TRAVEL+FOOD

6 Trips to Broaden Your Kids’ Minds This Summer

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Now that school’s out for summer, enroll the whole family in a crash course on nature and wildlife with Natural Habitat Adventures

Summer vacation may mean “no more pencils and no more books,” but it can also be a great opportunity for the whole family to learn something new together. Natural Habitat Adventures, the world leader in eco-friendly wildlife-focused expeditions around the globe, offers nature-centric trips designed to get explorers of all ages trading their tablets and phones for GoPros and binoculars. From sailing “Darwin’s Laboratory” in the Galapagos on a private ship to taking moonlit treks through the jungles of Costa Rica, Nat Hab’s family adventure trips are designed around conservation, curiosity and quality time – all disguised as a vacation.

Expand your family’s horizons with these summer experiences:

1. Go exploring in “Darwin’s Laboratory”

Come face-to-face with an outstanding array of wildlife, including sea lions, marine iguanas and giant tortoises on Nat Hab’s 10-day Family Galapagos Adventure. Made famous by evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin, the Galapagos archipelago is the very best place for young explorers to learn about evolution, natural selection and how animals adapt to micro-environments. Sail aboard the National Geographic Islander, a family-friendly ship with a specialty research- and adventure-focused kids’ program on board. Record wildlife sightings in your field notebook, listen for underwater life via the ship’s hydrophone and stretch out in special family cabins designed to sleep up to three. Off-ship, don a wetsuit for snorkeling, paddleboarding and Zodiac adventures with your naturalist Expedition Leader, where you can come mask-to-nose with penguins, turtles and seals.
Priced from $7,650
Dates: July 20 & 27, 2019; July 4, 8, 18, 23, 2020; Aug 1 & 6, 2020

2. Seek out lions after sunset in the Maasai Mara

Make conservation the centre of the conversation on the Family Kenya Adventure, an 8-day, custom-crafted itinerary featuring the Maasai Mara’s charismatic creatures whose futures may be at risk. Learn about poaching and pachyderm rescue during a visit to the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and make friends in high places at the Giraffe Center before heading along the Great Rift Valley into open grasslands. Stretch out in an unfenced luxury tented camp set in the middle of a Maasai Mara private conservancy, and go for guided walks under a sprawling blue sky while keeping your eyes peeled for zebra, hippo and elephant. Later, as evening falls, head out on a sunset game drive in search of lions and other predators to discover life on the plains after dark.
Priced from $7,995
Trip arranged upon request

3. Journey to Peru’s lost Incan Empire

Immerse your family in the emerald-colored jungles and incredible ancient ruins of the Peruvian Andes on a 7-day Custom Family Machu Picchu Adventure. Witness amazing feats of centuries-old civil and hydraulic engineering and learn about Incan astronomy and architecture while exploring the Sacred Valley between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Meet with local Quechua people in Pisac and learn about advocacy conservation projects from the students of Tikapata School. Stay in private stone casitas along the Urubamba River, and experience 15th-century life in Machu Picchu with tales from your private Peruvian guide. Later, compare ancient civilizations with natural Amazonian marvels in the world’s largest tropical forest basin, where kids will take riverboat tours in search of pink river dolphins, or go ashore to scout for the scarlet and green-winged macaws, howler monkeys and leaf-cutter ants that call the Amazon home.
Priced from $4,495
Trip arranged upon request

4. Safari closer to home in Yellowstone National Park

Embark on an unforgettable wildlife adventure without leaving the continent on Nat Hab’s 7-day Hidden Yellowstone Wildlife Safari. Learn how this North American ecosystem works, understanding the importance of ecological balance between predators and prey, and follow naturalist Expedition Leaders into lesser-known areas of the park where bison, bighorn sheep, bears and wolves live largely undisturbed by tourist crowds. See the secret lives of Lamar Valley wolves using a high-powered spotting scope and talk fire ecology—how nature recovers from the ravages of wildfires—with your guide. In an extraordinary natural setting selected for conservation by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1872, guests can engage in enlightening conversations about how hunting along Yellowstone’s perimeter affects the ecosystem inside the park, and why competing political interests threaten the park’s apex predators even to this day.
Priced from $5,295
Dates: August 27 & 29, 2019

