No matter where you are in the world, there is always a place enjoying great, summertime weather. Enjoy sunning on a white sand beach in Miami – Florida or lounging poolside by your luxury villa in Saint Tropez, having a great tasting cocktail is a must! But where can you find the best cocktail recipes?

Marie-Claire recently published an article offering some outstanding summertime drinks. We wanted to share with you five, delicious cocktail recipes to enjoy at your next pool party, outdoor bar or tropical vacation getaway.

1) Laid in the Shade – courtesy of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
– 1/2 oz. grenadine
– 1/2 oz. orange juice
– 1/2 oz. cranberry juice
– 1/2 oz. lime juice
– 1/2 oz. Passoa
– 1 1/2 oz. Stoli O
– 2 oz. egg white
– 2 oz. peachcell
– 1 oz. peach purée
Instructions: Shake, strain, and top with peach foam mixture of egg whites, peachcello, and peach puree.

2) Cool as a Cucumber – courtesy of The Peninsula Hotel
– 3 oz. Crop Organic Cucumber Infused Vodka
– 5 slices muddled cucumber
– 1 oz. fresh lime juice
– 1 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
Instructions: Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a cucumber spiral.

3) Skinny Dipping – courtesy of ARIA Resort and Casino
– 2 oz. Voli Lemon Vodka
– 2 oz. fresh lemon juice
– 1 oz. strawberry puree
– 1/2 oz. agave nectar
– prosecco to top
Instructions: Shake all ingredients except prosecco and strain into an ice-filled 16 oz. cup. Top with prosecco and garnish with a strawberry.

4) Strawberry Basil Ricky – courtesy of Hotel Erwin
– 3 basil leaves
– 1 large strawberry
– 2 oz. gin
– 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
– 3/4 oz. simple syrup
– club soda
Instructions: Muddle basil and strawberry thoroughly and add gin, lime juice, and simple syrup. Shake thoroughly over ice for six to 10 seconds. Strain over fresh ice in a tall glass and top with soda. Garnish with a strawberry.

5) Pink Glow Splash – courtesy of the St. Regis Resort
– 1 3/4 oz. of Belvedere Lemon Tea Vodka
– 1/2 oz. of Cointreau
– 1/2 oz. of grenadine
– lime wedge
Instructions: Shake vigorously and strain into martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

If you are ready to beat the cold winter weather and enjoy a tropical vacation getaway, contact The Life of Luxury today. We can assist planning and booking all your travel reservations. Follow our luxury blog to read about other great tasting, cocktail recipes.

Photo by Gabriel Amadeus; some rights reserved.

Famous chef Michael Mina opens Bardot Brasserie restaurant this Friday, January 16. Guests will feel like they’re in Paris enjoying the finest French fare.

Michael Mina is the highly acclaimed and James Beard Award-winning chef and will deliver a modern and sexy spin on the traditional French brasserie experience at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Chef Michael Mina was quoted, “For chefs, French cuisine is a homecoming of sorts, since much of our initial training is rooted in French technique. With BARDOT, we’re looking to pay homage to all the classics while embracing the French philosophy of ‘Joie de vivre’ and you’ll see it in everything – from the food and drink to the atmosphere – the experience is going to be a celebration of that lifestyle.”

For an ultimate, fine dining experience in Las Vegas, Mina’s Bardot restaurant will offer an incredible variety of delicious, Parisian cuisine. It will truly be a culinary delight for the senses.

Along with Executive Chef Josh Smith, Michael Mina will feature a menu with Duck Wings À L’Orange, Foie Gras Sausage, Monkfish Bourride, Onion Soup Gratinée and much more!

Here’s a summary of what savory dishes you can enjoy at Bardot Brasserie:

Hors D’oeuvres
· Foie Gras Parfait – Renowned for his caviar parfait, Mina developed this concoction by combining foie gras and port wine gelée, which can then be placed on fresh grilled country bread.

· Duck Wings À L’Orange – Mina adds an approachable twist to this French dish by preparing it as wood-grilled wings, cooked with seasonal citrus and sauce maltaise.

