Tuscany: Villa Mangiacane

August 12, 2013February 2, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

Derived from its ancient name meaning “great dog”, the Mangiacane Estate has been producing wine for centuries, and making the visitors feel like in paradise for years! Here I am for some vacations in warm Tuscany in Italy! The Villa Mangiacane is located in a small town 20 minutes away from Florence, in an amazing place, from where you see even the Basilica of St. Peter! From my huge, huge, huge balcony I see a large Italian forest, whole olive farm and grape orchard, that are used everyday in producing best quality olive oil and wine! Of course the very local wine can be tasted in the Villa’s restaurant and I assure you- it’s delicious.
This magnificent hotel has two beautiful pools, one in a Byzantine style, and other much more modern; there is the main building and the second, one much more beautiful and luxurious, the Villa, that contains of around 10 suites and few penthouses… It’s all a real Dolce Vita, having in mind that you have Portofino, Sienna, Florence and Bologna all in your are!

Munich: Toshi Restaurant

August 9, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

The Toshi Restaurant in Munchen, Germany, is a top Japanese Cuisine restaurant in the whole Bavaria region! Known for highest quality products of raw fish and ingredients straight from Japan, amazing service and very detailed cooking skills are in this beautiful, minimalistic space!
The biggest highlight of the restaurant is for sure the Shabu-Shabu (Wagyu beef that you boil in broth with shitake and other strange sounding veggies…) and overally the selection of Wagyu. But, not forgetting of something more simple, so sushi, the rolls, maki and nigiri are just mind blowing! Everything is done in such a masterpiece state, you just don’t want to end your meal!

Berlin: Grosz

July 27, 2013January 6, 2024 | Design & Culture by Ed

The Grosz Restaurant is the hottest place in Berlin recently, with it’s majestic interior of a renovated old building on Kudammstarsse. The food here is a mix of European and Asian- you can try here the shrimps, octopuses and clumps in Tempura and also roasted veal with thyme sauce and seasonal vegetables! Maybe the service is rude, but the atmosphere is really beautiful and relaxing after a exhausting shopping day. All cutlery is by Meisel, so pretty exclusive, and on Summer you may sunbathe with some champagne and beef carpaccio in their elegant garden. What more, there is a cute patisserie next to… This restaurant beats all other ones in Berlin with it’s classic, a bit Art Deco design, and delightful cuisine!

Berlin: Hotel Das Stue

July 25, 2013July 25, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

Here I am in Berlin, in a new found hotel called Das Stue- one of the most prestigious Design Hotels in the world! And I should say I am pleased. It’s really hard to find a good, hot spot in Berlin. But this one, just few steps from the Berlin Zoo. There are two Spanish restaurants by mister Paco Perez- The Casual and Cinco. Not really good, but the design upinterior here is mind blowing! You will find here the coolest furniture by famous designers kept in strong colours!
The rooms are really luxurious- the shampoos are by Diptique, and all rooms have Led TV/computers. And it’s all accompanied with Jan Kath floors and Arne Jacobsen armchairs…the biggest feature of the hotel is the view of zoo and the localisation. It’s just next to Kadewe and the most expensive stores! Definetly, Das Stue is the moments hottest spot in Berlin!

Biarritz: Harotzen Costa

July 5, 2013August 30, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Located in Guethary that’s between Biarritz and St. Jean-de-Luz, Harotzen Costa is a port restaurant full of Basque culinary secrets. The interior is very raw- the tables where made from sterilised stone and wood that gave a minimalistic and sharp feeling. With a mind blowing view on the coastline of Pays Basque, Bidart and Barritz were both seen.
The cuisine is typical basque on with a Asian fusion twist- like for example a dorade tartar with soya sauce and nori salad. But, if talking of the main courses a highlight you won’t forget for a long time, is the Cote de Boeuf by Goya. Why Goya? Because it’s the best farm family who produce the best beef in whole Basque territory! And the 48h written under the title doesn’t mean it was marinated for this period of time… It means, that after the cow was killed, it traveled to the restaurant for two days! How complicated is that?
The meat was the best quality but didn’t taste as good as they were saying- it was like eating a raw beef without any sauce nor authentic taste- very natural. Or maybe too natural? The desserts were fine but a bit over done. This a restaurant just for one time, but it’s still worth a visit!