Jetsettersblog

Tesoros Hotels & Restaurants, a collection of boutique properties and dining establishments located within Mexico’s most fascinating and yet ‘undiscovered’ tourism destinations.

The Tesoros brand is synonymous with excellence in hospitality and Mexican cuisine, offering sophisticated visitors access to some of the country’s most intriguing regions. Consisting of 44 hotels and 28 restaurants, Tesoros properties are located in four central states within Mexico – Guanajuato, Michoacán, Morelos and Puebla as well as the country’s southernmost state – Chiapas. In order to become a member of Tesoros Hotels & Restaurants, these establishments must be of historical or architectural significance and be located within the town’s ‘centro’ district.

While already highly-regarded in Mexico for hospitality offerings of the highest standards in Mexican traditions, culture and cuisine, we are pleased to have the opportunity to launch the Tesoros brand in the US.

Tesoros Hotels & Restaurants have created an environment that is laden with original character and authenticity while offering discerning travelers first-class amenities including spa services and private banquet facilities for destination weddings and meetings.

In the interim and for more information, please visit www.viveuntesoros.com

On August 19, Buddy Dive celebrated its 30th anniversary by announcing that their operations will begin to include two liveaboard vessels, MV Wolf Buddy and MV Darwin Buddy, in the Galapagos Islands beginning September 2011.

The new ships will be 120 feet long with four decks and luxurious staterooms – all in keeping with Buddy Dive’s “Eat, Sleep, (Buddy) Dive” philosophy.

» For more info, visit

www.buddydive.com

 or contact

galapagos@buddydive.com.

The Solmar V has been committed to the environment for years – from being involved in the formation of the protected biosphere around the Socorro Islands in 1993 to encouraging divers to exhibit good practices – and 2011 will continue that tradition.

Partnering with Carbonfund.org, Solmar V will establish carbon offsets for the boat’s diesel emissions and a part of revenues from every trip will go toward fighting global warming.

To help encourage everyone to be good stewards of the ocean, they are offering their “Green Boat” special for all January 2011 trips to Socorro Islands; limited space is available, so visit www.solmarV.com to learn more and to reserve your spot!

Demand for steak to pair with local Cabernets drives menu expansion

Napa, CA –2 September 2010 – No restaurant in Napa Valley can match the seafood selection presented daily at Cindy Pawlcyn’s GO FISH in St. Helena.

Recently named one of the top 10 seafood restaurants in America by Bon Appetit magazine, GO FISH also has been singled out by the San Francisco Chronicle for its unrivaled white wine selection. But Napa Valley has long been the country’s leading producer of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pawlcyn felt it was important to expand the GO FISH menu to meet the demand for entreés that pair ideally with the region’s most popular varietal.

GO FISH now features steaks that are prime examples of the best quality available in American Angus for the ultimate seafood, steak and sushi experience along with Cabernet Sauvignon produced by more than 45 different Napa Valley vintners.

Meyer Ranch Natural Angus Cattle, Niwot, Colorado
For the first time, the GO FISH menu offers diners a Prime 12 oz. Ribeye, Meyer Ranch 8 oz. Choice Filet Mignon, and a 9 oz. Choice Grilled Hanger Steak. All of the steaks are wood-fired and the new entreés range from $23.95 to $38.95.

“I just love Meyer Ranch,” says chef/owner Pawlcyn. “They raise only Angus cattle, known for the best marbling, juiciness, tenderness and flavor.

“You can trace the cattle back to their source. They’re all on strictly vegetarian diets and are never given hormone or antibiotic treatment.” Meyer is also the only major beef company to receive “Certified Humane” designation from the Humane Farm Animal Care program –cattle must be raised with shelter, sufficient space and the ability to engage in natural behaviors.

“This company’s values are my values,” she says. “Seafood will always be at the heart of what we do at GO FISH and providing both surf and turf here has already proven to be wildly popular.”