5. Scout for sloths on horseback

With its neon-billed toucans, jungle-fringed rivers, mist-cloaked cloud forests and towering volcanoes, Costa Rica is like something out of a child’s imagination. Encounter geothermal phenomena and extraordinary tropical wildlife in one of the most biodiverse places on Earth on this Custom Family Costa Rica Adventure. Join scientists and conservationists at ecological research centers for some interactive exploration of the country’s rain forest ecosystem and discover how cacao beans are transformed into tasty treats with chocolate-making lessons. Soar above the forest canopy on a zip line, search for sloths while on horseback, brave a nighttime bat walk at the 850-acre Tirimbina Rainforest Center and take in the views at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, adjacent to the country’s most famous volcano.
Priced from $5,095
Trip arranged upon request

6. Dog sled across the Arctic tundra

No time for a summer excursion? Surprise the kids with a mid-term getaway to the planet’s “living laboratory” when it comes to climate change in the North. The Arctic tundra around Churchill, Manitoba is one of the nature’s last great frontiers—for now. Learn about its delicate ecosystem and the impact of a warming world on Nat Hab’s 6-day Churchill Arctic Family Adventure, where naturalist Expedition Leaders lead a family-focused adventure that’s all about pairing environmental awe with conservation awareness. Helicopter over frozen Hudson Bay in search of polar bears, race through the boreal forest on an authentic sled dog ride, and climb aboard Nat Hab’s special Polar Rover, a monster-sized truck specially designed for up-close wildlife observation—look for caribou and Arctic fox. In evenings, take in the stunning night sky—and if you’re lucky, the northern lights.
Priced from $5,995
Dates: Nov 16 & 18, 2019

For more information about Natural Habitat Adventures, visit www.nathab.com.

About Natural Habitat Adventures
Natural Habitat Adventures has been a leader in responsible adventure travel and ecotourism since 1985. From polar bear tours in Churchill to small-group Galapagos cruises, from Alaska grizzly bear adventures to African safaris, our journeys, led by professional naturalist guides, reveal the planet’s most extraordinary nature destinations. As the world’s first 100-percent carbon-neutral travel company—and the conservation travel partner of World Wildlife Fund—we offer eco-conscious expeditions from Antarctica to Zambia with a multitude of adventures in between. For more information, visit nathab.com.

Royal Malewane’s Riaan Fourie Named Safari Guide of the Year 2019

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Riaan Fourie, a professional Field Guide at Royal Malewane, the award-winning safari lodge from The Royal Portfolio in Kruger National Park, has been named the Safari Guide of the Year 2019 by the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA).

The award comes as a result of a grueling week-long competition, consisting of bush walks, game drives, birding assessments, advanced rifle-handling contests, tracking and storytelling around the campfire, all under close scrutiny of a panel of six judges – all experts in their field. A consistent performance over all the categories saw Riaan emerge as the winner. Riaan becomes the second Royal Malewane guide to win the trophy following Nikolas Vounnou in 2012.

Riaan has been a professional guide at Royal Malewane for nearly 13 years. He holds a National Diploma in Nature Conservation and is a FGASA Level III Professional Field Guide with SKS-Dangerous Game and SKS-Birding. He is also a Level II Tracker.

Led by Director Juan Pinto, a veteran FGASA Level III Professional Field Guide and Master Tracker, the Royal Malewane team is considered the most qualified guiding team in Africa and is now the only team in the world to have three Master Trackers.

For more information about Royal Malewane and the rest of The Royal Portfolio collection, visit: www.theroyalportfolio.com.

BEST HIGH-SPEED TRAINS × USA RANKS

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The Best Countries for High-Speed Train

Infrastructure: the USA Ranks 16th in

Analysis by Omio

A comprehensive analysis by Omio reveals the countries with the world’s most advanced high-speed train infrastructure

  • The USA’s high-speed line, the Acela Express, runs 281 miles between Washington D.C. and Boston.
  • Spain ranks top for Europe, with 562 miles of tracks currently under construction.
  • China ranks first, with over 19,000 miles of high-speed tracks in operation.

Omio, Europe’s leading booking platform for travel by train, bus and flight, has released a ranking of the countries with the world’s best high-speed train infrastructure. The findings show the prevalence of high-speed trains around the world; highlighting the economies which have started to invest in a future fuelled by high-speed technology.

From a long list of countries with advanced high-speed infrastructure, the top 20 were ranked according to the operational and record speed of the trains, the length of track in operation, and the length of track under construction.

