An Inside Look at the Escoffier Cooking School at the Ritz Paris

Talk about arriving in style! It's fashion week in Paris so when we attempted to strut our stuff walked across the Place Vendome last night, easily one of the most prestigious addresses in town, a crew of paparazzi was stationed outside the Ritz Paris preparing to snap shots of the celebs coming and going from the palace hotel. At the invitation of Travel Onion-- a new web site that curates the best blogs on worldwide travel-- we toured the Ritz Paris, ogling the gilded Suite Impériale (and wouldn't you? just check out the photo), Madonna's rumored Parisian haunt with a price tag to match its opulence. Most recent resident? The Russian President. We also got a good look at the restaurant and Hemingway bar, helmed by Colin Field, recently named the best bartender in the world by Forbes.

The highlight of our Champagne-infused soirée-- besides meeting some fabulous local Paris bloggers-- was the cooking class at the École Ritz Escoffier, the hotel's culinary school named for Auguste Escoffier, the legendary chef who invented Peach Melba and other classic French dishes. The setting alone is enough to excite the foodies of the world-- opposite the sprawling kitchen that churns out masterpieces for the Ritz restaurant. The school has a number of different courses on offer to appeal to both professionals and amateurs, so those of us who are challenged in the kitchen could even find joy in the food prep. And the very capable Chef Didier Steudler smoothed things over (the minor issue of a sauté pan of veal medallions going up in flames) so that the final products on the dinner table were beyond delicious."You must feed the meat!" Steudler had told us when adding--Mon Dieu!-- a good pound of butter to the sauce pan.

For the first course, we tucked into a confit tomato tart smothered in grated parmesan, smoked ham, and baby arugula. The main course consisted of the afore-mentioned veal served with a potato and celery gratin, and the dessert was bright orange passionfruit macarons with a warm chocolate fondant with passionfruit ice cream and diced fresh fruit. All paired with perfect wines, of course.

It's possible to take a private class during an afternoon, or a multi-day course. The first-level unit, which touches on the basics of French cuisine, is priced from 1100 euros for the two-day (14 hour) class. The entire course (seven units over three weeks, or 98 hours) is priced at 7000 euros. Courses are organized by theme: molecular gastronomy, traditional French cuisine, vegetables, meats and poultry, foie gras, fish and crustaceans, deluxe sandwiches, organic flavors, and more. There are also special programs like Ritz Kids-- a two and a half hour cooking class for "les marmitons"-- and "The Art of the Cocktail" with Colin Field.

Suite Escapes: The Rome Cavalieri Offers VIP Access to Karl Lagerfeld Exhibit

When you shack up in a suite at The Rome Cavalieri, the super-swank hotel that's a member of the Waldorf Astoria Collection, you'll get the five-star treatment all the way-- from truly opulent surroundings (a dazzling art collection and a private balcony) to special VIP services. Case in point: The Rome Cavalieri has recently announced that guests of the four super suites get VIP access to the Chiostro del Bramante’s latest photography exhibition, “Karl Lagerfeld: Working Path.” This new offering is fitting for the hotel who has a strong affinity for Lagerfeld. After all, the Penthouse and Planetarium Suites are appointed with sofas designed by the acclaimed fashion designer, photographer and artist, bought at auction through Sotheby’s in Monte Carlo. The hotel itself is decked out with a talked-about art collection of masterpieces. The Rome Cavalieri is also home to the Michelin three-starred restaurant, La Pergola.

Available until April 10, 2011, the offer also includes complimentary transportation to/from Chiostro del Bramante and two complimentary cocktails from Rome Cavalieri’s Art Cocktail Menu. Rates for the super suites, which include breakfast, VAT and access to the Imperial Lounge and Grand Spa Club, start at 4,920 euros for the Napoleon suite. (The Penthouse is just a wee bit more, at 9,920 euros.)

Regal Digs at The Ritz London for the Royal Wedding

From the Sapphire Afternoon Tea at London Hilton Park Lane to the Langham's Giveaway Contest (honoring the "most romantic" proposal story), Royal Wedding mania is sweeping the nation. Keen to jet to London for the big day? *The* place to stay is The Ritz London, the sumptuous West End pad that's considered the "home away from home" for British and international Royalty. (The Duke of Windsor dined and danced in The Palm Court, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 80th birthday and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales honored the hotel's banqueting services with a Royal Warrant.) Leave it to The Ritz to go all out to commemorate the historic occasion of the marriage of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton. Here's what's in store:

Afternoon Tea at The Ritz - View the wedding on screens streaming live coverage while you taste pastries, scones and finger sandwiches amongst swathes of pastel hues and 24 carat gold leaf. Prices from GBP 50 per person (approximately US$ 81, including a commemorative souvenir Menu and an exclusive limited edition chocolate heart bearing the initials of the Royal couple.

