Spain is a gastronomic paradise and its cuisine lauded throughout the world – a fact that was recently affirmed with the naming of El Celler de Can Roca as the World’s Best Restaurant in this year’s San Pelligrino Top 50 . So even the briefest of visits to the sun-soaked southern cost, Costa del Sole, will have a lasting impression on one’s culinary knowledge.

Country escape… Cortijo El Carligto

In particular, the experimental cooking courses offered at Cortijo El Carligto, a private country estate in eastern Malaga Province overlooking the glorious Mediterranean Sea.

Here the private luxury villa accommodation and pristine views are topped by the estate’s impressive array of Spanish cultural and culinary courses where guests can revel with delights such as the infamous pata negra cured ham, which includes a full butchering course. This culinary adventure begins with a whole Iberian pig and ends in finger-licking treats like chorizo and sausages, all prepared and delivered to the dining table in numerous dishes throughout a weeklong stay.

Not for the faint-hearted… Iberian pig

El Carligto house chef David Palacios provides much of the guidance throughout the course, drawing on his lifelong experiences in Andalucia and connections with local butchers and bodegas.

A four night ‘light’ version of the package is also available, skipping the butchering and leading with educational sessions on how to prepare some of Spain’s most popular pork dishes.

Both packages feature tastings of the acorn fed pata negra and a consultation with a local sommelier where Spanish wines are matched with the pork dishes planned throughout the week. An initial orientation also includes background information explaining the cultural importance and history behind the rise of pork in the cuisine of the Iberian peninsula. Guests are then taken on a guided tour of Cordoba to explore the region’s three historic cultures – Islam, Christianity and Judaism and visit the food markets of Malaga.

Culinary packages start from €1600 per person for a full week’s experience.

http://carligto.es/en/home.html

Being wined and dined by the likes of Neil Perry and Wolfgang Blass while looking out onto Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef would be any gourmand’s dream – except now its actually happening.

Serene… Lizard Island

An exclusive gourmet experience will take place on Lizard Island next month, where 80 guests will be treated to a showcase dinner by Neil Perry and wine masterclasses by Wolf Blass Chief Winemaker, Chris Hatcher.

The culinary escape includes events that span across three days, beginning on Friday 24^th May with a cocktail party and outdoor wine tasting on Lizard Island – the northernmost resort along the Great Barrier Reef – and later on, dinner at Ospreys Restaurant & Bar that highlights the area’s fresh seafood and local produce.

In between snorkelling over 100-year-old clam gardens, visiting the resort’s renowned Azure Spa, and taking in some of the best views of Anchor Bay, the itinerary on Saturday will include a wine masterclass, Q&A session with Wolfgang Blass, and an Italian-inspired six-course dinner prepared by the legendary Neil Perry, with handpicked wines to compliment each dish.

On the final day, Sunday 26^th May, guests will enjoy a personal Q&A with Perry, before lunch at Ospreys and a scenic departure flight back from Lizard Island to Cairns.

“Our guests have come to know Lizard Island for its excellent food and wine, so having Neil Perry and Wolfgang Blass here for the weekend reinforces our commitment to fine dining in a spectacular setting,” says Lizard Island General Manager, Robyn Pontynen.

Each guest will receive a limited release bottle of Wolf Blass Platinum Label Medlands Estate Barossa Valley Shiraz 2009, signed by founder Wolfgang Blass along with Chris Hatcher, and a signed copy of Perry’s latest book, Easy Weekends.

www.lizardisland.com.au

Baz Luhrmann’s visually lush – yet much delayed – adaptation of The Great Gatsby will undoubtedly showcase a golden age in American style including one particular accessory – the headpiece or the hat.

Even before the film unspools in cinemas, the world of fashion has been rewinding the clock back to the early and mid 20^th century. And sitting front and centre or on top (in this instance) is the hat. If you ever watch the films of the era or go online and checkout the fashion you’ll often notice most of the women are in hats.

Exquisite… Izziana Image

Hats kind of finished an outfit and delivered an extra layer of elegance in an age before you wore sandshoes or thongs on the way to work or looked forward to casual Fridays.

Milliner Pamela Martin from Izziana Image suggests the world is about to enter a new age of elegance. She believes people want to dress-up and look different when they venture out because so much is impersonal nowadays as we hunker down in front of our electronic devices.

Martin recently spoke to Lunch Magazine at the launch of her new range of hats and headpieces at Sydney’s Fraser Suites, where she suggests it’s time to bring the hat back and educate consumers on how to wear them.

She says along the catwalks of Europe, many of the world’s leading designers are topping off their creations with hats and it’s only a matter of time before the trend filters down to high street retailers.

“Hats and headpieces are a conversation starter,” says Martin, who combines fashion with farming on the family’s superfine Merino sheep farm located near Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales.

Interestingly, many of her elegant creations are inspired by the Australian rural landscape and she often relies on resources close to home, combined with her exquisite eye for detail.

Every Izziana piece is meticulously crafted, using an abundance of materials – felt, simamay, silk, feathers, beads, straw, braid and wire.

