Sep 17, 2011 | blog, Restaurants, Travel
I can’t believe it took me this long to finally visit the restaurant and vineyards at Massaya in Taanayel, Lebanon. The funny part, is that I am originally from an area very near by and my parents live 5 minutes away, yet this summer was the first time I visit this lovely place. Upon arrival I was surprised by the number of tourists who have discovered this gem, many of which were from the GCC.
Located in the heart of the Bekaa valley, Massaya has one of the most popular vineyards in Lebanon. The name “Massaya” means Twilight in Lebanese, and due to the royal blue color of the sky when the sun sets behind Mount Lebanon, they decided to create their signature “Arak” bottle which is a beautiful elongated and very elegantly designed blue bottle. Arak, by the way, is a popular alcoholic drink in Lebanon and specially in the Bekaa Valley where anis seeds are added after the grapes are fermented and distilled; in Massaya’s case the anis seeds used are organic. The area where Massaya’s Arak is fermented is magical, you will see the photos below.
We arrived at the restaurant “Le Relais” which is located in the middle of the vineyard, you have to walk a bit to reach this charming place where all the food is cooked and prepared by housewives of neighboring villages. The menus are set seasonally, and the food was simple and amazing, it was a “back to basics” buffet specific to the Lebanese country side, with dishes like roasted chicken, kibbeh, freekeh, saj goodies,different types of salads, hommus and mtabbal, and many more. Even the sweets were very simple, all Lebanese themed.
Mr. Ramzi Ghosn, one of the owners and winemakers, was an amazing host who accompanied us throughout our visit making sure we had a great meal and a comprehensive tour of the vineyards, the wine reserves, and the boutique, he even explained to us how the Arak is made and how transparent and proud of their products they are. Massaya is one of the very few places where people have access to the entire place, because they have nothing to hide. Everything is of utmost quality. The barrels where the wine is stored is even imported from France from designated suppliers known for the best finishing.
Massaya export 85% of their production to the USA and Europe, their Rosé wine has been listed as one of the top 10 according to The Independent which was one of the reasons I wanted to try it during my visit. To my bad luck they were out of stock everywhere (due to high demand). I ended up trying their white wine which was lovely and appropriate with the meal and the warm weather.
These are the clay jars where the Arak is stored, such a lovely sight, the aroma of the anis seeds was overwhelming.
Massaya’s signature blue Arak bottles.
I wasn’t planning on writing much, I’s rather allow you to enjoy the photos accompanied with bits and pieces of information. I really hope you liked them.
Ramzi Ghosn is very well into social media, you can find Massaya on Facebook and Twitter. In addition to that, their blog and website are updated regularly with images, events, and historical information on wine and the Bekaa Valley. You can spend hours on the website learning about the art of wine making and its history.
I HIGHLY recommend you visit Massaya and enjoy the experience, you will be glad you did.
Thank you Ramzi for an unforgettable day, I will be visiting again very soon, that’s for sure!
Sep 16, 2011 | Architecture, blog, Interiors
In a very exclusive area known to house properties for the rich and famous, lies this breathtaking residence. This 4,000 square foot property is located in the famous Hollywood hills and is worth almost $10,000,000. I actually think it is totally worth it. Not only does it overlook amazing views, the finishes, the furniture, and the landscaping is of the highest quality.
This residence has 4 bedrooms, five bathrooms, home theater, and a beautiful garden with an infinity pool overlooking a beautiful cityscape. Brands used were B&B Italia, Poliform (kitchen and cabinets), Gaggenau, Sub Zero, Crestron, Dornbracht faucets and Caesar stone countertops in the kitchen, Boffi accessories and fixtures, Antonio Lupi and Paola Lenti outdoor furnishings. Finishes include American Walnut floors, terrazzo, and Macassar Ebony.In addition to that, there are i-pod docks in all rooms, integrated CCTV, exterior speakers and the home theatre professional 3DLP HD projector. A beautiful art installation – “Sprout” by Nancy Braver – dominates the back yard landscape.
All extra information is listed on the property’s website. Check 9010 Hopen for more info.
