Can you shop online and have your specialty cheeses and fine dining too? iGourmet.com thinks so, and it seems plenty of others agree as it has been nominated for a Luxist Award in the Best Gourmet Food category and was named 'best gourmet food website' by Forbes for five years in a row: from 2003 to 2007. It's a family business that originated from three generations of cheese importers and started as a mail order business (known as "International Gourmet") well before the internet was even invented. With no "brick and mortar" shop, igourmet.com has an extensive website complete with large photos, flavor descriptions, usage ideas, and recipes in an effort to not only offer exquisite edibles but also educate its customers so they really get what they're shopping for.

iGourmet.com offers everything from meats to sweets to oils and vinegars, but they especially pride themselves on their extensive line of gourmet cheeses imported from France, Italy, Sweden, and every other European country that exports it. They also offer a wide array of unique gift options for the holidays or any time of year in the form of luxe and beautifully packaged gift boxes, gift baskets, and cheeseboards plus a selection of 6 different gourmet monthly club options including Cheese of the Month (of course), Tea of the Month, and Connoisseur of the Month clubs.

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.

The Harrods Food Hall in London has been nominated for a Luxist Award in the Best Gourmet Grocer/Food Hall category. Harrods is known worldwide for its opulence and grandeur, and the Food Halls are no exception. Harrods has been around since 1834, founded by Charles Henry Harrod and originally operating in a single room selling a mix of grocery goods, perfumes, and stationary items.

Today, it's grown to boast a series of food halls (a luxury food court of sorts) that each specialize in something different but combine to make for a total experience. Many visitors are struck by the sheer volume and selection of international goods, all presented in breathtakingly beautiful displays, counters, and luxury eateries. Harrods is known for offering everything from fine chocolates to lavish cuts of meat and seafood, cheeses, baked goods, and even fine wines, with tasting events scheduled in-house. There are also restaurants serving up gourmet meals, sandwiches, and snacks so you can taste before you buy (or simply enjoy a good meal).

The holidays are an especially grand time of year for Harrods, with many finding great gifts in their selection of food hampers. Prices vary but this year their most divine option is called The Supreme (£1,250) and includes the best of the Food Halls offerings from main courses through dessert, wine and spirits not to be left out.

Many of its products are available for purchase on its website, from pate, biscuits and jam to chocolate, coffee and an impressive selection of teas.

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.

There are literally hundreds of different kinds of cheese in the world, all with different characteristics, flavors, and origins. Many different factors determine how a cheese turns out but some of the most influential are what kind of milk is used (cow, sheep, or goat), how it's prepared, and how long the cheese is aged. As a general rule, the longer a cheese is aged the more aromatic and flavor-intense it is. Here's a guide to just a few of the world's most popular cheeses and what makes them unique.

Cheddar One of most widely used cheeses here in the States, cheddar cheese is made from cow's milk and was first 'born' in England in a little village called Cheddar. It comes in mild, medium, and sharp varieties and can be off-white to dark orange in color.

Blue Cheese is a white cheese with unique blue/black spots and veins in it that are the result of mold. Made from a combination of sheep, goat, and cow's milk, blue cheese has a both a strong smell and a very strong flavor -- for many it's an acquired taste.

Swiss Originating in Switzerland, Swiss cheese is unique for its 'eyes' which are the holes left by bubbles that form during the aging process. The larger the 'eyes' the more intense the flavor.

Feta originated in Greece and is made with a combination of sheep and goat's milk. It's a white, soft or semi-firm cheese that is aged for several months and has a mild to strong tangy flavor.

Asiago cheese hails from the Asiago High Plateau in Italy (at least originally) and has a full, nutty-flavor. It comes in two main varieties, Fresh Asiago made from whole milk and Asiago d' Allevo made from part-skim milk and aged much longer.

Brie is a soft, light white to yellow cheese with a thick, somewhat tasteless, edible rind. It originated in France and is traditionally made with raw milk, meaning true Brie is not available in the United States due to pasturization laws. Many pasteurized varieties are available, however, and are usually enjoyed sliced with fruit or bread.

Limburger Perhaps most famous for its "stinkiness," Limburger cheese originated in Belgium (before becoming popular in Germany) and gets its trademark odor from bacteria living in the rind. The cheese itself, made from cow's milk, has a mild tangy flavor and is often enjoyed with beer.

Have another cheese you'd like to know more about? This website has an easy-to-navigate alphabetical guide.

Montreal is a fantastic destination, but like any city, it can be hard for a visitor to get to know. To that end, Tourisme Montreal has engaged five in-the-know locals to basically blanket social media from Facebook, to Twitter, to blogs, sharing all of their knowledge about their city -- and answering questions from travelers in town. Katerine Rollet is one of these insiders, and she recently selected these 12 can't-miss experiences in Montreal for Luxist.