High-speed trains are environmentally-friendly and efficient. They reduce CO2 emissions by offering an alternative to road and air travel. In the USA, the California bullet train is under ongoing construction and scheduled to open by 2022. The line will connect Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2 hours 40 minutes. The 119-mileproject, owned and managed by the California High-Speed Rail Authority, is projected to cost around $77 billion.

USA High-Speed Train Ranking

Worldwide High-Speed Train Ranking

The research for this study was completed on the 20th of June 2019.

Complete results for 2019 High-Speed Train ranking are available on: http://www.omio.com/trains/

Further findings worldwide

China has more miles of high-speed tracks than the rest of the world combined.

Japan ranks second, with almost 1,900 miles of high-speed tracks currently in operation.

Saudi Arabia ranks tenth. Opened in October 2018, 281 miles of Haramain High-Speed Railway connect the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The line is expected to transport over 50 million passengers a year.

Further findings for Europe

Spain has the most miles of high-speed tracks currently under construction in Europe, followed by Austria and the United Kingdom. The AVE networkalready connects Malaga in the south, Barcelona in the north, and Valencia in the east.

In France, the TGV intercity line has a record speed of 357 mph (575km/h): the fastest worldwide.

Germany outperforms the United Kingdom, with 14 times the length of high-speed tracks currently in operation.

About Omio, formerly GoEuro

Omio is a travel app and platform that allows customers to find and book trains, buses and flights across Europe. Partnering with over 800 European transport operators, Omio is revolutionising the travel planning experience, providing customers with more choice, transparent pricing and easier booking.

Omio lets travellers search for any location, including cities, towns and villages, showing the best possible transport combinations while eliminating the need to visit multiple websites to plan an entire trip. With Omio, travel planning is simple, flexible and personal.

The travel startup, founded in 2013, changed its name from GoEuro to Omio in early 2019. Omio is headquartered in Berlin with over 300 employees from 45 different countries. The latest funding round totalling $150 million, led by Kinnevik AB, Temasek and Hillhouse, was announced in October 2018.

Photo Credit: TripTripNow.com

AUTUMN ART COLOURS × PARK HOTEL TOKYO

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Autumn ART Colours Exhibition Scheduled at Park Hotel Tokyo to Offer Hospitality Guests a Season of Japanese Aesthetics

Park Hotel Tokyo announced on June 28 that it will hold an art exhibition titled “Daisuke Kagawa Art Exhibition – A Visitor from Afar in Autumn -” from September 2 to December 1, 2019.Park Hotel Tokyo welcomes our hospitality guests with the form of “arrangement”, one of Japan’s aesthetic values, expressed through the medium of art. A series of art exhibitions are held representing the four seasons of Japan. In this 30th exhibition as part of this initiative, “ART colours”, works of Daisuke Kagawa will be exhibited to express “autumn,” symbolising a condensation of the views of nature held by ancient people in Japan.

 

Twice a year, once each in spring and autumn, there is a period when the sun rises from true east and sets in true west. These seasons have long been familiar in Japan as the equinoctial weeks. During this time in autumn, people give thanks for the blessings of nature while venerating ancestors. It is a time for worshiping the sun, with prayers for the coming year’s harvest. The “Visitor from Afar” in the title is a term that refers to natural phenomena or things (i.e., the gods) that exceed human knowledge, coming from an eternal and faraway world. It is said that this became folk tradition, and that the people of Japan have welcomed visitors with reverence, cultivating methods of warm hospitality.

Daisuke Kagawa is an artist who draws on his own sensibilities and knowledge to create works that express the workings of “Visitor from Afar”. He drew attention with the production of an Artist Room called “Jomon” in the Park Hotel Tokyo’s Artist in Hotel project in 2017. The exhibition this autumn will deepen this Kagawa-style “Jomon” world. Here, “Visitors from Afar” await guests at the Park Hotel Tokyo.

During the exhibition period, guests can enjoy an original cocktail and dessert that complement artworks at the ART Lounge. In the evening, powerful images with a motif of exhibited artworks will be projected on the 30-meter-high wall.

 

Park Hotel Tokyo General Manager Takayuki Suzuki said:

“Autumn is also a time when we pray for a plentiful harvest after the scorching hot summer. I look forward to being able to meet with the blessings of Japan and feeling of gratitude that arrive with the golden light of autumn here in Tokyo.”

