turned dinner into a creative exercise.

When the partners opened the original Dean & DeLuca in Soho in September 1977, the neighborhood wasn't the hopelessly chic shopping enclave it is today; rather, it was an authentically gritty corner of the Big Apple. As such, founding partner, Jack Ceglic, designed the first store to evoke a turn-of-the-century food department. Beneath the whir of ceiling fans, high shelves brimmed with rare artisan foodstuffs from flavored salts to cured meats.

Joel and Giorgio continued to expand their operation, adding another New York shop with four times the space of the original in 1988. Boutiques throughout the city followed, as did locations in Charlotte, Kansas City and Washington, D.C. Demand for the grocer's goods even spawned a store in Tokyo.

Dean & DeLuca's wide array of gourmet offerings range from black truffle barbecue sauce, cilantro lime butter and tapas to Asian inspired delicacies such as green tea truffles, purple sweet potato vinegar and organic sushi rice. It also has an impressive selection of meats, seafood, pates, ready-to-serve appetizers, artisanal cheeses and sweets. In search of a Mediterranean sea salt? How about a Himalayan salt harvested from the beds of ancient seas? Look no further than Dean & DeLuca. The company has also launched a new wine division with knowledgeable staff who can recommend the best food and wine pairings for any event.

Today, website makes the grocer's trademark meats, fish, cheeses, herbs and spices available to those who aren't lucky enough to have a store nearby. Dean & DeLuca also markets its private label products to other retailers and wholesalers throughout the world.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Gallery: More from Dean & DeLuca

Filed under: Dining, Services

Dean & DeLuca: Epicenters of Epicurean Excellence originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dorothy Lane Market began as a fruit stand. In 1948 founder Calvin Mayne began selling quality fruits and vegetables in the south Dayton, Ohio area at the corner of Far Hills Avenue and Dorothy Lane (hence the name of the market, or DLM for short).

Mayne loved good food, and wanted his customers to enjoy the same. He believed the company should be unpretentious and have an inclusive atmosphere in which its customers would be welcome. Today Dorothy Lane Market is a company of well-known gourmet supermarkets in the Dayton area that are recognized for great food and service. Mayne's son, Norman, is now its chief executive officer while grandson Calvin, serves as its general manager. The Mayne family still owns and operates the company.

Dorothy Lane partners with food artisans and others passionate about food. This is evident when browsing its aisles and viewing the impressive selection of gourmet food products from around the world that stock its shelves. They offer an extensive selection of cheese, wine, and chocolate. Its oil selection is impressive, and includes walnut oil from Provence, macadamia oil, and olive oils from all over the world. They feature hard to find premium products in season. In seafood for example, they carry Copper River King Salmon and fresh Alaskan King Red Crab from family co-ops. Produce features golden Aurora apples, long stem artichokes, and jumbo size honeydew melons. The meat department's products are entirely natural, lifetime free of added hormones and antibiotics. Their meats include well marbled pork, free range chicken, and DLM Natural Beef, which almost always grades out as USDA prime.

The company's passion for great food is also reflected in what it manufactures in the store. Their in-store kitchens make staples including chicken salad from free range chicken and lasagna featuring their DLM Natural Beef. They also offer trendier fare such as cous-cous and lentil salads, cedar planked salmon, and asiago encrusted chicken breast. Dorothy Lane Market also employs several artisan bakers who daily bake traditional breads such as sourdough and baguettes entirely from scratch, which they sell in-store as well as online. Their bakery is famous as well for its Killer Brownie(R) which is sold to other fine food retailers and online at www.shopdlm.com.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed in Gourmet Foods. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

Gallery: More from Dorothy Lane Market

Filed under: Dining, Services

Dorothy Lane Market: All in the Family originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gallery: More from Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine

Filed under: Dining

Pastoral: Artisan Cheese in the Windy City originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Butter contains saturated fat, while nearly all margarines contain some saturated fat and trans fatty acids. Recent studies on the potential cholesterol-raising effects of trans fatty acids have raised public concern about the use of margarine. On the other hand, butter is unhealthy because it is made from animal fat and contains cholesterol and high levels of saturated fat.