· Croque Madame – Bursting with flavor at every bite, this popular French sandwich is loaded with Parisian ham, Gruyere fondue and topped with an organic egg.

Entrees
· Sautéed Skate Wing – Adventurous eaters will enjoy the presentation of this scaly fish, complemented by wood-roasted cauliflower purée, wild capers, parsley, brown butter and lemon.

· Oven Roasted Chicken – A signature dish on BARDOT’s menu, this interpretation includes wild mushroom-brioche bread pudding, buttered haricots verts and sauce vin jaune.

· Foie Gras Sausage – An avid fan of foie gras, Chef Mina has created an out-of-the-ordinary decadent sausage special for BARDOT, presented with mushroom duxelles, confit prunes, chestnut fondant and Earl Grey jus.

· Monkfish Bourride – Another exotic fish to round out BARDOT’s culinary offerings, the monkfish is poached in olive oil, accented by a garlic aioli and served with black mussels, fingerling potatoes and braised leeks.

Customizable Selections
· Onion Soup Gratinée – Chef Mina takes the classic French Onion Soup to the next level by giving guests the option of adding perigord truffles, braised oxtail and a soft-poached egg, creating a multi-textured, flavorful soup.

· Fruits de Mer – Seafood aficionados will rejoice over the opportunity to create a tower of under-the-sea delights. Choosing between the Brasserie Luxe or Brasserie Royale sizes, guests can fill their plates with lobster, king crab, oysters, clams and shrimp.

· Les Steak Frites – For those new to the world of French cuisine, Steak Frites is an excellent place to start. Guests can select from an 8 oz. Hanger, 12 oz. Ribeye or 8 oz. Filet, which can be enhanced with béarnaise, au poivre, bordelaise or foie gras butter. Pair the succulent meat with a hearty portion of fries and bon appétit!

· Fromagerie – No fine French meal is complete without a taste of the country’s quintessential creamy cheeses. Guests at BARDOT can order a choice of three, five or seven world-class fromages ranging from Brie, to Roquefort and Camembert.

Desserts
· Chocolate Macaron – Offering a larger-than-life take on the French macaron, Chef Mina developed one big enough to share, filled to the brim with dark chocolate ganache.

· Apple Tarte Tatin – Those with a sweet tooth should not leave BARDOT without trying this dish, created with warm caramelized apple tart and puff pastry, topped with vanilla bean ice cream.

While in Las Vegas, be sure to enjoy an unforgettable dining experience at Bardot Brasserie in the luxurious Aria Resort & Casino.

Bardot will be open daily between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. You will find the new restaurant located on the second floor of Aria.

If you have never been to Las Vegas or are a regular visitor, be sure to enjoy delicious French fare at the new Bardot Brasseri. The Life of Luxury can help plan and book your entire travel itinerary. Return to this luxury blog and read about new restaurant openings and luxury travel news.

Another New Years is almost here and many of us will be bringing in the new year with friends and family. It’s always a fun night of partying and celebrating another year gone by, plus the anticipation of what’s to come next.

As the clock strikes midnight, the celebratory toast is a ritual done around the world. Champagne is signature drink of New Year’s Eve, but we wanted to offer a delicious and sophisticated champagne cocktail recipe for you to try.

A Champagne Mojito was created by the team at NYC’s Restaurant DANIEL. This is not your basic mojito, because it combines FACUNDO NEO, which is a super-premium, hand-blended rum.

Blended with champagne, the classic Mojito cocktail morphs into a great tasting drink – Champagne Mojito – that will quickly become the hit of any party.

If you will be in New York City, you can actually order the Champagne Mojito at Restaurant DANIEL or simply make it yourself.

CHAMPAGNE MOJITO by Restaurant DANIEL
2 oz FACUNDO NEO Rum
2 oz Champagne
1 dash of Angostura Bitters
1 bar spoon sugar in the raw
3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
3/4 oz Simple Syrup
8 Fresh Mint Leaves

Method:
– Combine mint, sugar in the raw, lime juice and muddle.
– Add simple syrup and rum in a shaker.
– Shake the mix with ice and double strain into a high ball filled with ice.
– Top with Angostura bitters & Champagne.
– finally, garnish with a lime wheel and a fresh mint sprig.