1- Go for tea at the St. James Hotel. This chic boutique hotel is where the likes of the Rolling Stones and Madonna stay when they're in town, and the tea at newly renovated restaurant XO is a a great way to experience a proper British tea with a modern twist. UPDATED: The St. James no longer serves afternoon tea, but the new Salon XO is worth a visit.
2- Experience the spa at Place D'armes -- one of the best places in town for a mani-pedi, not to mention one of the few places in Montreal to experience a hammam, or Turkish bath. Wrap up with a drink on the terrace.
3- For men: at Québec's own Phillipe Dubuc -- the place for a man to fill his closet with stylish, business appropriate clothing with an edge.
4- For women: fill your suitcase at Montreal's achingly stylish, unfailingly feminine Marie Saint Pierre.
5- For everyone: visit Oglivy, a lovely shopping mall filled with charming boutiques, great book stores, stationary shops, international designers and more.
6- For the shopping-shy: Engage the style hounds at Les Effrontes to have your own guided tour of Montreal's up and coming designer's ateliers.
7- Dine at Joe Beef, on raw bar and steak in up-and-coming neighborhood Little Burgundy ("Petite Bourgogne") .
8- Or, hit Toque -- widely considered one of the best meals you can have in Montreal. Try the tasting menu.
9- Or reserve the chef's table at Europea, and dine in the kitchen of charismatic Chef Jérôme Ferrer. 10- After dinner drinks: check out Hotel St Paul's bar for cocktails with Montreal's chicest.
11- Sweet treats: visit Point G for waffles, artisanal ice cream, and most importantly, macarons.
12- Brunch the next day: La Cantine in the Plateau neighborhood, for a traditional Québec brunch revisited.

Should you happen to visit The Lion City, there are a number of fabulous options available for dining. Whether you're looking for a classy place for a business meeting or a more romantic venue, we've got you covered.

Fine dining in Singapore is a major national hobby. As I commented in another article, 10 Things to Eat in Singapore, in most countries, people say: "Hi, how are you?" In Singapore, they say "Hi, have you eaten?" usually followed by "What?" "Where?" and "How was it?"

I was introduced to Singaporean fine dining by Les Amis Group spokesman Raymond Lim at their decadent Les Amis restaurant on Scotts Road (above is their Ciabatta wrapped crispy egg). The restaurant is very true to the French methods of cooking and presentation, but what makes the experience so unique is the Japanese ingredients. It's not quite fusion; they're just making French food with different raw materials -- the results are delicious.

Les Amis Group owns a handful of beautiful dining venues in Singapore, including French, Japanese and Italian restaurants (the most popular European cuisine in the country). Have a look through the gallery for peeks into restaurants all over Singapore including the 2am Dessert Bar, City Space on the Swissotel's 70th floor and the sexy Scarlet Hotel.

This trip was paid for by the Singapore Board of Tourism, but the views expressed within the post are 100% my own.

What sort of event calls for a cocktail of Leblon Cachaca, Strawberry-Cinnamon "Conserva", Sweet Basil & Pop Rocks? You can drink the Sambista and other concoctions at the Brazilian Independence Day festivities at SUSHISAMBA 7 (87 Seventh Ave.; 212-691-7885) on Sunday, September 6. The event also includes performances by Arte Capoeira performers with Samba dancers. The food specials are also adventurous with treats such as the amazon roll of alligator tempura, smoked soy, chiles & bacon farofa. Now that's not your average Labor Day food!

Hopefully you aren't at your desk right now but if you are and you are in New York City over the Fourth of July weekend Spice Market would like to suggest their outdoor patio in the Meatpacking district of NYC as a place to grab a bit of weekend enjoyment. Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has added new dishes including Peeky Toe Crab Dumplings and Steamed Red Snapper with Shiitake Mushrooms exude the types of bold spices and flavors he is famous for. For dessert the Thai Jewels with Crushed Coconut Ice offer that a refreshing and sweet treat for a hot summer night. This weekend Spice Market NYC is debuting carafes of the signature Ginger Margarita or Sangria cocktails. They also serve non-alcoholic drinks including the new Ginger-Lime Soda, Jasmine Lemonade and Cherry Yuzu Soda. Spice Market's Tasting Menu is $48 per person and includes samplings of 10 flavors in five courses.

OpenTable has released the list of the national winners of its 2009 Diners' Choice awards for Best American Cuisine. The list of winning restaurants was created using the 2.5 million reviews submitted by OpenTable diners for more than 9,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The list on Open Table shows the restaurants in alphabetical order and includes some very well-regarded restaurants such as New York City's Blue Hill and Gramercy Tavern, Thomas Keller's The French Laundry and Per Se and Michael Mina in San Francisco. One restaurant chain, The Capital Grille, a steakhouse located in many major cities including Chicago, Boston and Denver is prominently featured.

You don't often hear "gourmet" and "airplane food" in the same title, but that's because Lufthansa hasn't teamed up with the chefs of The Ritz-Carlton until now!

Naturally, creating meals that can be mass produced and still impress at 30,000+ feet is quite the culinary challenge. Some of the best chefs in the industry, including Denver's Andrés Jiménez, New York's Thomas Surowka and Jacques Sorci, DC's David Serus, San Francisco's Nathan Beriau, Boston's Clayton Van Hooijdonk, and Ritz-Carlton Vice President, Culinary Corporate Chef George McNeill teamed up to create the finest airline dining experience we've ever seen, and they held an event at the NYC loft home (above) of Barry Appelman (father of the AOL Instant Messenger) and Ildiko Sragli to kick off the collaboration and allow guests to sample the culinary masterpieces!