In addition to exceptional by-the-glass offerings like Melka “CJ” Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 and 20 Rows Napa Cabernet 2007, the GO FISH wine list includes 15 outstanding Napa Valley Cabernets priced between $50 and $100 a bottle and more than 30 Cabernet Sauvignons priced above $100. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon currently offered at GO FISH includes:

Terra Valentine, ‘Estate’, Spring Mountain 2006
Martin Estate, ‘Bacchanal’, Rutherford 2006
Sensorium, Napa Valley 2005
Raymond, ‘Reserve’, Napa Valley 2006
Amicus, Special Blend, Spring Mountain 2004
Surh Luchtel, Napa Valley 2003
Reckless, Napa Valley 2004
Cliff Lede, Stag’s Leap District, Napa Valley 2006
Girard, ‘Artistry’, Napa Valley 2005
Tamber Bey, ‘Rabicano’, Yountville 2007
Rubicon Estate, ‘Cask’, Rutherford 2006
Lieff, Auberge Road Vineyard, Rutherford 2005
Melka, ‘CJ’, Napa Valley 2005
Michael Anthony, Napa Valley 2004
Lail Vineyards, ‘Blueprint’, Napa Valley 2006
Meuller Family Vineyards, Diamond Mountain District 2007
Spence, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley 2005
Joseph Phelps, Napa Valley 2005
Orin Swift Cellars, ‘Papillon’, Napa Valley 2005

Jaffe Estate, ‘Metamorphosis’, Napa Valley 2006
Jaffe Estate, ‘Transformation’, Napa Valley 2006
Cross, Oakville 2003
Gamble Vineyards, ‘Family Home’, Oakville 2005
Silver Oak, Alexander Valley 2005
Boeschen, Napa Valley 2006
Elan Vineyards, Napa Valley 2002
Freemark Abbey, Sycamore Vineyard, Rutherford 2004
Caymus Vineyards, Napa Valley 2006
Arns, Napa Valley 2003
O’shaughnessy, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley 2006
Orin Swift Cellars, ‘Mercury Head’, Napa Valley 2007
Valance, Napa Valley 2002
J. Davies, Diamond Mountain District 2005
Kiss Ridge Vineyard, Diamond Mountain District 2004
Kelly Fleming, Napa Valley 2005
Bello Family Vineyards, Napa Valley 2005
Altagracia, Araujo Estate, Eisele Vineyard, Napa Valley 2005
Dancing Hares, Napa Valley 2005
Bressler, Napa Valley 2005
Kapcsándy Family Winery, ‘Estate Cuveé’, Napa Valley 2005
Husic Vineyards, Napa Valley 2004
Chateau Montelena, ‘Estate’, Napa Valley 2004
Rudd, ‘Estate’, Oakville 2005
Barbour Vineyards, Napa Valley 2005
Staglin, ‘Estate’, Napa Valley 2003
Scarecrow, Rutherford 2006
Futo, Oakville 2006
Dana Estates, Helms Vineyard, Napa Valley 2005
Abreu, Madrona Ranch, Napa Valley
Harlan, Oakville 2004

About GO FISH

Like the children’s card game it’s playfully named after, GO FISH wood-fired grill and raw sushi bar has become a classic since its inception in 2006. From its start, Cindy Pawlcyn, the pioneering Napa Valley restaurateur who also founded the legendary Mustards Grill and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, envisioned Napa Valley’s first fish restaurant as a home to all things seafood, including a San Francisco-inspired raw bar, authentic sushi and sake bar, and classic West Coast-style fish house.

Created with partners Sean Knight and Ken Tominaga, and designed by famed Napa Valley architect Howard Backen, the 220-seat restaurant delivers it all with an expansive menu that utilizes only the freshest sustainable fish and seafood that’s flown in daily, as well as farm-fresh produce that’s sourced regionally and augmented with the bounty from the restaurant’s on-site 1 1/2-acre organic garden. The restaurant’s extensive wine list includes a selection of whites lauded as the best in the Bay area by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Go Fish is located at 641 Main Street in St. Helena and offers indoor and outdoor dining year-round in true Wine Country style seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For additional information, visit www.gofishrestaurant.net or call 707-963-0700.

New Carrie Underwood and Charlie Daniels Artists also revealed

Las Vegas, Nev. – American Superstars Producer Donny Lee Moore and Executive Producer Mark Callas proudly announce the newest artists to their Las Vegas show at the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower. Autumn Belanger & Katie Dix, two talented young singers are joining the cast as Lady Gaga and Carrie Underwood respectively. Also returning to the lineup is Johnny Potash as Charlie Daniels.

“In the spirit of keeping American Superstars fresh, our new lineup is headlined by a tribute to the glam rock superstar: Lady Gaga,” says Callas.