 

Park Hotel Tokyo Art Project Director Yoshitomo Fujikawa said:

“The work is modern, but it has an atmosphere that serves as a vivid reminder of ancient Japan. This exhibition likens the hotel to autumn through the work of artist Daisuke Kagawa, which enables one to catch a glimpse of Japanese identity.”

 

Enjoy a tranquil and rich autumn, with its balanced days of equal daytime and night, together with works of art that summon a deep-seated awareness of nature, at Park Hotel Tokyo.

2019 EAT DRINK VEGAN

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Written by Krishan Narsinghani × Vaughn Lowery

360 Magazine had the opportunity to cover the 2019 Eat Drink Vegan Fest in Pasadena, CA. With ample amounts of curated vendors, it was a food and drink galore that left guests feeling energized and healthy. Thirst on a ‘Saturday Funday’ was overkill.

Foodies (rather drink connoisseurs) could sample over 250 beverages including kombucha (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), smoothies, beers, wines, blended spicy margaritas, and organic spirits. Talk about quenching your pallet.

Delectable bites from buffalo chicken sandwiches made from soy beans, kimchi fries and chocolate cakes stole the show. Kids enjoyed a playground area while families sprawled across the lush yards within the Rose Bowl Stadium.

For real, an experience that conformed meat-lover tastebuds to a plant-based wonderland.

South American Travel

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 Hue & Cry—a creative communications agency—is delighted to announce its PR representation of SouthAmerica.travel, the ultimate travel planning service specializing in trips to South America. With a mission to share the most authentic experiences possible, SouthAmerica.travel provides travel enthusiasts with the opportunity to delve into the continent’s many cultures through diverse experiences, ranging from exploring Colombia’s “coffee country” to touring local markets with indigenous ingredients in Peru. The handcrafted tours go beyond simple customization, taking travelers style, pace, and mind into consideration, coupled with recommendations based on SouthAmerica.travel’s expertise to ensure travelers are checking dream destinations off the bucket list. When booking with SouthAmerica.travel, each guest will experience the brand’s educational component: to ensure travelers understand why and what they see, rather than just showing them around.

“As SouthAmerica.travel continues to grow and approach our 20th anniversary in November, we retain our commitment to authenticity. Hue & Cry understands our brand, which is why we are thrilled to have the agency as an extension of our team” says CEO and Co-Founder, Juergen Keller. “I couldn’t agree more that this partnership is a natural fit; Hue & Cry’s specialization in unique travel brands aligns with the custom, bespoke tours we offer here at SouthAmerica.travel” says C.O.O and Co-Founder, Bradley Nehring.

Highlights of Tours From South America.travel Include:

Brazilian History 101: On the Colonial Gems & Historic Cities in Brazil Tour, guests can explore the country’s colonial wonderlands with a Brazilian Historian as their guide. Experiences include touring the baroque churches of UNESCO world heritage site, Ouro Preto, to riding an antique cable car down to one of the world’s oldest gold mines in Mariana. In Paraty, history-buffs can learn about the eventful path to Brazilian Independence through the town’s cobblestone streets, notable landmarks, and historical edifices, which together encompass the country’s rich Portuguese heritage. Outside of Brazilian Imperial-era, guests will visit Inhotim Brazil Art Park—one of South America’s largest open-air art museum featuring over 500 pieces of artwork. For the 12-day/11-night experience, prices start at $3,670 per person.

Path of the Incas and the Amazing Amazon: A bucket-list experience, guests can book the Machu Picchu and Amazon Jungle Tour, and follow in the steps of the Incas: from the colonial wonderland of Cuzco through the indigenous markets of the Sacred Valley to the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival by train to Aguas Calientes, SouthAmerica.travel brings adventurers to Machu Picchu’s less-visited Watchman’s Hut and Inca Bridge. In Puerto Maldonado, head into the jungle for authentic lodging run by local tribes, which will be provided by the Peruvian Amazon Lodge – run by local tribes – before setting out to visit a parrot clay lick, a natural formation caused by erosion where parrots, parakeets, and macaws go daily. Tour-goers will complete the day with learning more about the rainforest’s herbaceous ecology, all under the guidance of one of the area’s expert naturalists. For the 8-day/7-night experience, prices start at $1,900 per person.

