Connaught

Gwyneth's Favorite Female Chef Snags a Second Michelin Star

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping

Hélène Darroze (above), who runs the chic eatery in her name at London's posh Connaught hotel, has just been awarded a second Michelin star making her the only female chef in the UK with two of the coveted étoiles under her toque. Gwyneth Paltrow, who lived at the Connaught for a month and was a regular visitor to the restaurant while renovating her house in London, is one of Darroze's biggest fans. Reinforcing the legendary Mayfair hotel's 114 year old legacy of fine dining, Darroze, a protegé of Alain Ducasse, has established a loyal following among other notables and gourmets as well with traditional dishes from her native Southwest France combined with the best seasonal ingredients from the British Isles.

Gallery: Helene Darroze at The Connaught

Tags: Alain Ducasse, chef, Connaught, France, Gordon Ramsay, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hélène Darroze, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, London, luxury hotel, Mayfair, Michelin, UK

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New Aman Spa Opens at The Connaught in London

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas

The Connaught is one of London's most historic hotels, owned by the Maybourne Hotel Group which also runs Claridge's and The Berkeley. Located in the always fashionable Mayfair district, the hotel experienced a $140 million dollar renovation and officially reopened in April of 2008. The concept then was to preserve the authentic elegance of the renowned hotel, considered one of the crown jewels of London's luxury hotels, and to also bring the property into the 21rst century. It seems that the opening of the new Aman Spa is the final step to rejuvenating this grande dame and keeping the historic hotel relevant.

It was a clever choice for the Maybourne Group to open the first ever Aman stand-alone spa at their property as the Amanresorts are famous for their luxury spas in many exotic locations, especially in Asia. Built in the newly constructed west wing the modern Asian influenced design is an interesting contrast to the more traditional Edwardian feel of the Connaught. The treatments offered are inspired by the various traditional renewal traditions of China, Thailand, India and even The Americas. Examples include: a red clay body wrap with Navajo herbs, Thai herbal compress, or Chakra balancing treatment with essential oils and a Samadara facial technique. This makes sense as no one has ever raved about the fabulous traditional British spa treatments!

One particularly interesting aspect of the spa appointments is that guests are asked to book a specific amount of time at the spa rather than an individual treatment. This allows for a more bespoke approach as each guest confers with a trained holistic therapist to create a plan that meets their individual wellness goals. After a long day spent in what can often be a city enveloped in bone chilling dampness, a couple of hours spent in one of the five available treatment rooms (each with its own steam room, treatment area and music system) sounds like just the right antidote to what might ail you.

Tags: Aman spa, AmanResorts, AmanSpa, Connaught, London, spa