Since most margarines are made from vegetable oils, they contain no cholesterol, says the Mayo Clinic's Martha Grogan, M.D., a consultant in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School. "Margarine is higher in 'good' fats, which are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated, than butter is," she adds. "These types of fat help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or 'bad,' cholesterol, when substituted for saturated fat."

Still, not all margarines are created equal. "Some may even be worse than butter," warns Grogan.

Indeed, margarines are processed using a method called hydrogenation, which results in unhealthy trans fats. In general, the more solid the margarine, the more trans fatty acids it contains. In other words, stick margarines usually have more trans fats than do tub margarines, which are softer. Like saturated fats, trans fats increase blood cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. In addition, trans fats can lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol levels.

The American Heart Association recommends using soft margarines (liquid or tub varieties) over harder stick forms. Look for ones that have "zero grams of trans fat" on the Nutrition Facts label. The more liquid the margarine, the less hydrogenated it is and the less trans fatty acids it contains.

Butter is unhealthy because it is rich in both saturated fat and cholesterol. It is potentially a highly atherogenic food, too, which means it is a food that causes the arteries to be blocked.

When selecting a margarine, look for ones with liquid vegetable oil as the first ingredient. Even better, choose "light" margarines that list water as the first ingredient, because these are even lower in saturated fat, advises the American Heart Association. Look for margarines that have the lowest trans fat content possible and less than two grams total of saturated plus trans fats. Manufacturers are required to list saturated and trans fats separately on food labels. Margarines fortified with plant sterols (made from soybean and pine tree oils) can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels by more than 10%. The amount of daily plant sterols needed for results is at least two grams. The American Heart Association recommends foods fortified with plant sterols for people with levels of LDL cholesterol over 160 milligrams per deciliter (4.1 mmol/L).

If you don't like the taste of margarine and don't want to give up butter completely, consider using whipped butter or light or reduced-calorie butter, advises Grogan. There are also spreadable butters with vegetable oils added. Per serving, these products have less fat and calories than regular butter. The important thing is to use these products in small amounts - just enough to add flavor to the foods you're eating, she adds.

Filed under: Dining

Margarine or Butter: Which is Healthier? originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

One&Only Resorts, the luxury resort company known for its stunning properties in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, will open its second property in Dubai. One & Only The Palm will open on Palm Island in October 2010. The property is being developed by His Highness Sheikh Bin Saeed Al Makthoum (right) and Sol Kerzner, (left) CEO and Chairman of Kerzner International, parent company of One&Only Resorts.

The property will have a striking location on the peninsula of Palm Island crescent with spectacular views of new Dubai's skyline. Resort guests will be able to indulge in an exclusive island feel getaway or choose to be whisked away by the resort's private water taxis or limousine to Dubai's wide array of activities, from golf at award-winning courses to world-class shopping, dining and entertainment at the most sought-after of venues.

Set in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, One&Only Resorts offer a distinctive style and personality borne of its local culture. Other locations include One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives; One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius; One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai; One&Only Ocean Club in The Bahamas and One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. The One&Only Cape Town, South Africa opened on April 3, 2009.

"We believe the government's continuous commitment to developing tourism in the region combined with all the destination has to offer, its constant innovation and its easy international access make this the perfect place for us to expand the One&Only portfolio," says Kerzner.

Located at The Palm Jumeirah, the resort's external architecture will blend Moorish and Andalucian influences, while the interiors will display contemporary, chic living environments, promoting a sense of understated elegance with privacy being of the utmost importance. Surrounded by lush landscaped gardens, the resort will provide an oasis of tranquility amid cosmopolitan Dubai.

Guest accommodations at this intimate resort will be composed of 35 suites and apartments within the grand Manor House, six independent low-rise mansions with eight to ten suites and exclusive two and three bedroom beachfront villas. Stunning and spacious with every modern amenity, guest rooms and suites will have a stylish modern design with an elegant palate of rich fabrics in hues of turquoise and purple. Sumptuous bathrooms will feature over-sized, freestanding bath tubs and rain showers with the finest inlaid marble from Italy and Spain.