Land and Sea Adventures in Patagonia: Nature Enthusiasts will have the chance to breathe in the fresh, crisp air of the mountainous Patagonia region with the Patagonia Deluxe Tour. The expedition invites travelers to cruise one of the most remote corners of the world aboard the luxurious, Stella Australis. Highlights include crossing the Nassau Bay and entering UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Cape Horn National Park, a rocky promontory overlooking Drake Passage, known as “End of the Earth,” and the shipping channel that was the sole navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans for several years. The region is a sanctuary blessed with glacial landscapes, which presents opportunities such as hiking the verdant Magellanic forest to a cascading waterfall with viewpoints of Garibaldi Glacier—one of the only three glaciers in Patagonia gaining mass. Travelers will disembark from the Stella Australis and transfer to Explora Lodge in Torres del Paine National Park, where if the weather permits, travelers will visit a Magellanic penguin colony en route to Explora Lodge in Torres del Paine National Park. They can visit a veritable penguin colony. For the 14-day/13-night experience, prices start at $11,925 per person. For additional package deals visit American Airlines vacations.

About SouthAmerica.travel

SouthAmerica.travel is a tour operator specialized in custom South America tour planning for travelers worldwide from its offices in Seattle, Lima, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Stuttgart. The website offers hundreds of sample itineraries as well as local phone numbers in 88 countries. SouthAmerica.travel offers 4-star & 5-star South America tours to Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and more. Licensed and bonded in the U.S., SouthAmerica.travel has been sharing its love of travel to South America since 1999 and is proud of its A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau and ASTA affiliation. SouthAmerica.travel – Our name is our passion™

JOSE ANDRES × AMEX ICON AWARD 2019

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JOSE ANDRES WINS AMERICAN EXPRESS ICON AWARD 2019 AS PART OF THE WORLD’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS PROGRAM

US-based Spanish chef and humanitarian José Andrés has been awarded the American Express Icon Award 2019. This prestigious honor is part of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and celebrates an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the restaurant industry worthy of international recognition and who has used the platform that his profile as a chef provides to raise awareness and drive change.

Chef Andrés will officially receive his award at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019 ceremony, heldat Sands Theatre within the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on the evening of Tuesday 25th June. The award reflects his overall career as a pioneering chef and restaurateur as well as his more recent humanitarian work, both of which have brought him to the status of a global culinary icon.

“José Andrés is more than just a superb chef and restaurateur,” says William Drew, Director of Content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. “Not only has he brought fantastic, authentic, forward-thinking Spanish food to the US, but through his World Central Kitchen project he has helped feed millions of people denied access to nutritious food as a result of natural disasters. Chef Andrés embodies a character that has used his talent in the kitchen and subsequent position of power and access for a wider good, which makes him the perfect winner of the first global American Express Icon Award.”

Jose Andrés says: “I’m very humbled to receive this award, to make sure that I will give voice tothose who are voiceless. I will try to make sure that we bring hope, one plate of food at a time.”

Born in Asturias, northern Spain, Chef Andrés is the man credited with bringing both authentic tapas and innovative contemporary Spanish cuisine to the US. After spending two years with Ferran Adrià at legendary modernist restaurant El Bulli, in 1991 he packed his bags for the States with just $50 in his pocket.

Today, his ThinkFoodGroup includes more than 30 restaurants, including the two Michelin-starred minibar by José Andrés in Washington, DC, which serves some of the most avant-garde cuisine in the world. His array of restaurants ranges from experimental tasting-menu-only counter dining experiences to authentic regional cuisines and fast-casual concepts, which are focused on impeccably sourced ingredients served simply, often in a small-plate or tapas style.

“We are thrilled to recognize the incredible culinary and humanitarian work of our American ExpressGlobal Dining Collection partner and overall visionary, José Andrés, with the American Express IconAward,” said Chris Cracchiolo, Senior Vice President, Global Loyalty and Benefits, American Express.“Chef Andrés truly embodies what this award stands for, as his work both in the kitchen and outsidehave shown the power and impact that food can have in bringing individuals and communities together and helping them thrive and grow together.”

Twice awarded Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influencial People in the World, Andrés’ humanitarian workhas received widespread recognition. In 2016 he was awarded a National Humanities Medal at the White House by President Obama, and in 2018 he was named Humanitarian of the Year by the James Beard Foundation for the role of his non-profit organization, World Central Kitchen, in providing nearly 4 million meals to the people of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. His book recounting his experience in Puerto Rico, We Fed An Island, is a New York Times bestseller.

