The Hotel Concierge: A Savvy Travelista's Best Ally

Hotel Life at Sanderson London

The hotel concierge.  Outdated?  Non-essential?  Think again.  A good hotel concierge is worth his or her weight in gold…and can become a Travelista’s best ally for making the most out of what your destination has to offer.

After check-in and settling into my digs, the concierge desk is typically one of my first stops for embarking on my travel adventures.  Not recommended to displace your own research, local foraging and adventure, a concierge, instead, can serve as an added resource in your travel arsenal.

The best concierges have an exceptional network and well-rounded grasp on the local area—from the best restaurants, to entertainment venues, to sporting events, shopping, local tours—or whatever it is that you have a desire to experience during your journey.
 
For instance, when I traveled to London for the first time, I knew that my first meal upon arrival would be fish and chips.  However, to ensure I was going to enjoy the best fish and chips London has to offer, I consulted my concierge and within minutes was on my way to experience an authentic and delicious meal—that didn’t disappoint.   Along with recommending places to nosh, concierges will usually make reservations for you and your party.  It works because there’s an obvious vested interested for all parties involved (you, the hotel brand and the restaurant) to ensure your experience is second-to-none.

Beyond dining options and assistance, concierges are great for helping to secure tickets to sporting and entertainment events.  This was a big bonus when I wanted to attend the French Open during one of my trips to Paris.  My wish became my concierge’s command—and the rest was history.  Hassle-free travel at its best, I like to say.

I also typically prefer to book local tours and excursion packages through the concierge desk, rather than in advance.  I find the additional “insider knowledge” that a concierge brings to guests to be a welcomed plus in choosing from the myriad choices presented by local operators.  There’s just something reassuring about having the input of someone who does it day in and day out.

If you’ve already mapped out the majority of your travel agenda and related details prior to arrival, a concierge can still be invaluable for assisting with the best driving and/or public transportation routes, private cars, maps and other lesser travel matters.  They’ve even been known to provide an umbrella when needed! 

In essence, a hotel concierge represents an extension of your travel savvy resources, which makes experiencing a destination in its fullness a true delight, without any extra heavy lifting.   So the next time your accommodations include a hotel stay, remember to keep your concierge top of mind and make the most of your newfound ally!

Happy Travels!

This article originally appeared on TravelistaTV.

Madeleines with Lemon Curd and Raspberries

Sometimes procrastination can last for moments or days.  At other times, it can endure for...(gasp!) years.  Well, my intentions with the French tea cake/cookie of sorts, le Madeleine, fell to the latter end of the spectrum.  I had been planning to make them for what seemed like forever, even buying these several years ago to spur myself along.  But, alas, nothing, nada, caput.  At least until the burst of inspiration, that is, by now, my signature for abandoning myself to recipes and dishes I am compelled to make, entered the scene.  And then, I just had to bake them.

Beyond the light, cake-cookie texture and citrus undertone of these French delicacies, I was eager to make this recipe so I could adorn them with homemade lemon curd (so. good.) and fresh raspberries--for the ultimate sweet  (but not overly so) bite.  

Pleased with the results, I decided to add them to the menu of my first, Pop Up cooking class that launched this past weekend.  They were a hit, as I expected...but more about that in a future post. :)  The menu decision further compelled me to try and tweak several recipe variations before landing on my final version for the class and resulted in me baking madeleines like they were going out of style!  

I'm not one to keep something this good--and easy and fun--to myself, so today's post is serving up the first recipe I tried and loved.  Note: the measurements are slanted to the UK metric system, so plan on pulling out your kitchen scale for this one.  It's quite a forgiving recipe along those lines, however, so enjoy and... 
 
Happy Eating! 

Get the recipe here

     





  

Postcard From Cannes: A Red Carpet Memory

Photo Memory: Cannes Film Festival

Occasionally, I like to give a window into some of the other passions I enjoy.  And today's post highlights my inextricable love connection with food and travel--with a heavier emphasis on travel. 

With the American 'red carpet season' fully upon us, the memory of a truly special, personal red carpet moment resurfaced.  I was reminded of my very first travels to France some years ago, which included stays in Paris and the French Riviera (Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo).  

As timing would have it, my arrival in Cannes happened on the last day of the Cannes Film Festival.  In fact, the timing was so perfect that I even witnessed a bit of the movie star convoys arriving before the formal festivities began.  It was as "up close and personal" as I had been to any such affair and set in beautiful Cannes, France only made it dreamier.  The above photo memory is a favorite, showcasing some of the energy of that grand evening.

I eventually left the scene to enjoy an exquisite dinner and live band dedication in celebration of a special occasion.  (Yes, food was a part of this special memory, but not the main attraction, admittedly.)  After a late finish, I headed back towards the previous red carpet scene to surprisingly find it totally abandoned.  The festival had ended--and with it the previous flurry of pomp and circumstance and celebrity and action.  Now all that remained was relative quiet--and that big, red carpet.  Having this possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to myself, I happily posed on the carpet for a couple of take-away shots and unforgettable memories. 

Although Nice turned out to be my favorite locale in the Riviera during my stay, and return trips to Paris keep it top-of-list for everything I love about French culture (food, fashion, art, architecture...), Cannes will always have a distinct soft spot in my heart for its unique coastal beauty, flair, cuisine, and oh yes, that red carpet.  

Thanks for allowing me to indulge and share here on DMRFF.

Happy Eating, Travels & Reminiscing!