Summer is officially in full swing and Houston is ready to celebrate with fresh, seasonal food and more importantly, fabulous cocktails. If you’re looking for a place to start, The St. Regis Houston is it. Inside, Remington Bar is mixing up their signature Bloody Mary’s kicked up with tequila, jalapeño pepper, and Cajun seasoning—a bold way to start a day in this Southern city.... Read More
Spanish food is the latest trend in American dining and the United States is lucky to have a Spaniard of its very own, Chef José Andrés. He might be familiar to you if you’ve eaten in one of his many restaurants across the country or if you’re a television fan—he’s appeared on many different programs, and most notably is a recurring guest on Anthony Bourdain’s travel shows. He’s unmissable: effusive, passionate, knowledgeable and fun, José Andrés enthusiasm is impossible to not get on board with—so much so he was once named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People,” along with “Outstanding Chef” by the James Beard Foundation. In fact, that Spanish tapas craze we mentio... Read More
Move over Emirates and Etihad with your first-class suites. Air Force One? You, too, have been one-upped. Unrivalled luxury in the air now has reached new heights with a flying machine that is daring (and cheeky) enough to make the Wright Brothers... Read More
Summer is finally here, which means it’s time to think about entertaining. Setting the tone is crucial to having the ultimate warm weather soireé, so you’ll have to think about more than just what you’re serving for dinner. Your guests will likely arrive to the party hungry, which makes cheese the perfect appetizer to serve alongside a cold, crisp white wine or rosé. To find out how to craft the perfect summer cheese board, JustLuxe spoke to Brent Delman, also known as The Cheese Guy, a Westchester, New York-based cheesemonger who produces over 25 vegetarian, artisan, family farm-run, kosher and organic cheeses. All cheeses from The Cheese Guy are made on small farms and creameries in the Unite... Read More
There is no shortage of industry conferences if you work in food and wine. The one festival everyone wants to be at—and invited to participate in —is undoubtedly the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Every year, chefs, winemakers, distillers, restaurateurs and everyone who works with them gather in one of the ritziest resort towns to hang out, attend panels and network with some of the biggest names in eating and drinking. Lee Maen, owner and founder of the Innovative Dining Group describes it as, “the way the Oscars feels to the entertainment business—Aspen... Read More
The martini is a drink that hardly needs an introduction – it’s the official vice of James Bond, after all. Its drinkers signal to the world that they’re cultured, classy and maybe a little bit mysterious. For the uninitiated, a classic martini is made with gin and vermouth and garnished with an olive or lemon twist. Another variation uses vodka in place of gin, and drinkers can have the cocktail on the rocks or, as Mr. Bond would prefer it, “shaken, not stirred.” Either way, be it through vigorous stirring or a good shake, the drink is intended to be so cold it almost hurts.... Read More
The “World’s 50 Best” list has named Modena, Italy’s Osteria Francescana the best restaurant in the world for 2016, dethroning Girona, Spain’s El Celler de Can Roca, now sitting at number two. This is Chef Massimo Bottura and his restaurant's first appearance at the top of the list. There were other surprising moves: Copenhagen, Denmark’s Noma, which had jockeyed with El Celler de Can Roca for the top spot over the last few years, moved in to the number five spot—its first time out of the top five since 2009. New York’s Eleven Madison Park made its highest appearance at n... Read More
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be surrounded by a group of French chefs? For true gourmands, this is the stuff of dreams. The Maîtres Cuisiniers de France- Académie Culinaire de France held its Annual Congress and gala this past week in San Diego and JustLuxe was there, taking it all in. The gala was the valedictory event of a long weekend spent at The Ranch at Bandy Canyon in rural San Diego County. The goal of the Congress is to bring North American French chefs together to celebrate the year's achievements and the successes of their colleagues while attending workshops to improve their crafts. The attendees include chefs and others working in food and beverage around th... Read More
If you’re a tippler of any kind, you’ll know that this week is Negroni week. This bitter cocktail, originally from Italy but now loved the world over, has been the latest addition to any hip cocktail menu. No longer just dry gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, the Negroni has been co-opted to include mezcal and other liquors. This themed week now has over 6,000 bars and restaurants participating, with each location donating a portion of the proceeds from every Negroni or Negroni-like drink to a charity of their choice.... Read More
Even after decades of accolades, including three Michelin stars and repeat appearances at number one on the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list, the three Roca brothers at the helm of El Celler de Can Roca place family at the heart of what they do. If Joan Roca i Fontané, the oldest brother and head chef of the legendary restaurant, had to define success, it would look like this: “Family, work, health, hospitality and generosity.” This isn’t a surprise, considering his two younger brothers, Josep, who is the sommelier, and Jordi, the pastry chef, are just as integral to the operation and success of their empire based out of Girona, Spain. All three of them refer to their indivi... Read More
The first 50 restaurants of the chef and industry-curated “The World’s 50 Best” list were just released, and its actually a ranking of 100 restaurants. Widely anticipated as one of the most exciting revelations of the year for fine dining fans, the list will be dissected by chefs, diners and the media for weeks to come. The list is a welcome change to restaurant rankings in recent years, as many feel it’s more judicious and in-touch than the current Michelin system is. This is due to its focus on restaurant industry professionals’ opinions and research rather than the whims of independent judges.... Read More
Food experiences are on every serious eater’s mind these days—it’s not enough to simply go out to eat anymore. After all, why settle for drinking the wine when you can actually have a hand in making it? Or take buying bottle of whiskey. That’s easy, but knowing exactly what goes into making it will produce memories and insight to last a lifetime. Then there's cooking, of course; the natural next step in enjoying good food is learning how to make it. In the spirit of experiencing rather than observing, we’ve rounded up some of the most special food experiences—from exploring cheese caves to dining under the shadow of Michelangelo’s David—to ensure your dad has the most delicious Father’s Day ever.... Read More