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Sep 16, 2011 | Architecture, blog, Interiors, Restaurants
In Miami, specifically Wynwood Walls Park, Tony Goldman offered the exterior of the buildings owned by Goldman Properties to international artists selected by New York gallery Deitch Projects. What was once just a warehouse, is now plastered inside out with street art of different styles and themes. Goldman’s daughter, Jessica, came up with the idea of turning one of the warehouses into a restaurant, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar. The restaurant finishes were mediocre, but the installations and transformation of the space was beautiful and well done. The restaurant is an attraction for hundreds of artists especially that Miami is popular for the Art Basel Miami Beach that takes place annually.
The difficulty in the transformation was not harming the murals specially when they were deciding where the location of the door and other major elements would be. When that happened, the artists would help out and incorporate the functional elements within the mural.
“Wynwood Walls will be getting six more murals before Art Basel 2011. But the park itself, which consists of a few repurposed tractor tires, some blacktop, and some grass, will never get any fancy landscaping. "This is Wynwood," Samson says. "We’re not going to Disneyland it up." That means no birds-of-paradise and no palm trees.”
Designed by : James Samson
Interior Design Magazine
Sep 15, 2011 | Architecture, blog
Designing this house had to be a very tough task. As simple and minimal as everything looks, the idea of incorporating the exterior into the interior this smoothly requires a good eye and talent. The owner wanted the entire 335 sq.m to overlook the sea, after all who wouldn’t want to take full advantage of this breathtaking view . This house is occupied by a single person who regularly has guests over, thus you can feel there are areas more public than others, yet all open and embracing the beautiful nature surrounding it. This house is located in Camp Bay, Cape Town, Africa and designed by Luis Mira Architects.
The architect used neutral materials that allowed a contrast to the very rich landscape surrounding it, thus allowing the exterior to be easily invited into the interior. Such simplicity is a perfect example of how minimal design could be so luxurious when addressed properly. Enjoy the photos below.
Sep 14, 2011 | blog, Compliments & Accessories
Grace Kelly was a role model to millions. Her celestial beauty, stunning elegance and calm demeanor defined the 1950s and illustrated the covers of magazines all over the world. She had a signature style that embraced her films and private life. She was one of the foremost talents of her generation. Providing for new talent was a defining principle throughout her lifetime. She encouraged many emerging artists, from different creative disciplines, to pursue their career ambitions.
Montblanc is helping Princess Grace further with her royal endeavors World Premiere of the Montblanc “Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco” that will support her artistic Princess Grace Foundation. The collection features three unique fine jewelry sets, timepieces and writing instruments that reflect her style and persona. The launch event saw big names like Naomi Watts, Daryl Hannah, Jerry Hall, Olivia Palermo, Johannes Huebl, Emmanuelle Béart, Franziska Knuppe, Elsa Pataky along with the royal family. The event also saw Montblanc donated $1 Million to the Princess Grace Foundation USA.
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Sep 13, 2011 | blog, Compliments & Accessories
For the the 20th anniversary of the iconic Nevermind album of Nirvana,Fender® introduces one of its most distinctive signature models ever, the Kurt Cobain Jaguar®-meticulously modeled on the battered and highly unusual 1965 Jaguar that Cobain wielded during the heady early-’90s era when Nirvana ruled rock and led a musically stunning and culturally subversive movement.
Fender craftsmen have reproduced Cobain’s battle-hardened left-handed Jaguar down to the last unusual detail, including its worn finish, dual hum bucking pickups and unique electronics and controls (which were already in place when Kurt acquired the guitar in summer 1991).
Unique features include an alder body with Road Worn aged finish and hardware treatment, bound fretboard with pearloid dot markers, Stratocaster headstock shape with 1950s-style “spaghetti” logo, DiMarzio® humbucking DP103 PAF 36th Anniversary neck pickup and DP100 Super Distortion bridge pickup, triple knurled “chrome-dome” knob configuration (volume-volume-tone), three-position toggle switch, black chrome Adjusto-Matic™ bridge and Gotoh® sealed tuners. Available in right- and left-handed versions.
Accessories include a black textured vinyl hard-shell case and an exclusive Fender Kurt Cobain book with photos and commentary by Charles Peterson and an insightful interview with Nirvana guitar tech Earnie Bailey.
It will be sold for 1820 USD.