Royal Wedding Brunch at The Ritz Restaurant

Recently awarded 3 Rosettes by the AA for Culinary Excellence, The Ritz Restaurant will host an extravagant Royal Wedding Brunch between 10:30 am and 3:30 pm with themed food stations, an outdoor grill, and TV screens streaming live coverage of the event. Priced from GBP 150 per person (approximately US $244), the Royal Wedding Brunch includes a glass of Champagne to toast the happy couple, a commemorative souvenir Menu, and an exclusive limited edition decorative keepsake embroidered with the initials of the Royal couple and their wedding date.

Stay at The Ritz London with the Monarchy & Matrimony accommodation package. Priced from GBP 1,460 (approximately US $2375 excluding VAT), the Monarchy & Matrimony program is available exclusively to guests who check in on Thursday the 28th or Friday, April 29th, 2011 and includes:

* Two nights sumptuous accommodation in a Louis XVI inspired room

* Flowers, fresh fruit and a bottle of Champagne in-room on arrival

* Royal Wedding Brunch in The Ritz Restaurant

* A unique and exclusive limited edition commemorative gift

* English breakfast each morning

Conrad Hotels Celebrates 25 Years: Get a Free Night in Chicago, Miami, Brussels and More

Conrad Hotels & Resorts-- described as "the most global contemporary luxury brand of the Hilton Family"-- has been around for a quarter century. To celebrate this milestone, Conrad is giving you a night on the house. Available for stays booked between March 1 and June 12, 2011 and completed by June 30, 2011, this offer is available at choice locations around the globe-- from Bali to Brussels, Singapore to San Juan. A minimum night stay requirement applies and varies by each individual hotel. For example, stay three nights at Conrad Chicago, a prime Windy City address, and get your fourth night for free. (Rates from $195.) Soak up the sun in Miami and get your fourth night free- with rates starting from $299. Check out the art, culture and design in the European Capital and get a third night free at Conrad Brussels- with rates starting from €199 per night. Offer is subject to availability and black-out dates may apply.

Sapphire Afternoon Tea Inspired by Kate Middleton’s Engagement Ring at London Hilton on Park Lane

We've seen our fair share of creative afternoon teas (eye's on you, Sanderson Hotel, with your Alice in Wonderland-inspired Mad Hatter’s tea!) But this one might just take the cake. Podium Restaurant at the London Hilton on Park Lane has announced a limited edition Afternoon Tea inspired by Kate Middleton's sapphire engagement ring. As featured on ABC News, the Tea is a celebration of the cool blue of this precious gemstone with color accents galore: white chocolate cupcakes with 'bouquet' icing and blueberry jam cupcakes with 'K' and 'W' iced decorations... That's not all. When you arrive for tea, you'll be treated to a complimentary "Loveberry" cocktail-- mixed with fresh raspberries, strawberries, blue curaçao, lime and soda water over crushed ice-- followed by tasty sandwiches (egg & cress, Foreman’s smoked salmon & horseradish...) and warm scones with clotted cream. Then all manner of miniature fancies. Available from April 26 to May 1, 2011 inclusive, priced at £32/person (£40 with a glass of Champagne) from 2-6pm daily.

PS. Podium has been honored as one of the newest members of The Tea Guild. Founded in 1985, The Tea Guild recognises establishments that serve tea to a high standard.

Share Your Proposal Story: Win a Trip Around the World with Langham Hotels

The hospitality industry's got the Royal Wedding on the brain. On both sides of the pond there are special packages galore for royal watchers to mark the occasion. But Langham Hotels has gone one step further. The hotel company recently announced a competition encouraging couples to submit the "most romantic proposal" for a chance to win a trip around the world, using one million Asia Miles and staying in the lap of Langham luxury on four different continents. (The trip is worth $40,000.) Just upload a videoblog detailing your marriage proposal, or a video of the actual event, and link it to Facebook or Chinese social media site Kaixin by April 29, 2011. In May, Langham Hotels will pick 10 finalists, who will then be asked to share how they'll spend their time at the eight Langham locations worldwide. For more info, visit: romantic.langhamhotels.com.