Moreover, fashion is beginning to supplant farming as the true family business with stylist daughters Isobel and Anna joining their mother as well as running their own successful style consultancy.

“You don’t need to look too far back in history to see that hats play an extremely useful role for any woman who wants to look stylish from head to toe,” Isobel says.

“We all love accessories – bags, bangles, necklaces, even tattoos are a form of adornment. There really is nothing left to embellish apart from the head. A well-matched hat not only finishes an outfit beautifully, but speaks volumes about the wearer. It’s such a fabulous way to express your personality.”

One of China's leading fashion photographers, Chen Man, will showcase her unique vision at Bangkok’s Metropolitan by COMO hotel in just over a month.

Contemporary... Chen Man

The exhibition, taking place from April 25th to May 31st 2013, will be on display in a pop-up gallery space within the hotel’s iconic Met Bar.

Artworks will include several pieces from her Bad Head series, which uses waste materials in the post-production process to drive the concept of environmentally friendly fashion.

“With the complex use of waste materials carefully constructed directly onto the models' form, the meaning is constructed by injecting the materials directly into the creative process,” says Man.

The show will display nine lightbox images and two printed works in the Met Bar along with six prints in one the hotel’s Penthouse Suites.

A graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, Chen Man is China’s leading fashion photographer whose distinctive vision of feminine beauty and power has placed her among the image-makers of choice for luxury brands like Celine, Versace, Chanel, MAC and Mercedes.

Arty... the Met Bar

Her work, considered defining of modern China, has been exhibited at the Salon National d’Art Contemporain at the Espace Cardin in Paris and Ullens Center of Contemporary Art in Beijing.

Man’s upcoming exhibition has inspired a special Chen Man Afternoon Tea at the Met Bar, including a refreshing iced lychee, ginger and silver moon tea; pickled cucumber, shiitake mushroom and lily bud steamed buns; and bamboo, red bean and sesame cupcakes.

Guests staying in the Chen Man Penthouse Suite will also receive a signed book by Chen Man.

comohotels.com

This year marks the 100th edition of the legendary Tour de France. The centenary Tour, which starts for the first time in Corsica on June 29 and runs until July 21, will take in some of France's most famous landmarks such as the Chateaux de Versailles as well as Mont Blanc, Mont Saint-Michel and the Loire region. 

Humble beginnings... the Tour de France

To celebrate 100 years of the world’s biggest cycling race, a photo exhibition will tour from Paris to Sydney and Melbourne.

Australia is the only country outside France to stage the Celebrate the 100th edition of the Tour de France exhibition that features more than 60 photos capturing the emotion and evolution of the event, from its inaugural race in1903 – appropriately won by handlebar moustachioed Maurice Garin – to the current day. 

100 years on... the world's greatest race

The unique collection includes early black and white images of charming towns, the streaking colour blur of contemporary sprinters, and famous faces, like five times Tour winner Bernaud Hinault.

The Tour de France has been held every year since 1903, with the exception of the world war years.

The exhibition will visit Sydney at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth from May 1 to July 14 and Melbourne at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins from July 18 to August 31.

Amy Hughes

It’s easy to see where America’s greatest illustrator took inspiration from as we pull into Stockbridge, a small, New England town in the Berkshires. Norman Rockwell, considered by many America’s most popular artist of the 20th century, made his home here in 1953. He became so attached to the community, he established a trust while he was still alive, ensuring his works would be left to the Stockbridge Historical Society, who later created the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Worth it... Norman Rockwell Museum

For starters, Rockwell has an interesting story. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his “vivid and affectionate portraits of our country.” Born in 1894, Rockwell always knew he wanted to be an artist. He studied art at the National Academy of Design and was already being commissioned to paint Christmas cards by the age of 16. As a teenager, he became art director of Boy’s Life, the Boy Scouts’ official magazine. 

Rockwell went on to produce work for Life magazine and other publications before painting his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post at just 22 years old. He would go on to paint more than 320 covers, all of which are on display at the museum. The weekly magazine covered current affairs, and Rockwell’s lavish covers were clever illustrations of topical themes making both the magazine and the artist wildly popular.

Legendary... Norman Rockwell

What makes the Rockwell museum so accessible is both its subject matter (which is sometimes challenging, as well as humorous, and often plainly pleasing), and its layout. Descriptive panels weave interesting back stories about each picture, rather than posit what Rockwell may have been trying to convey.

There’s something to identify with in most pictures, whether it’s the young boy cringing at the site of a doctor about to deliver a jab, or a warm scene of a bountiful Thanksgiving table where no one is fighting (okay, maybe not identifiable, but certainly idyllic), these pictures are visions of regular people.

Identifiable... Freedom from Want, 1943

The museum also works hard to stay current with rotating exhibits. It’s no secret galleries have to rely on a few tricks to pull people in these days, but the Rockwell museum remains the most popular in the region. It’s packed, in fact. Many have come for the Heroes & Villains exhibit exploring the art of Alex Ross, the prolific comic book artist responsible for Superman, Captain Marvel and other favourites. Why? Because Ross, like so many American artists, was heavily influenced and inspired by Rockwell. The PR man at the museum gives me a wink and explains it’s “a bit of a stretch”. But I disagree.