The First Class and Business Class menus on Lufthansa flights will now include items like:

• Omelette with Mushroom Ragout, Potato Rösti, and Bacon
• Smoked Trout Mousse with Poached Leeks and Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette
• Seared Cod in Artichoke and Carrot Broth with Roasted Garlic
• Spinach Stuffed Gnocchi with sautéed Cremini Mushrooms and Pine Nuts in a Vegetable Butter Sauce

Have a look through our gallery below to see some of the mouth-watering dishes that will now be available in First and Business Class on Lufthansa flights!

Bad news for the restaurant world, eating out has topped the list of a survey of what people are willing to give up during a recession. The survey, conducted by New York marketing firm GfK Custom Research last fall found that 82 percent of those surveyed could easily forgo restaurant time as their first cutback in a difficult economy. Forbes reports that the National Restaurant Association in Washington, D.C., predicts that Americans will spend $566 billion eating out in 2009 which is a small 2.5 percent increase over 2008. The good news for those still interested in dining is that the deals abound. All across the restaurant spectrum, from casual dining to some of the best restaurants in the U.S., discounts and special offers provide an incentive to let someone else do the cooking.

It seems whenever there's some kind of exorbitantly expensive food there's an ingredient that almost always makes an appearance: truffles. This sandwich, called LE "SANDWICH" TIEDE A LA TRUFFE FRAÎCHE, and created by French chef Michel Rostang, is no exception. It will appeal to purists mostly as it is amazingly simple: fresh truffles are sliced and placed on toasted country bread with salted butter. The sandwich sits for two nights (so the flavors can marinate together) and then the whole thing is lightly grilled on both sides. That's it. Heck, if you have some spare truffles lying around you can make this at home instead of a grilled cheese or something. Or maybe not. 98 €

Set your table with this eclectic group of glasses and you'll not only have a colorful display but there won't be any worries about whose glass is whose. Designed by Pols Potten and imported from Amsterdam, the set consists of 6 glasses, all in distinctly different colors and patterns. The only constants between them are their conical shape and a theme of bright jewel tones like violet, ink, and seagreen. Whimsical polka dots and classic stripes will fit the mood and personality of every guest. $99

The perfect meal can set the tone for an entire romantic evening. But it isn't just about how much you're willing to spend -- you have to choose a spot based on its ambiance, service and, of course, the meal. From coast to coast well-known venues are serving special menus to celebrate Valentine's Day with you. All you have to do is decide which one to reserve!

In Hollywood, Gordon Ramsay at the London West Hollywood has a myriad of tantalizing options all involving a seven-course, prix-fixe menu. Inside the restaurant this romantic meal is $200 - $300 per couple while a private 'engagement' dining room for two is $1,000 and the rooftop poolside cabanas are $1,150. Both the private dining rooms (there are two) and poolside cabana seatings include a bottle of Cristal upon arrival, a dozen red roses, and a take-home keepsake.

In NYC's Plaza Hotel, the recently renovated Oak Room is offering a sumptuous menu including seafood, steak and, of course, chocolate to suit your tastes for $140 per person.

At Denver's historic Brown Palace Hotel, the esteemed Palace Arms is showcasing a decadent six-course meal incorporating chocolate in every dish for $150 per couple.

Dallas' premiere restaurant, The French Room inside the Adolphus Hotel, is featuring a delicious three-course meal for $115 per person.

Lastly, The Herbfarm located outside of Seattle in Woodinville, Washington, has created a themed evening deemed "A Menu for Two Hearts" available Feb. 12 - 15 for $189 to $205 per person.

If you aren't close to one of these culinary wonders don't fret -- your community is bound to have something spectacular happening at their own local venues. Just be sure to avoid the chain restaurant on a night like Valentines.

I mentioned Omaha Steaks last month when talking about Thanksgiving turkeys to order online but the mail order food company has a far more luxurious new option. The "Ultimate in Luxurious Home Dining," is a five-course Omaha Steaks Private Reserve gourmet dinner party, which is prepared and served in the customer's home by the company's Executive Chef and culinary staff. The five-course dinner for eight includes appetizers and cocktails, soup, salad, entrée and desserts accompanied by wines to complement every course from Omaha Steaks family owner Fred Simon's private wine cellar. The package retails for $10,000.

How many times have you passed on a glass of wine because the kind you wanted was only sold by the bottle? The Japanese have a good thing going called "bottle keep" that takes care of that problem by allowing customers to drink what they want out of a bottle of wine and save the rest for later. The restaurant puts the customers name on the bottle and keeps it in the back until their next visit.

What an awesome way to make the most of a bottle of wine (not to mention impressing friends and family with the VIP treatment!). Obviously this idea isn't reserved only for the Japanese so now I'm be on the hunt for a restaurant that offers this service (or something like it) in my area.