A 10 Star Trip Europe and The Maldives Via SQ New Regional J, Suites, EK 380F and New 777F

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We mixed some of the vegetarian menu into mainly the meat tasting menu.

 

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One thing that we both loved about the petit fours was that the pralines were all based around dishes we had already had during the meal.

A translucent piece of paper with streaks of colour was put over the menu with the colours matching the pralines to the previous dish.

It was a fantastic way to end the meal.







I can't reccomend Spectrum highly enough.

Each dish was better than the last, the service was like a well choreographed ballet but still friendly and approachable.

I wouldn't be surprised to start seeing it in some of those world's best lists or for it to receive another star.

Earning a boatload of Hilton points also helps lessen the pain to the wallet but honestly it was worth every cent.

 

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We used Blacklane for the trip to AMS and it was a nice easy transfer.

We took Austrian Airlines flight OS380 but unfortunately it isn't operated by an A380 rather an Embraer ERJ-190.





Service was either a sweet or savory snack and a drink, with wine, beer tea or coffee on offer.



We did see a couple of 380s on taxi and landing.

 

[drron]

Glad to see the food.I was starting to think this was becoming the beer drinkers guide to Europe.

 

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Glad to see the food.I was starting to think this was becoming the beer drinkers guide to Europe.

Unfortunately we leave bierland in a few hours to head into wine country so I had to take full advantage while I could.

 

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We had booked a base King Room at the Hilton Vienna Plaza on a Flash sale rate.

This would turn into a wise decision as we were to receive the mother of all Diamond upgrades to Room 1001 otherwise known as the Penthouse Presidential Suite.

It features a dining and living room, kitchen, wine cellar, two dressing rooms, a separate study and a large balcony.

 

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It was a really pleasant evening in Vienna so I walked about a block to pick up some refreshments at the local Okay Mart to enjoy on the balcony.

 

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On our second night we had a reservation for Restaraunt Steirereck.

Steirereck was voted as high as 2nd in Europe and 10th in the world in 2017 and holds 2 Michelin stars.

It is located in the Stadtpark in a futuristic glass and metal building.











We chose the tasting menu and each had the alternate options.

 

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Each course had a menu card explaining the dish and some history behind it.

 

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Now don't take this the wrong way but we didn't really enjoy this meal enough to justify the cost.

The ingredients were of a high quality and prepared with great technical skill but it was not even close to being on the same level as Spectrum.

The portions were also far too large for the tasting menu meaning we were stuffed to capacity before dessert. Where at Spectrum we had almost the perfect amount.

The flavours didn't seem as inventive or well balanced.

Service was great and friendly but felt less special than Spectrum.

This is all personal preference of course but I was expecting this to be another level above.

 

[craven morehead]

I had asked the guide at the start of the tour if he knew anywhere that I could get a bottle of Westvletern 12.

He said he would make a couple of calls and that we may be able to get one at the last stop.

It is regularly named as the best beer in the world, the only issue is the monks that brew it only brew enough to fund their monastic operations or repair the Abbey.

Unlike a lot of other trappist beers none is available for commercial sale unless you pick up a case direct which requires you to order in advance and nominate the car that will pick it up.

As a result there is some limited availability on the black market.

After the tour was concluded he confirmed that the owner of the bar would sell me one to take away. It was a cash only sale under with the table bottle in a paper bag, standard contraband transaction but I had my white whale.

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Nice work 10.2% wow!

 

[drron]

Now don't take this the wrong way but we didn't really enjoy this meal enough to justify the cost.

The ingredients were of a high quality and prepared with great technical skill but it was not even close to being on the same level as Spectrum.

The portions were also far too large for the tasting menu meaning we were stuffed to capacity before dessert. Where at Spectrum we had almost the perfect amount.

The flavours didn't seem as inventive or well balanced.

Service was great and friendly but felt less special than Spectrum.

This is all personal preference of course but I was expecting this to be another level above.

As I looked at the pictures I thought the same.looks to be just trying to be a little too clever.

 

[Daver6]

I had asked the guide at the start of the tour if he knew anywhere that I could get a bottle of Westvletern 12.

He said he would make a couple of calls and that we may be able to get one at the last stop.

It is regularly named as the best beer in the world, the only issue is the monks that brew it only brew enough to fund their monastic operations or repair the Abbey.

Unlike a lot of other trappist beers none is available for commercial sale unless you pick up a case direct which requires you to order in advance and nominate the car that will pick it up.

As a result there is some limited availability on the black market.

After the tour was concluded he confirmed that the owner of the bar would sell me one to take away. It was a cash only sale under with the table bottle in a paper bag, standard contraband transaction but I had my white whale.

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View attachment 183974

How was it? Did it live up to expectorations? Worth seeking out?

 

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How was it? Did it live up to expectorations? Worth seeking out?

Definitely worth seeking out but at the same time getting it in Australia means you are taking a risk with how it was handled during shipping.

I have had about a half a dozen different Quadruples on this trip and it was easily the best.

If it was just a matter of going to the bottle shop to grab some I would happily drink it regularly, but the black market mark up means it is double the price of similar quads.

It isn't that different to St. Bernardus Abt 12 (who apparently use the original Westvletern 12 recipe) you should be able to pick up St Bernardus locally pretty easily. My local Cellarbrations gets it in regularly.

 

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Nice work 10.2% wow!

That wasn't even the biggest beer I had in Brussels, the Brew Dog vs Northern Monk Tokyo Death clocked in at 15%.

Though I will admit the Westvletern was better.

 

[henleybeach]

My type of holiday , food and wine
Looks sensational

 

[Deskorpio]

What an enjoyable TR to read before our own trip in two wks! Just wondering though, how did you manage to book two different classes (J and Suites) on one PNR??

 

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What an enjoyable TR to read before our own trip in two wks! Just wondering though, how did you manage to book two different classes (J and Suites) on one PNR??

You just need to call the Krisflyer Award call center. As there is no F out of Perth we have done it a few times, we also call to add the stopover to one way awards.

It is usually not problem but occasionally you get an agent that doesn't quite know the rules. In that case I just say thanks then hang up and call back.

Feeding them the dates times and flight numbers and saying you want it as one award or want to add the $100 stopover seems to do the trick.