Apple Cake

Here's a great recipe for Apple Cake that requires no beater!!!

Ingredients:
4 apples, peeled and finely diced/ grated
1.5 cups sugar
250grams melted butter
4 eggs lightly beaten
1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups self raising flour
1 cup almond meal
pinch of salt

Combine above ingredients in bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour into greased and floured round cake tin. Bake in 180C oven for 45 mins or until cooked. Tastes good served warm or cold and with cream/ ice-cream.

Pantone Hotel

For all my fellow Colour Lovers out there, Pantone have branched out into the hotel world. The first Pantone Hotel has opened in Brussels, Belgium.

(Images from the Pantone Hotel)

(Images from www.indesignlive.com)

Designer Hotels - Art Series

In Melbourne, we have the ArtSeries Hotels which are inspired by prestigious Australian Artists. The concept was developed by William Deague, a property developer and self confessed devotee of Australian Art who had the vision of creating a series of boutique hotels each based on a particular artist.

What a great idea! I'm waiting for my phone call - I would love to create a hotel!

The Cullen Hotel named after Adam Cullen:

The Olsen Hotel named after one of my favourite artists John Olsen:

The Blackman Hotel named after Charles Blackman

(All images from the Art Series Hotels)

Designer Hotels - viva la france!

A couple of years ago, we had the pleasure of staying at Hotel Bellechasse in Paris which is designed by Christian Lacroix. A really lovely and decorative hotel, 1 min walk from the Musee D'Orsay (perfect for avoiding the queues!). Our room had butterflies on the ceiling and virtually every single space was covered in pattern. His other hotels include Hôtel du Petit Moulin and Le Notre Dame.

(Images from Hotel Bellechasse)

Designer Hotels - Bellisimo!

Armani, Missoni, Moschino, Versace, Fendi and Bvlgari are all renowned Italian brands who have also all made their mark in the hotel world.

Missoni has hotels in Edinburgh and Kuwait:

(Images from Hotel Missoni)

Giorgio Armani has applied his sophisticated, elegant Italian chic in Dubai and Milan:

(Image from butterboom.com)

(Image from butterboom.com)

(Image from www.elegantresorts.co.uk)

(Image from www.elegantresorts.co.uk)

Fendi has Villa Laetitia in Rome, Ponza and Ronciglione:

(Images from Villa Laetitia)

Maison Moschino in Milano looks such fun:

(Images from Maison Moschino)

The one and only Palazzo Versace here in Queensland, Australia:

(Images from Palazzo Versace)

Bvlgari has a resort in Bali (wonder if I can stay here?) and hotel in Milano:

(Images from Bvlgari)

Designer Hotels - Part 1.

If you've guessed by now, I love staying at nice hotels whenever I travel and can afford to splurge. So it's going to be a bit of shock when we're living/ travelling more 'moderately' in Asia! It's always been one of my dreams to actually design a hotel myself, well furnish the rooms, set the ambience and serve the food I want to eat etc. This week's blog will take a peek at some of the fashion designers, artists and brands which have made the crossover into hotel design.

First up is Fashion Designer Diane Von Furstenberg for Claridges Hotel in London.

(Images from Diane Von Furstenberg)

Scallop Gratin

I've been cooking quite alot lately as I know I won't be cooking much in the next 6 months travelling. Here's a really simple and impressive starter for a dinner party - Scallop Gratin.

Recipe:
12 scallops in the shell
Combine the following ingredients to taste:
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 cloves of garlic minced
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (mine were quite rustic and chunky)
3 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
3/4  anchovies
150gm softened butter
3 tablespoons olive oil.
Mixture should be like a soft paste but not runny. Place under hot grill for a couple of minutes.

Desk Snapshot

Working on some new ceramic concept designs today.....

Pat the Penguin - Part 3