All accommodations will offer outdoor terraces or private pool. Guests staying in suites, apartments and villas will also be indulged by a dedicated butler, 24 hours a day. The resort will also feature private cabanas by an 850 square meter pool, a private beach and a freestanding 2,400 square meters spa, fitness and beauty complex. The One&Only Spa will be set amidst outdoor gardens and will offer a fitness center featuring state-of-the-art equipment by Technogym and Kinesis studio, tennis court and a beauty salon.

The resort's Marina Restaurant will offer al fresco dining adjacent to the marina. Guests can reach the restaurant by private yacht or One&Only water taxis.

Filed under: Journeys, Real Estate Developments

One&Only Resorts to Open on Palm Island in Dubai originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The relationship between Lalique and Haviland began over 90 years ago with the marriage of René
Lalique's daughter, Suzanne, to Paul Haviland, head of the famous Limoges porcelain line at the time.
Since June, Lalique and Haviland have been linked through a partnership of their U.S. operations, and well as through a mutual operational partnership with Daum, subsequently announced in August.

The Lalique and Haviland Flagship Boutique is located at 609 Madison Avenue at 58th Street. A new Lalique and Haviland showroom will open this December in Chicago.

The boutique will be Haviland's first retail store. Winner of the Luxist Readers' Choice Award for Best in Dishware in October, Haviland has been at the forefront of the porcelain world for over 150 years. It is known for its exceptional quality porcelain and high levels of creativity in design. All pieces are entirely hand-made. Lalique was a Readers' Choice Award finalist in the best glassware category.

Gallery: More from the Lalique and Haviland Flagship Boutique

Filed under: Decor

Lalique and Haviland Open Flagship Boutique originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Diamonds are among the hardest of all minerals. Still, they require special care to keep them looking their absolute best.

The brilliance of any diamond depends on the amount of light that can enter the stone and reflect back to the human eye. However, the smallest deposit of grease on the surface of a stone can dull its reflection. Even a touch from a finger will leave a smudge of natural oil, according to De Beers, one of the world's leading diamond companies.

Clean your diamonds with a simple mix of six parts water to one part ammonia and apply with a soft, natural bristle brush. If you have no ammonia in the house, you can substitute with a mild liquid detergent. Rinse with fresh water and dry with a soft, non-abrasive cloth. If your diamond has a crack or inclusion, De Beers advises owners not to use ultrasonic cleaners, as the vibrations of the cleaners can enlarge flaws.

A few words of warning. De Beers recommends that jewelry not be cleaned in or near the sink. If there is no better location for the cleaning, be sure the plug is in, to avoid the jewelry going down the drain. If you are using a brush, be gentle: diamonds can work loose from their settings if treated roughly, warns De Beers. If you use hand lotion, wait for at least 10-15 minutes before putting your rings back on, as the ring might easily slip off.

While most people believe that diamonds are impervious to scratches, that simply is not the case. Indeed, another diamond can easily scratch another. To prevent such scratches, separate diamond jewelry in your jewelry box, advises De Beers. Diamonds also can scratch other gems or jewelry, especially soft items like pearls. And even though diamonds are hard, they can be brittle, especially along thin edges. Try not to wear your diamond when it might be struck sharply, and if you have an especially thin cut, keep it protected. If you are traveling, use a secure travel pouch, which will keep individual pieces safely apart, according to De Beers.

De Beers recommends having important pieces of jewelry checked quarterly to be sure the stones are secure in their settings.

Filed under: Jewelry

How to Clean Diamond Jewelry originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

. Votes have been cast for the best-of-breed in lighting, furniture, antiques resources, dishware and glassware. The Luxist Readers' Choice Decor Awards winners are all leaders in their respective industries.

Niermann Weeks, the winner of the Readers' Choice for Best in Lighting, is a family-owned and operated company that produces lighting that radiates beauty from every angle. Joe Niermann's design style extrapolates the traditional form within its historic constraints.

The winner of the Readers' Choice for the Best in Furniture is Roche-Bobois. The French-based company is a global leader in design and distribution of fine home furnishings. Its original artistry ranges from the avant-garde to ethnic and traditional.

The Readers' Choice for the Best in Glassware is Baccarat. Each of its fine crystal pieces are handcrafted in the village of Baccarat in Lorraine in eastern France. They are extravagant and elegant.

Haviland Limoges is the winner of the Readers' Choice for Best in Dishware. It is estimated that there are as many as 60,000 unique Haviland china patterns. For over a century, Haviland china has remained a standard for elegant tables.

