Monthly Archives: May 2018

O’Comercial Local Food Porto

Posted on by

So many choices, in a city where the wine is produced locally and the fishermen deliver fresh caught fish each morning, dining out is truly a pleasure. A plethora of choices offering delicious cheese, fresh seafood, locally farmed meat – where to start?

O’ COMERCIAL Porto

During my sightseeing at the most visited historic central monument, the Palácio da Bolsa, we happened upon an intimate darkly lit space. I popped in and wondered who are these sophisticated locals dining at a leisurely 2 pm on a Friday?

O’ COMERCIAL Porto

Restaurant O’ COMERCIAL is right in the historical center of Porto. It combines the elegance of the past with new trends. The restaurant itself is beautiful and spacious but due to a well-designed layout, it is at the same time, a very intimate space. Refined setting with massive windows facing the river Douro from where you can see the pier of Gaia and the dynasties of Port wine cellars.

MENU

Smoked salmon carpaccio with ham cheese, balsamic cream and bacon toast
Goat cheese baked on sweet twig
Vol-au-vent of black pudding with goat cheese gratin and caramelized apple slices
Alheira crunchy with black olives, greens and quail egg
Veal carpaccio with pesto sauce, Parmesan cheese and arugula
Bruschetta with sardine and goat cheese on pumpkin jam
Foie gras with drunken pear blades and muscatel reduction
Grilled scallops with catatonic substitution on ratatuille vol-au-vent

O’ COMERCIAL Porto

Plan your sightseeing around stopping here for a divine lunch.

Restaurante O Comercial Palacio da Bolsa Porto

Viña Vik – Master Wine Class   

Posted on by

As if you might need another reason to travel to Chile and visit Viña Vik, a magical destination! The property is an art filled 22-suite avant-garde retreat and wine spa located in Millahue, Chile on the VIK vineyard. Tucked into the heart of Chilean wine country, Viña Vik is a hideaway just two hours south of Santiago. The ultra-modern design, offering uninterrupted views of the mountains and vineyards—encompassing 11,000 acres of unspoiled land—the design is reminiscent of a Frank Gehry structure.  Winemaking is the primary focus here, with 4,500 acres of vineyards hills and native woodland, one of South America’s top vineyards, the property offers rustic yet glamorous refined rooms and outstanding hospitality.

Viña Vik

The vineyard retreat is perched on a hilltop above a lake at the center of this spectacular 11,000-acre vineyard with panoramic 360-degree views of the vines, multiple valleys, hills, forests and mountains up to 1000 meters with the majestic Andes Mountains in the distance.

Viña Vik is offering a truly exceptional Master Class that Master of Wine, Tim Atkin will be leading at the property with their VIK wine team from September 20th to the 23rd, 2018. 

Tim Atkin is one of the most highly recognized wine critics in the world and a very engaging and charming British Master of Wine.  He is also an award-winning wine journalist, broadcaster and commentator and judges several international wine competitions.  He also happens to be an outstanding photographer.

Having Tim as mentor and guide at the vineyard, where he will share his knowledge and delve into topics such as wine making, grape varieties and vines, the similarities and contrasts between France and Chile and the art of pruning promises to be a one of a kind experience. He will also do a blending seminar with the group for you to blend your own VIK wine and will be teaming with the VIK winemakers to explain what VIK has done in their vineyard and in the winery with the latest technology and the best wine making practices to reach for our goal of creating a truly exceptional wine to enter the pantheon of the best in the world. The dedicated Vik Chile team will be ready to unfurl the entire VIK experience for you from the high degree of luxury that the retreat provides with its art, architecture and design to the organic haut cuisine at Milla Milla, the nature of the vineyard, the wine spa’s luxurious treatments, plus outdoor activities as you wish in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Let us know if you are interested in joining what is sure to be a great group in Chile!

It would be hard to choose a favorite room, after my recent trip to Portugal and marveling over all the tiles, my Azuelejo suite at VIK featured a beautiful mural of the Vik family in tiles.

Azuelejo suite

Rooms at Viña Vik are beyond spectacular – 22 rooms: 17 Suites, 4 Master Suites and 1 VIK Master Suite. The suites have fabulous views to the vineyard and nature surrounding Viña Vik. 
- South Wing: Suites and Master Suites overlook the valleys, vineyard, hills and lake with one Master Suite overlooking the Andes Mountain range. North Wing: Suites and Master Suites overlook the Falaris – Colchagua Valley and vineyard with one Master Suite overlooking the Andes Mountain range.

Azuelejo suite Bath

Vina Vik Suite

Wouldn’t you rather be here? Vina Vik