Life is busy. With smart phones, laptops and iPads – quiet moments are rare. It’s common to feel stress all around us and hear people complaining about lack of time not to mention a to-do list that’s too long. When we finally do take “time off”, the stressful flight process, … Read more
After reading the Squire’s Inside Scoop on the Irish Castle Hotels tours, I admit I became taken with all things “castle” in Ireland. I might go so far as to say that I morphed into a bit of a Castle Queen, but please don’t dare try to compare me to … Read more
A popular image that comes to mind when one imagines the Greeks Isles is one of white- washed houses with bright sea-blue shutters, white sand beaches peppered with tiny fishing boats and caressed by the waves of the turquoise waters that envelope them. In the case of the Greek … Read more
Everything about Brazil is sexy from the music to the beach scene to Carnaval. In this lively country even the food is sensuous especially if the food is Brazilian comfort food with a twist. That is the first surprise at the trend setting Rio restaurant Miam Miam. Here, classic dishes … Read more
On the island of Puerto Rico where most restaurants serve up tasty local dishes of Mofongo, Arroz con Pollo and Tostones, its nice when something new arrives to tantalize the taste buds of the locals (and tourists). Such is the case of Marmalade in Old San Juan. Located in the … Read more
There’s something wonderfully peculiar about Jsix restaurant in Downtown San Diego. It borders two distinct areas, the trendy East Village and the historic Gaslamp Quarter. Its décor includes a backlit bar, flower castings on the ceiling and fezzes on the dining room wall. The menu spotlights coastal California cuisine … Read more
Chicago takes its Mexican food very seriously. Expectations are high, and justifiably so in the city that has arguably done more to put authentic Mexican cuisine on the U.S. map than just about any other. Mercadito (“little market”) definitely has the proper pedigree to play in this culinary sandbox. Chef-owner … Read more
Enter BAR HENRY and for a moment you may feel like you’ve stepped back in time. As we settled into our plush red velvet chairs that were rescued from the Plaza Hotel’s recent expansive renovation, I felt like I’d discovered a New York secret. A quick glance at the … Read more
Jugatsu-ya In a dialogue with world class Japanese chef, Shinichiro Takagi, at the International Luxury Lifestyle Forum held in Kanazawa City in February, 2010, Alain Ducasse, the French cuisine master, remarked that “a chef is one who shares.” This is the ultimate lesson that Takagi embodies and brings forth at … Read more
I keep mental lists of my favorite places in the world, and Hoku’s at the Kahala Hotel & Resort happens to be on one. Perhaps Hoku’s belongs on the list of food so good you might cry, or of romantic sunsets and breathtaking ocean views to dine by, or … Read more
I recently learned that when it comes to eating out in Rio, it pays to get off the beaten path. Although everyone knows it’s the Squire’s destination of choice, for as many times as we’ve visited, we never seemed to venture further beyond touristy Copacabana and Ipanema, great standards … Read more
Palermo is probably best known for its open-air craft market that fills the historic neighborhood streets every weekend. Yet one who chooses to visit this fashionable art district in the evening hours will find it is also home to an endless number of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. On … Read more
Chef Michael Mina’s latest Las Vegas restaurant, his fifth in the city, isn’t very “Vegas.” Which is perfect considering its location inside the also very-unVegas City Center. American Fish goes against the Vegas grain by keeping things simple. Mina takes the freshest fish he can find and prepares them … Read more
La Llavor dels Orígens is a fun place to eat good, honest, fresh food for a reasonable price in Barcelona. The menu comes in three languages—Catalan, Spanish, and English (sometimes with quirky translations!). It also shows a photo of each dish, with a description of the ingredients (very helpful … Read more
Café Organico What better way to shower your beach-going-body with the utmost affection and appreciation than by feeding it the freshest, best quality organic ingredients? Serving up delicious gourmet vegetarian (mostly vegan) dishes and fresh juices, Café Organico has become a staple in the quaint fishing village of Montezuma, Costa … Read more