Rockwell is the real deal; an American icon, and it’s fascinating to see the impact of his work on modern artists. Further, let’s be honest, it’s an exhibit that runs over Christmas and February vacation, and if it lures kids into the museum, which it does, then I think it’s a grand idea. Rockwell took a fun approach to chronicling life in 20th century America, and it shows at the museum. There’s nothing stuffy about it, in fact, if we had more time, we’d sit and stare for a good long while, and one of us is definitely NOT a museum person.
 

www.nrm.org

Uncompromisingly dry... Hokusetsu sake

In the Japanese language, the word 'sake' refers to any alcoholic drink, while the beverage known as 'sake' in English is in fact 'nihonshu', meaning rice wine.

This humble Japanese beverage of fermented rice has made its way across the globe, with breweries popping up throughout Asia, America and Australia. It can be served hot, cold, or even at room temperature depending on the preference of the drinker and the quality of the sake.

For world-renowned Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, sake is all about a full embodiment of flavour and wonderful smoothness.

At his legendary restaurant, NOBU InterContinental Hong Kong, the ancient brew is celebrated with a unique eight-course Omakase menu, showcasing signature dishes and new local creations, paired with three of the most exclusive Hokusetsu YK-35 sake.

Contemporary... Chef Nobu Matsuhisa

The menu includes anago tempura, sea urchin, Serrano ham cured buri sashimi, A5 kobe wagyu striploin and wood-oven roasted lobster.

While the showcased sake includes Daiginjo YK35 Shizukuzake, extremely rare and filtered drop by drop with an elegant taste that lingers on the palette; Junmai Daiginjo YK35, clean and dry with an intense aroma; and Daiginjo YK35, crisp with a clear balance of fresh flower and fruit.

The sake pairing Omakase menu will be available on Friday 7 December and Saturday 8 December.

NOBU InterContinental Hong Kong

Second Floor, InterContinental Hong Kong

18 Salisbury Road, Kowloon

Hong Kong

Restaurant reservations: (852) 2313-2323 

www. NobuRestaurants.com

The Noosa International Food and Wine Festival is set to start the new year off with a bang, with an impressive line-up of culinary stars for their tenth anniversary event.

World's best... Mark Best

Ten illustrious chefs including Mark Best, from Sydney’s award-winning Marque Restaurant; Carlo Cracco, two- star Michelin chef from Milan's Ristorante Cracco; Peter Gilmore from Sydney’s famed Quay restaurant; Ben Shewry from Melbourne’s Attic; and Tetsuya Wakuda, with award-winning restaurants in Sydney and Singapore; will come together to entice festival-goers with a series of presentations, talks and cooking demonstrations throughout the 2013 event. 

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey, welcomed the culinary masters to Queensland. 

“The Noosa International Food and Wine Festival continues to offer visitors to the Sunshine Coast a superior culinary experience in one of Queensland’s most iconic tourism destinations." 

“It is with great pride we welcome such an impressive selection of highly-acclaimed interstate and international chefs to Queensland.”

The festival will offer opportunities to mingle with the globally acclaimed stars, commencing with a 10th Anniversary Opening Night Celebration where all ten chefs will feature in a gala concert of ‘edible music’ and guests can eat their way through a sensory feast of gastronomic and music delights. 

Noosa International Food and Wine Festival, 16-19 May 2013

Tickets on sale from 14 January 2013.

www.noosafoodandwine.com.au

It's time to indulge... Hong Kong Wine and Dine Month

A city of culinary delights, Hong Kong's annual Wine and Dine Month has kicked off with a bang – an epicurean feast of wine-themed events paired with the edible creations of some of the city’s culinary wizards. 

Head to the city’s major foodie districts, Lan Kwai Fong, Stanley and Queen’s Road East, for lively street carnivals and dive into Hong Kong’s legendary dining scene with the Festival of Restaurants, which features some of the city's major restaurants offering creative menus and promotional prices. And serious wine buffs will appreciate the food and wine-themed tours, classes and fairs taking place all throughout November. 

For more information visit:

www.discoverhongkong.com

www.festivalofrestaurants.hk

A new way to dine... vapas

Tapas, typical of Spanish cuisine, are a favourite when dining with a group of friends or enjoying a light snack before dinner, but now there’s an even better way to feast on this culinary classic.

Vietnamese tapas, or ‘vapas’, at Bay Tinh restaurant offers six courses of authentic Vietnamese share plates matched with award-winning wines.

Chef Harry Hoang’s vapas menu showcases the classic, clean flavours of Vietnamese cuisine including tamarind soft shell crab with Great Southern riesling; salt and pepper calamari with Margaret River chardonnay; pork skewers and hoisin sauce with Mornington Peninsula pinot noir; and duck curry with Margaret River cabernet sauvignon.

This contemporary cuisine also features Chef Harry’s famous little rice cakes teamed with an award-winning sauvignon blanc from Margaret River.

The Vapas menu is available alongside the regular a la carte menu for $49.50 per person (minimum 2 people). 

www.baytinhrestaurant.com.au