He has recently broadened his restaurant reach with a new location of Jaleo, his first restaurant, at Disney Springs at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, as well as the 35,000-square foot MercadoLittle Spain in New York’s Hudson Yards development, which combines a variety of Spanishrestaurants, bars and food and retail kiosks under one roof. Described as “a veritable love letter to Spain”, the project, inspired by the mercados central to social life in Spain, was developed withcreative collaboration from brothers Ferran and Albert Adrià, with whom he worked at El Bulli at the start of his career.

THE WORLD’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS

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The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, announces the 51-120 list of restaurants ahead of its annual awards ceremony, which takes place in one week’s time on Tuesday, 25th June 2019 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. For 2019 only, the list expands from 51-100 to 51-120 restaurants, in celebration of the 120th anniversary of S.Pellegrino, partner of the gastronomy community since the beginning of its history in 1899. Deloitte, a professional services consultancy, is again independently adjudicating the list that is compiled by a diverse voting Academy which comprises over 1,000 international chefs, food writers and traveling gastronomes.

The 51-120 list in numbers – developing diversity

  • The 51-120 boasts 21 new entries from 15 countries, marking a near 30% increase in new territories this year
  • The full 51-120 list includes restaurants in 25 countries across five continents, with four new countries joining the list
  • There are six re-entries from four countries: Denmark, Japan, France and South Africa
  • It’s been a fine year for Italy with three first-time entrants
  • The highest new entry on the 51-120 list at No.61 is Uliassi in Senigallia, Italy
  • Nobelhart & Schmutzig in Berlin, Germany rises an impressive 31 places from last year to No.57, with
    Indian Accent in New Delhi, India following in close second, advancing 30 positions to No.60
  • USA leads in volume with seven restaurants on the 51-120 list, including one new entry
  • Japan and Spain are hot on the heels of USA with six restaurants each, including four new listings

Female Forward
There is a strong female presence this year, most notably with an exciting new entry from Core by Clare Smyth in London (No.66), the restaurant led by the winner of The World’s Best Female Chef Award 2018. Other female-led restaurants include Elena Arzak’s Arzak in San Sebastian, Spain (No.53), Pim Techamuanvivit’s Nahm in Bangkok, Thailand (No.69), Helena Rizzo’s Maní in São Paulo, Brazil (No.73),Garima Arora’s Gaa in Bangkok, Thailand (No.95) and Anne-Sophie Pic’s eponymous restaurant in Valence, France (No.98).

50/50 Split
As a result of the gender-balanced voting Academy announced in early 2019, more than 500 female experts, chefs, food writers and restaurateurs, make up 50% of the total voting Academy, establishing equal representation within the group of 1,000-plus international restaurant industry experts.

Widening the net
Some less celebrated gastronomic locations now appear on the 51-120 list, including the Marche region in Italy with Uliassi (No.61); southern Spain’s Aponiente (No.94) in El Puerto de Santa Maria; Guadalajara in Mexico with Alcalde (No.109); Ghent in Belgium with Chambre Séparée (No.111); and the Dolomites in Italy with St. Hubertus (No.116).

William Drew, Director of Content of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, comments: “This year’s 51-120 listmarks the most expansive representation of geographic diversity we’ve seen during the 18 years that 50 Best has been celebrating culinary excellence. Restaurants from world-renowned countries as well as lesser-known destinations are voted for and will be acknowledged at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards in Singapore on 25th June. The advent of S.Pellegrino’s landmark anniversary marked the ideal opportunity for us to extend the list for one year only. We hope to see as many of them as possible again next year.”

In a collection of restaurants marked by their geographic spread, 21 new entries appear on this year’s 51-120 list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, marking a notable increase of represented countries and cities compared to previous years. There are three new entries apiece for Japan, Italy and China (including two from Hong Kong and one from Macau). Russia sees two new entries, both from St. Petersburg, challenging what has previously been Moscow’s domination. Lido 84 on Lake Garda, Italy (No.78) – this year’s winner of the Miele One To Watch Award – is another significant newcomer to the list, alongside Uliassi, which is the highest new entry in the 51-120 list.

Berlin’s Nobelhart & Schmutzig, last year’s No.88, has climbed the ranking an impressive 31 places to No.57, followed by Indian Accent in New Delhi, which advanced 30 places from last year to No.60.