The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show is the Readers' Choice winner for Best Antiques Resources. The New York-based show is an annual destination for serious connoisseurs, collectors and museum curators who are in search of the best.

Filed under: Decor

Readers' Choice Winners for Best in Decor originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show is the Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice winner for the best antiques resource category.

Since 1989, The International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show has been recognized the world over as a premier showcase for exceptional quality works of art from antiquity to the present day. The show features some of the world's top dealers and consistently attracts large crowds.

A superb variety of high-quality items are for sale at the fair, including furniture, paintings, sculpture, textiles, ceramics, glass, clocks, watches, arms, armour, rare books, manuscripts, jewelry, objets de vertu, Fabergé, silver, antiquities and ethnographic art. Many of the pieces are of museum quality. Prices start from as little as a few hundred dollars but rise into the millions.

All works are for sale under the strictest vetting conditions. In fact, at its launch the International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show was the first fair in the United States to introduce vetting; a stringent set of guidelines designed to maintain the highest standards of quality and authenticity in the works of art on view and for sale. The great value of vetting at art and antiques fairs lies in the safeguards and reassurance it offers to buyers. The vetting committees for the International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show combine both academic and commercial expertise in their membership, including museum personnel as well as other eminent specialists.

The show is organized each year by Haughton International Fairs. In 2009, it was held from October 16th until the 22nd with 65 exhibitors from around the world. The fair was held at the Park Avenue Armory, which is located on Park Avenue at 67th Street in New York City.

Filed under: Decor

International Fine Art & Antique Dealers Show Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Antiques Resource originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Niermann Weeks, headquartered in Millersville, Md., is the Readers' Choice Winner for a Luxist Award in the best of lighting category.

This family-owned and operated company was founded in 1978 by Joe Niermann and his wife, Eleanor McKay, both with extensive backgrounds in historic preservation. Niermann is the company's principal designer, while McKay is the company's chief executive officer. Their daughters are both involved with the business with Claire serving as vice president of operations and Eleanor in the role of vice president of merchandising.

Joe Niermann's design style is to extrapolate the traditional form within its historic constraints. The result is spectacular lighting that is a pure exercise in geometry.

Niermann Weeks' lighting is jewelry for the interior. Each piece radiates beauty from every angle and in every light.

More than 40% of the company's business is custom-designed to meet the special needs of professional architect and designer clients. Niermann Weeks features more than 600 standard designs with 500 finishes, available through to-the-trade designer showrooms in the United States and Canada.

Chandeliers range in size from a stately 20 feet tall chandelier suitable for display in the lobby of a hotel down to a more intimate 11 inch tall piece for a small boudoir or powder room. Prices vary from $1,500 for a standard design for a simple sconce to $36,000 for a larger piece. Customization increases the price. Each of its products are hand-crafted at the Niermann Weeks factory outside Annapolis, Md.

Filed under: Decor

Niermann Weeks Wins Readers' Choice Award for Lighting originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The winner of the Readers' Choice Award in the glassware category is Baccarat, which has sold its creations to the royal families of France, Japan, Russia, Arabia, Morocco and even the White House, since it was established in France in 1764.

Since its founding, Baccarat has continued expanding its influence, inspired in roots stemming from an ingenious handcrafted work of the highest quality, throughout the world.

To this day, Baccarat crystal is still handcrafted in the village of Baccarat located in Lorraine in eastern France. The crystal pieces it creates are described as both divine and exhilarating. Yes, they are extravagant but always elegant.

Nothing tastes better than when drunk from a Baccarat crystal glass.

Filed under: Decor

Baccarat Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best in Glassware originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The company's roots is a tale of two families. In 1950 Jacques Roche bought the old Alexandre Dumas theater on rue de Lyon and built two stores. His sons, Philippe and Francois, joined him and together established the company's developmental strategy. They began to distribute the very best contemporary furniture, which was heavily inspired by Bauhaus designers such as Pierre Paulin and Marc Berthier. At the same time, the Chouchan family were selling furniture in Paris on Boulevard Sebastopol at "Au Beau Bois" (which later became Bobois).

