Spice Up Your Life

A welcome culinary invasion of our delicate palates, it seems that Mexican restaurants are popping up all over the place. Though you could be forgiven for thinking it was all about chimichangas and cheddar-drenched nachos, genuine Mexican cuisine is one of the world’s most diverse. Nowadays, the Americanised version is the most prevalent, but don’t limit yourself to the Taco Bell variety – there’s lots out there to try and no time to waste!

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Le Macaron

The legendary macaron has origins dating back to 1792, when two Carmelite nuns seeking asylum in Nancy during the French Revolution baked and sold macarons in order to support themselves – thus becoming known as the ‘macaron sisters’. However, it wasn’t until the 1900s that Pierre Desfontaines of Parisian pastry shop Ladurée decided to take two of the cookies and fill them with a silky smooth ganache.

In recent years the macaron has become fashionable again, with weird and wonderful fillings cropping up in bakeries. Splendia have tried and tested (maybe one too many of) the crème de la crème of macarons from around the world. Step aside cupcake: the macaron is back – this time with a foie gras and cream cheese filling…

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The Timeless Glamour of Hotel Bars

The movies have a lot to answer for. From Pretty Woman to Lost In Translation – some of our most treasured pieces of cinema feature a memorable hotel bar scene.  Would Dustin Hoffman have been so seduced by Mrs. Robinson if their first rendezvous in The Graduate hadn’t been at The Taft Hotel? Up on the silver screen, the hotel bar is full of timeless romance and a delicious sense of the clandestine – it’s where the action is. It is also where you can rely on a mean cocktail and the swift efficiency of good old-fashioned service.

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High in the Sky

One way to truly see the sights of a city is from high up in the sky. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best places from which to take in spectacular views of 10 of our favourites.

Barcelona
The Christopher Columbus monument stands tall at the bottom of the city’s bustling Las Ramblas, not far from the sea, inviting visitors to ascend to the top and enjoy breathtaking views of the Catalan capital and Cataluña’s coastline. Or, head up one of the towers of the renowned Sagrada Família or to the rooftop terrace of Casa Milà.

Berlin
On a trip to the German capital, be sure to rise to the top of the Fernsehturm, the city’s TV Tower. Have a drink or snack in the revolving restaurant whilst enjoying a 360º vista of Berlin’s magnificent monuments.

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