Follow our luxury blog to read about other great party cocktails and the latest in the luxury industry.

Located in the romantic city of Venice, Italy – The BAUERs has long been recognized as luxury hotel property with a strong family tradition that represents the true spirit of Venice.

Each year, The BAUERs hotel celebrates Christmas Eve by decorating this luxury hotel with beautiful and colorful glass ornaments. Hotel guests can experience the Christmas spirit and warmth of the winter season.

For a memorable fine dining experience, the BAUERs offers the ultimate Christmas feast that will tease and please your senses. You can enjoy the evening with a unique and delicious tasting dinner at the hotel’s own De Pisis Restaurant. There are two entree choices – a meat and a seafood menu.

The amazing meat menu starts with a duck pie that features fruit mustard from Cremona, and an incredible game terrine with pumpkin and pomegranate. The meal’s first course includes pheasant tortellini with consommé and black truffles and then followed by a delicious serving of roast beef with cream of Jerusalem artichokes, green pepper, and Balsamic vinegar sauce. This unbelievable holiday meal finishes with a truly, classic and irreplaceable Christmas Italian dessert – Panettone, with a tasty tangerine flan with pistachio ice cream.

The sensational seafood menu begins with fried and marinated mackerel and red prawns, and orange flavored chicory and cream chickpeas, and next a black ink tagliolini with cuttlefish and venus clams. The dinner’s main course is a fresh, almond-crusted fillet of turbot with broccoli and a seven-spice sauce, followed by a typical Christmas dessert, such as a chocolate log.

Each dinner menu pairs ideally with a post-dinner stroll around this luxurious hotel. Enjoy viewing the atmosphere and unmatched beauty of Christmas at The BAUERs.

The evening’s dress code requires a jacket.
When: December 24th and 25th, 2014
Where: Ristorante De Pisis at The BAUERs hotel in Venice, Italy
Cost: 120 euros per person, wines excluded ­ VAT included

Please contact The Life of Luxury to book your travel reservation at The BAUERs in Venice, Italy for their Christmas holiday dinner. Return often to read about other luxury travel packages and industry news by following this luxury blog.

The fabulous Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas is a AAA Five Diamond property that’s famous for being modeled after the beautiful villages of Europe and of course – the amazing Mediterranean-blue lake and water fountain show.

Opening in March of 2015, Lago by Julian Serrano will be a new Italian restaurant concept from one of the most celebrated chefs in Las Vegas.

Lago will feature a luxurious dining room with stunning floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, thus allowing sensational views of the Bellagio resort’s iconic fountains. Next to the dining room, patrons can enjoy an open-air patio and experience waterfront seating on beautiful, 8 1⁄2-acre Lake Bellagio.

Lago will become the first Italian restaurant from the Michelin-decorated and James Beard Award-winning Chef Julian Serrano. Lago will feature a small plate menu to celebrate the creativity and signature flavors of Chef Serrano. In addition, Lago restaurant will introduce a sophisticated mixology program with unique preparations.

The small, savory Italian dishes will deliver reinvented presentations so restaurant guests can enjoy eating a wide variety of cuisine from Chef Serrano. Dining selections will include carpaccio and bruschetta; an assortment of pizzas; fresh pastas such as risotto and gnocchi; in addition to delicious tasting, main dish such as salmon, steak and chicken.

Randy Morton is the Bellagio President and COO and was quoted, “Lago pulls from rich Italian history and culture while delivering a cutting-edge culinary experience – two hallmarks of the Bellagio brand. And as suggested by the name, which means lake in Italian, Lago’s guests will enjoy the most striking Fountain views in the city.”

The interior of Lago restaurant showcases a façade to immediately capture the attention of dining guests and seen from across the Bellagio resort. Upon entering Lago, you are enveloped in a colorful, 15 by 100 foot mosaic that’s made from Italian glass and portrays an aerial map of Milan, Italy.

If you would like to enjoy a nice cocktail before or after your meal, try the intimate lounge with a gorgeous glass-and-chrome mixology counter.