In 1960, Philippe Roche and Patrick and Jean-Claude Chouchan met at a Scandinavian furniture expo in Copenhagen. They soon designed their first catalog which launches the national franchise. They combine their resources and names and Roche-Bobois is launched.

Today, Roche-Bobois is a global leader in design and distribution of home furnishings, while retaining the unique position of molding its furniture designs. Each piece created is the result of close collaboration between designers, manufacturers and Roche-Bobois. It has three categories of furniture: Les Contemporians (avant-garde pieces), Les Voyages (a fusion of ethnic influences), and Les Provinciales (which rethinks traditional French furniture). Roche-Bobois is prolific as it introduces a new exclusive collection every six months.

Roche-Bobois is among the most internationally renowned and exclusive brands in home furnishings. Its products are sold in nearly 30 different countries. The company is expanding its reach rapidly, too. In fact, a new Roche-Bobois store opens every month somewhere in the world.

Filed under: Decor

Roche-Bobois Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best in Furniture originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Baccarat
Bodner Chandeliers
Jean Perzel
Niermann Weeks
Schonbek

Best in Furniture
The best in furniture nominees offer a range of original artistry from simple and pure to the exotic; from traditional to the ultra-modern. The styles may vary but each has a timeless quality that extends far beyond trendiness. Many of their creations are collected by connoisseurs and even museums.

Vladimir Kagan
Kreiss
Roche-Bobois
Stickley Furniture
William Switzer & Associates

Best in Glassware
The Best in Glassware nominees for a Luxist Award include award-winning brands from France, Sweden and the United States. Each represents the finest of quality and artistry while offering the most exquisite of designs. The styles may vary but all the nominees have their own proud tradition of glass craftsmanship.

Baccarat
Lalique
Orrefors
Steuben
Tiffany

Best in Dishware
Nominees for Best in Dishware include companies that have been producing china for decades; some for centuries. Two have roots in the Limoges region of France, the cradle of the French porcelain industry. One nominee is quintessentially English while two produce American classics.

Bernardaud
Haviland Limoges
Pickard China
Tiffany
Wedgwood

Best in Antiques Resources
Nominees for Best Antiques Resource include the most prestigious art and antiques fairs in the world. These fairs, which are international in scope, are annual destinations for serious connoisseurs, collectors and museum curators who are in search of the best. Each of these fairs have rigorous vetting processes in which the quality, condition and authenticity of each piece is carefully investigated.

American International Fine Art Fair, Palm Beach
International Fine Art and Antique Dealer's Show, New York
Maastricht Art Fair, Netherlands
The San Francisco Art Antiques Fair
Winter Fine Art & Antiques Fair, Olympia, London

Filed under: Decor, Art

Readers' Choice Nominees for Decor originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Master artisans at the company-owned Le Tallec Studio in Paris, the world-renowned studio for hand-painted porcelain, create unique pieces that are custom-ordered and designed to meet the specifications of the Tiffany customer. From the creation of the initial pattern to the finished plate, the process details the custom design service Tiffany & Co. offers clients who wish to create their own Le Tallec pattern.

"We had so many requests for custom design jewelry work, that it only seemed natural to offer custom dishware, too," says Allen Nissim, a Tiffany & Co. group director who oversees the custom Le Tallec business. "This is really 21st century luxury."

Custom designs have ranged from those that incorporated a family crest to a favorite animal, flower or even the home decor of a customer. The Tiffany design department presents several different options to the customer and tweaks from there before a pattern is finalized. Each piece is initialed by the painter, dated and marked "Tiffany & Co., hand painted, Made in France." The artists can also include an inscription that says "This piece was made specially for..." and include the customer's name. Customers can initiate the custom design process at any Tiffany & Co. store location. The pattern seen above was created by designer Celerie Kemble who worked closely with actress Mariska Hargitay. It was based on Le Tallec's Cirque Chinois collection.

The labor intensive, entirely hand-created process is much like the manufacturing and decorating techniques used during the 18th and 19th centuries. The design process is labor-intensive even for designs that are as seemingly simple as green stripes. "It is labor-intensive to get the colors consistent around the border," says Nissim. "It takes a lot of skill to get the shades just right."

