Whirlwind Europe Travel 2014 - UK, France, Belgium

[arrow]

So I am off my usual jetset trip around Europe again…. it will be another whirlwind trip! 8 cities in just 14 days and it starts today!

The First Stop is the Qantas First Lounge


Starter - Grilled Sesame Tuna with Red Cabbage and Shallot Salad



Soft jelly like tuna with a light spicy sesame sauce and lovely flavours and contrasts of the crunchy cabbage.

Main - Crumbed Fish Burger with Japanese Pickles and Horseradish Mayonnaise.



Standard White Flesh Fish Burger, with a crunchy coating, soft fish meat and crunchy cabbage. The horseradish sauce provides a nice bite at the end.

Dessert - Chocolate Croissant Bread and Butter Pudding with a White Chocolate Gelato.


This was the best! Flaky buttery pastry filled with rich chocolate pieces immersed in cream topped with a soft white choc gelato. This (believe it or not) was the highlight of my time in the Lounge. I am going to be so upset if Qantas remove it once the Winter Menu comes to an end.

The new providers of the Spa Treatments Auora are amazing! All up a great experience!

You can check out the full review of the Qantas First Lounge here!

 

[RB]

I am interested in your trip & will read your report. Why cram 8 cities in 14 days?-I am not inclined to go direct to blogs from here

 

[arrow]

Qantas (QF1 - Sydney to London - Heathrow) First Class - Trip Report

Here's a quick summary & picture (You can read the full review here)


The Tasting Menu was amazing - Favourite dish was the lamb



Emirates Lounge was beautiful (probably not as good as the Qantas First Lounge in Sydney) - but the stay too short
Bed was very comfortable but the short hop from Dubai makes it difficult to adjust the body clock for LondonAA Lounge is useful to plug the gap between the flight landing and the normal hotel check-in times

 

[arrow]

London - Sketch (Lecture Room & Library)

First stop on my trip is London. My favourite Dining Experience on the short stint in London would have to be Sketch (the Michelin starred extravaganza from Pierre Gagnaire in Mayfair)

The tasting menu was paired with a good selection of French Wines (which aren't normally found in restaurants outside of France). Here are a couple of amazing dishes from the night.

Langoustine
Lightly Smoked Langoustine / Shellfish / Confit Tomatoes /
Redcurrant and Mange Tout / White Beer



Turbot
Roasted Wild Turbot with Garlic
Beef Heart Cabbage / Aubergine Caviar
Sauce «a la Minute» / Cucumber and Melon with Mint




If you want to check out the full review, you can see it here.

 

[RooFlyer]

Warning to other readers: Don't read/view on an empty stomach

All looks deliceous.

 

[arrow]

Warning to other readers: Don't read/view on an empty stomach

All looks deliceous.

Thanks - its such a lovely place

 

[arrow]

Eggs Royale in the British Airways First Class Lounge (T5). One of the best I have had - Check out the review and lounge here

 

[amaroo]

You have a talent for photography - exquisite

 

[arrow]

One of the most amazing lunches I have ever had. View of the deep blue sea, sound of waves splashing on the rocks and Fine French Cuisine.

You can check out the review here.

Amazing Views



Fresh Seafood from the Mediterranean

 

[arrow]

Pictures and Memoirs from Monte Carlo (Amazing Hotel, Beautiful Views, Love this City). Check out my memoir here

 

[arrow]

Amazing live seafood, beautiful spot on a cliff overlooking Monte Carlo beach in comfy wooden deckchairs - Here is my Review of La Vigie Restaurant

 

[arrow]

The Perfect Score: 10/10. I have dined at many restaurants and Le Louis XV is only the 2nd restaurant I have awarded this score. Here is the review!

Some pictures of the dinner:

Guinea Fowl from “les Landes” over a Wood-fire grill cooked with romaine lettuce



Warm “Bergeron” Apricot soufflé and Summer Batter Pudding

 

[arrow]

In the playground for Hollywood stars... this beautiful sensory culinary restaurant shone through! Beautiful themed menu with a beautiful Burgundy wine overlooking the Bay of Cannes

You can check out the Review (here).

View from the Restaurant


The Chocolate Ball

 

[arrow]

coughtails, Night Skyline of the French Riviera - A sample of the Monte Carlo Bar Scene! Here is the full review.

The following was one of my favourite coughtails....

The Golden Cinnamon(Vodka Elyx absolut, apple juice, fresh mint, cinnamon and Malibu).The fruitiness of the apple, the refreshing mint flavour, spice and depth of the cinnamon, the coconut in the Malibu and of course the spice and crispness of the Absolut Elyx all combine to deliver a fresh, smooth, silky coughtail. It glides through the tongue with little bite and with full flavours interacting with every single taste bud along the way. If you haven’t come across it before, Absolut Elyx is a premium single-batch vodka from Absolut. Every batch is produced in a hand-operated still in Sweden with maximum exposure to copper (they change the copper parts every batch to maximise the vodka’s exposure to the copper).

 

[arrow]

Trip from Nice to Belgium and the quick stop at the BA Galleries First Class Lounge (Brief report here)

 

[Blinky]

Sigh. All I have to do is win Powerball tonight.

Good stuff Arrow. The closest we got to your experience was Etihad First Class from Melbourne to London (upgraded from Business Class purchased by Virgin points), dinner at Le Jules Verne on the Eiffel Tower, several Michelin star restaurants in London and a stay at the Fairmont Montreux. But this was a once in a lifetime experience for my wife and I. It looks like a regular thing for you........Lucky bugger.

 

[arrow]

Sigh. All I have to do is win Powerball tonight.

Good stuff Arrow. The closest we got to your experience was Etihad First Class from Melbourne to London (upgraded from Business Class purchased by Virgin points), dinner at Le Jules Verne on the Eiffel Tower, several Michelin star restaurants in London and a stay at the Fairmont Montreux. But this was a once in a lifetime experience for my wife and I. It looks like a regular thing for you........Lucky bugger.

Thanks Blinky! Well you've stayed at the Fairmont Montreux... doing very well there. I actually haven't been there. Hoping you have some amazing travel experiences soon!

 

[arrow]

Had a lovely dinner at this beautiful restaurant in Antwerp. Here is the Review.

Het Pomphuis....the name translates to the Pump House.

When it was in operation it drained the neighbouring dry-dock to allow for ship maintenance. And the place still looks the part, with a charming Stile Liberty style dining room, expansive interior and an impressive pit with iron parapets, arch windows and the original metal rods.The service was amazing, the staff attentive and selection of wines was extensive. The food was homely with a focus on delivering on quality and taste… a bit like the city itself, no pretense but just plain beautiful.








Sole, green asparagus, tomato, nobashi, belle de fontenay and crustacean sauce

 

[arrow]

The Ledbury!!! The best restaurant I have been to in London! Here is my review

Here are some snaps from the night!

 

[amaroo]

The Ledbury!!! The best restaurant I have been to in London! Here is my review

Here are some snaps from the night!

View attachment 34481

View attachment 34482

Sensational meal! Will try it out when next in London.