Paris: Bar 8

January 4, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Intimate, exclusive and very, very chic, Bar 8 is the perfect place to enjoy a drink. Beautifully designed with a dramatic marble bar as its centerpiece, Bar 8 is located on the ground floor next to the discreet entrance to Sur Mesure by Thierry Marx. With low glass topped tables dotted with tiny lights and wood walls inlaid with Lalique crystals like delicate raindrops, the décor is stunning. Low lighting, gentle music and impeccable service create a seductively sophisticated ambiance. This is Bar 8 in Mandarin Oriental Paris.

Paris: Costes

January 2, 2014November 13, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

My visit to the Costes Hotel & Restaurant on Rue St.Honore was one of the luckiest ones… I met Ekaterina Mukhina, Vogue Ukraine’s contributor and stylist! I am really happy because I love her work and style … In other words, first wish of 2014 came true. So, as you see- Costes is the cool place in Paris. With it’s old-fashioned interior and huge garden patio, it contains a restaurant, five-star hotel, perfumerie and flower store. The food in the restaurant is magnifique! The Thai Chicken Rolls are my old-time friends, the delicious spicy tuna tartar is served in new Atlantic way and the best dessert on Earth is served here- wild strawberries with whipped cream!

Milan: Paper Moon

August 22, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

Paper Moon is a restaurant in Milan, that in reality is not doing anything special- it’s simply delicious and all products are fresh and hand made! The famous Italian dish made of beef slices in Tuna sauce was so good, I was like it’s best thing I ever ate! And the Pizza? Again best in the world. The dough was so delicate, and the cheese so dissolving in mouth! The taglioni with beefragout are in my dreams till today! This restaurant with dozens of film posters of biggest super stars like Johnny Depp and Marilyn Monroe is, again, best restaurant in Milan!

Tuscany: Villa Sant Michele

August 19, 2013August 20, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

There is this bad type of restaurants, where you pay more for the view and exclusive fog, than for the taste of food. This is all about the Villa Sant Michele’s restaurant that is located on the top of the hill. You walk in, the place is beautiful. But, a closer look, it feels a bit cheap. Then the veranda, so the restaurant. The view is AMAZING. Whole Florence seen in one place. So it’s all kind of OK. Until the food… First dish is a catastrophe! A warm tartar of scampi… Disgusting. Then meat tagliata. Looks like shit on the plate, isn’t it? And the most horrifying thing- peach semifredo. It was the biggest minus. It tasted like the cheapest one from a super market! No, this place is a big mistake, with it’s “REAL TUSCAN” atmosphere. Eeuuu.

Tuscany: Antica Osteria de Divo

August 16, 2013August 16, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

The Antica Osteria de Divo is a real pearl from all Tuscan restaurants. First of all, it’s not a usual Siena restaurant, but it is located in a… Cellar! And in a old one. You sit here with real mould growing on the walls, in cold air and dirty floors. Sounds kind of creepy, but the food is great. Very tipical, but good. Most dishes are served with fresh truffles, and the risotto and taglioni are amazing. Looks normally, but it is simple and very home like! Love it!