Chef Serrano is excited about opening Lago early next year and stated, “Lago will deliver a fresh experience for the Bellagio guest and Las Vegas local, not only in the cuisine, but also in the ambiance. As people step into Lago, they will be embraced in a setting that is energetic, engaging, approachable and fun – all inspired by the sights, sounds and flavors of Italy.”

If you are looking to book a vacation to Las Vegas and would like to enjoy fine dining at its best at Lago restaurant in the Bellagio Resort & Casino, contact us. The Life of Luxury can assist planning and booking your entire itinerary. Read about other luxury travel news by following this luxury blog.

The FACUNDO Rum Collection is the first luxury collection that includes four, rare sipping rums – sourced from the private rum reserves of the Bacardi family.

Just in time for the holiday season, the FACUNDO Rum Collection is now offering a limited-edition FACUNDO Elevated Holiday Gift Set and is available in select high-end liquor stores.

This ultimate gift set for fine rum connoisseurs comes in a plush, Italian leather travel bag with the monogrammed initials of the recipient debossed right into the leather.

What makes this gift set unique is that each item in the luxe bag was hand-selected. You can now enjoy your fave libation wherever you travel. The personalized leather travel bag includes:

· 2 BACCARAT “Harmonie” Tumblers: Since its creation in 1764, Baccarat has been synonymous with luxury, a catalyst for celebration, and the favorite among Royalty, Maharajas, Presidents, and all who enjoy expert craftsmanship and timeless elegance. These unrivaled qualities make the hand-crafted Harmonie tumbler the perfect vessel for the hand-blended FACUNDO rums.

· 2 Bittermens Bitters: Bittermens is an American-made, small batch bitters comprised of organic ingredients making it the go-to accouterment for high-end cocktails. Add a dash of Boston Bittahs or drops of Burlesque Bitters to round out FACUNDO NEO or EXIMO Old-Fashioneds.

· Brizard & Co. Cigar Humidor: Premium, hand-made Brizard & Co. humidor sourced from San Francisco’s Wingtip, a social club and “one-stop shop” for modern gentlemen. Wingtip collects and curates the best men’s products, similar to how FACUNDO’s Master Blender hand-selects each rum.

· Colibri Cigar Cutter: Since 1928, Colibri products reflect classic styling and superb functionality. Like the Collection, rich in heritage and built for the modern day Renaissance man, the cigar cutter is the ultimate accessory.

· Member Card: The card grants access to exclusive FACUNDO events and opportunities in major cities including New York, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Other luxury bar accessories for rum-sipping delight that are included in this amazing set are: mixing glass, bar spoon, jigger, leather bound journal, Powermat charger, premium lighter and ashtray, leather-wrapped ice bucket, plus an ashtray.

Customers who purchase the FACUNDO Elevated Holiday Gift Set will aso receive the complete FACUNDO Rum Collection, which consist of four of the rarest and most exquisite rums sourced from the Bacardi Family Private Reserves. Included rums in the collection are – EXQUISITO, EXIMO, NEO and PARAISO.

The incredible FACUNDO Elevated Holiday Gift Set is now available in the following U.S. cities – New York, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco.

Retail price is $5,000 in the above cities and available in limited quantities of only 10 per city.

If you are interested in purchasing a FACUNDO Elevated Holiday Gift Set, please contact us today. Follow our popular luxury blog and read about other news in the spirit and wine industry plus other luxury holiday gift ideas.

Triple Creek Ranch is a all-inclusive retreat in Darby, Montana and was just named the World’s Best Hotel 2014 by the readers of Travel + Leisure.

Now you can celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family in luxury style. This will be the second annual Thanksgiving Celebration at Triple Creek Ranch, which is an adults-only, Relais & Châteaux property in the scenic Bitterroot Mountain Range of Montana.

This luxury mountain resort features 23 log cabins that all include wood burning fireplaces and private or nearby hot tubs for the ultimate in relaxation.

It’s the ideal place to spend the Thanksgiving holiday and enjoy an authentic, Western experience. The main lodge as well as guest cabins are decorated with original Western art from the resort owner’s private collection.