The initial creative process in developing a pattern can take as long as three months, depending on what the client is looking for and the scope of the order. The design may be somewhat different for a dinner plate or a bowl than it is for a tray. "Different pieces may have different interpretations of the same pattern," says Nissim.

One order for a set of 400 pieces required nearly six months just to develop the pattern and another year to create the pieces. Prices vary depending on the piece and design. A dinner plate starts at $1,200, but can cost more depending on the design. "People are comfortable with the cost when the finished product reflects their interest and taste," says Nissim

Smaller orders are also acceptable. A recent request was placed by a soon-to-be married couple who wanted custom-designed trays to present as a gift to members of their bridal party with each piece personally inscribed.

"These pieces become a legacy for generations to come," Nissim adds.

Filed under: Decor

Tiffany's Custom-Designed Dinnerware: The Ultimate in Luxury originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Holiday Guides, Books

McParlin Partners: Portraits in Words originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The main house, which was built in 1983, is 9,244 square feet with five fireplaces, interior stone walls, rustic wood beams, seven bedrooms, 6 full baths and 2 half baths. The kitchen was remodeled in 2005 and has alder-wood cabinetry, French antique limestone floors and a hand-carved limestone sink. There's a two-story family room with a cathedral ceiling, wide-plank white oak floors and a wall of Tischler windows, setting the ease and comfort for family gatherings. The two-story foyer has a circular staircase and there are two adjacent living rooms, one with a window wall and the other with sliding glass doors leading to a deck, each overlooking the glorious pond and swimming pool setting. The main-level master bedroom suite has a corner fireplace, a wall of French doors opening to a deck, and luxurious his and her whirlpool baths. Additional features include a library with separate office and bath, game room and exercise room.

The 10,600 square feet three-level sports pavilion is the ultimate entertainment facility. Winner of a prestigious award for excellence in design and construction in 2005, the pavilion offers a French country kitchen and dining area that seats 30, all overlooking a NBA-level half basketball court with regulation scoreboard. There's also a stage replete with dark maroon velvet curtain and Broadway-level lighting and sound system. The dance studio has a ballet bar and mirrored walls. The fairy-tale setting continues downstairs with a state-of-the-art golf simulator room where you can choose to play one of 50 different courses around the world, including St. Andrews and Pebble Beach. There's also a movie theater with over-sized leather seats for 25; a bowling alley, and a game room that features billiards, pinball and a milk shake bar. The three levels of the "sports barn" are linked via an elevator and a circular log stairway hand-made in Colorado. There's a TV lounge setting on all three levels, and on the third level, there are three bedrooms and three baths.

The property has a trout pond with two waterfalls and a heated pool complete with a pool spa. The pool house features a sauna, two changing rooms, two showers and a bathroom. There's also a cabana with a state-of-the-art kitchen, bar, stone fireplace, Viking grill, wood-beam ceiling and seating for 25. The garage, which is within the sports pavilion, includes a catering kitchen with an extra-large refrigerator and sink. There is also a charming guest cottage with a living room, fireplace, kitchenette, bedroom and full bath.

The house is listed at $12,500,000.

For more information, contact the listing agent, Barbara Cleary of Barbara Cleary's Realty Guild at (203) 966-7772.

Filed under: Estates

The Gathering Place, Estate of the Day originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gallery: Vladimir Kagan and Ralph Pucci's Limited Edition Chairs

Award-winning furniture designer and nominee for a Luxist Readers' Choice Award for Decor, Vladimir Kagan, has collaborated with mannequin artist and sculptor Ralph Pucci, on a limited edition fiberglass chair that is both functional and a work of art.

The endeavor initiated during a simple conversation between Kagan and Pucci who were examining sketches of Kagan's 1950's era designs. Though never produced, the sketches were of pieces in a variety of materials, including fiberglass.

Kagan had long wanted to create a plastic chair, as his designs were so ideally suited for the medium. When Pucci saw Kagan's sketches, his realized his sculptor and mannequin workshop was equipped to produce the concept. Pucci also felt the project was very current because of an exhibit of noted Israeli designer Ron Arad's carbon fiber armchairs at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Kagan designed a new chair and produced a miniature clay model of it. Shortly thereafter, he and Pucci started to build a full-scale mockup in clay.

