The Finest Gin There Is - Tanqueray N° TEN

Gin Tanqueray N° TEN

Luxury gin Tanqueray No TEN‘s latest gift pack, designed by curator of vintage, Wayne Hemingway, is being released exclusively to Selfridges, RRP £54.99. Containing a bottle of T10 and 2 martini glasses in a lovely pack, this highlights Tanqueray No TEN’s iconic use for martinis and is perfect for entertaining.

The interior is lined with a cocktail party guide print sourced from Wayne’s museum The Land of Lost Content, Britain’s largest archive devoted to vintage cultural artefacts. Taking inspiration from a 1930’s cocktail party guide, the print offers an insight into the classic glamour of this era and the tradition of cocktail hour.

“The finest Gin there is” is my opinion. If you have tried Tanqueray No TEN, you will be nodding in agreement. If you haven’t tried Tanqueray No TEN, you must.

Tamarai & The Most Romantic, Aromatic Valentine’s Menu.

Like the Lotus flower it is named after, Tamarai adjusts from being a fine dining restaurant to a late night wine bar, complete with Video Jockey! The metamorphosis is a very clever and functional idea.

You do not have to leave after dinner to go and find a club!

If you are looking to impress your other half this Valentine’s, Tamarai is more than an ideal destination.

Manish Mehrotra, Head Chef has taken inspiration from the beauty, flavours and mysticism of the Far East to create a sumptuous and evocative Valentine’s Day Menu. The result comprises an indulgent three-course meal against a romantic and aromatic atmosphere.

If you are hungry, look away now. I am going to run through this seductive menu!

The King's Speech and the History of the Tommy Glass

Tommy Glass

The movie The King's Speech is up for 12 Academy Awards and has contributed to renewed interest in the early 20th century and the life of King George VI. The glasses shown above are an example of how designs from that period still resonate today. The Tommy Glass is one of Saint-Louis Crystal's most iconic pieces. Created in 1928 in honor of the British "Tommy" soldiers, Saint Louis Crystal named its new emblematic collection, "Tommy." The collection debuted at a 1938 dinner honoring King George VI of The Kings Speech. The luncheon was held in the hall of mirrors at The Palace of Versailles and eleven glasses were set in front of each of the two hundred guests (as shown in the photo at right). Queen Elizabeth was in attendance with her father. The Tommy glasses are still being made in the same careful handcrafted way and are now available in a palette of eight colors showcasing Saint Louis' various crystal cuts including diamond, pearl, olive, and star.

Saint-Louis's history started before the invention of crystal (the addition of lead to glass). It was founded in 1586 Lorraine, France and is one of Europe's oldest cristalleries. At the beginning of the 19th century, Saint-Louis became very popular with French society, and won many awards. Most recently, in 1995, the company was purchased by Hermes, in the effort to keep this French craftsmanship alive and still flourishing in France. Since the beginning almost nothing has changed in the production process. After 10 years of apprenticeship, which is usually generational, passed from father to son, to grandson, the new craftsman can begin working with the masters. Each piece is mouth blown and later cut by hand and no two pieces are exactly the same. A variety of Saint-Louis Crystal's jewel-like wares are available at Michael C. Fina. The colorful glasses shown above are $470 each.

Most Expensive Olive Oil

Most Expensive Olive Oil

Studies have shown benefits for those suffering from ulcers, heart disease and high cholesterol. Of course, it’s also one of the most expensive cooking oils.

The most expensive olive oil in the world is called Lambda and is produced by Speiron Co. in Greece. The oil is labeled as an “Ultra Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil,” and the Koroneiki olives used to make Lambda are harvested by hand and first cold pressed to produce a fruity and well balanced flavor. The oil is even packaged by hand in an attractive 500 ml bottle.

Ordered directly from Speiron, Lambda costs US $54 per bottle or US $200 in a special gift box. For the truly extravagant, Speiron offers a bespoke, hand-crafted case with two 18k gold plates one of which, along with the bottle, bears the owner’s name for a price of US $14,698.

Most expensive sushi in the world.

A Filipino chef, Angelito Araneta Jr. , shows sushi garnished with .20-carat African diamonds and wrapped with 24-karat gold leaves in a restaurant in Manila June 28, 2010. The five pieces of sushi, worth 91,800 pesos ($1,996), was created by chef Araneta Jr. , who said his unusual food artworks are used as gifts in marriage proposals or during courtship.

Most expensive Super Bowl buffet in the world

Superbowl buffet

This year’s Super Bowl XLV buffet at Manhattan’s Old Homestead Steakhouse needn’t worry charging $25,000 for an excruciatingly expensive dinner. What’s cooler is that one lucky winner gets to taste this buffet after Sunday’s match between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. This extravagant spread will be cooked in the winner’s kitchen only by the restaurant’s executive chef and his entire staff. Executive chef Oscar Martinez will whip a meal featuring Kobe beef burgers, hot dogs, French fries with Kobe beef, Maine lobster, Miami stone crabs, and sirloin steak covered in black truffle shavings on toasted baguettes, chicken wings covered in horseradish and topped with Beluga caviar, tortillas covered in smoked salmon, crème fraîche.