“The biggest recording star and number one ranked friend on Facebook has taken the world by storm with a string of number one hits, blockbuster record sales, critically acclaimed concerts and a legion of fanatical fans (her “little monsters”). Now Las Vegas will witness the unbelievable talent and uniquely bizarre style of Lady Gaga on a nightly basis—on the stage of American Superstars.”

Lady Gaga tribute artist Autumn Belanger is a Las Vegas native and a graduate of the Las Vegas Academy of the Performing Arts. She has been in such productions as “FEVER” and “Scarlett: Princess of Magic.”

Autumn has also modeled for Steve Madden, Diesel, and Warrior and was recently featured in Maxim Magazine’s July 2010 issue. She has also performed as other glam fashionistas such as Katy Perry, Ke$ha and members of the Pussycat Dolls. Belanger is excited to be cast as Lady Gaga and is ready to glitz it up in this long running Vegas show.

Katie brings a strong background of singing and performance to the role of Carrie Underwood, winning her first vocal performance award at the age of seven. Miss Dix was a recipient of the Thelma Ray Self Music Scholarship, a Spotlight Performance Award, and a local award for “Best Female Country Vocal Performance.”

Miss Dix has performed with legendary country artist Buck Owens and many local bands. A pure country girl, Katie Dix is truly transformed into this western sweetheart on stage.

“These girls can really sing,” says Moore. “They are a great addition to the American Superstars line-up. Autumn is a must-see, she rocks the house. And Katie has amazing talent and undeniable charisma.”

Continuing with the timeless popularity of country music, American Superstars welcomes back Johnny Potash as Charlie Daniels. Proclaimed year after year as the Nevada State Grandmaster Fiddle Champion, Johnny first wowed crowds at Stratosphere with his Charlie Daniels tribute for American Superstars in 1996.

In addition, Bart Doerfler, a renowned Director and Choreographer, has also been brought in to focus the spotlight on the girls.

Doerfler has created shows & choreography for Comedy Central, FOX, and the Walt Disney Company. He has also won several International Awards for shows that he has written, directed, and choreographed.

About American Superstars

American Superstars™ is a full-scale production show that combines the talents of tribute artists portraying the likeness and musical abilities of today and yesterday’s hottest stars.

The American Superstars cast also features Corey Melton as Michael Jackson, the King of Pop and Darren Lee as Elvis Presley, the King of Rock & Roll. Backing the multi-talented cast are the high energy Superstars Band and the beautiful Superstars Dancers.

Show times are Sunday through Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the Stratosphere’s Theater of the Stars Showroom. The show is dark on Thursday. Tickets are $39.99 for adults and $29.99 for children ages 5 to 12 with the option of a dinner package for just $5 more.

For tickets or more information, call 702-380-7777 or 800-99-TOWER (998-6937).

With panoramic sea views from almost every room in the house, Porta Casa is a stunning addition to the Cornish Horizons portfolio of holiday cottages in Cornwall.

Sleeping up to 7, Porta Casa encourages visitors to join in the water sports on Mawgan Porth beach with a large storage area for surfboards, wetsuits, bikes etc. and an external shower for washing off the sand.

This well equipped contemporary Cornish cottage also boasts a large range great for cosying up to when storm watching and two sitting rooms with squashy bean bags.

There are restaurants and pubs within a few minutes walk. Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Restaurant is just 2 miles down the coast at Watergate Bay and Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant is 6 miles in the other direction.

And if you don’t want to drive to Cornwall why not use nearby Newquay airport?

Cornish Horizons (01841 533 331 www.cornishhorizons.co.uk)  are offering a week at Porta Casa for up to 7 people for £530 low season and £1455 high season

Full property details and graphics:

www.cornishhorizons.co.uk/properties/array/porta_casa

Set To Welcome In Spring At The Cape

South Africa, Cape Town

THE iconic Vineyard Hotel & Spa has literally opened its garden gates, so the general public can also enjoy the establishment’s renowned gardens.

Starting this spring, monthly garden walks will be organised – followed by a delicious Morning or Afternoon Tea in the hotel’s lounge and patio.

Group Environmental Manager for the Vineyard Hotel & Spa, d’Ouwe Werf and the Townhouse Hotel & Conference Centre, Chris van Zyl, has been hosting garden walks on request for the Vineyard’s guests and local garden clubs since 2002. “Now we’d like to make this a more formal arrangement,” he says, “with garden walks offered to anyone interested, once or even twice a month. The walks will be advertised in the media, so that guests and the interested public can come and enjoy our indigenous gardens.”

