Food for Thought – with Raffles

November 2013 – Food and travel are inseparable companions; destinations are defined by their food, the flavors of a country are created by the local produce and native spices of the region. Wherever we go, we need to eat, so food becomes a natural pathway into a place, a tool for discovering its innermost workings.This is why food is so central to every hotel in the Raffles Hotels & Resorts family, from East to West, old to new, Phnom Penh to Paris. In their own way, each of the hotels carves a story for itself through food, drawing on tradition, yet always looking to the next culinary chapter. Another meal, another memory.
‘Pappa’ Tuscan Tomato Soup In ParisInnovation and creativity are part of Le Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris’ DNA – and that runs right through to the food. Il Carpaccio is the only Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in Paris. Drawing on his heritage, Tuscan Chef Roberto Rispoli prepares dishes from all over Italy, using the freshest Italian produce.One dish that leaps off the menu and onto the table is the ‘Pappa’ Tuscan Tomato Soup, a sunny antipasti with gorgeous tomato flavors lifted by fresh basil and thin slices of crispy bread. This was originally considered a farmer’s dish, prepared by housewives during the war who made a soup out of the leftover bread so as not to waste a crust of it. This is Il Carpaccio’s version: simple yet refined, the perfect illustration of Roberto’s mantra: “complexity in simplicity”.

read more >>

“One of the Most Bespoke Cooking Classes South East Asia Has To Offer”Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor is the only hotel in Siem Reap that serves – and has cooking lessons for – authentic Royal Cambodian cuisine. General Manager Christian Sack explains:“We have been given an amazing gift that I doubt many other hotel kitchens in the world could lay claim to: King Father Norodom Sihanouk gifted the recipes from the Palace kitchen to the hotel during his reign. So much has been lost from Cambodia…we have a duty to keep traditional Khmer Cuisine alive as well and we do that by offering the cooking classes.”

As part of the cooking class, chefs accompany guests to the local morning markets to select produce for the lesson, before returning to cook a six-dish Royal Khmer Cuisine menu.

read more >>

Femme Fatale in CambodiaIn 1967 Jackie Kennedy visited Cambodia. And where else would an icon stay, but at an iconic hotel? Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh has been welcoming the great and the good since 1929 and there are two abiding mementos of the First Lady’s stay: a cocktail and a menu.The Femme Fatale cocktail, a brilliant red creation inspired by the First Lady’s lipstick color, is still a firm favorite in the atmospheric, colonial Elephant Bar, a delicious melange of Champagne, Crème de Fraise Sauvage and a dash of Cognac. Guests can also channel their inner First lady by opting for the five-course menu that was served in 1967.

read more >>

Chinese Cheese in BeijingDo the Chinese eat cheese? Except for a small number of ethnic Mongolians and Tibetans, China does not have a tradition of cheese making, while 90% of the country’s population are lactose intolerant: there’s no surprise that the cheese market in China is limited. But there is one man – and a herd of cows – changing that. Just outside Beijing, a herd of Holstein-Friesian cows, who arrived in China via Australia, spend their days happily grazing on green pastures, and supplying the milk essential for one Mr. Liu Yang’s vision to churn out cheese as fresh – and as good quality – as those in France. Raffles Beijing is proud to be able to offer guest these artisan cheeses.

read more >>

Fusion Food for a Tropical HotspotHainan Island is China’s tropical hotspot, with beaches that have been compared to the best of Hawaii and Australia. Here, in Clearwater Bay, on the island’s southeast coast, Raffles Hainan has just opened. With four restaurants, Raffles Hainan is the place to be – and especially Sapori (‘tastes’ in Italian), the only Italian restaurant on this fast-developing island. The chef in charge is the highly talented young Alessandro Dal Zotto who deftly uses subtle combinations of Chinese and Italian ingredients to create dishes such as Salmon and Tofu that bring an exciting touch of fusion to the menu, looking and tasting incredible.

read more >>

Taal Lake Tempura in the PhilippinesThere is only one place in the world where sardines can live in freshwater: the Philippines. Endemic to Taal Lake on Luzon island, Sardinella Tawilis are a delicacy across the Philippines. Raffles Makati has a philosophy which holds local culture at its core, and combines that culture with cuisine. As such, the Chef at the hotel made certain that Taal Lake Tempura be top of the ‘Bar Chow’ menu at the Long Bar – infusing the atmosphere the bar brings from Singapore with a truly local spirit. Here it is crafted into an interpretation of Fish & Chips, at once authentic and comfortingly familiar.