Be sure to bring your appetite because the main event will be the delicious tasting Thanksgiving feast to be prepared by Executive Chef Jacob Leatherman.

Chef Jacob’s Thanksgiving is planned to traditional, but also innovative as he plans ot blend various flavors of the West and the bounty of America. Wine lovers will delight. Sommelier Jeremy White will feature various premier wines such as Chappellet, Chateau Montelena, Et Fille and Merry Edwards.

While in Montana, one must enjoy the splendor of the great outdoors. Triple Creek Ranch guests will get the opportunity to enjoy day hiking, horseback riding or try fly fishing with an Orvis-endorsed guide on the majestic Bitterroot River.

Triple Creek Ranch is scheduling its first Archery Tournament or you can take at easy and simply enjoy a riverside picnic. Later in the day, gather under the soaring timbers of this luxurious mountain the lodge and enjoy a glass of wine from its cellar. The resort recently won its 10th Wine Spectator Award, and compete in a Stave Puzzle Challenge.

The day after Thanksgiving, Chef Jacob welcomes resort guests to join him in his kitchen and participate in a pie making class. You’ll learn from a master chef and taught creative recipes for those holiday leftovers.

The multi-day Thanksgiving Celebration at Triple Creek Ranch runs between November 24 to December 1, 2014. Cabin rates start at $950 per couple, per night. The cost is an all-inclusive fee and includes your luxurious accommodations, snacks, breakfast, lunch, gourmet dinners, house wines and house spirits and all featured on-ranch activities, such as cattle drives, horseback riding, dog sledding, cooking classes, etc…

If you would like to enjoy the Thanksgiving Celebration at Triple Creek Ranch, please contact us to help arrange your luxury travel reservation. If you want to keep abreast of other travel destinations, follow our popular luxury blog.

Iris van Herpen designed a stunning über-premium creation that was inspired by the importance of time in crafting the gift box of a new Dom Pérignon champagne.

Iris van Herpen is a respected Dutch fashion designer and creative force. The Power of Creation this end-of-year season 2014 was the inspiration for the beautiful box design by Iris van Herpen.

The new luxury champagne also comes with a limited edition gift box that accompanies the bottle of Dom Pérignon Vintage 2004.

The champagne gift box design utilizes the color green so that it visibly illustrates the process of fine wine creation.

Please enjoy viewing – Dom Pérignon Metamorphosis, The Movie:

Building upon the collaboration with Iris van Herpen, renowned creative visionary Daniel Sannwald assisted in the creative process by contributing his artistically daring digital video in addition to opulent photography.

If you enjoy reading about fine wines and champagne such as Dom Pérignon, return to this luxury blog and keep up with all the latest industry news.

The scenic Napa Valley in California is known for some of the best wines in the world. It’s also a popular destination for travelers to visit the various wineries and enjoy a day of wine tasting.

B Cellars is a premium Napa Valley, award-winning wine producer and just opened of a new winery and hospitality house. The two new buildings are found on the historic B Cellars property in Oakville AVA.

The property sits among some of the best Napa area wineries, including Silver Oak, Opus One, Groth, Rudd, Plumpjack and Gargiulo. The region definitely defines the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

B Cellars is led by winemaker Kirk Venge and operates a multi-vineyard winemaking strategy, to craft exceptional blends procured from Napa Valley’s most desirable vineyard properties. The company continually delivers wine vintages that display distinct character, depth, and layers of flavors.

The new B Cellars additions feature a state-of-the art wine production facility that offers more than 15,000-square-feet of caves for tours, wine tasting, to store wine barrels and host private events. There is also interactive, state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen.

The demonstration kitchen has an open-flame hearth oven that will be the focal point of the hospitality house. The kitchen will be overseen by full-time wine educator and chef, Christina Machamer. She is proud to be a protégé of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. In addition, chef de cuisine Brian Green will be displaying his skills as well. Green was trained under Daniel Boulud and Dominique Ansel in New York.

Next to the hospitality house, guests can wander the B Cellars property grounds. View the culinary gardens and explore, pick, sample and tend to and become part of the various experiential programs offered at the winery.