Chris says many people don’t realise the hotel gardens and facilities – with the exception of the pool and gym – are open for the public to experience.

“Anyone is welcome to walk in, go for a stroll in the garden and enjoy a cup of coffee or even a sundowner at the bar.”

On the planned garden walks, guests will spend approximately 90 minutes enthralled by the spectacular gardens designed and laid out by renowned landscape architect, Ann Sutton.

Historical information will also be shared, since the property has been an estate since 1799 – and was once home to Lady Anne Barnard.

However, the emphasis of the walks remains botanical, and medicinal plants will also be pointed out. Birds and insects will be discussed when seen, and interesting geological formations – that resemble fossilised water ripples – will also be discussed.

“The Vineyard Hotel’s garden has a wide variety of indigenous trees, as well as other special species that don’t usually occur in this part of Africa,” says Chris, “but because we have a micro climate, there are even some tropical tree species flourishing here such as the African flame tree, which doesn’t generally grow in Cape Town.”

The garden walks will be available throughout the year and will follow a circular route and meander along the Liesbeek River too.

“Importantly,” says Chris, “visitors will be able to see what a natural garden looks like. Many hotels have either formal clipped gardens or modern layouts, but at the Vineyard we have allowed the garden to happen in a natural way. We don’t plant annuals for colour either, and rather rely on the indigenous plants to introduce seasonal colour.”

Recently appointed Food and Beverage Manager at the Vineyard Hotel & Spa, Matt Deitchman, says: “We are encouraging interested groups to enjoy the gardens and what the hotel has to offer.

Both morning and afternoon walks are an option, depending on demand, and each group will be served different accompaniments with tea and coffee.”

A choice of scones, Danish Pastries or finger sandwiches will be served with tea and coffee priced from R40, which includes the guided garden walk.

“We want it to be affordable and enjoyable for as many people as possible,” says Matt.

While the ideal group size is between 10 and 15 people, larger groups are also most welcome to book for garden walks. It’s an ideal outing if you feel like ‘a walk in the park’, right in the heart of Cape Town.

A more substantial Afternoon Tea offering is also available which is priced at R90.00 per person and served daily from 15h00 – 17h30.

For the Vineyard’s garden walk bookings and monthly diary call (27) (21) 657 4500;

email: eat@vineyard.co.za

visit www.vineyard.co.za

By World Travel Awards

We are proud to inform that Karafuu Hotel Beach Resort has been voted Tanzania´s Leading Resort in the 2010 World Travel Awards.

The Wall Street Journal has described the World Travel Awards as the ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry, as this Award represents the ultimate accolade for any company in the tourism and travel.

World Travel Awards serve to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel, tourism and hospitality industry.

This year, an astounding 183,000 industry professionals participated in the voting process which is scrupulously monitored and independently audited.

That is why we at Karafuu are very proud of our company’s outstanding achievement for the third consecutive year (Karafuu comes from being voted again in 2008 and 2009 Tanzania’s Leading Resort), after having been voted Africa´s Leading Resort in 2006 and Tanzania´s Leading Hotel in 2006 and 2007.

Karafuu Hotel is one of the few officially 5* rated resorts in Zanzibar, and its beautiful facilities offer 89 rooms divided into 3 categories (junior suites, cottages and garden rooms), 2 restaurants featuring international cuisine and creative theme nights (with themes of Swahili, Maasai or Indian food among others), 2 bars – including a bar inside the swimming pool, swimming pool – with kids area – and two tennis courts and state-of-the-art diving centre, among other excellent facilities one may expect from a 5* beach resort.

Karafuu is located in an un-touched beach in Zanzibar, in the south East Coast of Unguja Island (commonly known as Zanzibar), and it offers the possibility of swimming in the sea both at low and high tide. The hotel was designed to blend harmoniously with the environment, utilizing local materials: the buildings are all ground floor, with a non-intrusive architecture, highlighting the beautiful natural settings of palm trees, white beach and the turquoise sea waters. Karafuu offers a main reception building, with the swimming pool as the centre between the reception and the beach, and the restaurant & diving centre & bar at both sides of the pool. The rooms are all in bungalow style. The walls are built using coral stone, and roofs are palm-thatched, which keep the interiors cool.

In-room facilities include both ceiling fans and air condition, tea / coffee making facilities and wifi, as well as mosquito nets in all the beds.