read more >>

High Tea in SingaporeFood has sacred status in Singapore and High Tea is one of the few traditions of the British colonial era which has stuck, without complaint, as a self-indulgent and elaborate past-time.There is nowhere more atmospheric to enjoy tea in Singapore than in the Tiffin Room at Raffles Singapore. A feast for the eyes and taste buds, High Tea at Raffles takes guests on a cultural trip from the tranquility of English tea right through to the most local flavors of South East Asia. The Tiffin Room setting is all lofty ceilings, teak tables and bentwood chairs, playing host to rounds of miniature sandwiches, fresh scones – with clotted cream and strawberry jam from England.

read more >>

A Gastronomic Stroll Through the SeychellesBeautiful fresh fish, spices, coconut, papaya, chilies and passion fruit – the Seychellois archipelago is bursting with wonderful ingredients and flavors, born of a fusion of African, French, Chinese, Indian and English cooking.At Raffles Praslin, where fish is bought daily from the fishermen and Chef grows his own herbs and spices, guests of the hotel can get a first-hand insight into the local cuisine in a cooking class with the Chef. Depending on the season, they will learn to prepare dishes such as Tuna Ceviche with green papaya; Octopus Curry with crushed hot chilies, and Exotic Soufflé, scented with fresh local passion fruit.

read more >>

Marinated Persian Feta in the Middle EastThe dark wood and earthy tones of Fire & Ice, Raffles Dubai’s dramatic steakhouse and grill, often reminds guests of the New York Meat Packing District.Voted “one of the lightest yet rich in flavor dishes ever tasted with a divine combination of cheese and watermelon” by Raffles diners, the Marinated Feta is a firm favorite at Fire & Ice; combining exquisite Middle Eastern and local ingredients such as smoky eggplant caviar, watermelon, piquillo peppers and basil. The intensity of the feta cheese mixed with the smokiness of the eggplant and the fresh fruitiness and crunchy texture of the watermelon, makes it a perfectly balanced and exquisite dish.

read more >>

Delicious Ice Cream in Makkah, Saudi ArabiaAmong the exquisite restaurants at Raffles Makkah Palace lies a sweet secret: The Creamery. An al-fresco ice cream parlor, The Creamery offers guests delicious and decadent treats, with custom-made Teppanyaki ice cream dishes. A personalized touch is central here, beginning with an ice cold marble slab which works as the base for a totally bespoke creation. Choose between home-made ice cream and sorbet, before selecting a kaleidoscope of toppings and creating a fusion of flavors – limited only by the imagination. This artistic, informal and fun-filled café provides a perfect hangout for all the family on the terrace, featuring a stunning view of the Grand Mosque and the Holy Kaaba.

read more >>

 

 

 

 

 

 

Further information: Hadley Schroll | Manager, Public Relations & Marketing Communications, US
212.715.7066 |
Hadley.Schroll@raffles.com
Brochure
Destinations
Reservations
Privacy policy

About Raffles Hotels & Resorts: Raffles Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, luxury international hotel company with a history dating back to 1887 with the opening of Raffles Hotel, Singapore. The portfolio currently comprises ten luxurious properties, from secluded resorts to city hotels in key locations around the world: in Singapore, Cambodia, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, the Philippines and Paris, each one is an oasis of calm and charm. The company is embarking on a new phase of expansion, with openings in Istanbul and Indonesia scheduled over the next year. With a compelling mix of cultures and styles, every hotel in the Raffles family has its own individual personality, with its own story to tell and its own sense of place. However, each one is proud to draw on the timeless essence of Raffles – to deliver thoughtful, personal and discreet service to well-travelled guests.

www.raffles.com | For high resolution images please visit www.leonardo.com/raffles

 

Maralyn D. Hill, M.Ed.,  The Epicurean Explorer

Executive Editor, LuxeBeatMag.com

Freelance Lifestyle Journalist

International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA)

Board Member, Co-Chair Conference & Media Trip Committee, Past President

Member: Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)

Member: Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)

Blogs: Where and What in the World & Success with Writing

https://authorcentral.amazon.com

Follow me: @maralynhill

google.com/+MaralynHill

FB: http://www.facebook.com/The.Epicurean.Explorer,,  http://www.facebook.com/WhereandWhat.intheWorldhttp://www.facebook.com/Success.With.Writing

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/maralynhill

We welcome press releases on the food, wine, travel, and items related to the hospitality industry. We receive emails with more than we can post to our service. If you would like to post a press release, please click the the submission tab to get the form to upload your release. You can also upload three photos. It will go in pending and be scheduled, unless it is unappropriate. This will enable more of you to have your releases up in a timely manner.