Top 10 food festivals in Europe

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Take a culinary trip around Europe with a tour of some of the top 10 food festivals on the continent.

A Taste of London

A Taste of London

Here is our selection of the most delicious dates to put in your diary.

1. Taste of London, UK, 20-23 June

A chance to sample food from a cross-section of some of London’s finest restaurants, all in one place. Regent’s Park plays host to this sumptuous festival where visitors can taste dishes from 40 restaurants, enjoy demonstrations from some of England’s leading chefs, and meet a host of local food and wine producers.

2. Rock Oyster Festival, UK, 21-23 June

A celebration of Cornish food, this fun family festival in the grounds of Dinham House on the Camel Estuary has something for everyone. Stalls selling the very best local produce as well as eclectic live music and providing family entertainment.

3. Glynde Food and English Wine Festival, UK, 13-14 July

Set in the beautiful grounds of Glynde Place, East Sussex, this food and wine festival brings together the very best English chefs, produce and wine for a weekend of culinary treats. Guest chefs doing live demonstrations include John Torode and Lisa Faulkner as well as wine tasting tips from expert Stephen Skelton.

4. Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival, UK, 5-15 September

Ten days of culinary celebration of local food, wine and restaurants include tastings, demonstrations and special offers at local bars and eateries. The largest festival of its kind in the South of England, this is a treat not to be missed.

5. Feria du Riz, Arles, France, 12-14 September

Celebrating the harvest of the region’s distinctive red Carmargue rice, this festival in the Roman city of Arles is an ancient tradition and a vibrant treat for the senses. There’s a decidedly Spanish feel to the fun with street stalls selling fresh seafood paella and other fresh produce, parades, music, Carmargue horses and even a bull-run through the streets and bull fights in the Roman arena.

Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival

Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival

6. Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival, UK, 14-15 September

Over 20,000 people travel to the beautiful Scottish loch to take part in this food festival with live cooking demonstrations, local produce, real ale and a Continental market.

7. I’Primi D’Italia, Foligno, Italy, 25-28 September

A tribute to classic Italian fare including soups, pasta, rice and gnocchi this fun, lively festival includes master classes, demonstrations, tastings and quirkier events like pasta sculpture. There’s plenty to entertain the kids including a chance to design their own pasta shapes.

8. Fiesta De Marisco, O Grove, Spain, 4-13 October

One of Europe’s biggest food festivals dedicated to seafood includes everything from crabs, shrimps, clams, barnacles and scallops. One of the highlights of the fortnight is the annual competition to come up with an imaginative new mussel dish.

9. Baltic Herring Fair, Helsinki, Finland, 6-12 October

A tradition dating back to the 18th Century the Baltic Herring Fair held in the city’s harbour has grown into an international event including food stalls selling herring and other sea food prepared in a variety of ways. Other local produce including bread and crafts are also on offer.

10. International White Truffle Fair, Alba, Italy, 7-14 October

Celebrating the beginning of the prized white truffle season this annual festival attracts some of the world’s best chefs who come to take part in the ‘invitation-only’ white truffle auction (prices go as high as £1,600 a kilo). Locals seize the opportunity to show off a range of Piedmont delicacies including roast pork, salami, polenta, almonds and Moscato d’Alba wine.

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Visit our website to find out more about our 7 luxury hotels and resorts in the Indian Ocean: Constance Hotels & Resorts

Trip Advisor awards for Constance Hotels & Resorts

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Trip Advisor has singled out our Maldives and Mauritius resorts – Halaveli, Moofushi, Belle Mare Plage and Le Prince Maurice – for its prestigious Travellers’ Choice 2013 award. The Travellers’ Choice puts the resorts onto Trip Advisor’s ‘World’s Top Properties’ list, marking them out as must-go destinations.

Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius

Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius

We are also thrilled by the news that Trip Advisor has awarded its Certificate of Excellence to all seven Constance hotels and resorts.

Based solely on glowing feedback from our guests, the Certificate of Excellence is awarded only to companies that consistently receive top ratings from Trip Advisor travellers.

Once again we would like to thank our guests for taking the time to share their Constance experience on Trip Advisor which has led to us being recognised in this way.

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Constance Halaveli awarded by Trip Advisor

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Constance Halaveli is extremely proud to have been awarded a Trip Advisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence.

Water villa at Constance Halaveli, Maldives

Water villa at Constance Halaveli, Maldives

It is a particular honour to receive this award because it is only given to hotels that consistently earn high ratings from Trip Advisor travellers, and so reflects excellent feedback from our guests.

By awarding the Certificate of Excellence, Trip Advisor has put Halaveli in its prestigious top-performing 10 per cent of all businesses worldwide.

We’d like to say a big thank you to our guests for taking the time to share their experience of Constance Halaveli, and for being part of our success.

Find out more about Constance Halaveli: Top 25 Luxury hotels in Maldives

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Luxury breakfasts at Constance Hotels & Resorts

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Start your day at Constance with a healthy breakfast from the sumptuous buffet, or enjoy a private champagne breakfast for two on your own terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Breakfast at Constance Moofushi, Maldives

Breakfast at Constance Moofushi, Maldives

Lavish breakfast buffets

Visit the breakfast buffet at any of our resorts and experience the rich abundance of fresh food beautifully presented at separate stations, offering a plethora of tropical fruits, pastries and speciality cooked dishes.

Watch as world-class chefs prepare a 5 star breakfast in front of you, and breathe in the delicious smell of freshly baked pastries and bread straight from the oven.

Breakfast in bed

Indulge in the ultimate luxury of a champagne breakfast brought to you in your room or villa.

Constance Hotels & Resorts

Room service breakfast at Constance

Nothing says idyllic, paradise holiday more than lying in bed on crisp white sheets and enjoying the chill of champagne with fresh fruit and a view of the sun sparkling on the ocean.

Or sit back and relax at a home-away-from-home breakfast with your family on the terrace of your own villa. Let the kids come and go as you take your time to really enjoy that second cup of coffee.

At our hotels and resorts

Breakfasts are served daily until 10.30am, which means you can wake up at your own pace and make your first meal of the day a leisurely affair.

Enjoy the sand between your toes and the gentle sun on your face as you enjoy a 5 star breakfast outdoors at Constance Halaveli’s buffet restaurant Jahaz.

Watch the light trickle through the lush foliage as you greet the day in the open-air, cool, tiled elegance of Constance Ephelia’s Corossol or enjoy the barefoot chic and Malagasy charm of a buffet breakfast on the beach at Constance Tsarabanjina.

Constance Lemuria, Seychelles

Constance Lemuria, Seychelles

Savour the freshest tropical fruit bought at the local market that morning under the shade of an umbrella on the terrace of Archipel at Le Prince Maurice and enjoy views across the infinity pool to the beach and ocean beyond, or drink in the view across to the ocean at Constance Lemuria.

At Constance Moofushi you can indulge in a private champagne breakfast for two with waiter service on your very own secluded sandbank, perfect for romantic moments.

Golfers booked in for an early tee-off time can tuck into a hearty pre-golf breakfast at the Deer Hunter restaurant at Constance Belle Mare Plage from 6.30 to 9.30am and enjoy views across the championship golf course. You might even spot the resident deer breakfasting on the greens.

Sunrise yoga

If you’re keen to kick start a new approach to healthy living, our energising early morning yoga sessions are designed for beginners through to advanced. Enjoy the feeling of awaking your senses against a backdrop of gentle sunlight, calm clear water and tropical vegetation.

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Top 6 luxury travel accessories

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Here’s our round up of the finest luxury travel accessories you won’t want to leave home without.

Constance Hotels and Resorts

Constance Hotels and Resorts

1. Blackbox C20 Active Noise Cancelling Earphones £109.99

These ergonomically designed ear bud headphones will not only deliver perfect sound from whatever device you are listening to but will block out ambient noise of airline chatter or machinery. These also offer a telephony option so you can use them with your mobile phone.

2. Hermès Calèche-express £4,520

This stylish canvas and calfskin carry on has the perfect dimensions (l. 35 cm x h. 55 cm x d. 25 cm) for hand luggage with the added benefit of a telescopic handle and wheels so you don’t have to carry it through the airport. A selection of pockets for all your documents and gadgets means you’ll never need to rummage for your passport again.

3. Cowshed Cashmere Travel Set £147.50

Travel in luxurious comfort with this Cashmere Travel Set made from 100 per cent pure Mongolian cashmere by holistic skincare specialist Cowshed. The set includes snuggly Cashmere socks, eye mask, hot water bottle and a blanket to keep you warm on those long-haul flights.

Constance Le Prince Maurice, Mauritius

Beach lunch at Le Prince Maurice

4. Mulberry Travel Adapter £125

As you might expect Mulberry’s travel adapter comes in a sleek leather case in a selection of colours with the luxury brand’s signature brass zip. The adapter itself will fit sockets in the UK, US, Australia, China and Europe, and also comes with a USB connection.

5. Griffin Survivor case for the iPad (2,3,4) £51.46

Tested by the US military the light super-tough rubber case will protect your iPad from splashes, sand, dirt, drops from 6ft and for when your children decide to play with it. Easy to use with the protective shell in place this is perfect if you want to take your device on the beach. Visit Griffin’s website to design your own case in a variety of colours and designs.

6. Nikon StabilEyes14x40 binoculars £1,355.99

Whether you’re into big game fishing, bird watching or you just want to watch your loved ones while they’re out enjoying any kind of water sport these are the perfect holiday binoculars. Featuring two vibration reduction modes, one for on land the other for when you’re on a boat they will keep any image steady making it easy to track something moving at speed. They are also waterproof and fog-free.

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Wine training from Domaine Marcel Lapierre

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Last week saw the exciting visit of Marie Lapierre of Domaine Marcel Lapierre to Constance Le Prince Maurice and Constance Belle Mare Plage for a wine tasting evening and fine wine training event.

Wines from Marcel Lapierre

Wines from Marcel Lapierre

Marie was accompanied by her daughter Camille, and together they introduced us to their stunning reds from the Château Cambon and the Vin de France Raisin Gaulois 2012.

Marie explained to our team of Constance sommeliers how the Domaine vines have been cultivated organically since 1981, and about how the wines are made in carbonic maceration.

The wines are light and fruity and can be enjoyed with fish, chicken, goats cheese, charcuterie or as an aperitif. Guests joined our sommeliers to taste the wines and find out more about Domaine Marcel Lapierre.

Find out more about the wine evening: Marie Lapierre of Domaine Marcel Lapierre visits Mauritius

For more information

Discover more about the wines from the website: Domaine Marcel Lapierre

Visit Constance Le Prince Maurice and Constance Belle Mare Plage

 

Wine training with Marie Lapierre at Constance Hotels & Resorts

Sommelier wine training with Marie Lapierre

 

Delores Malin tasting Morgon of Domaine Lapierre

Delores Malin tasting Morgon of Domaine Lapierre