For Kagan, working with a pliable material was a totally liberating experience. For Pucci, it made common sense to utilize the facilities of his mannequin workroom and create something new and different, all in keeping with his thoughts of moving forward.

The result is the fiberglass collection in a limited edition of 100 now on view at the Ralph Pucci Showroom in New York, the Los Angeles Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Ca., and the J. Bachelor DCOTA Design Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The chairs have been produced in foundry black, foundry grey and white ($9,000 each) as well as clear ($15,000 each).

The successful collaboration gave birth to a new collection of limited edition sculptures by Kagan which were produced and sculptured by Pucci at the Ralph Pucci workroom. The sculptures will be introduced at the Ralph Pucci showroom in New York in December. The chairs will also be on display following a lecture by Pucci and Kagan at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum at 2 East 91st Street in New York on October 29, 2009.

Filed under: Decor, Art

Vladimir Kagan and Ralph Pucci Collaborate to Create Limited Edition Collection originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Truffles are among the most expensive and prized delicacies on earth. A member of the fungi family, they are incredibly expensive because of their scarcity. In fact, it is not unheard of for large ones, which are extremely rare, to command six figure prices.

Typically roundish but lumpy in appearance, they have an intense flavor. They are typically used sparingly, due to their strong earthy flavor, but also because of their expense.

In Europe, specially-trained truffle dogs and pigs, both of which have a keen sense of smell, are used to locate mature truffles buried underground. The fungus that makes truffles can only survive and thrive in certain soil conditions and have symbiotic relationships with the roots of specific species of trees. The fungus attaches itself to a tree root, typically oak, beech, hazel or birch, and produce one truffle per year. The aroma and flavor of truffles differ, depending on the type of tree where they grew.

Prized truffles include the French black truffle, which is found in the Périgord region of southwest France. Italy is known for its white truffles, many of which are from the Piedmonte and Umbria regions.

Filed under: Dining

What are Truffles? originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The answer depends on the type of cheese, says Mayo Clinic nutritionist, Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. "Molds are microscopic organisms that have thread-like roots that burrow into the foods they grow on," she says.

There are good molds and there are bad molds. Most molds are harmless and safe to eat (unless you are allergic to mold, of course). These molds are even used to make some kinds of cheese, including brie, roquefort, gorgonzola, and camembert. Some bad molds produce mycotoxins, which can make you sick.

With hard and semisoft cheese, such as parmesan, Swiss, romano and cheddar, you can cut away the moldy part and eat the rest of the cheese, says Zeratsky. "Keep the knife out of the mold itself so that it doesn't cross-contaminate other parts of the cheese," she warns. "Cut off at least one inch around and below the moldy spot."

With soft cheeses, such as brie, chevre, blue cheese and ricotta, however, the mold that grows cannot be safely removed so these cheeses should be discarded. The same goes for any cheese that has been shredded, crumbled or sliced.

Filed under: Dining

Is Moldy Cheese Safe to Eat? originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

"Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat, a healthier type of fat that can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing the total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol levels in your blood," says Mayo Clinic nutritionist, Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consuming about two tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil a day may reduce your risk of heart disease. "You can get the most benefit by substituting olive oil for saturated fats rather than just adding more olive oil to your diet," says Zeratsky.

All types of olive oil contain monounsaturated fat. Extra-virgin or virgin olive oils are the least processed forms, so they're the most heart healthy. Those types contain the highest levels of polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant that also can promote heart health, she adds.

Filed under: Dining

The Health Benefits of Olive Oil originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sea salt is often marketed as a more natural and healthy alternative. "The real differences between sea salt and table salt are in their taste, texture and processing, not their chemical makeup," says Mayo Clinic nutritionist, Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

Sea salt is produced through evaporation of seawater, usually with little processing, which leaves behind some trace minerals and elements depending on its water source. These insignificant amounts of minerals add flavor and color to sea salt, which also comes in a variety of coarseness levels, says Zeratsky.

Table salt, on the other hand, is mined from underground salt deposits. "Table salt is more heavily processed to eliminate trace minerals and usually contains an additive to prevent clumping," says Zeratsky. "Most table salt also has added iodine, an essential nutrient that appears naturally in minute amounts in sea salt."