SingleThread of Healdsburg, USA, last year’s Miele One To Watch winner, continues to demonstrate its predicted progress to No.71, jumping 21 places. Other notable climbers include Rio de Janeiro’s Lasai,bumping up 26 places to No.74, and Diverxo of Madrid landing at No.75 from No.96.
USA boasts an impressive seven restaurants on the 51-120 list, with Atomix, New York, debuting at No.119. Spain and Japan closely follow with six restaurants each, and Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and the UK are each represented by four restaurants.

The Voting Process
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019 list is voted for by more than 1,000 international restaurant industry experts and well-travelled gourmets who make up The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. The gender- balanced Academy comprises 26 separate regions around the world, each of which has 40 members including a chairperson. No sponsor from the event has any influence over the voting process. Professional services consultancy, Deloitte, independently adjudicates the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. This adjudication ensures that the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019 are protected.

Results
The best way to follow the announcement of the list and individual awards is via our social media channels:

Chef Raffaele Ronca

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Introducing Winner of The Food Network’s “Chopped,” Chef Raffaele Ronca, Naples-born chef  who left his beloved hometown at the age of 19 and headed for NYC to be more accepted as a gay man. Raff, who initially wanted to be an actor, quickly found success in his “day gig,” working behind the bar and, ultimately, in the kitchen of NYC’s most popular restaurants. His passion for cooking and entertaining eventually eclipsed his desire to pursue acting and led to a lifelong career. His time on the popular Food Network show allowed him to revisit his love of acting, and brought his career to a whole new level. Shortly after his win, he opened Rafele NYC’s West Village, the epicenter of the gay rights movement. The restaurant, Rafele, offered guests an authentic Italian experience and was an immediate success. Just last year, he opened a second location in Rye, New York.

Chef Ronca wholeheartedly believes in giving back to the community and supporting LGBTQ youth. He often donates his time and gifts by appearing at and cooking for various LGBTQ charities, including the Rainbow Railroad, an organization dedicated to helping lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals escape violence and persecution in their home countries.

Chef Ronca can speak on:

  • General features and profiles
  • World Pride themed cocktail, the Espresso Yourself Martini
  • Rainbow Railroad and supporting LGBT youth

More on Chef Raffaele Ronca:

Born and raised in Naples, Italy, Raffaele Ronca comes from a family of butchers and fishermen who collectively inspired his lifelong passion for food and flavors. With his family also in the restaurant business, Raffaele embraced cooking and culinary explorations as integral parts of not only his Italian culture, but also his heart and soul.

Working in his uncle’s restaurant in Naples and helping his mother make fresh pasta daily, Raffaele learned to respect the beauty and taste of fresh ingredients, as well as the time it takes to select and prepare them for fine dishes.

Immigrating to America at the age of 21, Raffaele worked steadily at some of New York’s most authentic Italian restaurants, including as the executive chef at Palma, chef du cuisine at Bellavitae and manager of food and wine at Caffé Torino.

Today, Chef Raffele Ronca is a winner of the hit Food Network show “Chopped.” He is also a collaborator with the James Beard Foundation, and his signature Buffalo Ricotta Cheesecake has been featured twice in Food & Wine magazine as one of the top cheesecakes in America, in addition to having received other impressive culinary accolades.

Chef Raffaele’s second restaurant, Rafele Rye, will make its debut in Westchester County, NY, in the spring of 2018.

For more information, please visit Rafele.com and contact janegoeypr@gmail.com.

Cuba Travel

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On June 4, 2019, the Trump Administration announced further restrictions on travel to Cuba, immediately halting cruise ship arrivals and some other forms of travel. Edward Piegza, founder of Classic Journeys, explains the latest rules.

Why should I care about the new Cuba Travel Restrictions?

On Tuesday, June 4, 2019, the Trump administration announced new rules about people-to-people and cruise travel to Cuba. These will affect most Americans traveling to Cuba. If you have plans for such a trip – or have been thinking about making them – you may naturally be confused. Here’s a summary of the changes to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations and the Export Administration Regulations announced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) (the section at the Department of the Treasury that regulates the trade and travel embargo to Cuba and which issues licenses for travel to Cuba) and the Commerce Department, respectively.

Can I travel legally to Cuba with Classic Journeys on its People-to-People programs? 

Yes, indeed. Your travel to Cuba on Classic Journeys’ People-to-People programs is 100% legal because our programs fall under OFAC’s ‘grandfather’ clause. OFAC considers the grandfather clause to apply when a People-to-People organization like Classic Journeys had completed a travel-related transaction prior to June 5, 2019, in connection with a particular departure date, even if, prior to June 5, 2019, you as a traveler had not yet reserved your trip. In other words, because we had already reserved our hotel accommodations for our People-to-People trips in Cuba prior to June 5, 2019, your travel to Cuba on our People-to-People programs is grandfathered in as completely legal.