You will be hosted by B Cellars Wine Guides for both tasting and educational experiences, whch are named – Wine Journeys and Culinary Adventures. Participate in “Treks” throughout the B Cellars property including the Culinary Garden. You will have the opportunity to discuss seasonality, how the local weather makes the Oakville AVA unique within Napa Valley, symbiotic planting theories, in addition to regional soil compositions.

Wine lovers will really enjoy the new Appellation Tasting. Discover the diverse terroir of Napa Valley’s appellations via tasting Cabernet Sauvignon wines from four of the most distinct growing areas. You will first tour the wine production facilities and learn about the entire harvest to bottling process. Next, enter the private tasting area of the caves for a wonderful wine tasting experience. You’ll compares single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons from Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, and Atlas Peak. Each wine served is carefully paired with a variety of artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and flatbreads from the hearth oven.

B Cellars is open for tastings by appointment, seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is located at 701 Oakville Cross Road in Oakville.

To book a luxury travel reservation to visit Napa Valley and B Cellars, please contact us today. One of our concierge specialists will assist you. If you enjoy reading about interesting travel destinations, return and follow our luxury blog.

As the top producers of wine in the United States, the world famous vineyards of Napa Valley are a popular destination for wine lovers and vacationers who want to enjoy this scenic locale.

The countryside of Napa Valley provides an abundant variety of things to do including – touring the many wineries and lush vineyards, eating at one of the fine dining restaurants, shopping at quaint boutiques, and staying at luxury hotels, resorts and inns.

But one of the most popular things to do in Napa is ride the famous Napa Valley Wine Train. Departing from downtown Napa, you journey along 18 scenic miles of vineyards and rolling hills. It’s a unique experience and a chance to enjoy one of the best Napa restaurants.

The Napa Valley Wine Train offers several lunch and dinner packages. In addition, they have partnered with some of the local hotels to offer “overnight getaways.” You can also enjoy a private tour and wine tasting as part of their winery tours.

For the dinner tour, the train departs at 6:30 pm from the McKinstry Street Station in Napa. The train passes through the beautiful cities of Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and then St. Helena. The train rides through the heart of this famous wine region of California. After traveling about 18 miles north towards St. Helena, the train makes a brief stop before its return trip. In all, the 3 hour train ride covers 36 miles of picturesque landscapes.

But what is most enjoyable is the unforgettable, culinary experience. Kelly Macdonald is an award-winning Executive Chef and he cooks each meal to order aboard the train. It’s the ideal way to combine wonderful tasting food and sipping fine wine from Napa Valley.

As you first board the train to start your experience, it feels like you stepped back in time. The vintage rail cars have been carefully restored to their original beauty. The long line of train cars consist of a combination of 1915-17 Pullman dining cars and lounge cars, in addition to a 1952 Pullman Vista Dome car.

One of the train’s cars is the unique Silverado Car. This saloon-style car has been fully restored. As the only car without air-conditioning, between the months of May and October you can enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch menu and slide open the car’s windows to take in the Napa Valley breeze.

If you are looking for an intimate and private dining experience with a view, consider booking your table in the Vista Dome Car. There you can enjoy a delicious 5-course meal and gaze out of the elevated observation windows and take in the stunning views of Napa Valley’s wine country. This luxury dining car has been meticulously refurbished with decor that utilizes stunning Honduran Mahogany paneling along with classic, brass accents.

Our multiple-course gourmet dinner included – Hors d’oeuvres of seasoned vegetables, grapes, artisan cheeses and finely cut meats and salmon. The First Course was either a Baby Lettuce Salad or Soup du Jour. Next, we had a choice of four delicious entree’s: Roasted Beef Tenderloin, Salmon Hash Brown, Pan Seared Bacon Wrapped Pork Medallion or Sweet Pea Raviolis. There is also a Special of the Day that changes over time. Every course was excellent and with the train rolling through the scenic Napa Valley, it made for a perfect occasion.