Salt is just one source of the sodium you consume every day. Many processed foods contain sodium in other forms while some medicines are high in sodium. According to the American Heart Association, be aware of all your sources of sodium and aim to eat less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Some people, including middle-aged and older adults, and people with high blood pressure, need less than 1,500 mg per day.

Filed under: Dining

Sea Salt Versus Table Salt: Which is Better? originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Luxist Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Food will be based on your nominations and voting. We're currently seeking nominations for the best-of-breed in the following categories:

Best Gourmet Grocer or Food Hall
Best Online Gourmet Goods Purveyor
Best Cheese Shop
Best Caviar Retailer
Best Bread (Bakery)

Submit your nominations below about your favorite gourmet food resources and we will compile a list of those that are the most popular, along with related articles. One nomination per category, please. Submissions can be filed until November 15th, 2009.

Nominations have been received and vetted for the best-of-breed in lighting, furniture, antiques resource, dishware and glassware. Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of these categories. Readers' Choice Awards for Decor will be announced on October 31st.

Filed under: Services

The Luxist Awards for Best in Food originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Each of finalists for the Readers' Choice for the Best in Lighting is a leader in the industry. One is credited with founding modern interior lighting designs, while another creates sculptural masterpieces. A third produces lighting that radiates beauty from every angle while the crystal chandeliers of another have been sought out by royalty. Last, but not least, there's one which melds exquisitely cut crystal with its masterful designs.

The Readers' Choice for the Best in Furniture nominees offer a range of original artistry from simple and pure to the exotic; from traditional to the ultra-modern. Their creations are collected by connoisseurs and museums alike.

The Readers' Choice for the Best in Glassware for a Luxist Award include award-winning brands from France, Sweden and the United States. Each represents the finest of quality and artistry while offering the most exquisite of designs.

Nominees for Readers' Choice for Best in Dishware include companies that have been producing china for centuries. Two have roots in the Limoges region of France, the cradle of the French porcelain industry. One nominee is quintessentially English while two produce American classics. Dishware created by each of these nominees are owned by the who's who of world leaders from the King of Saudi Arabia and the Queen of England to the President of the United States.

Readers' Choice nominees for Best Antiques Resource include the most prestigious art and antiques fairs in the world. These fairs, which are international in scope, are annual destinations for serious connoisseurs, collectors and museum curators who are in search of the best. Each of these fairs have rigorous vetting processes in which the quality, condition and authenticity of each piece is carefully investigated.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of these categories. Readers' Choice Awards for Decor will be announced on October 31st.

Filed under: Decor

Vote Now for the Readers' Choice Best in Decor Awards originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gallery: More from Niermann Weeks

Niermann Weeks, headquartered in Millersville, Md., is a nominee for a Luxist Award in the best of lighting category.

This family-owned and operated company was founded in 1978 by Joe Niermann and his wife, Eleanor McKay, both with extensive backgrounds in historic preservation. Niermann is the company's principal designer, while McKay is the company's chief executive officer. Their daughters are both involved with the business with Claire serving as vice president of operations and Eleanor in the role of vice president of merchandising.

Joe Niermann's design style is to extrapolate the traditional form within its historic constraints. The result is spectacular lighting that is a pure exercise in geometry.

Niermann Weeks' lighting is jewelry for the interior. Each piece radiates beauty from every angle and in every light.

More than 40% of the company's business is custom-designed to meet the special needs of professional architect and designer clients. Niermann Weeks features more than 600 standard designs with 500 finishes, available through to-the-trade designer showrooms in the United States and Canada.

Chandeliers range in size from a stately 20 feet tall chandelier suitable for display in the lobby of a hotel down to a more intimate 11 inch tall piece for a small boudoir or powder room. Prices vary from $1,500 for a standard design for a simple sconce to $36,000 for a larger piece. Customization increases the price. Each of its products are hand-crafted at the Niermann Weeks factory outside Annapolis, Md.

Niermann Weeks' chandeliers, sconces, lantern, lamps, and ceiling fixtures can be viewed on www.niermannweeks.com (including retail prices). Its products are available at major design centers in the United States, Canada, and London; on internet portals such as www.shopAD.net, and at many retail locations.

Filed under: Decor

Niermann Weeks: Jewelry for the Interior originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments