Beirut - So much more than you expect

Beirut is a city of juxtapositions, glittering nightlife mixed with architectural delights and silent reminders of the past troubles. In early June Bacchus set off with a group of savvy journalists for our food and beverage press trip.


The first night, slightly weary from the flight, we were greeted with the opulence of the Phoenicia hotel, the grande dame of the Middle East that has majestically stood overlooking the Mediterranean for the past 50 years and we were treated to a delicious Lebanese feast by the outdoor pool on Amethyste terrace, which showcased the fabulous offerings all the restaurants at the hotel have to offer. The bolder members of the trip headed out for their first sample of Lebanese nightlife to White, an incredible rooftop bar with lasers, plenty of dancing and superb cityscape views.



The next morning, after a restorative breakfast at Mosaic, we were taken to IXSIR vineyard with the informative Alain Feghali who taught us all about Beirut's history on the way. The IXSIR vineyard was a delight, one of the 12 greenest buildings in the world due to its eco architecture. After a tour of the building we got to the main event, the wine tasting. Impressively the wines are already stocked in Nobu, Hakkassan and Selfridges, so we were even more impressed with how delicious they were especially the IXSIR Rose. 

Byblos was the next destination where we discovered Pepe Abed, a sleepy fish restaurant that was "just like St Tropez before anyone knew about it." Delicious fried fish was washed down with more Lebanese Rose before we embarked on learning more about the history of Byblos and visiting the ruins that dated back to 7000BC.
 
After a late afternoon of lazing by the pool we headed out to dinner at the infamous MOMO at the Souks, a treasure trove of tagines, cous cous and Rania - the GM and best unofficial tour guide Beirut has to offer. Filled with delicious food and Rania's suggestions on the best night out we headed to Decks on the Beach where we danced until dawn and fell in love with the DJ, Isaac Tischauer, some quite literally.


The next day the survivors were treated to a city tour encompassing the best of Beirut  from design, culinary delights and art. Namely Sarah's Bag, Urbanista café, the jewellery designer Paola Chartouni, furniture designer Nada Debs, furniture designer Karina Sukar and the house of Annabel Karim Kassar.


Perhaps my favourite lunch of the trip was then had at the newly opened La Petite Maison - octopus carpaccio, the freshest buratta and the best aubergine with mozzarella and crayfish I have ever tasted, mainly because the ingredients are sourced locally from the abundantly fruitful Bekaa Valley. Sunshine and the pool were the only order for the afternoon and snoozing of course.



After a delicious dinner at Eau de Vie restaurant on the 22nd floor of the Phoenicia, where the crème de la crème dine and then dance to the fantastic live band, we experienced the Beirut 'Super Club'. SKY BAR is a 4,000 capacity roof top bar which is where the serious party animals come, needless to say we had to join them as we like to offer an authentic experience.



The next morning, we checked in for our final night at Le Vendome hotel, the stunning boutique sister hotel of the Phoenicia. Known for its ultimate discretion and amazing service, it is the first point of call for any VIP staying in Beirut. We spent a recovery day at IRIS beach club, the perfect antidote to many a sore head. Chillout tunes, plenty of burgers and pizza, lots of swimming and the most amazing giant watermelon cocktail! To round off the trip we were treated to the most authentic Lebanese meal we have had at Falamanki. After seeing one member of the party whisked away in a side car of a motorbike to the final destination of the trip, we enjoyed farewell drinks at IRIS roof top bar and "cheersed" one last time to an amazing city.
 
Beirut is one of the most hospitable countries I have ever been to. The people are so accommodating and friendly and although we read reports in Britain of conflict, it is a very calm and relaxed city when you are there. If you haven’t been to Beirut, you need to go, you will have the time of your life.

http://phoeniciabeirut.com/

Murdock Store Launch - Monmouth St, Covent Garden

Murdock Store Launch on Monmouth Street, Covent Garden

Murdock London has just launched its fourth and biggest store to date on

the tree-lined streets of Covent Garden’s Monmouth Street – a stone’s throw

from Seven Dials. Since its establishment in 2006, gentleman’s lifestyle

brand, Murdock London, has fast become the go-to brand for the discerning

British male seeking a contemporary take on a traditional barbering,

grooming and apparel experience.

To celebrate the opening of the new flagship Covent Garden store, Murdock

London is introducing its long-awaited own line of colognes.

New colognes for the modern British male

The new colognes honour the classics of men’s fragrances without being

enslaved to the past; Murdock’s scents are modern yet with a pleasing nod to

the great British history and heritage of luxury grooming. Six contemporary

reformulations of classic favourites comprise the collection: Avalon, Fougere,

Bright Leaf, Patchouli, Black Tea and Vetiver. The variety of scents reflects the

diversity of the Murdock customer, each with his own suggestive personality:

the British bohemian, the curious adventurer, the louche dandy, and the

wanderlust traveler.

The oils in the Murdock London colognes are 100% natural and have been

uniquely sourced from the highest quality plants across the globe: lavender

from the Isle of Wight, lemon from Calabria, cedar from the Atlas

Mountains, clove from Madagascar, vetiver from the Seychelles, to name

only a few. Murdock London has worked closely with some of the world’s

leading perfumiers to develop the finest possible recipes for the scents. As a

result, Murdock’s colognes are reassuringly complex and deeply engaging.

A handsome new flagship store opens on Monmouth Street

The new Murdock London flagship store has been created jointly by

Brendan Murdock and London-based interior designer Andres Ros Soto,

who has been with the brand since its inception. Working together to bring

the brand to life, Brendan remarks “with an eye on classic style rather than

fashion, longevity rather than the temporary, we aim to provide a new

relaxed and masculine environment for the Murdock customer.”

The vintage oaks and mahogany are complemented by white marble from

Carrara, and the antique fittings and 1930s barbers’ chairs have each been

uniquely sourced. An appreciation for artistry is visible in the selection of

vintage pieces and craftsmanship is evident throughout creating a warming

environment tailored to the Murdock clientele.

In addition to offering its signature haircuts and traditional wet shaves, and

stocking some of the finest artisan brands alongside Murdock London’s own

shaving range, hair care products and colognes, the new flagship store

presents a beautifully edited collection of accessories and apparel and even a

small collection of first edition books.

Murdock London boasts three other stores, each with its own identity and

different customer-base: from Mayfair’s polished professional, Shoreditch’s

creative urban gent, and the Soho media man at Liberty.

Tia Maria Fashion Event at The Soho Hotel

Tia Maria Fashion Event at The Soho Hotel

Perrier Nights

Sparkle the night away with Perrier Nights

This April, PERRIER sparkling natural mineral water is launching PERRIER NIGHTS – a series of exclusive mixology events that will celebrate the history of cocktails. Starting at Georgian townhouse No. 6 Fitzroy Square, PERRIER NIGHTS will take place at undisclosed locations across London from April throughout the year.

Through the course of the series, PERRIER NIGHTS will take you on a cocktail journey through different decades, from the original cocktails of the 1900s, to the Charleston inspired drinks of the 1920s, the disco dancing cocktails of the 1970s, before transporting you to today’s hottest mixology trends. Be prepared for some exclusive mixology tips and delicious food as you savour classic and innovative cocktails inspired by the past and present.

Cocktails are at the heart of PERRIER NIGHTS and PERRIER is at the heart of the cocktails. The neutral and consistent flavour of PERRIER, along with its naturally sparkling composition, makes it the perfect mixer, whether it is in one of the world’s first cocktails, such as the Whis-Per, or a Perrier Royal especially created by renowned international mixologist Laurent Greco.

Sourced from Vergèze, France since 1904, PERRIER is a refreshing sparkling soft drink that can be enjoyed on its own or as a mixer for cocktails.

I went to the launch of Perrier Nights in Fitzroy Square and it was amazing. First of all we were treated to apple and cucumber martinins in the bar whilst we waited for the tour to start.

Then we were transported to Victorian England where we sung praises to the king and perrier while drinking cocktails. Then we time warped to a disco in the 1970's and I got to have a go at making a cocktail myself.

Then another time warp to the current day where we taught how to make balancing cocktails, cocktails with candy floss and lots of dry ice. I would highly recommend going on this magical adventure as it is FANTASTIC.

To find out about future Perrier events, join them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter

Facebook.com/societeperrierLDN or @societe_LDN