How do the new regulations affect People-to-People travel?

OFAC has allowed U.S. organizations whose people-to-people programs in Cuba fall under a ‘grandfather’ clause, such as those operated by Classic Journeys, to proceed with those programs through the end of 2019. 

So, what is a qualifying “travel-related transaction” that allows Classic Journeys’ People-to-People programs to Cuba to be legal under the grandfather clause? 

The qualifying “travel-related transaction” that needs to have been completed prior to June 5 could be, for example: having made a reservation for an accommodation (whether or not paid for) or booking and paying for transportation. These are just two examples and are not meant to be exhaustive. In the case of Classic Journeys, our close relationships with local people in Cuba mean that we already had our hotel reservations confirmed prior to June 5.

What People-to-People programs and dates are legal with Classic Journeys under the new regulations? 

All three of our People-to-People programs (Long Weekend in Havana, Cuba for Families: Havana and the Viñales Valley, and Havana Cienfuegos & Trinidad) and all of their departure dates for 2019 are 100% legal.

Can you still fly to Cuba legally on commercial air flights?

Commercial air flights are not affected by the changes. Note that your airline will ask you at the time of ticketing to select from a listing of the type of license under which you are traveling to Cuba legally. Your first choice option for the license will be a “people-to-people” exchange with the “grandfather clause” aka referencing the fact that your People-to-People organization- Classic Journeys – has made its arrangements prior to June 5, 2019. If that option is not available, you can select “educational activities” (so long as there is no mention of a degree requirement). If the airline you are considering does not have one of these options right now, they are likely playing catch up with the new regulations; so you can check back with them in a few days or try one of the many other airlines with commercial flights from the U.S. to Cuba.

How do the new regulations affect cruise travel to Cuba?

The changes have immediately ended travel to Cuba by U.S.-flagged cruise ships or foreign-flagged cruise ships departing from U.S. ports. The Commerce Department has not included a “grandfather” clause to allow cruises that have already been scheduled, and for which passengers have already made arrangements. If you have a paid a deposit or final payment for cruise travel to Cuba, you should contact your cruise company for a refund.

What about private aircraft and boats; can they travel legally to Cuba? 

No. The authorization for private vessels and private aircraft (such as private fishing boats and private sailboats, and corporate or private jets) is revoked.

How will the changes under President Trump affect the people of Cuba?

We’ve made so many wonderful friends in Cuba and seen the lives of the Cuban people change for the better during recent years. So, of course, we’re concerned about what it will mean to their prosperity and general welfare with the enaction of these new travel regulations. The Cubans have been through so much in the last 60 years. They’ve always managed to bear their hardships with grace and warm solidarity in their families and communities.

One known feature of the new regulations is that they will cap remittances – the money that can be sent to Cubans from friends and family members in the U.S. – at $1,000 per person every three months. In a country where the median monthly salary is just $32, you can only imagine how a reduction in remittance income will impact everyday life. In addition, travel had become a major source of income for Cubans, as well, so any reduction in that resource will echo throughout the country in a way for the people who can least afford it and whom we and our government want to help.

We choose guarded optimism.

We are approaching Cuba as we always have – with care, enthusiasm, and with pride in the fact that legal travel for Americans to Cuba has changed the lives of our American guests and the everyday local Cubans they’ve met, in overwhelmingly positive ways. You can still travel to Cuba legally with Classic Journeys. We like to think of this way of travel as an informal version of ‘Voice of America” with boots on the ground… yours in fact, as you communicate a positive story of the American people to local Cuban people. We urge you to hold fast to your plans. And if you’ve been hesitating to plan a Cuba trip, you know now that you can, and we encourage you to do so.

ABOUT CLASSIC JOURNEYS

Since its founding in 1995 with one style of travel in a total of three countries, Classic Journeys has expanded to offer five styles of travel (culture + walking, culinary, family, multi-sport, and river cruising) and 100 itineraries in 50 countries across six continents. With its focus on providing every guest a handcrafted trip of a lifetime, Classic Journeys has won awards from a variety of publications including Afar, Saveur, National Geographic and Travel + Leisure – the latter having named it a “World’s Best Tour Operator” every year since 2007.