Details on the prize: One million frequent flyer miles, two-night stays in each of the eight Langham properties (located in London, Hong Kong (pictured), Boston, Pasadena, Auckland, Melbourne and two hotels in Shanghai, The Langham Yangtze Boutique and The Langham Xintiandi Shanghai), airport transfers, and an afternoon tea experience.

Destination French Riviera: A Weekend in Nice at Le Palais de la Mediterranée

A quick cure for the winter blues? A long weekend on the French Riviera-- as it's bathed in sunshine more than 300 days of the year. From Paris, hop on a fast TGV and you'll be there in a matter of hours. Check in to Le Palais de la Mediterranée, the most sought-after address in Nice, for some Art Deco grandeur and a prime setting on Promenade des Anglais overlooking the Mediterranean. You might not want to leave the hotel's third floor; there's an indoor/outdoor pool, gastronomic restaurant, lounge and terrace with dazzling views. But if you can tear yourself away, you'll find that Nice is the gateway to the French Alps and the Côte d'Azur. Pick up the "French Riviera" pass and you'll get free entry to 20 sites and museums in the area, along with discounts to restaurants and shops.

Take advantage of the "Concorde Weekend" package and you'll get a 20% discount on the best available rate for your stay including a daily buffet breakfast (for 2-night stay minimum) and a late check-out at 6 pm. Also available until April 30, 2011: The Winter Offer, which translates to 30% off your stay. As proof of its commitment to the planet's sustainable development, Concorde Hotels & Resorts will give €1 to the Care France association for every reservation of this offer.

Rome’s Hotel Villa Spalletti Trivelli Ranked Among 50 Best Hotels in the World

Hotel-obsessed travel addicts will want to check out the list of the "50 Best Hotels in the World" compiled by The Telegraph. Encompassing all budgets, the list of all-time favorites includes off-the-beaten path gems alongside the more popular icons. We weren't surprised to see the Hotel Villa Spalletti Trivelli-- among some of our other favorites-- make the cut. Here's what the editors had to say about the Villa:

The spectacular Roman town house of the blue-eyed and blue-blooded Count Giangiacomo Spalletti Trivelli has been turned into the city’s most aristocratic luxury hotel. Ideally placed between the shopping street of Via Nazionale and the presidential palace, this antique and art-stuffed palazzo boasts opulent interiors of such historic significance that they are listed by the Italian heritage ministry. But there’s no haughtiness or condescension: the customer is king here and from the spa to the turndown service, it all works to perfection.

Michelin Releases 2011 Restaurant Guide for France

The foodie world is still reeling with today's news: the 2011 Michelin Guide for France contains no new three-star restaurants. But though the star-filled galaxy appears to be shrinking, another category of restos is expanding quickly: the Bib Gourmand restaurants, or those which offer a good value. (At these eateries, a full meal costs than €35 (US$48) in Paris and €29 (US$40) in the rest of France.) No doubt these new guide listings reflect the trend among diners to seek out more value-oriented dining options. And there are a slew of stellar, bistronomique restaurants in Paris where multi-course meals can be had without breaking the bank.

Note: The new two-star restaurants in Paris are some of the hottest meal tickets in town: Jean-François Piège at L’Hôtel Thoumieux, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon-Étoile, and Passage 53.

Pictured: The Michelin three-starred restaurant at Le Meurice in Paris.

Wimbledon Tennis at The Milestone Hotel in London

“When does Wimbledon start this year?” I asked the gent standing at the gates of the great complex, just outside of London. He looked back at me and replied sincerely, “Whenever the strawberries are ripe.” Indeed, The Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club would hardly begin without those delicious strawberries and cream at the ready. And if not ripe, how else would you serve the world’s finest seasonal fruit?

Yet for those of us who prefer a more specific date, and since there are few people who plan around the harvest anymore, Wimbledon will be held from June 20 to July 3, 2011 in that South London borough made famous by the likes of Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, and Roger Federer. The 2011 Wimbledon Championships will be perhaps even more exciting than the rest, with a host of players at the top of their game. Will it be a repeat for Rafa Nadal, a return to glory for Federer, or will the United Kingdom finally claim back its crown with the feisty Scot, Andy Murray? Intrigue and drama abound!

If you’re looking for that perfect Wimbledon tennis hotel, look no further than The Milestone Hotel and Apartments, just a few stops up the District Tube line from the All England Club. The Milestone not only gives you great access to world class tennis, but also the world class shopping and sites of downtown London. And with the strawberries ripening as we speak, and therefore the start of Wimbledon fast approaching, book a true Wimbledon hotel in the luxury filled Milestone Hotel and Apartments. And don’t forget to say hello to Rafa for me!