All the rooms offer a private verandah facing the sea.

We have just completed the construction of a new spa, with gym and swimming pool, which will be a very interesting add on to our superb facilities.

The clientele is international, and service is friendly and flexible to cater to clients´ needs, and yet extremely professional, as it is expected from a 5* hotel.

This new World Travel Award received is a new motivation to continue striving for excellence in our daily work and operations and our service to guests and customers and we are extremely thankful to all the persons who voted for us.

Britain’s leading guided walking holidays’ operator, Ramblers Countrywide Holidays, is following in the footsteps of TV presenters Julia Bradbury and Matt Baker as they unlock the stunning beauty of ‘Secret Britain’. Julia has recently been appointed President of The Ramblers.

Their epic journey is currently being screened on BBC 1 on Sundays at 9 p.m.

They begin in the far west of England with the first leg of their sojourn taking them from Dover to some o the most populated parts of the UK. Yet, even here, are hidden corners and intriguing stories.

Matt explores Britain’s only desert while Julia goes off the beaten track to discover Dorset’s ‘Holloways’.

Many of the areas around the places shown in the TV series are also featured in Ramblers Countrywide Holidays extensive portfolio

www.ramblerscountrywide.co.uk
01707 386800

* Award-winning Ramblers Worldwide Holidays have been established since 1946 and are now the leading guided walking holidays operator in the UK

* The company now operates to over 250 destinations in 90 countries.

* It offers a range of graded walks from leisurely to challenging.

* The operator contributes monies to the Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust which supports environmental projects in the UK and community projects overseas.

* Their portfolio also includes specialist holidays linked to walking such as, cooking, cruising, birdwatching, rail journeys, photography, singing and flora.

* Ramblers Worldwide Holidays provide a fully protected service as members of ABTA, AITO & The CAA.

Sol Meliá is delighted to announce the opening of an extraordinary new five star resort in Egypt, the hotel Meliá Sharm, located on the Red Sea coast on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.

Sharm El Sheikh is considered one of the finest scuba diving locations in the world thanks to its spectacular coral reefs and marine biodiversity; it attracts thousands of tourists every year and is already home to three Sol and Meliá hotels.

The hotel is built in a sophisticated Arabian style and provides 468 rooms, including two Presidential Suites. From October 1st guests will also be able to enjoy The Level – the most exclusive part of the hotel with a private lounge, open bar, butler service, private beach area, private swimming pool and relaxation area; as well as VIP rooms and services.

Dining options at the Meliá Sharm are provided by four restaurants serving the best in regional and international cuisine in unique settings with spectacular views over the Red Sea: Spices (international cuisine), Aqua (a la carte Italian cuisine), Ô Grille (barbecue) and Gabi Lounge (chill out bar with light snacks by the main pool).

There are also five bars to choose from including the lobby bar (open 24 hours), the Luna Lounge (private lounge for cocktails and cigars with a library and fabulous terrace), the pool bar, the beach bar and “Twist” with its live shows every day.

Along with the Meliá Sinai, the hotel will also be amongst the first to launch the new “Kids & Co by Meliá” family programme (implemented in Meliá La Quinta and Meliá Marbella Banús in Malaga), designed to satisfy the needs of younger guests during their stay.

Meliá Sharm boasts a stunning three-storey lobby with magnificent sea views, four lagoon-style swimming pools with fountains, a gym, tennis court, multi-purpose sports court and a business centre with state-of-the-art facilities; including 800sqm of event space.

The hotel enjoys a privileged location in Montazah Ras Nasrany Bay, just 7km from Sharm El Sheikh international airport. The hotel and its private beach have great views of Tiran Island and are close to the Ras Mohamed National Park with some of the most fantastic diving sites in the world, including 800m high underwater cliffs and coral gardens. The Saint Catherine Monastery and Moses Mount are also nearby.

Meliá Sharm is the fourth Sol Meliá property in Egypt, a growing resort destination forecast to receive around 14 million visitors in 2011, and continues the company’s growth into expanding markets across the world.

About Sol Meliá

Sol Meliá was founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) and is one of the world’s largest resort hotel chains, as well as Spain’s leading hotel chain in both the business and leisure markets. It currently provides more than 300 hotels in 26 countries on 4 continents under its brands: Gran Meliá, Meliá, ME by Meliá, Innside by Meliá, Tryp, Sol, Paradisus and Sol Meliá Vacation Club.