You can’t have a gourmet meal without pairing fine wine. There were many choices of local Napa wines to choose from, such as – Jericho Canyon “Creek Block” Cabernet Sauvignon 2009; Reata “Three County” Pinot Noir 2012; Castello di Amorosa Sangiovese 2010 and Swanson Pinot Gregio 2011.

After our dinner was complete, we were served a delicious Harlequin Sorbet that was made from the Wine Train’s own Sorbets. Next we moved to the dessert car. We had two dessert choices to choose from: Chocolate Tiramisu and Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee. Yum! My wife and I both agree they were superb and the ideal way to end an exquisite meal.

The Napa Valley Wine Train also offers wine tasting that is an additional fee of only $10 and well worth it! You can choose 4 tastes at the wine bar from about 30 different boutique wines exclusively from Napa Valley.

After wine tasting as night fell, we returned to our plush swivel chairs and gazed out the large windows at the passing Napa Valley scenery.

If you plan to visit Napa and enjoy the Napa Valley Wine Train, be sure to plan ahead. It’s a very popular activity during the summer and fall months, when grape harvesting begins, so make your reservations early.

The Napa Valley Wine Train is truly an amazing experience and a unique chance to view the beautiful, local scenery. It’s simply a terrific way to enjoy a gourmet meal and sip fine wines from Napa Valley – all aboard a historic train.

If you would like to make a travel reservation and ride the Napa Valley Wine Train, please contact The Life of Luxury. We can assist planning and booking your entire itinerary. If you enjoy hearing about unique luxury travel experiences, return to follow our luxury blog.

Napa Valley Wine Train
(800) 427-4124
(707) 253-2111 (local)

The luxurious Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas is proud to announce that famous chef Tony Hu will be opening his new luxury restaurant – Lao Sze Chuan.

Although the choices for top, fine dining restaurants in Las Vegas is plentiful, this new Chicago-based restaurant will feature authentic Chinese cuisine and will quickly become one of the most popular restaurants in Las Vegas.

Lao Sze Chuan is one of 16 restaurants owned by Chef Tony Hu and has been honored by receiving the coveted MICHELIN Guide “Bib Gourmand” distinction for the last two years. This location will be the first restaurant in Las Vegas for Tony Lu.

Food lovers will enjoy the fine dining experience at Lao Sze Chuan and select from Sze Chuan cuisine in addition to a variety of popular Mandarin, Hunan, Cantonese plus Shanghai dishes that have been created specifically for the new Palms Casino Resort restaurant.

For example, Tony’s Chicken with Three Chili (photo above) are popular spicy favorites served at the Chicago restaurant and will be available at the The Palms location. One of the new dishes that sounds so delicious is Sze Chaun Peppercorn Fish.

Acclaimed chef Tony Hu is recognized as the “mayor of Chinatown” in Chicago’s culinary world and worked hard to develop Lao Sze Chuan into one of the most beloved Chinese restaurants in the U.S. Hu utilizes high quality ingredients and consistently delivers great tasting, traditional Sze Chuan cuisine.

Vice President of Food and Beverage at Palms Casino Resort, Alexander Schnoeller was quoted, “At Palms we’re continuing to evolve, creating exceptional experiences throughout the property to match our guests’ diverse interests and tastes. We’re honored to welcome Tony Hu and his celebrated cuisine to the property with the opening of Lao Sze Chuan.”

The new Lao Sze Chuan luxury restaurant in Las Vegas will be 150 seats and will feature a vibrant decor. The restaurant will have high ceilings and decorated with ceramic sculptures plus culturally-inspired artwork.

Restaurant guests will also be able to enjoy dining on the outdoor patio space that overlooks the popular Palms Pool.

Lao Sze Chuan at The Palms in Las Vegas will be opening in late August. The restaurant will be open seven days a week – from 11:30 a.m. until 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11:30 a.m. until 2 a.m. Friday through Saturday. Dim sum will also be served daily between the hours of 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

If you would like to make plans to visit Las Vegas to stay at The Palms Casino Resort and dine at the new Lao Sze Chuan restaurant, please contact us today. We can help plan and book your luxury travel reservation. Come back often to read our luxury blog and follow other luxury travel stories.